Barbara Cook's Broadway! [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Barbara Cook's Broadway doesn't actually document this magnificent singer's engagement on the Great White Way, but instead a Lincoln Center show compiling her favorite musical-theater tunes. Cook includes material from two of her signature shows: "Till There Was You" from The Music Man and a superb four-song suite from She Loves Me (though she doesn't do "Ice Cream"). The rest ranges from standards ("A Wonderful Guy") to underestimated pieces ("His Face" from Carnival). Like Rosemary Clooney before her, Cook has maintained her standing as a singer by reinventing herself from ingenue to supremely elegant and precise stylist. Just listen to her unexpectadly dark-edged version of "The Gentleman Is a Dope" and you'll see how a brilliant interpretive singer can out wring new meaning out of the most familiar material. It's not all about belting, folks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Tracks:

Overture/Rock Island
Iowa Stubborn
Ya Got Trouble
Piano Lesson
Goodnight My Someone
Seventy Six Trombones
Sincere
The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl For Me
Pick-A-Little/Goodnight Ladies
Marian The Librarian
My White Knight
Wells Fargo Wagon
It's You
Shipoopi
Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You
Gary, Indiana
Till There Was You
Finale

Amazon.com

Although Robert Preston and Barbara Cook put in stellar performances, it's the music that's the star of this hugely successful document of the 1958 Broadway smash. Written entirely by Meredith Willson, it drew from memories of his childhood in a small Midwestern town. Preston plays a traveling salesman/con artist, while Cook is the dull spinster "Marian the Librarian," whose love for Preston's character makes her come alive. "Seventy-Six Trombones" has become a marching band standard, while "Ya Got Trouble" (featuring dizzying fast-talk from Preston) and "'Til There Was You" (with a gorgeous vocal from Cook) remain well known even among those who have never seen the show. The latter was also a favorite of the Beatles, who covered it on their first album. --Dawn Eden

Customer Reviews:

Music Man.......2007-02-09

The original cast recording brings back the memory of the live production I saw which will always be superior, in my opinion, to the movie version. However, the movie was one of the better "reproductions" of this genre.

One of This Country's Finest Musicals Beautifully Re-Mastered.......2006-11-23

THE MUSIC MAN opened on Broadway on December 19, 1957 to rave reviews from the critics, adulations from the captivated audiences, and the beginning of a long run. This wondrous musical is an 'opera' of sorts in that the piece is not a series of songs connected by the usual musical comedy spoken dialogue. Meredith Willson wrote the music and lyrics in such a way that there is not an extraneous note or word that doesn't contribute to the totality of the work.

Despite the multiple reincarnations of this brilliant show both on film and recording, none of them compares to this original cast. Imagine Barbara Cook (lithe, and new) as Marian the Librarian: Cook still reigns as one of our finest voices on the stage and cabaret rooms today. Robert Preston is not only rich in personality he also delivers the immensely complex patter songs with deft authority. And the Buffalo Bills add the multiple barbershop quartet numbers with authentic sound and professionalism.

This musical holds all of the joys and imaginations and longings that we all hold so dear in our memories of how things used to be - and it is so terrific to return to that stage of ecstasy again. This is a must own CD. Grady Harp, November 06

We need a new remaster, nonetheless.......2006-10-22

A very interesting photo on the liner booklet's back cover demonstrates the one real flaw in this otherwise classic recording: it shows Robert Preston at the album sessions singing at two mikes, a fat Neumann with a Capitol flag and a skinny one, probably an AKG. This can only mean Capitol recorded this in simultaneous mono and stereo takes. With all that knob twiddling the balance had to go off, a problem not entirely corrected by the reissue engineer Bob Norberg, whose remasterings of Ol' Blue's Capitol mono output have earned scorn from some Sinatraphiles for their slight fake echo and stereo effects. (He remastered just about every album in the Broadway Angel series; the monos all appear to have the echo and stereo.) I guess we should be happy to have this in any form at all given how the other majors turned it down. Capitol was late and indifferent to the cast album trade, and it only had three hits before making its monumental closing botch of "Follies." However the label approached it it's still a great and exciting score perfectly performed. Who could have imagined a hit musical with a barbershop quartet? And if only all women could sing like Barbara Cook! Who says you can have too much of a good thing?

