On my shelf full of records is a set of about a dozen 12=-inch 78-rpm records made in the 1920s by the Victor Light Opera Company: "Gems from..." are just what the title implies.. a chorus with soloists presenting 4 1/2 minute medleys of vocal gems from then current shows. Some of these shows remained popular long enough to get full length studio cast or revival cast discs (NO NO NANETTE, ROSE MARIE, THE STUDENT PRINCE, THE VAGABOND KING, GOOD NEWS) but many others give tantalizing hints of scores filled with delightful melodies:
HONEYMOON LANE
QUEEN HIGH
RIO RITA
MERRY MERRY
THE LOVE SONG
MY MARYLAND
Many of these sides are on CD as part of the BROADWAY THROUGH THE GRAMOPHONE series.
When you look up the shows you find most are no longer performable because the plots
are so idiotic.(In one, two businessmen leave it to a game of cards to determine who
should run the company. The loser also has to act as a butler for the winner.)
Some of the Rodgers and Hart scores ear badly neglected: PEGGY-ANN, EVERGREEN, SIMPLE SIMON, I MARRIED AN ANGEL. Same with Cole Porter's JUBILEE and RED HOT AND BLUE (Merman's mini album of 4 songs is jut a tease.)
And I have always been curious about Lerner and Loewe's WHAT'S UP and THE DAY BEFORE SPRING. I find it hard to believe there is nothing noteworthy in either of these scores.
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
