"Now" is a dumb one, I agree. But the worst ... hmm, I happen to NOT LIKE AT ALL "Who's got the Pain" from Damn Yankees on the ground of their plain stupid lyrics.
I don't understand why people don't like Now. I personally love it, but different strokes. I definitely second "Who's got the Pain". The lyics are so unintelligent, and have nothing to do with the show. It's like when they first made damn yankees they wanted to include it, so they wrote in the fan club performances. Very weak set up by the book.
"I Can't keep it down" from FAME (If this had been in a revue like NAKED BOYS SINGING or WHEN PIGS FLY, I might have thought it funny...)
Someone mentioned "Wedding of the Year" in HAPPY HUNTING - there are two even worse in that score: "Everyone who's Who's who" and the un-recorded "For Love or Money." (THe script BTW is awful! It shows how dynamic Ethel Merman was to have made the show run a year and almost make money. It was her only commercial flop, though it recovered about 80% of its costs by the closing.)
The worst score I have ever heard on Broadway was for SUNSET BLVD. I know a lot of people love this show but I suspect it is not because of the score but rather due to the story (from the excellent screenplay) and the set (which was awesome.)
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
Ah, frontrowcentre2, you don't have to remind me of the awfulness of "Everyone's Who's Who's Who" or pretty much the rest of that bloody awful score. "Postage Stamp Principality", "Don't Tell Me, I Know" and "If'n" are garbage and the rest of the score is amatuerish, save for "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here". I'm positive that Ethel was the only reason this mess got to Broadway, because it is strictly Amateur Night.
Yet, for some reason, I STILL play the CD occasionally. Hmmm....
Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!
Maybe a guilty pleasure but I do like some of HAPPY HUNTING's score: "It's Good to be here", "Mutual Admiration Society", This is What I Call Love" .... hmm seems to be just Ethel's tracks! She does seem unsure of what to make of "The Game of Love" but seems to enjoy herself on "Mr. Livingston" and "Happy Hunting."
Gordon Polk misses that final high note on "Don't Tell Me" by a country mile!!
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com