With the show's fiftieth anniversary coming up (!) now would be a good time for a remaster. (I know, I know, I'm tired of paying repeatedly for the same product too, but this deserves it.) It should include a second disc with the 1959 Capitol documentary LP "And Then I Wrote 'The Music Man'", where Meredith Willson and his wife Rini detail the eight years of trials and rewrites behind the show. Nor would it hurt to have bonuses like Willson's original take on "Till There Was You" (called "Till I Met You," which Fran Warren evidently first sang on "The Big Show") or a few licensed pop balladeers of the day -- and maybe examples like the 70s jingle for the late lamented Oldsmobile ("Oh ho the new Oldsmobile is a -- comin' down the line...."). It must also include Willson's contentious JFK physical fitness tune "Chicken Fat", recorded about the time "The Music Man" was filmed and available only on oddball Web music sites, where Preston yells and grunts himself into an athletic -- passion. (I keep thinking Allan Sherman recorded a full version of his notorious parody "76 Sol Cohens", but I guess he didn't.) The whole thing should end with a live public-radio performance from 1980 or 1981 where Willson led the superb Detroit Concert Band in "76 Trombones" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" -- an apt and brilliant finish.

No, I have not forgotten the Beatles, but I fear neither have their lawyers.

Accept no substitutes!.......2006-08-22

This the best version of "The Music Man" available, especially if you're looking for the Broadway cast. The performances here are all terrific, the recording and mastering are great, and the liner notes are informative and thorough. "The Music Man" is available in several other versions and forms, including other releases of the same original cast recording, but without the good mastering or liner notes found here. My wife and I, hoping to listen to this great show with our kids, first purchased other versions that were easier to find (e.g., on iTunes) and those were major disappointments. Buy this CD (Broadway Classics from Angel) and accept no substitutes.

Preston and Cook are the best ever.......2006-07-15

Yes, the film is a delight, and Shirley Jones is certainly good as Marian. But the original cast album of this wonderful musical remains the best version ever, mostly thanks to Barbara Cook, whose voice was and remains a miracle of rare device to listen to.

For years I thought I was the only person who was in love with her voice, wearing out vinyl LPs of this musical with replaying. Then, in the early 80s I saw Cook in a one woman show in London, and discovered I was part of a fanatical following! The other reviews here on Amazon confirm the truth: there is only one truly great Marian, Madam Librarian.

Watch the movie, which is a terrific adaptation of the stage show, go to professional and amateur revivals of the musical, but buy this recording of the score for repeated listening. There is nothing better.

Average customer rating:

annoying, endearing
Candide
Better words, better singing, all too brief!
I'd rather have the studio cast
a Broadway milestone

Candide (1956 Original Broadway Cast)
Leonard Bernstein , Richard Wilbur , Max Adrian , and Barbara Cook
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
She Loves Me (1963 Original Broadway Cast)
A Little Night Music (1973 Original Broadway Cast)
Candide: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1997 Revival)
Leonard Bernstein's Candide (Great Performances)

ASIN: B0000996FW
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Tracks:

Overture - orchestra
The Best of All Possible Worlds [Ensemble]
Oh, Happy We - Robert Rounseville & Barbara Cook
It Must Me So - Robert Rounseville
Paris Waltz Scene
Glitter and Be Gay - Barbara Cook
You Were Dead, You Know - Robert Rounseville & Barbara Cook
My Love - William Olvis, Barbara Cook, Irra Petina
I Am Easily Assimilated - Irra Petina, Barbara Cook, chorus
Finale Act 1 - Quartet
Quiet - Irra Petina, William Olvis, Barbara Cook
Eldorado - Robert Rounseville
Bon Voyage - William Orvis
What's the Use? - Irra Petina
Gavotte
Finale: Make Our Garden Grow - Entire company
Overture to Candide (bonus) - New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein

