Ethel Merman Anything Goes

[alxscrz2]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#1

Posted: 8/31/10 at 8:54pm

Was there a cast recording of Anything Goes, done with Ethel in the show ?? I've looked on amazon and ebay, I can't seem to find it or if there was even one recorded

[PalJoey]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#2

Posted: 8/31/10 at 9:12pm

Just the soundtrack to the 1950s TV movie with Frank Sinatra and Bert Lahr.

[bwayguy22089]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#2

Posted: 8/31/10 at 9:44pm

Not a specific recording, but there were plenty of radio broadcasts of several of the songs sung on the radio by Merman and other cast members. Some might be available on Youtube.

[Unknown User]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#3

Posted: 8/31/10 at 10:37pm

I had a great one on Smithsonian that reconstructed the score. It's long out of print and only on LP but it was great.

[MrMidwest]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#4

Posted: 8/31/10 at 10:39pm

Here's a clip of Ethel & Bing in the 1936 movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJpCO5AOVAQ

"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter

[allofmylife]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#5

Posted: 9/1/10 at 12:31am

The first real "Cast Recording" was done three years before "Anything Goes" with the Astaires, during the run of "The Band Wagon." It's only 20 minutes long but it covers most of the show (including the overture) but not with the show orchestra.

Traditionally, Victor would record a few solo numbers from the hit shows but usually with studio bands of a famous bandleader. In England, they often used the pit orchestras so the show music that IS available from London back then is more authentic.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

[frontrowcentre2]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#6

Posted: 9/1/10 at 3:08am

Ethel Merman recorded I Get a Kick Out of You and You`re the Top (as a solo) for a Brunswick 78-rpm single. The ANYTHING GOES Foursome recorded There`ll Always Be a Lady Fair and The Gypsy in Me as another single. That`s it for original Broadway cast recordings. The 1935 London cast recorded a few sides. Merman recorded Blow Gabriel Blow in 1947 for Decca (along with a re-do of I Get a Kick Out Of You) and recorded a version of Anything Goes with the Buddy Cole Quartet for her 1955 Musical Autobiography album.

Those in search of how ANYTHING GOES sounded in 1934 had best go to the 1989 John McGlinn CD for EMI. It`s about as close as we`ll ever get.

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

[ClapYo'Hands]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#7

Posted: 9/1/10 at 6:46am

Why would you WANT to hear Merm in Anything Goes? Listen to Elaine Paige instead :)

[philcrosby]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#8

Posted: 9/1/10 at 8:03am

If you haven't heard the Merm sing "Blow Gabriel Blow", then you have never heard it sung.

[PalJoey]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#9

Posted: 9/1/10 at 8:22am

Two audios of Ethel's Gabriel:


A recording from the early 1950s, when her voice still had its sweetness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKPLJySDn2Y



A recording from the legendary 1977 Carnegie Hall concert she did with Mary Martin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITWh1TNoM7c

[frontrowcentre2]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#10

Posted: 9/1/10 at 12:33pm

Why would you WANT to hear Merm in Anything Goes?

Because it is one of her signature roles. Porter wrote the score with her in mind.

In the early 1970's Merman signed with English Decca (London records in the USA) for a series of albums. One was a remake of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (discussed in that recent thread)that sold poorly (mostly it was found in 99-cent delete bins) because the RCA Victor LP of the 1966 revival was readily available and a better overall recording. ANYTHING GOES would have been a far better choice and would have been welcomed by fans.

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

[ClapYo'Hands]

Ethel Merman Anything Goes#11

Posted: 9/1/10 at 3:29pm

Styne wrote Gypsy with her in mind, but there are still many better performances of that role...