Back to the Future MusicA discussion about the music contained in the Back to the Future films, including the artists who performed the songs (Huey Lewis & The News, ZZ Top, Alan Silvestri, etc.)
I really wanted to know who sings the song that is played when Marty arrives at the past hill valley-on bttf part 1(the song goes goes something like that : Mr sandman....lalalala...bring me a tree.....),and why isn't this song on the soundtrack?
The name of the group (not the person) that sings "Mr. Sandman" is <u>The Chordettes</u>, a female barber shop quartet. Their names were Janet Ertel, Carol Bushman, Dorothy Schwartz and Virginia (Jinny) Osborn.
Those original four sang "Mr. Sandman." However, some of them left the group and were replaced over the eight years the group was in existence. They retained the same quartet-like sound over that time period.
<u>The Chordettes</u> were also known for another hit song, "Lollipop."
As far as why "Mr. Sandman" was not included on the soundtrack, I do not know. Sorry.
Indeed. "Mr. Sandman" was performed by other musical groups after it was originally released by the Chordettes. The name of the group that recorded the BTTF version is the Four Aces.
You are both correct. According to the end credits of BTTF, "Mr. Sandman" (lyrics by Pat Ballard) is performed by the <u>Four Aces</u>, a male group. However, the song first became popular when <u>The Chordettes</u> sang it (with an additional male voice by Archie Bleyer, the man who signed <u>The Chordettes</u> to a recording contract.) It was number one for 20 weeks straight, from October 30, 1954 to March 19, 1955.
The <u>Four Aces</u> didn't make it a hit until 1958, according to one website, which makes this a timeline mistake in the trilogy.
-- Paul
Addition to this post: In the scene, during which time "Mr. Sandman" is playing in the background, Marty is seen scanning the record shop area. As the camera, of Marty's eye view, pans downward, we see a poster in the window of <u>The Chordettes</u>, just before we see the stand-up billboard that says:
<H4>"Just Arrived</H4>
</font>
THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT</font>
16 TONS </font>
-- Many More!"
I find it amusing that they had a picture of the group that first recorded the song, but used the <u>Four Aces</u> version in the movie.
We've talked about the 1958 version being played in 1955 a long while back (before the previous Message Board was wiped out). I remember someone saying that, in the movie, "Mr. Sandman" wasn't really being played in 1955. That is, it wasn't really coming from a radio, record player, or juke box anywhere, rather, it was just "mood music" that was being overdubbed through the scene to further establish the fact that Marty was not in his own time. Therefore, it cannot truly be considered a timeline inaccuracy.
Of course, this begs the question, why didn't they use the Chordettes version, which would have been more "correct" for the scene. I'm not really sure what the answer is to that. Perhaps the Four Aces version is more well-known than the Chordettes?
Originally posted by My Other Self: We've talked about the 1958 version being played in 1955 a long while back (before the previous Message Board was wiped out). I remember someone saying that, in the movie, "Mr. Sandman" wasn't really being played in 1955. That is, it wasn't really coming from a radio, record player, or juke box anywhere, rather, it was just "mood music" that was being overdubbed through the scene to further establish the fact that Marty was not in his own time. Therefore, it cannot truly be considered a timeline inaccuracy.
If you watch the scene again where Marty is scanning the record shop area, the camera shows a speaker hanging on the outside wall with wires running back inside the store through the door frame. There would be no reason to show that speaker if the song weren't being played out of it. So, I'd have to disagree with you on the "mood music" theory.
Quote:
Of course, this begs the question, why didn't they use the Chordettes version, which would have been more "correct" for the scene. I'm not really sure what the answer is to that. Perhaps the Four Aces version is more well-known than the Chordettes?
It would seem ironic for the <u>Four Aces</u> version to have become more popular, since <u>The Chordettes</u> version was number one for twenty weeks. But, that does happen sometimes.
Yeah, you're right about the speaker. Good thing the "mood music" theory wasn't mine.
Oh, and just a little correction for Fatmike, who started this thread (and an observation of an unusual intepretation of lyrics [img]smile.gif[/img] ), the correct words are:
"Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream" not "bring me a tree" [img]smile.gif[/img]
As to why the song was not included on the soundtrack, perhaps they didn't want too much 1950s music on it. As it is, the soudtrack has a pretty good balance of 1980s, 1950s, and instrumental score music. Also, they may have been limited to the number of songs that could have been included. I mean, it was originally released in the days of records and audio cassettes, which could only hold so many songs. CDs, which may have been able to hold more songs (I'm not sure on this, I'm not an expert in the area or recorded music), didn't really become popular until a little while after.
Originally posted by My Other Self: As it is, the soudtrack has a pretty good balance of 1980s, 1950s, and instrumental score music. Also, they may have been limited to the number of songs that could have been included. I mean, it was originally released in the days of records and audio cassettes, which could only hold so many songs. CDs, which may have been able to hold more songs, didn't really become popular until a little while after
Yeah, I suppose they can't include everything that was in the movie; it's just a shame that we miss out on complete score and Mr. Sandman/Davey Crocket (and Beat It/Can't Drive/etc). They probably just included the ones they could license the cheapest.
As for the length details, 12" vinyl holds an average of 22 minutes or sound per side, with a CD designed to hold 74 minutes (80 in some cases). Obviously a cassette varies from very short to very long (100 or even 120 mins)
The IMDb has always been wrong about the date of 1958 for the Four Aces' version of "Mr. Sandman". The song may have found a second life in 1958, but they originally released "Mister Sandman" in the Fall of 1954. It entered the Billboard charts on 11/27/54.
Personally I prefer the Mr. Sandman that featured in BTTF by the Four Aces much more than the one by the Chordettes, maybe it's because it's the first version I ever heard.
Originally posted by TimeTraveller: The IMDb has always been wrong about the date of 1958 for the Four Aces' version of "Mr. Sandman". The song may have found a second life in 1958, but they originally released "Mister Sandman" in the Fall of 1954. It entered the Billboard charts on 11/27/54.
You are incorrect, Stephen. The Chordettes released their version of Mister Sandman in the Fall 0f 1954 and it hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 (which stayed there for 7 weeks, and remained elsewhere on the list for another 13 weeks) on 11/27/54 -- not the Four Aces' version.
I do not have any information about the Four Aces version of the song. I'm not sure when it was released, but I would guess it was a while after the Chordettes.
Anyway, I did find something interesting about the Four Aces which may have a connection to why their version was used in BTTF, or it may just be a coincidence -- one of the members of the group was named Lou Silvestri. As far as I can tell from my research, he is not related to Alan.
And while we're still on the subject of "Mister Sandman", remember the episode of Family Ties in which Alex takes on the role of managing Jennifer's rock band, and turns them into a female barbershop quartet (he renamed them "The Swinging Corporate Raiders")? The song he has them perform was none other than "Mister Sandman".
Episiode 122 -- "Band On the Run", original airdate: 2/26/87
Originally posted by My Other Self: You are incorrect, Stephen. The Chordettes released their version of Mister Sandman in the Fall 0f 1954 and it hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 (which stayed there for 7 weeks, and remained elsewhere on the list for another 13 weeks) on 11/27/54 -- not the Four Aces' version.
Originally posted by My Other Self: And while we're still on the subject of "Mister Sandman", remember the episode of Family Ties in which Alex takes on the role of managing Jennifer's rock band, and turns them into a female barbershop quartet (he renamed them "The Swinging Corporate Raiders")? The song he has them perform was none other than "Mister Sandman".
Episiode 122 -- "Band On the Run", original airdate: 2/26/87
I sure do remember that episode - I saw it a few years ago (maybe 3 or 4?) on a rerun (what's a rerun?). Anyway, when I saw it I was dumbfounded - and wondered if they used that song since in was in BTTF or if it was just "coincidence".
i think my post got deleted so im re-posting this comment. i think the main reason that they used the four aces version of "Mr. Sandman" is because it sounds creepier, as if to give the audience a "Twilight Zone"("Twilight Zone" theme starts) feel of panic and distrubance of the reality of his situation. That is especially evident in the scene where marty franticly picks up the newspaper from the trash can and the way the camera pans across the date in an astonished way.
