Let's Make Love [Bonus Tracks] – Marilyn Monroe

This is the original motion picture soundtrack to Marilyn Monroe's penultimate cinematic effort, Let's Make Love (1960). She co-starred with her then-beau, Yves Montand, as Amanda Dell, an up-and-coming actress who gets a part playing opposite Montand's character, millionaire Jean-Marc Clement. The lightweight comedic affair was a perfect vehicle for Monroe's arguably limited dramatic range. One of the film's most memorable scenes is the performance of Cole Porter's "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." The over the top camp and pseudo-sensuality perhaps unintentionally parodies Monroe's sex kitten image. The same can be said of the Sammy Cahn/Jimmy Van Heusen title song, which is offered in different arrangements as respective solos for both Monroe and Montand. A third version -- included on the 2003 CD reissue -- also features English actor/singer Frankie Vaughan. In fact, it is Vaughan's co-vocals on "Specialization" and "Incurable Romantic" that save them from Monroe's hapless incompetence. His solo, "Hey You With the Crazy Eyes," is a breezy pop tune with real character and stands as one of the highlights. Noted jazz pianist/composer/arranger Gerald Wiggins scored the film's incidental tracks "Latin One" and "Strip City" -- as well as "Christmas Eve Waltz," which is only available on the 2003 CD. While his contributions are brief, if not somewhat understated, they provide much-needed musical compensation. The CD release also includes Dominic Frontiere's orchestrated versions of "Hey You With the Crazy Eyes" and the aforementioned Monroe/Vaughan duet on "Let's Make Love." Inevitably, there will be cinemaniacs who will give this soundtrack a higher evaluation, presumably on the merit of Monroe's association alone. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide