VA- They Stopped The Show

DSCN4833 (800x784)This beauty was 80 cents.  It had a lot of the show tunes I like.  It had decent performers as well.  Some of you may ask why show tunes?  I do not know.  That was the pop music at the time.  Also, I am kind of amazed that this was the stage that the world’s top actors/ actresses shined on before being overtaken by film. Plus, they had to be versatile with not only acting but singing and dancing as well.  They also had to do it night after night instead of a one time film performance.x2010.11.941

This record, released in on Decca Records, is a collection of popular Broadway tunes, sung by (according to the record) the original cast.  All the big names of the period are here.  There are three Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes.  Also included are Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Kurt Weill, and E.Y. Harburg.  DSCN4834 (800x775)

The performers are also well represented here with John Raitt, Betty Garrett, Mary Martin, Ray Bolger, Gertrude Lawrence, Walter Huston, and Dooley Wilson (from Casablanca fame). Overall it is a fine record.P-Broadway_Zoom

For sample runner up, I was really impressed by John Raitt (Bonnie’s father) and his version of the “Soliloquy” from R&H’s Carousel.  I thought it was a fine version from the original Billy Bigalow.  I decided not to post it as a sample, though as I come across cast albums for this on a semi-frequent basis.

For a sample, I decided to go with “Swing” from Wonderful Town (music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green).  It opened in 1953 and ran for 559 performances with several revivals.314996_orig

The musical tells the story of two sisters from Ohio who try to make it as a writer and actress in Greenwich Village New York.  The sisters in the original production were played by Edie Adams and Rosalind Russell. This would mark Russell’s return to Broadway as well as lead to her film role Auntie Mame.

I am embarrassed to admit but I used to think Russell was a poor man’s Ethel Merman.  However, I have come around and really appreciate Russell for the great performer that she was.  Here she is performing the number “Swing”.

Top Rated Record for me.

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