Laughing in the Dark [Import] [Original recording remastered]

laughing in the dark [import] [original recording remastered]

Track Listings
1. Love Goes Underground
2. I'm Leavin'
3. Stop! Wait a Minute
4. Come on Madeline
5. I'm the One
6. Better Way to Win
7. On and On
8. Lovesmith
9. Black Magic
10. Gimme Gimme
11. Crash and Burn
12. Blue Wind [Live][*]
13. Stroll On [Live][*]
14. I'm Not Talking [Live][*]
15. I'm Leaving [Live][*]
16. Crash and Burn [Live][*]
17. Close Your Eyes [Live][*]

Laughing in the Dark,Pezband,Vivid Sound,New Wave,Power Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Laughing in the Dark [Import] [Original recording remastered]
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life: The Songs of Victor Herbert
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Some old favourites, and some unfamiliar, enjoyable voices and songs
 Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life: The Songs of Victor Herbert

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HerbertAll Works by Herbert | Herbert, Victor | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
MarchesMarches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ContemporaryGeneral Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
NostalgiaNostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
Traditional PopTraditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Broadway & VocalistsBroadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Vocal JazzVocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Traditional & Vocal PopTraditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Music of Sigmund Romberg
  2. Great Hits from Sigmund Romberg
  3. The Desert Song / The New Moon
  4. When I'm Calling You
  5. A Victor Herbert Showcase: The Greatest Hits of the Father of American Popular Song

ASIN: B00004U9MZ
Release Date: 2000-08-22

Tracks:

  1. Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life! - Richard Crooks
  2. Gypsy Love Song - CHARLES KULLMAN
  3. Romany Life - Jeanette MacDonald
  4. March Of The Toys - Victor Young & His Concert Orchestra
  5. Kiss Me Again - Florence Easton
  6. (The Day Is Done...) Moonbeams - Richard Crooks
  7. Italian Street Song - Florence George/The Max Terr Choristers
  8. I'm Falling In Love With Someone - CHARLES KULLMAN
  9. 'Neath The Southern Moon - Nelson Eddy
  10. Tramp, Tramp, Tramp! - Nelson Eddy
  11. Paul's Address: (My Commander As Envoy Bids Me Come...) No Country Can My Own Outvie - John McCormack
  12. I List The Trill In Golden Throat - Alma Gluck/Charles Schuetz
  13. The Cricket On The Earth - Christie MacDonald/Reginald Werrenrath/Howard Ratty
  14. Sweethearts - Richard Tauber
  15. To Land Of My Own Romance - John McHugh
  16. When You're Away - Richard Tauber
  17. Neapolitan Love Song - Richard Crooks
  18. Ireland, My Sireland (When Shall I Again See Ireland?) - John McCormick/Dominic Melillo
  19. Eileen Alannah Ashthore - John McCormick/Dominic Melillo
  20. Thine Alone - CHARLES KULLMAN
  21. A Kiss In The Dark - Amelita Galli-Curci
  22. Indian Summer - Richard Tauber
  23. Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life! - Jeanette Macdonald/Nelson Eddy

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Some old favourites, and some unfamiliar, enjoyable voices and songs.......2007-03-11

This compilation has the usual songs that immediately bring the name of composer Victor Herbert to mind - Ah, sweet mystery of life, I'm falling in love with someone and Tramp, tramp, tramp - with such well known voices as those of Macdonald, Eddy and the famous tenors, Richard Crooks, Richard Tauber and Charles Kullmann.

Perhaps of greater interest to many listeners will be the relatively seldom heard artists, such as John McHugh, Florence Easton and Florence George. All three have very pleasant voices and aural personalities.

It is a somewhat mixed delight to hear Amelita Galli-Curci, John McCormack, Alma Gluck and Richard Werrenrath in recordings from the acoustic era. My personal favourite from that group is Galli-Cutci's charming version of A kiss in the dark.

Altogether, a well chosen mixture of the familiar and the out of the way, carefully and well re-recorded.
Lady In The Dark (1997 Original London Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Good Show
  • Definitive recording
  • Immature interpretations of a sophisticated musical score
  • I'm just glad somebody made it.
  • Thank God it's out of the Dark!
 Lady In The Dark (1997 Original London Cast)
Ira Gershwin
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by WeillAll Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Knickerbocker Holiday
  2. Lady In The Dark (1950 Original Cast Members)
  3. Lady in the Dark/Down in the Valley
  4. Lost In The Stars (1949 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Weill: Lady in the Dark / Risë Stevens, Adolph Green, Lehman Engel, Danny Kaye

ASIN: B000006PVR
Release Date: 1998-05-05

Tracks:

  1. Glamour Dream: Oh, Fabulous One
  2. Glamour Dream: Huxley
  3. Glamour Dream: One Life To Live
  4. Glamour Dream: Girl Of The Moment
  5. Wedding Dream: Liza, Liza
  6. Wedding Dream: Mapleton High Chorale
  7. Wedding Dream: This Is New
  8. Wedding Dream: The Princess Of Pure Delight
  9. Wedding Dream: The Woman At The Altar
  10. Wedding Dream: Overture
  11. Circus Dream: The Greatest Show On Earth
  12. Circus Dream: Dance Of The Tumblers
  13. Circus Dream: The Best Years Of His Life
  14. Circus Dream: Tschaikovsky
  15. Circus Dream: The Saga Of Jenny
  16. Childhood Dream: My Ship
  17. Childhood Dream: Exit Music

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Good Show.......2007-04-09

This London casting is good, which makes the recording also good. It is nice to have a lot of the score to listen to as it is played and sung with a freshness that doesn't make the musical sound dated.