Amazon.com

This original 1956 production, with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Richard Wilbur, and libretto by Lillian Hellman, based on Voltaire's novel of the same name, was not a hit, except as a recording. Presenting the remarkable Broadway debut of Barbara Cook as Cunegonde (she still sings "Glitter and Be Gay," or "The Jewel Song" better than anybody) and a praiseworthy Bernstein score, Candide on disc quickly became a cult favorite. None of the endless stream of revivals (most recently the abysmal 1997 Broadway staging), replete with new libretti, additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and Hal Prince three-ring-circus staging, has improved the oil-and-water marriage of Voltaire's satire and an operetta-ish approach to musicals. Candide in fact may be the only musical in history to incorporate both first-rate and 10th-rate material as well as everything in between. They may never get it right on stage. But fortunately it's been all right on record for more than four decades. Cook and company (including the operatic tenor Robert Rounseville in the title role, and Irra Pettina as the comic Old Woman) still glitter on audio. --Robert Windeler

Album Description

Additional lyrics by John LaTouche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein.

Customer Reviews:

annoying, endearing.......2007-05-17

An amusing Broadway classic, at least. Interesting, if slightly inaccurate adaptation of Voltaire's great novel. Admittedly Bernstein is able to, through song, bring some points and moments to a clarity I've never gotten out of the book itself. Worth it for a Broadway fan and an open minded fan of intertextual works.

Candide.......2007-02-15

Wonderful, though I prefer the rich maturity of Barbara Cook's voice now to the beauty and purity of it in her youth.

Better words, better singing, all too brief!.......2005-08-29

Someday, a genius producer will make this show work, probably as a film instead of a staged production. Until then, we must bask in the fabulous music, the best of which, perfectly sung, remains on this all-too-abbreviated original cast recording. Ideally, this recording should be supplemented by Bernstein's 1989 recording of a complete score. The two together represent youth and age, sadly.

All the tinkering and updating went for naught when you compare the original "Best of all possible worlds" words with later versions. Candide was a child of the 18th century and 1950s and should remain so.

I'd rather have the studio cast.......2005-01-18

after recently viewing candide in concert i took out the original cast and it was a disapointment.I'd rather have the studio cast recording because it has the stephen sondhiem lyrics aswell as the clasic bernstien music. the original only has 16 songs where as the studio cast has 34 songs, 10 more than the revival cast. my dad recieved tickets to the rvival cast directly from stephen sondhiem himself. the studio cast also has a lot of extra instrumental pieces such as the battle music.

a Broadway milestone.......2003-09-29

Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE was a Broadway flop when it first opened in 1956 at the Martin Beck Theatre, shuttering after an abysmal 73 performances. Though the show has never quite achieved the greatness it deserves, the Overture is considered to be one of the greatest, most thrilling ever written. The original 1956 cast album of the show has now been reissued on the Columbia Broadway Masterworks label.

Based on the play by Voltaire, the show starred Robert Rounseville ('Mr Snow' in the film version of CAROUSEL) as Candide, with Irra Petina as the Old Woman with One Buttock and Max Adrian as Dr Pangloss. Barbara Cook (the City Center revival of CAROUSEL, PLAIN AND FANCY) stars as the young ingenue Cunegonde.

The score, by Leonard Bernstein by lyrics by Richard Wilbur, John LaTouche and Dorothy Parker, is superb. The musical is best known for the devilish 'jewel song' aria "Glitter and Be Gay", sung by the clarion soprano of Barbara Cook, who infuses it with all the vocal pyrotechnics that it calls for."I Am Easily-Assimilated" is comically performed by Irra Petina, whilst the baritone of Robert Rounseville is showcased in "It Must Be So".

