Legendary Performers - Susan Johnson [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One of the great underrecorded voices in Broadway history, Susan Johnson is best known for singing "Big D" in the original cast of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella as well as a handful of mostly forgotten shows such as 1958's Oh Captain. Harbinger's 2002 Legendary Performers release helps to right that wrong by capturing the singer in a series of 1960s TV studio performances in sound quality that varies from a bit cavernous to very good, especially considering the vintage of the recordings. The 26 songs from Irving Berlin, Loesser, Cole Porter, Johnny Burke (Donnybrook!), and Richard Rodgers (with both Hart and Hammerstein) are mostly in abridged form, often clocking in under two minutes each. But they're still enough to show that Johnson could stand up to the Mermans ("I Got the Sun in the Morning") and Martins ("A Wonderful Guy") of her day. Still not convinced? Try the ballads "Somebody, Somewhere" and Burke's "He Makes Me Feel I'm Lovely," or Donnybrook!'s comic duet "I Wouldn't Bet One Penny" and see what you--and other Broadway fans--have been missing all these years. --David Horiuchi

Legendary Performers - Susan Johnson, Music, Susan Johnson-Kehn, Jazz Vocals, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Showtunes / B'way

Average customer rating:

Susan Johnson: A great Broadway singer

MY HEART IS SO FULL OF SUE

They just don't sing like this on Broadway anymore...

Beautiful B'way Belter!

Legendary Performers - Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson-Kehn
Manufacturer: Harbinger
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000065C55
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Say It with Music (Irving Berlin Medley)
It's a Lovely Day Today
What'll I Do
Remember
I Got the Sun in the Morning
The Song Is Ended
If I Were a Bell (Frank Loesser Medley)
I Believe in You
Somebody, Somewhere
Big D
I Love Paris (Cole Porter Medley)
C'est Magnifique
I've Got Somebody Waiting
Always True to You in My Fashion
Pennies from Heaven (Johnny Burke Medley)
But Beautiful
Sunday, Monday or Always
He Makes Me Feel I'm Lovely
Wishin' Stone
I Wouldn't Bet One Penny
Swinging on a Star
I Wish I Were in Love Again (Richard Rodgers Medley)
Glad to Be Unhappy
I Cain't Say No
I Could Write a Book
A Wonderful Guy

Amazon.com

One of the great underrecorded voices in Broadway history, Susan Johnson is best known for singing "Big D" in the original cast of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella as well as a handful of mostly forgotten shows such as 1958's Oh Captain. Harbinger's 2002 Legendary Performers release helps to right that wrong by capturing the singer in a series of 1960s TV studio performances in sound quality that varies from a bit cavernous to very good, especially considering the vintage of the recordings. The 26 songs from Irving Berlin, Loesser, Cole Porter, Johnny Burke (Donnybrook!), and Richard Rodgers (with both Hart and Hammerstein) are mostly in abridged form, often clocking in under two minutes each. But they're still enough to show that Johnson could stand up to the Mermans ("I Got the Sun in the Morning") and Martins ("A Wonderful Guy") of her day. Still not convinced? Try the ballads "Somebody, Somewhere" and Burke's "He Makes Me Feel I'm Lovely," or Donnybrook!'s comic duet "I Wouldn't Bet One Penny" and see what you--and other Broadway fans--have been missing all these years. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Susan Johnson: A great Broadway singer.......2003-03-18

If you are a fan of truly great Broadway singing from the mid-century, buy this CD. The sound is variable (these are live TV performances) and some of the songs are too short (they are in medley format), but in the end all that matters is the opportunity to hear this exciting singer whose generosity of spirit fills every phrase.

MY HEART IS SO FULL OF SUE.......2002-08-29

I can't tell you how gratified I am to have this recording. To my mind, Susan Johnson is the greatest singer of all time. An effortless belter with a warmth and vulnerability that COMMUNICATES -- both the intention of the songwriter and the pure joy of singing. If I make it to heaven, the angels had better all sound like Susan Johnson.

Buy this CD now, dammit!

They just don't sing like this on Broadway anymore..........2002-06-14

Terrific, terrific sound- Susan Johnson has a crisp, clear, beautifully rich voice that so many of us wish could be heard on Broadway or anywhere more often nowadays...Where are they??
She's one of the greatest of her kind-
A compilation of her songs from the musicals she's done (some were hits, some were not) on one CD would be wonderful, too! (hint hint)

Beautiful B'way Belter!.......2002-05-29

A great star in rare TV performances. This is amazing stuff that hasn't been heard since first aired. A great show-biz belter, who is convincing in ballad performances, unlike Merman. Primo.

Music: