Walt Disney Art Classics Convention 2004 - Part 2
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Hodgkins interjected with a question about Pete Renoudet, asking if he hadn’t also performed as Mr. Lincoln. Thornton explained that Renoudet was the voice of Lincoln in Florida’s Hall of Presidents. He also provided the voice of Henry of the Country Bears. Thornton described Renoudet as “a wonderful, great, kind man,�? and mentioned he was still working today.

Thornton was happy to say that the Country Bear Jamboree was also available on the Wonderland series. Hodgkins quickly pointed out that this was the only way to get that recording today. America Sings was also among the original eight titles, featured among the 40 available in the initial rollout.

The Wonderland Music series seeks to recreate the original recordings with complete fidelity.

Thornton then covered a number of recordings that are or will be available in phase 2. Among them were:

-- Alice in Wonderland, featuring the rarest cover art work;

-- Babes in Toyland;

-- Date Nite at Disneyland. Thornton mentioned he learned about this delightful time capsule through an internet chat room;

-- George Bruns-- Deep in the Heart of Dixieland. “This is one of my favorite covers,�? said Thornton of X. Atencio’s design;

-- Fess Parker—Cowboy and Indian Songs;

-- Walt Disney Presents Professor Ludwig von Drake. Of this title, Thornton simply said, “I have wanted this out so long, I cannot tell you.�? he added it had taken him 17 years to get this one to the public;

-- Peter and the Wolf, which Thornton said was one of the most recognized recordings. Thornton revealed that Prokoviev created Peter and the Wolf with Walt Disney’a animation in mind. Thornton was pleased to make this version, with narration by Sterling Holloway, available after a long absence.

An illustration from the original Peter and the Wolf recording

-- Let’s Hear it for Robin Hood with Louis Prima. “Tim O’Day’s favorite,�? cried Thornton. He continued, “Many people didn’t know King Louie and Robin Hood were friends, OK?�?

-- Secrets of Life. Thornton has been trying to get this music by Paul Smith to the public for some time.

Thornton briefly departed from enumerating the titles available to describe the process it took to first produce these albums. Between the original sessions and the pressings, most recordings went through a minimum of three generations (recording, editing, and pressing). Today, digital technology allows editors and engineers to work directly from the master. High sampling of original source material now makes it possible to provide superior recordings of vintage materials, he explained. Hodgkins jokingly offered to provide a recording workshop at a future convention, in which attendees could work with studio masters and produce their own soundtrack restorations.

Thornton then returned to the Wonderland recordings coming up:

--Summer Magic, which Thornton offered to restore in time to offer the soundtrack with the DVD release. Stores were uncooperative, though, but now the work can be made available through this technology. Thornton also mentioned the possibility of releasing the Wonderland series through iTunes, thereby making them even more widely available.

--Tinpanorama, which consisted of all the songs the Sherman Brothers composed for A Symposium of Popular Music. Thornton noted that the song Boogie Woogie Bakery Man was reworked for Epcot’s Kitchen Kabaret number Boogie Woogie Bakery Boy; and

--Tubby the Tuba, read by Annette. Thronton recounted that he had worked with Tubby producer Bruce Botnick, the Sherman Brothers, and Annette producer Tutti Camarata on A Musical Reunion with Annette. During the sessions, he kind of sneaked in Tubby the Tuba, and ten years later it was finally available.

Thornton also mentioned that, despite his desire to restore or recreate these vintage recordings, he also would sometimes retain bad edits—because they were what people grew up hearing. “I think it’s kind of cool to leave those things alone,�? he said with satisfaction.