As a bonus on this new reissue, there is the majestic sweeping Overture as performed by the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Leonard Bernstein himself. There are also brand-new liner notes including an essay from Barbara Cook.

Tracks:

Act 1: Overture - John Berkman/Orch
Act 1: Good Morning, Sunday
Act 1: Sounds While Selling
Act 1: Thank You, Madam
Act 1: Days Gone By
Act 1: No More Candy
Act 1: Three Letters
Act 1: Tonight At Eight
Act 1: I Don't Know His Name
Act 1: Perspective
Act 1: Goodbye Georg
Act 1: Will He Like Me?
Act 1: Ilona
Act 1: I Resolve
Act 1: Romantic Atomsphere
Act 1: Tango Tragique
Act 1: Dear Freind
Act 2: Overture - John Berkman/Orch
Act 2: Try Me
Act 2: Where's My Shoe
Act 2: Ice Cream
Act 2: She Loves Me
Act 2: A Trip To The Library
Act 2: Grand Knowing You
Act 2: Twelve Days To Christmas
Act 2: Ice Cream-Reprise
Act 2: Curtain Call

Amazon.com

This utterly charming musical had a disappointing Broadway debut in 1963 despite the high-powered pairing of director Harold Prince (his first musical) and the songwriting team of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof). Thanks to a legendary cast album that took up an unprecedented two LPs (74 minutes on one CD), the show gathered a loyal following, eventually becoming a repertory staple and earning Broadway and London revivals in the 1990s. Based on the same Hungarian play as the 1940 James Stewart film The Shop Around the Corner (and its successors, In the Good Old Summertime and You've Got Mail), the sweet romantic story follows two shop clerks who can't stand each other but are also anonymous pen pals. Barbara Cook sang one of her best roles as Amalia, Jack Cassidy won a Tony as the cad Kodaly, and the rest of the cast is also perfect. The booklet includes production photos, a loving appreciation, and a detailed synopsis, but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Joyful Joyful Joyful.......2007-05-11

When I was in high school living on MacDill AFB there was an adult theatre group doing this production. I got the leading Amelia role, then also designed and built sets. Of anything I have ever performed this was the single most challenging music. I loved every bit of it. What a joy it is to hear the sweet lovely words and tale of romance so fresh now - 35 years later! This story, lyrics and music did flavor my life actions viewing romance with sweet depth. Light, lovely and fun- this is a great piece of musical experience.

We love "She Loves Me"!.......2007-01-09

Having just seen a wonderful local production of this revival, we wanted to hear the score again. The Broadway cast is great, too. While it fits the play perfectly, the music grows as an independent joy.

Underated Gem.......2006-07-22

This show is one of the best from the 60's. Barbara Cook is sublime, and the rest of the cast are practically at the same level. The 94 revival was also an absolute delight. the cast then was wonderful, maybe missing Cook, but who can equal her. That CD is wonderful as well. Saw that production several times and loved it more each time I saw it. Have seen Cook several times in concert and her performances of the songs from this show may be even better now.

excellent........really moving!.......2006-01-27

Before I'd heard this CD,I saw 'you've got mail' and absolutely fell in love with it. That started my obsession with Meg Ryan romantic comedies, but i'm over that now, thankfully. Also before i'd heard this CD, I heard a recent recording of Barbra Cook at Carnagie Hall, but none of these songs were on that CD.

Then, after i found out about this musical, I decided to have a listen and see what it was like. Well, I'm sure you know that I thought it was brilliant and now see Barbra Cook as one of the best singers ever to be on broadway. Daniel Massey is quite good, too, but I've never heard anyone else in the role, so I can't compare him to anyone. Barbra Baxley is funny aswell when she sings 'A Trip to the Library'.

