Carousel: Selections from the Theatre Guild Musical Play (Original 1943 Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording] [Original recording remastered] [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For a long time Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel lived in the shadow of its phenomenally successful immediate predecessor, Oklahoma! Based on Ferenc Molnar's play Liliom, Carousel took many risks for its time, and it's now easier to appreciate them. Though the songwriters gave the story a more upbeat ending, the subject matter, about a brutal man's treatment of the women in his life and its impact on his fate, was undeniably dark. Furthermore, Rodgers and Hammerstein were arguably more stylistically audacious than in Oklahoma!. Rodgers, for instance, dispensed with the traditional overture, composing a piece titled "Waltz Suite: 'Carousel'" instead. No wonder, then, that many R & H fans actually prefer Carousel to its older sibling. This 50th-anniversary edition of the recordings made by the original cast offers alternate takes of three tracks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Carousel: Selections from the Theatre Guild Musical Play (Original 1943 Broadway Cast), Music, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Jan Clayton, John Raitt, Musicals, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Show Tunes, Showtunes / B'way, Soundtrack
Carousel: Selections from the Theatre Guild Musical Play: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1945 Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • About the Orchestrations:
  • ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM
  • Doesn't stand the test of time
  • Buy the 1993 London Cast Recording
  • Ultimate Billy Bigelow
 Carousel: Selections from the Theatre Guild Musical Play: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1945 Broadway Cast)
Richard Rodgers , Oscar Hammerstein II , Jan Clayton , and John Raitt
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Oklahoma! Selections from the Theatre Guild Musical Play: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (Original 1943 Broadway Cast)
  2. South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast)
  3. The King and I: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1951 Broadway Cast)
  4. Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Kiss Me, Kate (1948 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00004T9TC
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

  1. Waltz Suite: "Carousel"
  2. You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan/Mister Snow
  3. If I Loved You
  4. June Is Bustin' Out All Over
  5. When The Children Are Asleep
  6. Blow High, Blow Low
  7. Soliloquy
  8. A Real Nice Clambake
  9. There's Nothin' So Bad For A Woman/What's The Use Of Wond'rin'
  10. The Highest Judge of All/You'll Never Walk Alone
  11. You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan/Mister Snow (Alternate Take)
  12. There's Nothin' So Bad For A Woman/What's The Use of Wond'rin' (Alternate Take)
  13. Waltz Suite: "Carousel" (Alternate Take/Complete Version)

Amazon.com

For a long time Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel lived in the shadow of its phenomenally successful immediate predecessor, Oklahoma! Based on Ferenc Molnar's play Liliom, Carousel took many risks for its time, and it's now easier to appreciate them. Though the songwriters gave the story a more upbeat ending, the subject matter, about a brutal man's treatment of the women in his life and its impact on his fate, was undeniably dark. Furthermore, Rodgers and Hammerstein were arguably more stylistically audacious than in Oklahoma!. Rodgers, for instance, dispensed with the traditional overture, composing a piece titled "Waltz Suite: 'Carousel'" instead. No wonder, then, that many R & H fans actually prefer Carousel to its older sibling. This 50th-anniversary edition of the recordings made by the original cast offers alternate takes of three tracks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars About the Orchestrations:.......2006-03-31

In response to Anthony Barkdoll's criticism of the original
orchestrations to Carousel's 1945 Broadway Cast:
According to Rodger's autobiography, "Musical Stages," Robert
Russell Bennett did, in fact, orchestrate the original "Mister
Snow" for the 1945 Broadway Cast album, until other projects
caused him to be sidelined.

5 out of 5 stars ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM.......2004-09-12

Although i like the movie soundtrack a lot,i was glad to get the original cast album that includes one track:THE HIGHEST JUDGE OF ALL that was not in the movie.CAROUSEL will always remain a great show that had it all to become a classic.If you consider the age of this record 1945,it's still a treat to hear JOHN RAITT,JAN CLAYTON and company do their numbers.Probably because i am a fan of this show,i think it holds up very well.Anyway,if you are a RODGERS and HAMMERSTEIN enthousiast,you simply must include the original CAROUSEL cast album in your collection.

2 out of 5 stars Doesn't stand the test of time.......2003-10-24

Yikes. I bought this based on the reviews (and because I prefer the original cast recordings as well). But quite frankly, this album is no fun to listen to. If you like Sound of Music, Cinderella, and that style, you will not like this. It is very dense, and somewhat tortured sounding, as is the story. Robert Russell Bennett is not involved in the orchestration, so that may account for the music. And the wry humor and satirical, yet loving insights that I expect from Hammerstein are missing as well. Unlike most of their other albums, this one sounds old and dated, and ready for the grave.

4 out of 5 stars Buy the 1993 London Cast Recording.......2001-07-27

"Carousel" is the great American musical. Try as they might, no composer (including Rodgers and Hammerstein) has surpassed it.

Having said that, I would recommend the 1993 recording of the Original London Cast of the Nicholas Hytner revival of "Carousel" over this one. While I am a bigger fan of the voices here (especially John Raitt and Jan Clayton), the truncated numbers and out-and-out cuts make listening to this album a tragic experience.

I am usually a believer that the original cast recording is the one to buy as it represents what the composer had in mind while putting the show together, but I do not believe that here. The 1993 recording is far better than this. While this 1945 recording does hold an important place in history, the 1993 recording should be considered definitive.