5 out of 5 stars Definitive recording.......2004-06-24

This brilliant 1997 recording is the only complete example of the Weill/Gershwin/Hart 'musical play'. Maria Friedman is Eliza Elliott (Oliver Award Nominee - Best Actress in a Musical); she plays this notoriously difficult role with dramatic subtlety and an alluring sense of heightened drama. Her character moves through the work with appropriate confusion yet allows for a truly justified revelation (My Ship). The supporting cast are generally good, particularly Steven Edward Moore as Randy Curtis. If there must be a highlight on this recording, it could only be the thematic cohesion of the score - as nonspecific as that may sound! This is one of Weill's best and most loved works, Ira Gershwin said it was the work of which he was most proud as a lyricist. Sound quality is extremely high, showcasing the full orchestration (made for this recording). I could not recommend it more highly.

2 out of 5 stars Immature interpretations of a sophisticated musical score.......2004-04-12

Background: The score to Lady in the Dark is a sophisticated and clever one. The music is complex and holds up well over repeated listenings. This show was Sigmund Freud's debut in a Broadway musical. The lady in question is in the dark about all the indecisiveness in her life, and resorts to psychoanalysis in desperation to solve her problems. The musical numbers are primarily long and elaborate dream sequences that reveal her inner turmoil, and are a perfect counterpoint to her otherwise tight, businesslike personality.

This recording has sumptuous orchestrations, and contains more of the ancillary music than most others of this all-too-rarely performed musical. In fact, this is probably the most complete recording you're likely to find of the show. However, where it falls down completely is in the casting, and interpretation by the characters - primarily, Maria Friedman as the main protagonist, Liza Elliot.

Despite all the wonderful music, one has the uncomfortable sense that you're listening to a high school performance. Not because of the quality of the voices, but because of the simplistic emotional interpretation that comes across in the witty lyrics.

In terms of voice quality, while Friedman has some lovely songs, her voice has a strident sound to it at times that is downright annoying. And there are passages where she seems to be hitting words just a little too hard in her pronunciation, possibly trying to sound more American, but comes off sounding just exaggerated and inappropriate to the character.

While there are others who have reviewed this CD, and suggested that if you want the most complete recording, this is it, I'd say that if you were going to buy only one version, even despite the inferior sound quality, your best bet is the Ann Sothern version.

That CD, recorded from a 1950s Television production, is not only the best ACTED production available, but it comes with virtually all the available original 1940s cast recordings (Gertrude Lawrence and Danny Kaye) as bonus tracks.

For all the great music, and excellent sound quality of this Royal National Theatre production, on balance, the acting/singing interpretations pull it down far enough to outweigh the benefits.

5 out of 5 stars I'm just glad somebody made it........2003-11-27

The orchestra did well. Some of the singers were pretty weak, but overall, it's not bad. I had no idea that Kurt Weill could orchestrate so well! Just listen to the first sample track and you'll know what I mean.

Despite the weak Liza, I give this five stars because it's still a fun listen.

5 out of 5 stars Thank God it's out of the Dark!.......2003-08-07

What a fabulous score! My only reason for my purchase was the hugely talented Maria Friedman, who stars here as psychoanalysed leading-lady Liza Elliott. Music is by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

The ensemble play a large role in the story-telling, where as the leading-lady only gets a few solo songs. This doesn't greatly matter!

All of the music has been written around 4 of Liza's dreams: Glamour Dream, Wedding Dream, Circus Dream and Childhood Dream. I have fell in love with much of the music (all of the music in the Glamour Dream) - although some of the latter dreams may seam somewhat monotonous.

The music dates back to 1940. There are some brilliantly tuneful motifs here, which you feel you have to hear over and over!

The vocals are in the region of Classical Music Theatre, rather than popular styles. Therefore, it is absolutely suited for the National Theatre, from where this recording originates.
All the original orchestrations, by Kurt Weill, are used here, which are absolutely lovely. Therefore, there are considerable differences compared to the NT's live production, where they re-orchestrated using a much smaller orchestra. Also, although all the NT's performers are recorded, the score is in its original key. I believe that Maria Friedman needed the score transposed down for the show, although I strongly believe that she sounds fantastic in her higher register.

I thought I wouldn't enjoy this style of theatre, from the Gershwin days, but I have been truly and excitedly thrilled by this fantastic show. I can't get enough of the Glamour Dream!

Tip: I would firstly listen to the C.D. whilst reading the enclosed synopsis/lyrics! You get a better idea of meaning!