Barbra Cook's song 'Dear Friend' is absolutely heart wrenching. More moving than seeing Meg Ryan waiting alone in the resteraunt for someone you know will never turn up. I would definitely reccomed buying this CD, as it is something amazing to listen to. Oh, and the orchestra is brilliant too. I play the violin, but I'll be darned if i could play a bar of that score!

Before "Fiddler".......2005-08-12

Before Bock and Harnick wowed the American Musical Theater with Fiddler on The Roof, they composed and wrote "She Loves Me" an innovative musical comedy (for its time) with no chorus, no dancing (though it was expertly blocked and choreographed); just a stream of wonderful music that is captured perfectly in this original cast recording. Just listening to Barbara Cook's crystal clear soprano voice is worth the price; the late Jack Cassidy, Daniel Massey and Barbara Baxter only add to this perfect recording.

The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) [Angel Reissue]

Average customer rating:

Music Man
One of This Country's Finest Musicals Beautifully Re-Mastered
We need a new remaster, nonetheless
Accept no substitutes!
Preston and Cook are the best ever

The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) [Angel Reissue]

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast)
South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast)
Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast)
West Side Story (1957 Original Broadway Cast)
Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000002SNL
Release Date: 1992-11-17

Tracks:

Act I. Overture/Rock Island - Vern Reed
Act I. Iowa Stubborn - Ensamble
Act I. Ya Got Trouble - Robert Preston/Ensemble
Act I. Piano Lesson - Barbara Cook/Pert Kelton
Act I. Goodnight My Someone - Barbara Cook
Act I. Seventy-Six Trombones - Robert Preston
Act I. Sincere - Buffalo Bills
Act I. The Sadder But Wiser Girl For Me - Robert Preston
Act I. Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little - Asnia Rice, Peggy Mondo, Elain Swann, Helen Raymond, Martha Flynn, Robert Preston
Act I. Goodnight Ladies/Marian The Librarian - Robert Preston, Buffalo Bills
Act I. My White Knight - Barbara Cook
Act I. Wells Fargo Wagon - Eddie Hodges, Ensemble
Act II. It's You - Buffalo Bills
Act II. Shipoopi - Iggie Wolfington, Ensemble
Act II. Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You? - Buffalo Bills, Barbara Cook
Act II. Gary, Indiana - Eddie Hodges
Act II. Till There Was You - Barbara Cook, Robert Preston
Act II. Finale - Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, Ensemble

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Music Man.......2007-02-09

One of This Country's Finest Musicals Beautifully Re-Mastered.......2006-11-23

We need a new remaster, nonetheless.......2006-10-22

Accept no substitutes!.......2006-08-22

Preston and Cook are the best ever.......2006-07-15

Follies in Concert (1985 Live Performance) + Stavisky Film Score

Average customer rating:

A Sondheim spectacular - Follies in Concert
GREAT PERFORMANCES!
A Good recording.
FOLLIES - the best recording ...so far
My Favorite Follies

Follies in Concert (1985 Live Performance) + Stavisky Film Score

Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Follies (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast)
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Stephen Sondheim's Follies in Concert
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ASIN: B000002WB6
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Overture
Beautiful Girls
Don't Look At Me
Waiting For The Girls Upstairs
Rain On The Roof
Ah, Paree!
Broadway Baby
The Road You Didn't Take
In Buddy's Eyes
Who's That Woman
I'm Still Here
Too Many Mornings
The Right Girl
One More Kiss
Could I Leave You?
Loveland
You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Love Will See Us Through

Tracks:

Buddy's Blues
Losing My Mind
The Story of Lucy and Jessie
Live, Laugh, Love
Finale: Waiting for the Girls Upstairs and Beautiful Girls (reprises)
Stavisky: Theme from "Stavisky"
Salon at the Claridge #1
Arlette by Day
Auto Show
Easy Life
Secret of Night
Erna
Distant Past
Arlette by Night
Airport at Biarritz
Trotsky at Saint-Palais
Montalvo at Biarritz
Operetta
Arlette and Stavisky
Recent Past
Salon at the Claridge #2
Suite at the Claridge
Old House
Goodbye Arlette
Hideout at Chamonix
Erna Remembered
The Future
Women and Death
Theme from "Stavisky"

