West Side Story (1961 soundtrack)

1961 soundtrack album by various artists

West Side Story

Soundtrack album by

Various

Released| October 1961
Recorded| 1960–1961
Genre| Film soundtrack
Length| 75:42
Label| Columbia Masterworks
Producer| Didier Deutsch
Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [1]

West Side Story is the soundtrack album to the 1961 film West Side Story, featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Released in 1961, the soundtrack spent 54 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's stereo albums charts, giving it the longest run at No. 1 of any album in history,[2] although some lists instead credit Michael Jackson's Thriller, on the grounds that this run for West Side Story was on a chart for stereo albums only at a time when many albums were recorded in mono.[3] It did also spend 6 weeks at the top of the Billboard chart for mono albums. In 1962, it won a Grammy award for "Best Sound Track Album – Original Cast". In the United States, it was one of the best-selling albums of the 1960s,[4] certifying three times platinum by the RIAA on November 21, 1986.

Though the album was released just a few years after the release of the original broadway cast recording, it is according to musical theater historian Ethan Mordden preferred by some to the earlier version both sentimentally, as the film succeeded in establishing the musical as a "popular masterpiece", and musically, as it contains "beefier orchestration".[5]

## Dubbing

[edit]

In her autobiography, I Could Have Sung All Night, Marni Nixon writes about singing the role of Maria and of her observations of some of the other singers whose voices were dubbed into the film.[6] Very little of the singing in the finished film and on the soundtrack album was contributed by the on-screen stars of the film; while George Chakiris did all of his own singing for the few solo lines of his character Bernardo, Jim Bryant entirely dubbed the singing role of Tony for Richard Beymer, and Rita Moreno's singing as Anita was partly dubbed by Betty Wand (and by Nixon). According to Moreno herself, Wand dubbed all or part of her singing in "A Boy Like That", although it's not clear if that was the total extent of the dubbing she did. Russ Tamblyn, who plays Riff in the film, provided his own vocals for the song "Gee, Officer Krupke" and for a few lines in the "Tonight" ensemble, but in the "Jet Song" he was dubbed by Tucker Smith, who plays the role of Ice in the film. Smith himself sings his character's song "Cool" and his own lines in the "Tonight" ensemble.

Final determination of which voices would be used and to what extent for the film's songs was left to producer Saul Chaplin, who at various times told Nixon that her voice would be used to supplement or extend that of actress Natalie Wood or to replace it altogether.[6] According to various sources, Wood was assured throughout the recording and filming process that her vocals would be used for most of Maria's singing in the film, with Nixon's voice dubbed in only for the higher, more challenging vocal sections, and Wood did lip sync to her own pre-recorded tracks of the songs during filming. But after filming was complete, Nixon post-dubbed or "looped" all of Maria's songs while watching film loops. Nixon also dubbed several lines for Moreno in the latter part of the "Tonight" ensemble, because the range of that section was too high for both Moreno and Betty Wand. Although it was not industry standard at the time, Nixon arranged to receive a small percentage of the royalties for sales of the soundtrack, which, as she did not receive credit for her performance on the album, she indicates helped "salve any wounds".[7]

While the film was released by United Artists, the soundtrack album was produced and released by Columbia Masterworks Records as part of rights it acquired in producing the Broadway cast album.[8]

## Track listing

[edit]

All music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Vocal performers listed parenthetically after song title.