5 out of 5 stars Ultimate Billy Bigelow.......2001-03-13

I don't remember the first time I heard John Raitt do the Soliloquy,I did not see the ORIGINAL PRODUCTION..(Wasnt born yet). I do know that he is the best! Several years ago he performed with the Boston Pops and of course he had to do that number. What a voice! Although this recording is in monaural, it is still worth the price! I am one of those people who think that Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein's best work, and there is always something magical and sad about cranking a recording of the OBC up on the stereo,especially "Highest judge of all". What a find,what a treasure!
Carousel: Selections From The Theatre Guild Musical Play (Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • About the Orchestrations:
  • ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM
  • Doesn't stand the test of time
  • Buy the 1993 London Cast Recording
  • Ultimate Billy Bigelow
 Carousel: Selections From The Theatre Guild Musical Play (Original Broadway Cast)
Richard Rodgers , Oscar Hammerstein II , Jan Clayton , and John Raitt
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
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CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Oklahoma! Selections from the Theatre Guild Musical Play: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (Original 1943 Broadway Cast)
  2. South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast)
  3. The King and I: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1951 Broadway Cast)
  4. Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Kiss Me, Kate (1948 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000002ONU
Release Date: 1993-03-30

Tracks:

  1. Waltz Suite: 'Carousel' - Carousel/Joseph Littau
  2. You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan/Mister Snow
  3. If I Loved You
  4. June Is Bustin' Out All Over
  5. When The Children Are Asleep
  6. Blow High, Blow Low
  7. Soliloquy
  8. A Real Nice Clambake
  9. There's Nothin' So Bad For A Woman/What's The Use Of Wond'rin'
  10. The Highest Judge Of All/You'll Never Walk Alone
  11. You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan/Mister Snow (Alternate Take)
  12. There's Nothin' So Bad For A Woman/What's The Use Of Wond'rin (Alternate Take)
  13. Waltz Suite: 'Carousel' (Alternate Take/Complete Version) - Carousel/Joseph Littau

Amazon.com

For a long time Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel lived in the shadow of its phenomenally successful immediate predecessor, Oklahoma! Based on Ferenc Molnar's play Liliom, Carousel took many risks for its time, and it's now easier to appreciate them. Though the songwriters gave the story a more upbeat ending, the subject matter, about a brutal man's treatment of the women in his life and its impact on his fate, was undeniably dark. Furthermore, Rodgers and Hammerstein were arguably more stylistically audacious than in Oklahoma!. Rodgers, for instance, dispensed with the traditional overture, composing a piece titled "Waltz Suite: 'Carousel'" instead. No wonder, then, that many R & H fans actually prefer Carousel to its older sibling. This 50th-anniversary edition of the recordings made by the original cast offers alternate takes of three tracks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars About the Orchestrations:.......2006-03-31

In response to Anthony Barkdoll's criticism of the original
orchestrations to Carousel's 1945 Broadway Cast:
According to Rodger's autobiography, "Musical Stages," Robert
Russell Bennett did, in fact, orchestrate the original "Mister
Snow" for the 1945 Broadway Cast album, until other projects
caused him to be sidelined.

5 out of 5 stars ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM.......2004-09-12

Although i like the movie soundtrack a lot,i was glad to get the original cast album that includes one track:THE HIGHEST JUDGE OF ALL that was not in the movie.CAROUSEL will always remain a great show that had it all to become a classic.If you consider the age of this record 1945,it's still a treat to hear JOHN RAITT,JAN CLAYTON and company do their numbers.Probably because i am a fan of this show,i think it holds up very well.Anyway,if you are a RODGERS and HAMMERSTEIN enthousiast,you simply must include the original CAROUSEL cast album in your collection.

2 out of 5 stars Doesn't stand the test of time.......2003-10-24

Yikes. I bought this based on the reviews (and because I prefer the original cast recordings as well). But quite frankly, this album is no fun to listen to. If you like Sound of Music, Cinderella, and that style, you will not like this. It is very dense, and somewhat tortured sounding, as is the story. Robert Russell Bennett is not involved in the orchestration, so that may account for the music. And the wry humor and satirical, yet loving insights that I expect from Hammerstein are missing as well. Unlike most of their other albums, this one sounds old and dated, and ready for the grave.

4 out of 5 stars Buy the 1993 London Cast Recording.......2001-07-27

"Carousel" is the great American musical. Try as they might, no composer (including Rodgers and Hammerstein) has surpassed it.

Having said that, I would recommend the 1993 recording of the Original London Cast of the Nicholas Hytner revival of "Carousel" over this one. While I am a bigger fan of the voices here (especially John Raitt and Jan Clayton), the truncated numbers and out-and-out cuts make listening to this album a tragic experience.

I am usually a believer that the original cast recording is the one to buy as it represents what the composer had in mind while putting the show together, but I do not believe that here. The 1993 recording is far better than this. While this 1945 recording does hold an important place in history, the 1993 recording should be considered definitive.

5 out of 5 stars Ultimate Billy Bigelow.......2001-03-13

I don't remember the first time I heard John Raitt do the Soliloquy,I did not see the ORIGINAL PRODUCTION..(Wasnt born yet). I do know that he is the best! Several years ago he performed with the Boston Pops and of course he had to do that number. What a voice! Although this recording is in monaural, it is still worth the price! I am one of those people who think that Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein's best work, and there is always something magical and sad about cranking a recording of the OBC up on the stereo,especially "Highest judge of all". What a find,what a treasure!

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