Although none were awarded, Lady in the Dark received a few Olivier nominations, including best new musical, and Maria Friedman as best actress.
Weill: Lady in the Dark / Risë Stevens, Adolph Green, Lehman Engel, Danny Kaye
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • stunning studio album in creamy stereo
  • STELLAR STAR!
  • There IS a more complete recording. . .
  • Great Fun
  • A fun, if abbreviated, recording
 Weill: Lady in the Dark / Risë Stevens, Adolph Green, Lehman Engel, Danny Kaye
Kurt Weill , Maurice de Abravanel , Risë Stevens , Adolph Green , Danny Kaye , Lehman Engel , Michael Kellman , Dennis D. Rooney , and John Reardon
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by WeillAll Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
MusicalsMusicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Lost In The Stars (1949 Original Broadway Cast)
  2. Lady In The Dark (1997 Original London Cast)
  3. Street Scene: An American Opera
  4. Lady in the Dark/Down in the Valley
  5. Lady In The Dark (1950 Original Cast Members)

ASIN: B0000029VA
Release Date: 1997-06-03

Tracks:

  1. Lady In The Dark: Glamour Dream: Oh, Fabulous One
  2. Lady In The Dark: Huxley (Liza, Beekman)
  3. Lady In The Dark: One Life To Live (Liza)
  4. Lady In The Dark: Girl Of The Moment (Liza)
  5. Lady In The Dark: Wedding Dream: Liza, Liza
  6. Lady In The Dark: Mapleton High Chorale
  7. Lady In The Dark: This Is New (Randy, Liza)
  8. Lady In The Dark: The Princess Of Pure Delight (Liza, Randy)
  9. Lady In The Dark: Circus Dream: The Greatest Show On Earth (Ringmaster, Randy)
  10. Lady In The Dark: The Best Years Of His Life (Ringmaster, Randy, Liza)
  11. Lady In The Dark: Tschaikowsky (Ringmaster)
  12. Lady In The Dark: The Saga Of Jenny (Liza)
  13. Lady In The Dark: Childhood Dream: My Ship (Liza)
  14. Lady In The Dark: One Life To Live
  15. Lady In The Dark: The Princess Of Pure Delight
  16. Lady In The Dark: It's Never Too Late To Mendelssohn
  17. Lady In The Dark: Tschaikowsky And Other Russians
  18. Lady In The Dark: Jenny
  19. Lady In The Dark: My Ship

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars stunning studio album in creamy stereo.......2004-08-05

This studio album of Weill and Gershwin's LADY IN THE DARK features the lovely Rise Stevens making the role of Liza Elliott her own, with Adolph Green in the role that made Danny Kaye a star in the original production.

This sumptuous reissue on the Columbia 'Masterworks Heritage' label presents the recording in creamy stereo, with the orchestra under the baton of Lehman Engel. Rise Stevens is perhaps the best singer to have played Liza on any recording of LADY IN THE DARK. The trained opera singer lets her hair down for the manic "Saga of Jenny", and yields glowing versions of "My Ship" and "One Life to Live". Also featured among the cast are John Reardon and Stephanie Augustine.

My only qualm about the release is the horrid packaging. The disc is enclosed in a cardboard sleeve at the back of a booklet-style slipcase, leaving the CD vulnerable to scratches and dust (I remedied the problem by putting the CD in a separate plastic jewel case and filing it on the shelf next to the empty booklet case). However this should not deter collectors and musical theatre fans from seeking out this lovely recording.

5 out of 5 stars STELLAR STAR!.......2003-01-03

MISS STEVENS shinesas Liza Eliot in this perfect recording of "Lady in the Dark". [For the first time - with repect to the other artists - the lyrics are pristine!] THE recording? IF you own a 'surround system' - this one IS flawless - just a perfect balance of voice and instrument. [A great restoration job - if only they could do the same to the Lawrence version....]

FOR the collector - get all three recordings currently available - the 1997 London version is the most complete, the Gertrude Lawrence? It's more of a Star Vehicle for Miss Lawrence - lots of dialogue - with really only the two "Liza' numbers - "Saga of Jenmny" and "My Ship" intact - but also well worth the journey.

AS A BONUS - Miss Stevens recording contains the Danny Kaye contribution missing from the Gertrude Lawrence recording - plus his versions of "My Ship" and "The Saga of Jenny".

4 out of 5 stars There IS a more complete recording. . ........2000-12-06

This recording is terrific, but for a more complete recording with much better quality, look for the Original Cast Recording from the Royal National Theatre Production. It's got all the bridging music which is phenomenal.

5 out of 5 stars Great Fun.......1999-04-15

Until the definitive full version of the score comes out--with all the bridging material and orchestral interludes--this is probably the most complete of one of the greatest and most charming classic Broadway scores (and probably Ira Gershwin's masterpiece). Rise Stevens was born to play the part, and though at times she gets a bit excessive (especially in the dialogue) her voice is beautiful and confident (a high point is her counterpointing the chorus during "The Best Years of His Life"), and iat times really soars, as in "This is new." Adolph Green is hilarious--it's a great tragedy he never got to play this role on Broadway.

4 out of 5 stars A fun, if abbreviated, recording.......1999-04-02

A nifty performance of one of Broadway's classic scores. The biggest problem is that just about everything is slightly abridged (mostly verses, connecting material, dialogue underscoring and choral repeats--although if I'm reading the vocal score right, most of this would still be interesting to listen to); still, a reasonably good taste of the whole thing. The liner notes also don't really give a story synopsis, so if you aren't familiar with the plot, seek out a summary so you aren't completely confused by what is going on. Rise Stevens' acting is pretty mannered, and she goes over the top vocally every now and then; she seems to be shouting, not singing at the end of "Jenny." Adolph Green is hysterically funny and acquits himself supremely well in "Tchaikovsky." How you'll enjoy the appendix of Danny Kaye's recordings depends on how much you like Danny Kaye--enough said.
Best of Broadway: The Impossible Dream
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Best of Broadway: The Impossible Dream

    Manufacturer: Reader's Digest
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by PorterAll Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Rodgers, RichardRodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
    4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Classical4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Soundtracks4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Best of Broadway: Some Enchanted Evening
    2. Best of Broadway: The Music of the Night
    3. Best of Broadway: There's No Business
    4. Best of Broadway: Till There Was You
    5. Best of Broadway: Anything Goes

    ASIN: B00006312Y
    Release Date: 2002-03-12

    Tracks:

    1. Man Of La Mancha: The Impossible Dream (The Quest)
    2. Les Miserables: I Dreamed A Dream
    3. The Band Wagon: Dancing In The Dark - The Stardust Voices
    4. The Boys From Syracuse: This Can't Be Love - The Romantic Strings Orchestra
    5. The Sound Of Music: Edelweiss
    6. Mexican Hayride: I Love You - The Romantic Strings Orchestra
    7. The King & I: Hello, Young Lovers
    8. South Pacific: This Nearly Was Mine
    9. Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Mary Carewe
    10. Of Thee I Sing: Of Thee I Sing
    11. South Pacific: Younger Than Springtime
    12. Follow Thru: Button Up Your Overcoat - The King Sisters, Frank Devol & His Orchestra
    Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Dandy
    • WOW Simply the best reconstructed show album to date!!
    • More than Fine, and More than Dandy!
    • Not To Be Missed
    • fabulous discovery!
    		 Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording)
    Kay Swift , Carolee Carmello , Gavin Creel , Andrea Burns , Mark Linn-Baker , John Pizzarelli , Ann Hampton Callaway , and Jessica Molaskey
    Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Vocal Jazz GeneralVocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
    ContemporaryContemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    2. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    3. The New Moon (2003 Encores! Revival Concert Cast)
    4. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
    5. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B0001XAQDM
    Release Date: 2004-05-25

    Tracks:

    1. Overture (Orchestra)
    2. Machine Shop Opening (Mark Linn-Baker & Ensemble)
    3. Rich or Poor (Gavin Creel & Jennifer Laura Thompson)
    4. Fine and Dandy (Carolee Carmello & Mario Cantone)
    5. Sing High (Male Ensemble)
    6. I'll Hit a New High (Andrea Burns & Male Ensemble)
    7. Starting at the Bottom (Gavin Creel)
    8. Can This Be Love? (Carolee Carmello)
    9. Fordyce (Ensemble)
    10. Let's Go Eat Worms in the Garden (Gavin Creel, Carolee Carmello & Ensemble)
    11. Etiquette (Mark Linn-Baker & Ensemble)
    12. The Jig-Hop (Andrea Burns & Ensemble)
    13. Can This Be Love? (reprise) (Jennifer Laura Thompson & Gavin Creel)
    14. Wedding Bells (Ensemble)
    15. Nobody Breaks My Heart (Carolee Carmello)
    16. Nature Will Provide (Deborah Tranelli)
    17. Finale Ultimo (Carolee Carmello & Ensemble)
    18. Up Among the Chimney Pots (Natalie Douglas)
    19. Can't We Be Friends? (John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey)
    20. Whistling in the Dark (Jack Donahue)
    21. Once You Find Your Guy (Ann Hampton Callaway)

    Amazon.com

    Mary Rodgers is usually heralded as musical theater's sole woman composer, but this new recording of a long-lost gem introduces us to another brilliant member of Broadway's thin female ranks: Kay Swift. Collaborating with her husband, lyricist James Paul Warburg (writing as Paul James), Swift penned a splendid collection of tunes-in turn touching, daffy, percolating and tender-for this 1930 show. Taking place in the unlikely setting of a tool-and-die factory, Fine and Dandy is a bubbly jazz age musical full of melodic invention and lyrical twists. Fans of the Gershwins' 1920s oeuvre will adore this world-premiere recording, and in fact George is namechecked in the wonderful title track, in which Carolee Carmello and Mario Cantone compete in spirited one-upmanship. The CD also includes four songs written by Swift between 1929 and 1950; like Plain and Fancy, they serve to remind us that Swift was one of Broadway's unsung heroes. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

    Description

    The classic 1930 musical comedy in its world premiere recording, featuring a 28-piece orchestra and a cast of Broadway and jazz greats. An amazing roster of talent including Carolee Carmello (Kiss Me Kate, Parade), Gavin Creel (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Mario Cantone (Assassins and TV's Sex & The City), Mark Linn-Baker (A Year With Frog and Toad and TV's Perfect Strangers) and Jennifer Laura Thompson (Urinetown, Footloose) # is joined by bestselling jazz artists Ann Hampton Callaway, John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, all in loving tribute to one of the few female composers from the first half of the 20th Century: the legendary Kay Swift. With a new biography of the composer, entitled Fine and Dandy: The Life and Work of Kay Swift, due out June 1 from Yale University Press, this new recording is sure to attract the attention of Broadway and jazz music-lovers everywhere. Overture (Orchestra), Rich or Poor (Gavin Creel & Jennifer Laura Thompson), Fine and Dandy (Carolee Carmello & Mario Cantone), Machine Shop Opening (Mark Linn-Baker & Ensemble), Starting at the Bottom (Gavin Creel), Can This Be Love? (Carolee Carmello), I'll Hit a New High (Andrea Burns & Male Ensemble), Picnic Song (Ensemble), Let's Go Eat Worms in the Garden (Gavin Creel, Carolee Carmello & Ensemble), Can't We Be Friends? (John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey), Up Among the Chimney Pots (Natalie Douglas), Whistling in the Dark (Jack Donahue), Etiquette (Mark Linn-Baker & Ensemble), The Jig-Hop (Andrea Burns & Ensemble), Nobody Breaks My Heart (Carolee Carmello), Can This Be Love? (reprise) (Jennifer Laura Thompson & Gavin Creel), Wedding Bells (Ensemble), Waltz (Deborah Tranelli), Finale Ultimo (Mario Cantone, Carolee Carmello & Ensemble), Once You Find Your Guy (Ann Hampton Callaway)

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Dandy.......2005-05-06

    No one will easily mistake Kay Swift for Gershwin, but it is great that she is finally getting some recognition beyond "Can't We Be Friends?" (included here on this LP as a sort of bonus) which isn't itself all that familiar except to cabaret aficionados. Writing true show music is a different kettle of fish, an art form with different skills, and listening to this LP one begins to construct a live production of FINE AND DANDY in one's head. The voices of the individual performers are immensely helpful in this journey, and some of the tracks you could listen to day and night. I understand that Donald Ogden Stewart wrote the book for this show and I would love to get my hands on it, having enjoyed some of the films he worked on so much, Dinner at Eight, Holiday, Kitty Foyle, The Philadelphia Story and Europa 51 among them. His Socialist bent had an appealing, whimsical side to it and I can see the factory for which Kay Swift wrote her enchanting opening number as the perfect laboratory for Ogden Stewart's brand of inspired nuttiness. Gavin Creel and Carolee Carmello are vivacious and even infectious on their tracks, and it sounds as though they love the songs as much as we love them. "Can This Be Love?" already sounds like a standard, and I predict many renditions of the comical complaint number "Let's Go Eat Worms."

    Don't know if a revival of the show would be successful, but it sounds as though it needs one bravura comedian to put it over big. Back in the 1930s they had Joe Cook. Who is Joe Cook's equivalent today? Someone like Will Ferrell I guess--gulp.

    5 out of 5 stars WOW Simply the best reconstructed show album to date!!.......2005-02-23

    Fine and Dandy is simply the best 30s musical to be reconstructed for CD yet, and it was a complete surprise because who knew any of the songs from this show? Well, we know them now and they are teriffic, and performed by an equally teriffic cast, especially Carolee Carmello, Gavin Cleel and Jennifer Laura Thompson. Would it be fair to say that Ms. Carmello is wildly underappreciated? I have adored her ever since seeing her as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors many years ago in Boston. Here she is wonderful especially in Lets Go Eat Worms in the Garden and Nobody Breaks My Heart. It was so unexpected to find such a treasure trove of foot tapping songs, but here they are. BUY THIS CD if you like musicals at all, you won't be sorry.

    5 out of 5 stars More than Fine, and More than Dandy!.......2004-09-18

    I am very selective in writing reviews for Amazon - so if you're reading this, then please know that I must really, really love this c.d. And I hope my "review" helps in your decision whether or not to buy it!
    Having said that...this recording is tremendous. Kay Swift's music comes to life through the talented and spectacular voices, most notebly of Gavin Creel and Carolee Carmello. I think I listen to their duet (Track 10), at least once a day. The whole thing is just pure broadway fun, the way it used to be! The only bad thing about this c.d. is that you wished they had staged this musical, so that you could go see it live!

    5 out of 5 stars Not To Be Missed.......2004-05-31

    Kay Swift, best-known for her close association with George Gershwin, was one of the few female composers to write for Broadway. Fine and Dandy was her first book musical, featuring lyrics by husband Paul James, and became one of the biggest hits of Broadway's 1930-31 season. However, like many musicals of the era, most of the original performance materials were lost over the years. In the mid-`80s, Swift began to reconstruct the score, assisted by orchestrator Russell Warner, who continued the work following her death in 1993. The new recording is a revelation, for the songs are, as the title says, fine and dandy--clever and romantic by turns, and always tuneful. Those who love Gershwin's "Strike Up the Band" and "Of Thee I Sing" will find a similar feel here, helped by strong performances from Carolee Carmello, Gavin Creel, Mario Cantone, Mark Linn-Baker and Jennifer Laura Thompson, bolstered by a full orchestra. The CD also includes several other songs by Swift, including the classic "Can't We Be Friends?"

    5 out of 5 stars fabulous discovery!.......2004-05-29

    This is an amazing score: witty, clever, fantastically inventive music -- fans of Gershwin et al will be delighted to discover this delightful show. What a great contribution to the American songbook. And hats off to PS Classics for this debut nonprofit historical recording, which has impeccable production quality. Can't wait for the next one they release.
    Anything Goes/The Bandwagon
    Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    • Entire production by Mary (boring) Martin!
    		 Anything Goes/The Bandwagon

    Manufacturer: Drg
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by PorterAll Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    NostalgiaNostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
    Vocal JazzVocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Classical4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 Soundtracks4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. My Heart Belongs to Daddy
    2. Jennie (1963 Original Broadway Cast)
    3. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    4. Loesser by Loesser: A Salute to Frank Loesser
    5. By the Beautiful Sea (1954 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B000060PC6
    Release Date: 2002-04-09

    Tracks:

    1. Overture - Orchestra
    2. You're The Top
    3. All Through The Night
    4. There'll Always Be A Lady Fair - Chorus
    5. Anything Goes
    6. I Get A Kick Out Of You
    7. Blow, Gabriel, Blow
    8. Finale
    9. Overture - Orchestra
    10. Opening/It Better Be Good - Chorus
    11. Hoops
    12. High And Low
    13. Confession
    14. New Sun In The Sky
    15. Dancing In The Dark
    16. I Love Louisa - Chorus
    17. Where Can He Be?
    18. Finale
    19. (I Wonder Why) You're Just In Love (Bonus Track 1)

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Entire production by Mary (boring) Martin!.......2004-01-25

    This CD reissues two ancient 10" Lps from the early 1950s of selections from ANYTHING GOES and THE BANDWAGON.

    ANYTHING GOES - with so many other better recordings this collection is little needed. Mary Martin was a poor choice for the album since the show was written for Ethel Merman, and just a Ethel would not have been appropriate in SOUND OF MUSIC or PETER PAN, Mary should not have been cast in this recorded version of ANYTHING GOES. Also with no one else in the cast the duets lack theatrical context. The orchestrations are not the originals from 1934, and now sound very dated.

    THE BANDWAGON - This collection seems better suited to Mary Martin, although again the original theatrical context is lost since it's just her and the chorus performing. Those familiar with the 1953 movie THE BANDWAGON may be surprised that only 3 songs from the revue were used in the film, so this disc offers a chance to hear the opening chorus:"It Better Be Good"; the delightful "Hoops"; and "Where Can He Be?" This last number is perfectly suited to Ms. Martin's voice and talents. She also makes the most of "Dancing in the Dark" and the slightly risque "Confession." But, a little Mary goes a long way!!!
    Lady In The Dark (1950 Original Cast Members)
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • The Original
    • Not original cast but Gertie is Great.
    • Not even for Gertrude Lawrence fans!
    • GERTIE THE GREAT!
    • the music sounds muffled and muddy; speaking voices OK
    		 Lady In The Dark (1950 Original Cast Members)
    Kurt Weill , and Ira Gershwin
    Manufacturer: Aei
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    NostalgiaNostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    CabaretCabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
    Broadway & VocalistsBroadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    Traditional & Vocal PopTraditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Lady In The Dark (1997 Original London Cast)
    2. Lady in the Dark/Down in the Valley
    3. Knickerbocker Holiday
    4. Bells Are Ringing (1956 Original Broadway Cast)
    5. Weill: Lady in the Dark / Risë Stevens, Adolph Green, Lehman Engel, Danny Kaye

    ASIN: B000000N5F
    Release Date: 1995-07-14

    Tracks:

    1. Act One, Scene One: Dr. Brooks' Office
    2. Scene Two: Liza Elliott's Office (The SameDay)
    3. Scene Three: Dr. Brooks' Office (The Next Day): Oh Fabulous One In Your Ivory Tower/One Life To Live
    4. Scene Four: Liza Elliott's Office (Late That Afternoon)
    5. Scene Five: Dr. Brooks' Office (That Evening)
    6. Act Two, Scene One: Liza Elliott's Office (Late The Following Afternoon): The Saga Of Jenny
    7. Scene Two: Dr. Brooks' Office (Later That Evening): My Ship
    8. Scene Three: Liza Elliott's Office (A Week Later): My Ship

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars The Original.......2007-04-09

    Even though this is Gertrude Lawrence at her best and a good recording, there is a lot of dialouge from the show. So for those expecting a CD full of songs and music beware at times this is like listening to a play. But the CD is still worth buying for it's artistic and historical value.

    4 out of 5 stars Not original cast but Gertie is Great........2002-12-27

    In my opinion this CD sounds like a copy of one of Gerties shortened radio show Versions, though I am not certain.She did 30 min and 45 minute verions of all of her plays on her radio show she had in the 40's-50's. The talking part of this CD is excellent and Gertie, and the supporting cast are great. The script is very funny, very witty with an interesting plot. And Gertie is hysterically funny in certain scenes,She is the best in this kind of many faceted role of Liza. But the Music parts are shortened Versions and the sound quality is terrible though Gertie's singing is fine. so buy this CD if you want to capture Gertie and her acting talents, but if you are a Music conisseur forget it it's terrible.

    1 out of 5 stars Not even for Gertrude Lawrence fans!.......2002-08-26

    This CD is shamefully misleading! It only features snipets of the original score and two members of the original cast. In fact, there is more dialogue than music on this CD! Worse, it sound like somebody dug up a set of '78s they found buried at the bottom of their gandfather's trunk and decided to record them on CD, scratches, pops, and all! I am a huge fan of Gertie Lawrence, but even I didn't have the nerve to play this CD more than once! Pick up The Royal National Theatre's production instead!

    5 out of 5 stars GERTIE THE GREAT!.......2002-08-18

    SO WHAT! The recording 'might' be slightly dated .....BUT dearest - that's the JOY and the Great Charm of it! Not everything today is thoroughly modern - Thank God!

    Gertie is brilliant and will always be so - listen and learn neophite! [And despite all of those rumors - voices WERE actually trained - by profesionals, and live performances were without electronic 'enhancements'].

    THIS IS A LIVE RECORDING - designed for Miss Lawrence - gives the listner more insight into the actual play and appropriately has the Star vehicles "Saga of Jenny" and "My Ship". ABSOLUTELY a 'must have' for all Gertie fans.

    Noel would joyously applaud ......!

