Louis Prima - Louis Prima with Gia Maione Let's Fly with Mary Poppins (1965/2020)

The score of Mary Poppins was recorded by many singers and musicians after the movie's premiere in 1964, including Duke Ellington and John Coltrane ("Chim Chim Cheree"). Singer-trumpeter Louis Prima was one of the first, cutting versions of "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Stay Awake" before executives from the Buena Vista label (owned by Disney) suggested he record enough additional material for a full album. The music ended up quite lightweight, and this set is very brief (27 minutes). Prima only takes one trumpet solo (a rather weak statement on "The Perfect Nanny"), and the ten numbers (two of which are performed twice, the second time in Italian) are essentially treated as novelties by Prima and his then-wife Gia Maione. Only one number is longer than 2:41 and, although there is a cheerful warmth in the vocal interplay of Prima and Maione, the end results are rather pointless. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (especially the Italian version) is difficult to sit through. A historical curiosity but little more.