South Pacific (soundtrack)
RCA Victor released the original soundtrack to the film South Pacific in 1958. The movie itself was based on a musical from 1949 created by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Most vocal roles went to professional singers instead of the actors seen on screen. This decision gave composers significant control over the final recording. Only two performers sang their own parts throughout the project. Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston were those exceptions. They had previously played Luther Billis in national tours and London productions. Giorgio Tozzi took the role of Emile DeBecque with his voice alone. Muriel Smith voiced Bloody Mary, having worked that part in London before. Bill Lee provided the singing for Joe Cable.
The album reached number one on charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. In America, it held the top spot for seven months straight. That duration made it the fourth longest run ever recorded at the time. British listeners kept the record in the top five for twenty-seven consecutive weeks. It climbed to number one in November 1958 after that initial period. The track stayed at the summit for an unprecedented one hundred fifteen weeks total. The first seventy of these weeks occurred consecutively without interruption. The entire year of 1959 passed while the album remained at peak position. It continued to appear within the top five for a total of two hundred fourteen weeks.
Data collected as of 2006 shows specific sales numbers for this release. One million eight hundred three thousand six hundred eighty-one copies sold in the United Kingdom alone. This figure represents the cumulative total over nearly fifty years of availability. No other market data from the source text provides exact counts beyond this single nation. The certification status remains tied to these verified sales figures. RCA Victor distributed the physical records during the late fifties. The longevity of these sales suggests enduring popularity across generations of listeners.
The songs on the soundtrack LP and CD follow the Broadway musical sequence strictly. They do not match the order found inside the actual film version. Side One begins with the South Pacific Overture followed by Dites-moi. A Cockeyed Optimist appears next before Twin Soliloquies merges into Some Enchanted Evening. Bloody Mary and My Girl Back Home occupy subsequent slots on that side. There Is Nothin Like a Dame leads into Bali Ha'i to close the first disc. Side Two opens with I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair. The remaining tracks include Younger Than Springtime, Happy Talk, and Honey Bun. You've Got to Be Carefully Taught precedes This Nearly Was Mine before the Finale concludes the set. European prints shown at The Dominion Theatre London kept the film's original song order instead.
This recording stands as a major success in the history of film music. Its chart performance broke multiple records for duration and consistency. The decision to use professional singers influenced how future soundtracks approached casting choices. Rodgers and Hammerstein maintained strong oversight throughout the production process. The album remains a key reference point for mid-century American musical theater recordings. Sales figures from 2006 confirm its continued relevance decades after release. It serves as a primary example of successful crossover between stage and screen formats.
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Common questions
When did RCA Victor release the original soundtrack to South Pacific?
RCA Victor released the original soundtrack to the film South Pacific in 1958. The movie itself was based on a musical from 1949 created by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Who performed the singing roles for Emile DeBecque and Bloody Mary in the South Pacific soundtrack?
Giorgio Tozzi took the role of Emile DeBecque with his voice alone while Muriel Smith voiced Bloody Mary having worked that part in London before. Only two performers sang their own parts throughout the project which were Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston.
How long did the South Pacific soundtrack stay at number one on charts in America and the United Kingdom?
The album reached number one on charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom where it held the top spot for seven months straight in America. It climbed to number one in November 1958 after that initial period and stayed at the summit for an unprecedented one hundred fifteen weeks total.
What specific sales figures does data collected as of 2006 show for the South Pacific soundtrack in the United Kingdom?
Data collected as of 2006 shows specific sales numbers for this release with one million eight hundred three thousand six hundred eighty-one copies sold in the United Kingdom alone. This figure represents the cumulative total over nearly fifty years of availability.
Why do the songs on the South Pacific soundtrack LP follow a different order than the actual film version?
The songs on the soundtrack LP and CD follow the Broadway musical sequence strictly instead of matching the order found inside the actual film version. European prints shown at The Dominion Theatre London kept the film's original song order instead.