### CD version

[edit]

1. "Overture" – 4:39
2. "Prologue" – 6:37
3. "Jet Song" (Tucker Smith, Jets) – 2:06
4. "Something's Coming" (Jim Bryant) – 2:32
5. "Dance at the Gym" (Blues, Promenade, Mambo, Cha-cha, film dialogue, and Jump) – 9:24[9]
6. "Maria" (Bryant) – 2:34
7. "America" (Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Sharks & Girls) – 4:59
8. "Tonight" (Jim Bryant, Marni Nixon) – 6:43
9. "Gee, Officer Krupke" (Russ Tamblyn, Jets) – 4:14
10. "Intermission" – 1:30[10]
11. "I Feel Pretty" (Nixon, Yvonne Wilder credited as Yvonne Othon, Suzie Kaye) – 3:35
12. "One Hand, One Heart" (Bryant, Nixon) – 3:02
13. "Tonight Quintet" (Bryant, Nixon, Moreno, Jets, Sharks; the counterpoint section of Anita's vocals are performed here by Nixon) – 3:22
14. "The Rumble" – 2:39
15. "Somewhere" (Bryant, Nixon) – 2:03
16. "Cool" (Tucker Smith, Jets) – 4:21
17. "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love" (Betty Wand, Nixon) – 4:28
18. "Finale" (Natalie Wood, Nixon, Richard Beymer) – 4:20
19. "End Credits" (Instrumental) – 5:09

### Original LP version

[edit]

#### Side 1

[edit]

1. "Prologue" - 5:39
2. "Jet Song" - 2:11
3. "Something's Coming" - 2:38
4. "Dance at the Gym" (Blues, Promenade, and Jump) - 3:37
5. "Maria" - 2:40
6. "America" - 5:05
7. "Tonight" - 3:35

#### Side 2

[edit]

1. "Gee, Officer Krupke" – 4:14
2. "I Feel Pretty" – 3:35
3. "One Hand, One Heart" – 3:02
4. "Tonight Quintet" – 3:22
5. "The Rumble" – 2:39
6. "Cool" – 4:21
7. "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love" – 4:28
8. "Somewhere (Finale)" – 2:03

### Film (1961) soundtrack song start times

[edit]

Act I

1. "Overture" – Orchestra
2. "Prologue" – Orchestra
3. "Jet Song" – Riff and the Jets
4. "Something's Coming" – Tony - 26:20
5. "Dance at the Gym" – Orchestra
6. "Maria" – Tony - 44:20[11]
7. "America" – Anita, Bernardo, the Sharks and Girls
8. "Tonight" – Tony and Maria - 57:40
9. "Gee, Officer Krupke" – Riff and the Jets
10. "Maria (violin)" – Orchestra

Act II

1. "I Feel Pretty" – Maria, Consuelo, Rosalia, and Francisca
2. "One Hand, One Heart" – Tony and Maria
3. "Tonight Quintet" – Maria, Tony, Anita, Riff, Bernardo, Jets, and Sharks
4. "The Rumble" – Orchestra
5. "Somewhere" – Tony and Maria
6. "Cool" – Ice and Jets
7. "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love" – Anita and Maria
8. "Somewhere (reprise)" – Maria
9. "Finale" – Orchestra

|

## Chart positions

[edit]

Year  | Label & number  | Chart  | Position

|
|
|

1962  | Columbia OL 5670 (Mono) / OS 2070 (Stereo)  | Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) (mono and stereo)  | 1
| UK Albums Chart[12]
1963  | Columbia OL 5670 (Mono) / OS 2070 (Stereo)  | Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) (mono and stereo)
| UK Albums Chart[12]

## Personnel

[edit]

### Performance

[edit]

* Richard Beymer – performer (Tony)
* Jim Bryant – performer (voice double for Richard Beymer)
* George Chakiris – performer (Bernardo)
* The Jets – performers
* Suzie Kaye – performer (Rosalia)
* Jo Anne Miya – performer (Francisca)
* Rita Moreno – performer (Anita)
* Marni Nixon – performer (voice double for Natalie Wood)
* Yvonne Wilder credited as Yvonne Othon – performer (Consuelo)
* Sharks – performers
* Tucker Smith – performer (Ice; voice double for Russ Tamblyn on "Jet Song")
* Russ Tamblyn – performer (Riff)
* Betty Wand – performer (voice double for Rita Moreno on "A Boy Like That/I Have A Love")
* Natalie Wood – performer (Maria)

### Production

[edit]