What anyone here has failed to remember also is that the Chordettes version of Mister Sandman is at the very beginning of Halloween II and Halloween H20. Just thought I'd like to point that out.
I just got the trilogy soundtrack for christmas and i wanna know why its all like symphony music i was expecting "the power of love","Mr.sandman" And all the other good songs. I wasnt very happy. but it is still a good soundtrack!!!!
The Trilogy Soundtrack only contains pieces of the score from all three movies (the "symphony music"). If you want the Power of Love, get the BTTF I soundtrack or the appropriate Huey Lewis CD. Mr. Sandman wasn't included on any soundtrack.
Originally posted by temporal paradox: Is it just me, or was the song slightly rewritten for the Four Aces?
Yes, this was typical of "answer songs" also. I'm not sure whose version came first as both the Four Aces and the Chordettes recorded Mr Sandman in November, 1954.
i didnt nkow they had a special trilogy soundtrack, from all 3 films but i want all 3 seperately, i used to have hte first one but i never got part 2 or 3, a friend had 2 way back in the mid 90s on tape.
Part One OST hs mainly songs with a little instrumental music but Parts II & III are entirely instrumental. The Trilogy OST CD has some extra instrumentals that wern't on previous CDs.
I just realized a really odd coincidence; in an episode of "Family Ties" Alex(who, for those of you who aren't familiar with the show, is Michael J. Fox)manages his sister's band which he calls the 'Swinging Corporate Raiders' and they're all dressed like The Chordettes and the only song that they sing is 'Mr. Sandman'.
That's one of my favorite episodes of Family Ties! [img]smile.gif[/img] Oh, and in that episode, did anybody else notice that Alex HAPPENS to have those same huge sunglasses that Marty has at the beginning of BTTF? It could just be an amazing coincidence!
Originally posted by fatmike: Mr sandman....lalalala...bring me a tree
lol! I never realised before that it sounded like 'tree' and now, whenever I watch BTTF, I can't stop thinking about it like that! I like to sing 'tree' now, instead of 'dream' - it's funny!
PS Not having a go at you, fatmike, laughing with you! [img]smile.gif[/img] Please don't take offence! You've got a good point, it really does sound like 'tree'!
Originally posted by Ashley: I just got the trilogy soundtrack for christmas and i wanna know why its all like symphony music i was expecting "the power of love","Mr.sandman" And all the other good songs. I wasnt very happy. but it is still a good soundtrack!!!!
I've always wanted a soundtrack for the Back to the Future Trilogy's *songs*... so I sat down the other day and mixed one up myself.
Here are the tracks I laid down on it:
1) Power of Love - Huey Lewis & the News
2) Time Bomb Town - Lindsey Buckingham
3) Back to the Future - Main Theme (Score)
4) Mr. Sandman - The Four Aces
5) The Balad of Davy Crockett - Fess Parker
6) Roll With Me, Henry - Etta James
7) Earth Angel - "Marvin Berry & the Starlighters"
8) Johnny B. Goode - Mark Campbell (as "Marty McFly")
9) Heaven is Just One Step Away - Eric Clapton
10) Back in Time - Huey Lewis & the News
11) Beat It - Michael Jackson
12) (I Can't Drive) 55 - Sammy Hagar
13) Back to the Future Pt. III - End Credits (Score)
14) Doubleback (Western Version)
15) Doubleback - Z.Z. Top
Looks like you got all the songs that are In the Movies & Soundtracks.
I'm Making My own "Back To The Future" Soundtrack Collection Myself But I'm Including the The Ones Conducted By Alan Silvestri & the OUTATIME Orchestra. it Just Wouldnt be complete W/o The Instramental Songs Conduced by Alan Sivlestri & The OUTATIME Orchestra
Linear Mode