    1 out of 5 stars the music sounds muffled and muddy; speaking voices OK.......1998-12-30

    My advice is to stay away from this CD at all costs. Although the speaking segments are OK, the music sounds like a defective record from the 30's.
    Before the Rainbow : The Original Music of Oz
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful Restorations
    • What?
    • Excellent, historical, entertaining
    		 Before the Rainbow : The Original Music of Oz
    L. Frank Baum , Frederic Chapin , Louis F. Gottschalk , Paul Tietjens , James Patrick Doyle , and The Utensia Ensemble
    Manufacturer: Original Cast Record
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    Broadway & VocalistsBroadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. The Wizard of Oz - Vintage Recordings from the 1903 Broadway Musical

    ASIN: B00003WGP2
    Release Date: 1999-12-06

    Tracks:

    1. The Wizard of Oz Opening Pantomime (Paul Tietjens)
    2. The Wizard of Oz Phantom Patrol (Paul Tietjens)
    3. The Wizard of Oz Waltz & Grand March (Paul Tietjens)
    4. The Wizard of Oz Finale Act I (Paul Tietjens)
    5. The Woggle-bug Selection (Frederic Chapin)
    6. Down Among the Marshes (L. Frank Baum)
    7. The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (Louis F. Gottschalk)
    8. The Maid of Arran (L. Frank Baum)
    9. Prelude/Ojo's Theme - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    10. Dr. Pipt/Jesseva & Danx - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    11. The Patchwork Girl Theme (Gottschalk)
    12. Munchkin Waltz - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottscahlk)
    13. Soldier with the Green Whiskers - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    14. The Woozy - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    15. The Hoppers - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    16. The Tottenhots - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    17. Horners/Lonesome Zoop - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    18. The Dark Well - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
    19. Royal March - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)

    Album Description

    Rebuilding the Lost Oz Before Judy Garland sang Over the Rainbow, Oz had inspired over 200 songs. This CD provides an overview of the rich early musical legacy of Oz. Most of the original music of Oz is associated with Baums stage works: The Wizard of Oz (1902), The Woggle-Bug (1905), and The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (1913). In the absence of published vocal scores, music was gathered in the form of published songs, piano or orchestral medley arrangements, and manuscripts. For the Wizard suite, I drew upon Tietjens own manuscript indications and a 1902 orchestral selection by Hilding Anderson, who would later orchestrate for Gershwin shows. The Tik-Tok Man selection is a 1913 orchestral arrangement by J. Bodewalt Lampe, who, like Gottschalk, was a pioneering film composer. From these scores, it was a matter of laying down the parts track by track; fortunately, advances in digital sampling synthesis have allowed me to record this music within a reasonable budget without sounding like Switched-on-Baum. The scores and parts are available for performance. The Cowardly Lions share of this collaboration was done before David and I met, through hours of on-line conversation. The audience for The Wizard of Oz in 1902 largely arrived in horse drawn carriages to see the first stage show in history with electrically controlled lighting. For this project to have been coordinated through the internet and realized digitally is a wonder worthy of Baums imagination.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Wonderful Restorations.......2006-06-04

    James Doyle does a wonderful job restoring and re-creating these early scores which would otherwise be lost to time. You should also check out his recording "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Toronto Cast Recording", a completely new musical production which is extremely faithful to Baum's original book.

    5 out of 5 stars What?.......2000-07-20

    Can someone PLEASE help me? I love the story of The Wizard of Oz. I'm sure this is a great CD, but does it have any words or is it just music. If some one can help me I would be vary thankful!

    4 out of 5 stars Excellent, historical, entertaining.......2000-01-01

    The Hungry Tiger CD _Before the Rainbow_ is excellent and I recommend it highly. I might (or might not) have preferred "period instruments" to the synthesizer, but then it would have cost too much to produce and we'd be without anything. My roommate/landlady said the final grand march from Patchwork Girl sounded like "roller skating music." But that was intended as a compliment. No Oz fan can live without this recording.
    Lady in the Dark/Down in the Valley
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful to have this recording
    • The "Girl of the Moment" Finally On CD
    • Out-of-print for more than 50 years, now available on CD!
    		 Lady in the Dark/Down in the Valley
    Original TV Soundtrack
    Manufacturer: Sepia Recordings
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Inside U.S.A./The Band Wagon
    2. Lady In The Dark (1950 Original Cast Members)
    3. Lady In The Dark (1997 Original London Cast)
    4. Kurt Weill: The Centennial
    5. Knickerbocker Holiday

    ASIN: B0009MI80I
    Release Date: 2005-06-14

    Tracks:

    1. Introduction/Oh Fabulous One
    2. One Life to Live
    3. Girl of the Moment - Carleton Carpenter
    4. What Is Liza Really Like - Carleton Carpenter, Ann Sothern
    5. This Is New - Carleton Carpenter
    6. Greatest Show on Earth
    7. Trial of Liza Elliott
    8. Tchaikovsky
    9. Saga of Jenny
    10. Make Up Your Mind
    11. My Ship
    12. Ballet - Marion Bell,
    13. Finale - Marion Bell,
    14. Down in the Valley, Pt.1 - Marion Bell
    15. Down in the Valley, Pt.2 - Marion Bell, Jimmy Carroll
    16. If I Loved You [*]
    17. They Say It's Wonderful [*]

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful to have this recording.......2007-05-14

    I have loved this recording ever since I found a scratchy vinyl copy in the public library in the 70's. I have been waiting for its release on CD and had almost given up hope.

