LesserKnown Theater CDs I Love - Ya Gotta Hear Them

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 7/15/03 at 2:47pm

70 Girls 70 by Kander and Ebb

A Party With Comden and Green

Over Here by the Sherman Brothers

No, No, Nannette "the new 1920's musical"

and Woman of the Year is lots of fun...much more enjoyable and exciting score than Applause for Lauren Bacall fans...and the excitement of Bacall's performance is clearly captured.

you folks have theater cds you really love that we might not know about and you might encourage us to try? thanks

[Albin]

Posted: 7/15/03 at 3:04pm

Peter Allen's "Legs Diamond." So bad it's good. Except for the opening "When I Get My Name In Lights." Too bad the rest of the score wasn't as good...

Posted: 7/15/03 at 3:08pm

Ruthless
Tick Tick Boom
Best Little Whorehous in Texas (OBC)

Posted: 7/15/03 at 3:46pm

THE GOLDEN APPLE immediately comes to mind.
Music: Jerome Moross (films: THE CARDINAL; THE BIG COUNTRY)
Lyrics: John Latouche (CANDIDE, CABIN IN THE SKY)

Off-Broadway critical success which opened 3/11/1953. The musical is almost all sung-through retelling of The Iliad and The Odyssey in turn-of-the-century America. Rave reviews and nearly immediately transferred uptown. Performers included: Stephen Douglass, Pricilla Gillette, Kaye Ballard. Songs with after life are: "Lazy Afternoon" (recorded by La Streisand) and "Goona-Goona" (recorded and perfomed by Bette Midler).
New York critics voted GOLDEN APPLE "best musical of the season." On vinyl the original cast recording was a rarity commanding upwards of $100+. It is out on CD. If you've never heard it, give a listen. A rare gem of clever fun with a wonderful mix of music. Sondheim was still in a learning mode and as much as I admire his work, GOLDEN APPLE proves that clever lyrics and intricate music could be fun.

Listen and compare the quality of what you hear against what is currently on the boards. THE GOLDEN APPLE is one measure against which contemporary musicals should be measured.

Yours for a better Broadway!
Updated On: 7/15/03 at 03:46 PM

[Juliette Capulet]

Posted: 7/15/03 at 3:53pm

you folks have theater cds you really love that we might not know about and you might encourage us to try? thanks

"Romeo et Juliette ~ de la Haine a l'Amour"

It's French, but brilliant.

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

Posted: 7/15/03 at 4:00pm

Notre Dame De Paris, on the same line as Romeo and Juliet

Awesome recording, AMAZING voices. Updated On: 7/15/03 at 04:00 PM

[Belter]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 3:51am

"Goldilocks" by Walter and Jean Kerr, with music by Leroy Anderson. Starred Elaine Stritch, Don Ameche, Pat Stanley and Russell Nype (PS and RN BOTH won Tonys for the show) and Margaret Hamilton (best known as Almira Gulch) Funny songs (skip the overture and stop before last two numbers), moving songs, clever songs. I love it.

"It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!" by Strouse and Lee (and others), with Jack Cassidy and Linda Lavin (memorably). The reissued CD has extra numbers performed by the writers.

"A New Brain" by William Finn. Only done as a limited run, I fell in love with this show via the CD. Malcolm Gets is great, but Mary Testa blows the roof off the joint!

"Wonderful Town" by Comden & Green and Bernstein. Skip the last two numbers, but the rest is phenomenal, including the non-overture opening number "Christopher Street"

Two I feel guilty for loving: "Apects of Love" and "Scarlet Pimpernel" ... I think they have gorgeous scores and are sung exceptionally well ...

[Feathah]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 11:59am

The cast recording of "Foxy." Woo hoo!

[magruder]

Posted: 7/16/03 at 12:18pm

Good choice!

Foxy is a terrific score. I wish it could have been recorded with the orchestrations (which do exist) but I'm thankful to have it in any form. The Johnny Mercer lyrics are stunning and arguably, the best of his career.