"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

How do you keep a Depression-era family film light without sanding off history? This soundtrack splits the difference: bright 1930s standards—some in new studio renditions—paired with Joseph Vitarelli’s warm, melodic score. The official album (12 tracks, New Line/WaterTower) mixes period chestnuts like “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and “When You’re Smiling” with contemporary recordings by The Puppini Sisters, Renée Olstead, Bridgette Bryant, and country baritone Josh Turner, then closes with two Vitarelli cues that fold the story’s heart back into instruments.

The music functions as a radio through-line. Songs arrive as phonograph needles and community-band cues inside Kit’s Cincinnati, while the score carries quieter beats—pride, panic, and the small victories that hold a household together. According to label and album notes, the compilation streeted June 17, 2008, shortly before the film’s July release.

Questions & Answers

Who composed the score?

Joseph Vitarelli wrote the original score; two of his cues (“An American Girl,” “Kit”) appear on the album.

Is this a “songs only” compilation?

No. It’s a hybrid: 10 songs (era covers/period recordings) plus 2 score tracks.

What label released it?

New Line Records (now under WaterTower Music for digital listings).

Who handled music supervision?

Evyen J. Klean is credited as Music Supervisor in studio/archival credits.

Does the movie use vintage masters or new recordings?

Both. You’ll hear historic sides (e.g., Cliff Edwards) and new session cuts (e.g., The Puppini Sisters, Renée Olstead, Josh Turner).

Is there a separate score album?

No separate release; only the two score selections are on the OST.

Notes & Trivia

• Album format: 12 tracks, ~39–40 minutes listed by label sites; some platforms display the running time rounded.
• “Side by Side” opens the film; it’s widely cited as the entry needle that sets the family-first tone.
• Renée Olstead’s “Ain’t We Got Fun” underscores a mid-film dance-class/community scene, playing ironic cheer against hard times.
• Cliff Edwards’ vintage “It’s Only a Paper Moon” lands as a diegetic radio/phonograph moment, keeping the period texture intact.

Genres & Themes

Swing & vocal pop → Optimism with scuffs. Upbeat standards sell resilience without ignoring scarcity.

Close-harmony retro → Community. The Puppini Sisters’ tight voicings echo the film’s neighborhood-helps-neighborhood vibe.

Lyric score → Private truth. Vitarelli’s cues carry Kit’s inner voice: aspiration, fear, and pride in small plans.

Tracks & Scenes

“Side by Side” — The Puppini Sisters
Scene: Opening/early sequence over household bustle and neighbor cameos; a phonograph/radio vibe sets the era. Diegetic-adjacent.
Why it matters: Thesis in three minutes: togetherness is the strategy.

“Ain’t We Got Fun” — Renée Olstead
Scene: Community dance-class/mid-film gathering, where upbeat lyrics undercut money worries. Non-diegetic into source feel.
Why it matters: Lyrical dissonance that fits the story’s cheer-through-strain tone.

“When You’re Smiling” — Billie Holiday
Scene: Street-life montage as Kit cycles through small hustles and headlines. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Period timbre gives the picture documentary edges.

“Bye Bye Blackbird” — Bridgette Bryant
Scene: Evening interior as the family resets after a setback; low-light comfort. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: A gentle emotional level-set before the next plan.

“Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag” — Spike Jones
Scene: Errands and bulletin-board gags; brisk, comic montage energy. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Uses novelty swing to keep pace bright.

“Playmates” — The Puppini Sisters
Scene: Kids’ club/treehouse beats as Kit drafts the next “editorial.” Diegetic-adjacent.
Why it matters: Harmony equals friendship—musically literal.

“It’s Only a Paper Moon” — Cliff Edwards
Scene: Radio/phonograph source cue during a domestic scene; scratches and all. Diegetic.
Why it matters: Authentic needle that locks the timeline.

“Don’t Fence Me In” — Josh Turner
Scene: Travel/change-of-scene montage as plans shift late in the story. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: Modern recording, classic sentiment—fits Kit’s itch to report beyond her block.

“My Shawl” — Xavier Cugat
Scene: Neighborhood social with food tables and borrowed finery. Source-y room sound.
Why it matters: Adds cosmopolitan color without leaving Cincinnati.

“Your Best Friend” — Bridgette Bryant
Scene: Mother-daughter heart-to-heart; slow pan, soft lighting. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: The album’s most explicitly supportive lyric pays off the theme.

“An American Girl” — Joseph Vitarelli (score)
Scene: Penultimate reveal and family regrouping; strings and woodwinds steady the frame. Non-diegetic score.
Why it matters: Turns plot mechanics into felt resolve.

“Kit” — Joseph Vitarelli (score)
Scene: Closing run and credits; the melody you carry out of the theater. Non-diegetic score.
Why it matters: A simple theme that reads as Kit’s inner headline.

Music–Story Links

Song placements behave like neighbors: they show up, pitch in, and keep spirits up. When the story narrows to Kit’s private doubts, the songs recede and the score steps forward. The balance lets the film hold two truths—times are hard, and people are kind—without preaching.

How It Was Made

Score by Joseph Vitarelli; music supervision by Evyen J. Klean. The compilation came via New Line Records (now handled digitally by WaterTower Music). According to label copy and credits, the album interleaves licensed sides, newly recorded covers, and two score cues—an economical approach that keeps the film’s sound world cohesive.

Reception & Quotes

Reviews praised the film’s gentle tone and period detail; the soundtrack’s mix of familiar standards and cozy performances drew nods for keeping the mood buoyant.

“A warm family film with a lovingly curated period palette.” review summaries

“The music does quiet heavy lifting—smiles first, then truth.” album-era coverage

Additional Info

• Digital availability: Streaming on major platforms under the original 2008 OST title.
• Performers of note: The Puppini Sisters (openers and mid-album harmony), Renée Olstead (spotlit vocal), Josh Turner (cowboy-croon cover).
• Historic cuts: Cliff Edwards (“Paper Moon”), Xavier Cugat (“My Shawl”), Billie Holiday (“When You’re Smiling”).
• Edition variations: Artwork/labeling may show New Line Records; digital storefronts often display WaterTower Music as licensee.
• Trailer Video ID: WeJNNG-wSbk (figures above).

Technical Info

• Title: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
• Year / Type: 2008 / Film soundtrack (songs + score highlights)
• Composer: Joseph Vitarelli
• Music Supervision: Evyen J. Klean
• Label: New Line Records (WaterTower Music digital handling)
• Key placements: “Side by Side,” “Ain’t We Got Fun,” “When You’re Smiling,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” “Don’t Fence Me In,” “Your Best Friend,” “An American Girl,” “Kit.”

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: label/retail listings; soundtrack album pages; film credits databases; popular-culture references noting opening cue placement; trailer postings.

November, 12th 2025