    About 7 years ago another record company released the Ann Sothern recording of "Lady in the Dark" on CD, which I bought, but it was a direct recording from the original kinescope of the production. Although it was nice to have, the sound quality was scratchy and you could hear all the background noises (and the audience talking) .

    It is so nice to have this pristine (studio) recording of the TV program and to recapture the moments of this great musical.

    5 out of 5 stars The "Girl of the Moment" Finally On CD.......2006-08-23

    For years I tried to buy a copy of this television "cast" album but frankly, I just could not afford to spend $200. (I still can't.) About twenty years ago I shelled out $25 to a well known record store in New York City for a cassette copy. Finally, with the age of the internet came the reality that many of those records that were once so rare and valuable were now much more accessible (and sadly, not as valuable , at least in monetary terms). Ebay became the source of rare records that just a few years before I could not touch and provided me with a "decent" copy of "Lady In the Dark". Was there a chance that maybe RCA would re-issue the album on the CD format? Not likely, as the original album was pulled off the market within a few months of its original release. (Where are the stacks of those unplayed records?) What's this? A record company from England released it along with another television rarity, "Down In the Valley". Both shows contain the music of Kurt Weill. Ira Gershwin's lyrics for "lady" are a sophisticated tongue in cheek lot while the orchestrations (which I assume were by conductor Charles Sanford) are typical of the brassy sound coming from musical comedies of the fifties. Ann Sothern's light soprano perfectly suits Liza and Carleton Carpenter, revealing a different side to his "ah shucks" image in those MGM musicals, is excellent singing songs originally sung by Danny Kaye. (What a shame that he didn't do more musicals. Perhaps some record company will one day reissue the duets he recorded with Debbie Reynold for MGM records.) Please note though that this is not the soundtrack to the television spectacular as presented by Max Liebman. That 72 minute soundtrack was issued a few years before by AEI. Although great for collectors like me who must have everything, the reality is that Sepia's reissue will get more playing time than AEI's due to its clarity and high fidelty sound. Add to this what sounds almost like a mini-opera, you can't go wrong. "Down in the Valley" presents the crystal clear voice of soprano Marion Bell along with baritone William McGraw. I love it! Plus there are two additional songs by Bell, "If I Loved You" and "They say It's Wonderful", which are excellent too. The booklet contains rare photos including an image not included on the original record of "Lady in the Dark"- Sothern and Carpenter at the microphone. This is a wonderful souvenir of the so called "spectaculars" of early television.

    4 out of 5 stars Out-of-print for more than 50 years, now available on CD!.......2005-09-04

    This recording of LADY IN THE DARK was for many years one of the rarest cast albums to exist. NBC presented the television adaptation in September of 1954 and it was from all reports well recieved. But it was not until November that the cast went into studio to make the Lp. (Other TV musicals had their cast albums in stores around the time of the telecasts.) The delay cut into sales, because by the time the album showed up in stores people had forgotten about the show. With slow sales, RCA deleted the album and thus was born a collector's item. There was never any Lp reissues s this marks the first time in 50 years that this recording is available.

    In the interim, Columbia's more complete studio cast recording with Rise Stevens and a more complete London cast album on Jay/TER with Maria Friedman have appeared. Both of these recordings are also faithful to the original orchestrations. So do we really need this TV cast album now?

    YES!

    Ann Southern makes a wonderful Liza Elliott. She doen't have a huge voice but then again the score was tailored to Gertrude Lawrence's limited range and it sits well in Southern's chesty range. Carlton Carpenter makes an ideal Russell. The score has been abridged here and there (and saddled with a superfluous ballet at the end) but the recording provides an enjoyable distillation.

    As a bonus Sepia offers the TV cast recording of DOWN IN THE VALLEY, originally an RCA Victor 10-inch Lp and long out-of-print.
    Lady in the Dark
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Lady in the Dark

      Manufacturer: Prism Leisure
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by WeillAll Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
      Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. The King and I/Lady in the Dark/Nymph Errant

      ASIN: B000171Q3M
      Release Date: 2003-01-01

      Tracks:

      1. Glamour Music Medley: Oh Fabulous One/Huxley/Girl of the Moment - Gertrude Lawrence
      2. One Life to Live - Gertrude Lawrence
      3. This Is New - Gertrude Lawrence
      4. Princess of Pure Delight - Gertrude Lawrence
      5. It's Never Too Late to Mendelssohn - Danny Kaye
      6. Tchaikovsky (And Other Russians) - Danny Kaye
      7. Saga of Jenny - Gertrude Lawrence
      8. My Ship - Gertrude Lawrence
      9. One Life to Live [*] - Danny Kaye
      10. Princess of Pure Delight [*] - Danny Kaye
      11. My Ship [*] - Danny Kaye
      12. Jenny [*] - Danny Kaye
      13. Saga of Jenny [*] - Hildegarde, Harry Sosnik

      Rock Music:

      1. Laurie Sabina & United Artists Sides, Vol. 2
      2. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
      3. Lead & Aether
      4. Leading Ladies Sing The Movie Classics
      5. Leading Men Sing The Movie Classics
      6. Leapers & Sleepers
      7. Leaving VA
      8. Le Bataclan '72 [Live]
      9. Left My Voicebox in a Seaside Town
      10. Legendary [Import]

      Rock Music

      rock music