Amazon.com

Since the original Broadway cast recording of Stephen Sondheim's Follies was a truncated affair that turned out to be both a disappointment and a disservice to a brilliant show with a brilliant cast, this 1985 concert performance from New York's Avery Fisher Hall set out to record the whole score, a set of pastiches of old songs and songwriters as performed by a cast of faded stars and the visions of their younger selves. The result was a star-studded roster backed by the New York Philharmonic led by Paul Gemignani, with principals Barbara Cook, Mandy Patinkin, Lee Remick, and George Hearn, supported by the likes of Carol Burnett, Liliane Montevecchi, and Liz Callaway. Even these stars can't quite match the original cast, and the results are somewhat uneven--from Cook's yearning "Losing My Mind" to Patinkin's you-love-it-or-you-hate-it schizophrenia in "Buddy's Blues." Other highlights include Elaine Stritch's wry "Broadway Baby," the two young couples' interplay in "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Love Will See Us Through," and the electrifying audience reactions to "Beautiful Girls" and "Who's That Woman?" (A documentary video was released, but unfortunately, it did not contain the complete show.) As a bonus, this two-CD set includes 45 minutes of instrumental music Sondheim composed for the 1974 French film Stavisky, including two melodies that had been cut from the original production of Follies. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

A Sondheim spectacular - Follies in Concert.......2007-03-14

I have very definite views on this - in other words, my word rules, ignore the others. Random thoughts - pay no attention to those who disparage Mandy Patinkin singing "Buddy's Blues." This is an album of brilliant pastiche songs, right? Patinkin is giving us the old vaudville, split week in Jersey, performance. Of course he's over the top! Outstanding. However - sorry, I love Barbara Cook, and it's a lovely rendition of "Losing My Mind," but no one, I repeat no one, does it like Dorothy Collins from the original cast. Dorothy Collins, the Hit Parade lady? Come on! Well, OK, I don't know how she did it, what she pulled up from inside herself, but it tears your heart out. The song belongs to her. "Beautiful Girls" is ... well, if you're a woman (or not!) I dare you to listen to this and not get up and pretend you're strutting down an imaginary runway (particularly if your kids are in diapers and you haven't been out of the house for 82 weeks and my husband better start helping out or I'll GO MAD)... Sorry,got carried away there. I could go on and on (remember, it's been 82 weeks), but those are just three highlights ... oh, and the overture, oh, and "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs" and heartbreaking George Hearn and absolutely terrific Lee Remick and of course, Elaine Strich!! and you've got to get this so we'll enjoy it over and over together, vicariously, and I better stop now, it's almost spring, maybe I'll get out. A girl can hope.

GREAT PERFORMANCES!.......2006-11-21

A WONDERFUL RECORDING OF "FOLLIES" WITH A LOT OF BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES
BY THE STARS ON STAGE. A "MUST" FOR ANYONE WHO CARES FOR THIS GREAT MUSICAL.

A Good recording........2004-06-23

The original is my perferred version, even though it is very watered down. Here, all the songs are complete, but it comes out uneven somehow. The really great performers here are Carol Burnett and Barbra Cook. They really shine. The rest do mediocre performances. Out of the rest, Lee Remick, and Elaine Strich do a great job. Buy this you want the "complete" version and four stellar performances, but the original is the one to get performance wise.

FOLLIES - the best recording ...so far.......2004-02-04

If any one album makes a case for FOLLIES is is this set of FOLLIES IN CONCERT. It is not the definitive FOLLIES, but about as close as we're likely to get. The sound is very VERY good, especially for a live recording, but as such there is quite a bit of applause on this disc.

