Favorite "Rose's Turn" On Recording?

I'll admit it, I have an obsession with ROSE'S TURN. I love every version on recording. So what's your favorite from a cast recording/soundtrack

Ethel Merman (Original Broadway Production)
Rosalind Russell/Lisa Kirk (Version used in the film)
Lisa Kirk (Featured on the soundtrack, not used in film)
Angela Lansbury (1973 Original London Cast Recording)
Tyne Daly (1989 Revival Recording)
Bette Middler (1993 Film Soundtrack)
Bernadette Peters (2003 Revival Recording)

I don't think I'm missing any, am I?

Well I'd have to say the all time best recorded version is Merman's. NOTHING can beat her big finale to the song. No one can belt the "Everything's coming Roseeeee" like her. It's probally my favorite version. In some weird way, I really love Tyne's version. I also love the Russell/Kirk mix version. Bette belts it almost as good as Merman. I enjoy the emotion Peters brings it. And Lansbury is Lansbury.

So i'd probally say my favorite on recording is Mermans.

Which is your favorite?

And Kay Medford!

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Okay I'm going to keep it from a Broadway cast recording or movie Soundtrack. You can add solo versions from concert recordings or solo albums if you want.

Now just answer the damn question.

Updated On: 7/12/06 at 05:03 PM

Merman owns the number. No one else brings te same anger (and hurt) to the performance. The only part I don't think she does well is the stammer when Rose begins to break down.

2nd choice, for me is Peters. Her voice is not quite powerful enough but she makes you believe Rose as a person.

Lansbury I like a lot too but she does seem to strain her voice. Daly's voice was shot by the time she recorded it (she was better in the theatre - or maybe the visual image overrode the vocal deficiencies.)

Lisa Kirk sings it too much. Roz Russell tries to "act" it too much, and it does seem like a second rate post Broadway tour instead of the real thing. Midler is better but she is still Bette Midler and not Rose.

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There is also a South African recording with Libby Morris, who a lot of people think is the definitive Rose on record.

I'll vote for Peters.

Ok... don't throw me off the board for this, but Merman has always made me want to turn the volume down. Everything always sounded *so* pushed.

Give me Bernadette any day. Finally the right combination of voice and emotion!

Well (unfortunately) there's not a recording of it, but Betty Buckley was AMAZING at Papermill Playhouse. The acting of Rose's Turn made me understand things about the character that I never really got before. While I love her rendition on the London Concert CD, to me it's missing some of the emotional reality that came through in the context of the entire show. Too bad that version didn't transfer to Broadway -- I thought it was top-notch.

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I was just about to say, you can't forget Betty on her live CD (and even though it's not on record, her performance at Papermill).


I just that crazy b*tch.

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I would love to hear Libby. I would love to match her notes to my piano, to see if she hits the C's. Bette was decieving. I was convinced she was belting the C's at the end of both of those songs. But when I matched it with my piano, she was on a B. Though I think her ending note on EVERYTHING'S COMING UP.. sounds incredible.

Isn't Bette Midler doing "Rose's Turn" in a different key though?

Well I don't think any actress did it in Merman's key.

Because.. Bette and Peters end on a B. Tyne a B flat, and I think Lansbury may be an A. I haven't got to mess around with Lansbury's on my piano yet.


And Broadwaygirl, no one sings as shrill as Bernadette in the role. Come on. You are just used to the screaming belters of today. Not many these days can handle Merm's vibrato and belt.

Updated On: 7/12/06 at 05:50 PM

Hands down Angela Landsbury. SHe acts through song and has the singing chops to boot. Listen to her Mama's and for Me's....not that u can truly compare but Merman sounds laughable, an actress she wasn't. Allegedly Sondheim was not too taken by Merm's take either...

I'm not hear to fight over Merman, so I'll leave that alone, Broadwaygirl.

Just some interesting facts for whoever cares. I truly have no life.. I just matched some Kirk/Russell notes on the piano.

Kirk's ending of ROSE'S TURN(used for the Roz version too) ends on a G. Not that far off from the other actresses.

BUT her EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES ends on the D next to middle C! That is almost an octave lower than Merman! Ofcourse Kirk had to sing it low, because they had to make it very believable that it was Roz's very deep voice singing. But damn that D is baritone range! My range.

Updated On: 7/12/06 at 06:06 PM