* Mark Cetts – engineer
* Saul Chaplin – musical director, assistant producer
* Didier C. Deutsch – producer
* Johnny Green – conductor, musical director
* Roy Hemming – liner notes
* Bill Ivie – engineer
* Irwin Kostal – musical director, orchestrator
* Ernest Lehman – screenplay
* Boris Leven – production design
* Sid Ramin – musical director, orchestrator
* Jerome Robbins – director, choreographer
* Robert Wise – director

## Certifications and sales

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Austria (IFPI Austria)[13] | Platinum  | 50,000*
France (SNEP)[14] | Platinum  | 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[15] | Gold  | 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[16] | Gold  | 50,000^
Norway  | —  | 7,000[17]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]
Original Soundtrack: 2012-2013 sales  | Gold  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]
Studio Cast Recording: 1985-1986 sales  | 2× Platinum  | 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] | 3× Platinum  | 3,000,000^
United States (RIAA)[23]
Original Cast  | Gold  | 500,000[22]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ AllMusic review
2. ^ West Side Story at AllMusic
3. ^ Ash, Russell (2006). The Top 10 of Everything. Sterling Publishing. p. 112. ISBN 0-600-61557-X.
4. ^ Simpson, Paul (2003). The Rough Guide to Cult Pop. Rough Guides. p. 181\. ISBN 1-84353-229-8.
5. ^ Mordden, Ethan (1983). Broadway babies: the people who made the American musical. Oxford University Press. p. 225\. ISBN 0-19-505425-3.
6. ^ a b Nixon, Marni; Stephen Cole; Marilyn Horne (2006). I Could Have Sung All Night. Billboard Books. p. 133. ISBN 0-8230-8365-9..
7. ^ Nixon, 137.
8. ^ Krasilovsky, M. William; Sidney Shemel; John M. Gross (2003). This Business of Music: The Definitive Guide to the Music Industry. Watson-Guptill. p. 232\. ISBN 0-8230-7728-4.
9. ^ This song was released in a shorter three-part version on original lp pressings, omitting the "Mambo" and "Pas de Deux"; the complete five-part version was added for cd releases.
10. ^ This song was not present on original LP pressings, but was added for the 2004 CD re-release.
11. ^ All times from the 1961 film.
12. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - Original Soundtrack - West Side Story". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
13. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Soundtrack – West Side Story" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
14. ^ "French album certifications – B.O.F. – West Side Story" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
15. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (O.S.T. - Various; 'Westside-Story')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
16. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Soundtrack – West Side Story" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved May 6, 2019. Enter West Side Story  in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1998 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
17. ^ Erikson, Espen (May 25, 1963). "Norse Warm Up To Album Product". Billboard. Vol. 75, no. 21\. p. 46. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
18. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
19. ^ "British album certifications – Original Soundtrack – West Side Story". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
20. ^ "British album certifications – Studio Cast Recording – West Side Story - (Studio)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
21. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – West Side Story". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
22. ^ "Columbia Chart(er) Member". Billboard. May 15, 1965. p. 6. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
23. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – West Side Story". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 20, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Billboard Year-End number one albums

1956–1975|

* 1956: Calypso – Harry Belafonte
* 1957: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast
* 1958: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast
* 1959: The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini
* 1960: Music from The Sound of Music – Original Cast
* 1961: Music from Camelot – Original Cast
* 1962: West Side Story – Soundtrack
* 1963: West Side Story – Soundtrack
* 1964: Music from Hello, Dolly! – Original Cast
* 1965: Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack – Soundtrack
* 1966: Whipped Cream & Other Delights – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
* 1967: More of the Monkees – The Monkees
* 1968: Are You Experienced – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
* 1969: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – Iron Butterfly
* 1970: Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
* 1971: Jesus Christ Superstar – Soundtrack
* 1972: Harvest – Neil Young
* 1973: The World Is a Ghetto – War
* 1974: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
* 1975: Greatest Hits – Elton John