Producer Thomas Shephard originally taped the dress rehearsal so he would have quiet endings for all the numbers but when the audience nearly tore the roof off Avery Fisher Hall, he decided that eliminating applause would negate the event that led to the album. So, he comprmised and used applause after the "follies" numbers but not after plot songs. If you didn't know this you might wonder why "Beautiful Gilrs' gets such a huge hand and the next song "don't Look at me" seems to be met with stoney silence.

The cast is sensational. Perhaps not in the same league as the originals but a fine "revival" cast. Lee Remick and Barbara Cook are ideal as leading ladies Phyllis and Sally and its a joy to hear Cook's glorious voice in "Losing My Mind." Mandy Patinkin effectively uses his energy to put a new spin on "Buddy's Blues. " I know some object to his over-the-top style but it was effective on stage. Elaine Stritch has fun singing "Broadway Baby" and Carol Burnet makes the most of "I'm Still Here." Really, there isn't one bad track in the whole package.

Completists may quibble with the slight cuts here and there..the last bit of the Overture (including a segment of "Can That Boy Foxtrot") has been cut, as has "Bolero D'amour." The original montage ending of "Rain on the Roof/Ahh Paris/Broadway Baby" was dumped, and the spoken interludes in "Loveland" have been re-arranged. NONE of this will impair your enjoyment of this wonderful show.

As a bonus RCA has filled out the second CD with the soundtrack of Sondheim's score for STAVISKY. Many cut songs from FOLLIES were used in this film score, so its a natural tie-in.

The booklet has all the lyrics but no synopsis to place the songs within the context of the story. It is a minor flaw in an otherwise first rate package.

My Favorite Follies.......2003-12-24

This is, in my opinion, the best recording of Follies you can buy. The quality of the recording isn't the best for reasons of staging and the lack of wireless mics back then, but who cares? Take a look at the list of famous singers in this cast. A big plus of this recording is the complete overature that wasn't on original. Barbra Cook is absolutely wonderful. Her voice doesn't age! I like the fact that they raised the key of a few of Sally's songs for Barbra since Sally is supposed to be the soprano of the two female leads anyway. Babra sings every single song with feeling and vocal perfection. I feel that her rendition of Losing My Mind is the definitive version of that song. Her final, "you said you loved me," is gorgeous and really shows the pain that Sally is feeling in her dramatically perfect interpreation of the song.

Lee Remick is wonderful as Phyllis. She has the icy beauty that really makes her song, Story of Lucy and Jessie really make sense. Her version of Could I Leave You? Is great! She is just really great.

George Hearn is absolutely wonderful! He sings every song like a god and it's nice to hear him sing something other then Sweeney Todd, which he tended to scream a lot in. I adore his voice and think he is perfect for the character of Ben.

Mandy Patinkin is so annoying. He emphasizes things that aren't supposed to be emphasized and he's just ridiculous in all of his songs. His voice isn't the problem, it's his high voltage, uneccasary dramtization that turns me off.

Tracks:

Act 1: Pirate Jenny - Charlotte Rae
Act 1: I'm A Stranger Here Myself - Jodi Stevens
Act 1: Economics - Jane A. Johnston
Act 1: Is It Him Or Is It Me? - Pam Dawber
Act 1: Barbara Song - Linda Purl
Act 1: Lullaby - Kathryn Skatula
Act 1: That's Him - Nancy Dussault
Act 1: Don't Look Now - Sharon Lawrence
Act 1: Apple Jack - Norm Lewis
Act 1: Speak Low - Sally Kellerman
Act 1: September Song - Rod McKuen
Act 1: Ice Cream Sextet - David Holladay

Tracks:

Act 2: Wouldn't You Like To Be On Broadway? - David Holladay
Act 2: What Good Would The Moon Be - Melissa Dye
Act 2: It Never Was You - Hugh Panaro
Act 2: We'll Go Away Together - Hugh Panaro
Act 2: Tschaikowsky - Jack Noseworthy
Act 2: The Saga Of Jenny - Carole Cook
Act 2: Surabaya Johnny - Tim Curry
Act 2: My Ship - Shirley Jones
Act 2: Mack The Knife - Loretta Devine
Act 2: Lost In The Stars - Brock Peters

Customer Reviews:

Kurt Weill: Re-discovery..........2006-11-10

I am so impressed and pleased to have found this recording on Amazon.com. I am always amazed when I find these seemingly obscure recordings, and thrilled to know they exist. What a wonderful history of our musical world---and what a chance to hear interesting, challenging, and unusual performances from so many well-known people. The songs live on--the composer is 'new' again, and this recording becomes part of history re-discovered. Thank you Amazon.com for your continued professionalism and for having these recordings available.

Incredible Live Album.......2002-02-10

This incredible concert (which i attended) benefitting The Actors' Fund of America, contains some absolute MUST performances for any Broadway collector.

For me, the highlights are HUGH PANARO ("It Never Was You"), NANCY DUSSAULT ("It's Him") and TIM CURRY singing "Surabaya Johnny" in German!

Tracks:

Overture
You Can't Miss It
It Wonders Me
Plenty Of Pennsylvania
Young And Foolish
Why Not Katie
It's A Helluva A Way To Run A Love Affair
This Is All Very New To Me
Plain We Live
How Do You Raise A Barn
Follow Your Heart
City Mouse, Country Mouse
I'll Show Him
Take Your Time And Take Your Pick
Finale

Customer Reviews:

medocre score.......2007-01-10

a meiocre score but nice to have Barbara Cook's performance on record.
Best song is City Mouse, Country Mouse, otherwise a forgettabel score.

Pleasant but not terribly exciting.......2004-02-13

Then there are the 1950s musicals that were hits, ran a season and were promptly forgotten. This is one of them. Nothing really terribly wrong with the score...but there is nothing to get excited about either. The earlier CD reissue by Broadway Angel has better notes and more pictures in the booklet.

lovely vintage musical.......2003-09-27

PLAIN AND FANCY is a lovely vintage Broadway musical that's now largely forgotten, sadly. It opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on January 7, 1955, and closed a mere twelve days before MY FAIR LADY moved into theatre, more than a year later. PLAIN AND FANCY ran a modest 461 performances.

The plot concerns the humorous clash between city people (Shirl Conway and Richard Derr) and the Amish folk they meet when they want to sell an old farm. The musical is best-remembered for the lovely ballad "Young and Foolish", and for being the leading-role debut of Barbara Cook (who would go on to further greatness in CANDIDE and THE MUSIC MAN).

The score is a delight, featuring the good character-piece "It's a Helluva Way to Run a Love Affair". Barbara Cook's 11 o'clock number "I'll Show Him" exhibits some questionable lyrics but is belted in her best style. The score was written by Albert Hague and Arnold B. Horwitt.

This new CD reissue from DRG includes liner notes from Barbara Cook, whilst the sound quality is very impressive from a cast album of this age. Highly-recommended for Broadway and Barbara Cook fans!

Disappointed.......2003-03-31

I think this would have been more enjoyable if the sound had been improved. With a few exceptions it sounds like one is listening to the LP of this show that was issued in 1955. The sound is uneven and makes the singers voices very unattractive.
Albert Hague's music and lyrics are very uninteresting. One popular song from the 50's came out of this show "Young and Foolish". David Daniels and Gloria Marlowe acquit themselves admirably in this number.
The saving grace is the fact that Barbara Cook was in the show. It's always a joy to listen to her even if the recording makes her voice seem a bit shrill and uneven. What a pity.
I am puzzled as to why DRG reissued this. There are a few photos and some liner notes that were penned by Barbara Cook this year.
Too bad they didn't improve the sound quality.
Oh well