NEW KRITZERLAND CAST ALBUM RELEASE

[bk]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:14am

Very excited about this one. And for those who haven't gotten Gone With The Wind yet, we're down to under 100 copies.


Kritzerland is proud to present our new limited edition CD:

CARNIVAL
Original London Cast Album
Music and Lyrics by Bob Merrill

LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

On April 21, 1961, Broadway audiences and critics fell head-over-heels in love with the new musical Carnival. Produced by David Merrick and adapted from the MGM film Lili by Michael Stewart (from the screenplay by Helen Deutsch, itself adapted from a Paul Gallico short story entitled The Man Who Hated People), the show was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and had a tuneful and memorable score by Bob Merrill. The critics raved – in the Daily News, John Chapman wrote that Carnival was “enchantment from the moment the houselights go down.” And so it was, pure enchantment, despite its darker elements – it ran on Broadway for 719 performances, and had a best-selling original cast recording (which debuted at number one on the Billboard chart) and “Love Makes The World Go Round” became a much-sung song, covered by many of the popular singers of the time. Carnival was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two (one for Alberghetti – in a tie with Diahann Carroll – and one for Will Steven Armstrong’s scenic design). The show had a successful national tour, as well.

It was a no-brainer that such a successful show would receive a London production, and so it did in 1963, opening at the Lyric Theater in February, after playing short engagements in Leeds and Glasgow. Champion’s staging was recreated by his long-time associate, Lucia Victor, and the cast included Sally Logan, Michael Maurel, Bob Harris, Shirley Sands, Francis de Wolff, Reg Lever, along with James Mitchell recreating his Broadway role. Just prior to opening, the original London cast recording was made, in hopes that the show would repeat the success it had on Broadway. Alas, that was not to be the case – the show ran only thirty-four performances. Why London didn’t embrace the show is anyone’s guess.

The London cast album is a delight, and features a few little bits not found on the Broadway cast album. Merrill’s words and music shine, as do the performances – it’s just a wonderful score, musically and lyrically, and wonderfully presented. Bob Merrill began his songwriting career in the pop world, writing such hits as “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d Have Baked A Cake” (with Al Hoffman and Clem Watts), “Mambo Italiano” (recorded by Rosemary Clooney), and his huge hit novelty song “(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window.” He also wrote a chart-topper for Jimmie Rodgers, the infectious “Honeycomb.” He made his Broadway debut as composer and lyricist with New Girl In Town, a musical version of Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie, which starred Gwen Verdon, which was followed by Take Me Along. He provided lyrics to Jule Styne’s music for the smash hit, Funny Girl, which yielded several songs that would go on to become standards. As composer/lyricist he also wrote Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Henry, Sweet Henry, and The Prince of Grand Street. With Styne, he also provided lyrics to Sugar, Prettybelle, and The Red Shoes.

The London cast recording of Carnival was mastered from the original album master tapes housed at EMI in the UK. Interestingly, some of the song titles are slightly different on the London recording and we’ve opted to use those so that we match the way they were listed on that original LP jacket.

This release is limited to 1000 copies only. The price is $19.98 plus shipping.

CD will ship by the first week of May – however, preorders placed directly through Kritzerland usually ship one to five weeks earlier (we’ve been averaging four weeks early). To place an order, see the cover, or hear audio samples, just visit www.kritzerland.com.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 3:19am

Fabulous! The clips sound gorgeous, Bruce. I think this might get more play than my OBCR (which already is frequently played). Thanks for all you do!

Adore Gone with the Wind, btw.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 7:05am

gosh, i hope JoeKV99 doesn't see this thread. He thinks Kritzer is develomentally challenged. Myself, i adore her.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 12:14pm

What the hell does Leslie Kritzer have to do with the London Cast of Carnival, or Kritzerland?

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 4:15pm

I'm very excited about the release of CARNIVAL on CD. Please, please, please tell me there will be a bonus track!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 4:39pm

sorry the sarcasm didn't translate, but there's no real reason to swear about it. It doesn't make your point any pithier.

[bk]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 5:46pm

No bonus track on this one - sometimes we can and sometimes we can't, depending on the rights' holder.

There will be another UK cast album coming in the next few weeks, and we're trying to clear some others - I love being able to do these.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 3/21/11 at 10:03pm

London How to Succeed, maybe, BK?

[soubrette]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 12:30am

Thanks Bruce!
So excited for this one!

[bk]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 12:43am

And do people know the Leslie Kritzer story re Kritzerland? I wonder.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 12:59am

I don't bk, what is it?

[chewy5000]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 3:10am

Did she sue?

[bk]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 5:49pm

Did she SUE? Um. No. When I was writing what became my first novel, which is a thinly veiled fiction of my childhood growing up in LA, I named the character based on me Benjamin - and I could not think of a last name for him, although I knew I wanted it to be a K name so the initials would be mine own. I came up with about twenty possibilities, none of which I loved. Then one day I was perusing All That Chat (this was in 2001) - I'd recorded the York Godspell and someone posted about it and asked what Leslie Kritzer was up to. The minute I saw the name Kritzer and I knew I'd found the perfect name for Benjamin. I called Leslie and took her to dinner and told her I was stealing her last name, which tickled her no end. Eventually that book became a trilogy, with the second book called Kritzerland and the third, Kritzer Time. When I was time to name the label I knew Kritzerland would be clearable as a domain name (I owned it from the book) and as a trademark and I loved the sound of it. And that's the story. :) Funnily, after the book came out I heard from all sorts of Kritzers who bought the book and were also delighted to have their name as the name of a character. Even funnier was a play Richard Dreyfuss did in the UK - the character was Ben Kritzer - coincidence? I have my suspicions because I have acquaintences who know the writer.
Updated On: 3/22/11 at 05:49 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 3/22/11 at 9:52pm

JoeKV99 thinks Kritzer is developmentally challenged.

Well, JoeKV99 is developmentally challenged. All you have to do is read his posts to see that.

I for one am very happy to have a chance to get beautiful remasterings of these rare cast albums on CD and think KR is well worth supporting.

[bk]

Posted: 3/23/11 at 1:02am

I think they were talking about Leslie, not us :) And no, the next UK album is not How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (I hate abbreviating titles). :)