1976–2000|

* 1976: Frampton Comes Alive! – Peter Frampton
* 1977: Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
* 1978: Saturday Night Fever – Soundtrack
* 1979: 52nd Street – Billy Joel
* 1980: The Wall – Pink Floyd
* 1981: Hi Infidelity – REO Speedwagon
* 1982: Asia – Asia
* 1983: Thriller – Michael Jackson
* 1984: Thriller – Michael Jackson
* 1985: Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
* 1986: Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
* 1987: Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi
* 1988: Faith – George Michael
* 1989: Don't Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
* 1990: Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson
* 1991: Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
* 1992: Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks
* 1993: The Bodyguard – Soundtrack
* 1994: The Sign – Ace of Base
* 1995: Cracked Rear View – Hootie & the Blowfish
* 1996: Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
* 1997: Spice – Spice Girls
* 1998: Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture – James Horner
* 1999: Millennium – Backstreet Boys
* 2000: No Strings Attached – NSYNC

2001–present|

* 2001: 1 – The Beatles
* 2002: The Eminem Show – Eminem
* 2003: Get Rich or Die Tryin' – 50 Cent
* 2004: Confessions – Usher
* 2005: The Massacre – 50 Cent
* 2006: Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood
* 2007: Daughtry – Daughtry
* 2008: As I Am – Alicia Keys
* 2009: Fearless – Taylor Swift
* 2010: I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
* 2011: 21 – Adele
* 2012: 21 – Adele
* 2013: The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake
* 2014: Frozen – Soundtrack
* 2015: 1989 – Taylor Swift
* 2016: 25 – Adele
* 2017: Damn – Kendrick Lamar
* 2018: Reputation – Taylor Swift
* 2019: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish
* 2020: Hollywood's Bleeding – Post Malone
* 2021: Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
* 2022: Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
* 2023: One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen
* 2024: The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift

* v
* t
* e

UK best-selling albums (by year) (1956–1969)

* 1956: Carousel (original soundtrack)
* 1957: The King and I (original soundtrack)
* 1958: My Fair Lady (Broadway cast recording)
* 1959-60: South Pacific (original soundtrack)
* 1961: G.I. Blues (Elvis Presley)
* 1962: West Side Story (original soundtrack)
* 1963: With the Beatles (The Beatles)
* 1964: Beatles for Sale (The Beatles)
* 1965-66: The Sound of Music (original soundtrack)
* 1967: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles)
* 1968: The Sound of Music (original soundtrack)
* 1969: Abbey Road (The Beatles)

* v
* t
* e

Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story (1957)

Inspiration|

* William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Adaptations|

* Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (1961)
* West Side Story (1961 film)
* West Side Story Suite (1995 ballet)
* West Side Story (2021 film)
* accolades

Variations|

* Swango (2002 musical)
* West Bank Story (2005 parody film)

Songs|

| Act 1|

* "Something's Coming"
* "Maria"
* "Tonight"
* "America"
* "Cool"
* "One Hand, One Heart"
* "Tonight (Quintet & Chorus)"

|

Act 2|

* "I Feel Pretty"
* "Somewhere"
* "Gee, Officer Krupke"
* "A Boy like That"

Albums|

* West Side Story (1957 original cast)
* West Side Story (1959 Previn)
* West Side Story (1961 soundtrack)
* West Side Story (1961 Tjader)
* Bernstein Plays Brubeck Plays Bernstein (1961 Brubeck Quartet)
* West Side Story (1962 Peterson Trio)
* Kenton's West Side Story (1962 Kenton)
* Toshiko–Mariano Quartet (in West Side) (1963 Akiyoshi)
* West Side Story (1974 Earl Hines)
* West Side Story (2021 soundtrack)

Related|

* "The First Time"
* "Upper West Side Story"
* Wild Side Story
* China Girl
* "Roses"
* Josh
* Superjail!
* "La Borinqueña" (used in 2021 film)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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