PAL JOEY's great score!!

Listening to different cast recordings of Pal Joey the past few days; it is such a great score, every single song a winner! So my two questions: which is your personal favorite song from the score? And which is your favorite recording??

I'm going to pick an unusual song: "Happy Hunting Horn"! It's so jaunty!! And I pick a mix of two recordings: The Harold Lang-Vivienne Segal recording (but their songs only) and the 1952 revival recording, for Helen Gallagher and Elaine Stritch's numbers!

Looking forward to the revival in December!! (: (can Martha Plimpton sing?)

Pal Joey is one of my top ten favorite musicals. There's not a lemon in it and, whenever I'm in the mood to hear one particular song, I'm hooked for the duration of the recording. I'd hate to choose a favorite recording, but I guess I'd say the old Columbia with Vivienne Segal and Harold Lang. It's not note-complete (no Garden of My Heart). About the only recording I would NOT recommend is the soundtrack of the movie, which totally diluted the story and discarded much of the great material. But Stritch is great on the revival recording, the London with Sean Phillips is quite good, the Encores! with Peter Gallagher is fine too. I am SO excited to see this great show again.

---

It is, pratically every song is well written and just a joy to listen to. Considering when it was originally produced, well, some are extremely well written (mainly the songs for Vera). My favorite song would have to be "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," but I am also partial to "Zip," "You Mustn't Kick it Around" and of course, "I Could Write a Book." Also, thanks to the Encores! recording, the cut song for Joey, "I'm Talking To My Pal," was included and I think it comes in a close second to "Bewitched..." Favorite recording is very difficult. Encores! has Patti LuPone as Vera (I think she's the best, except for Vivienne Segal in the Reprise of "Bewitched..."), but my favorite Joey is Harold Lang by far. BUT, nobody can sing Gladys and Melba like Helen Gallagher and Elaine Stritch respectfully (1952 Revival). So, if I had to listen to only one, I would probably go with the "Original" recording with Lang and Segal. I'm pretty excited for the revival.

buddharich, I really hope Plimpton can sing very well because I'm holding her up to the bar that was placed very high by Helen Gallagher (Tony winning high).

Updated On: 10/15/08 at 05:58 PM

My favorite is the 1995 Encores! cast recording with Peter Gallagher and Patti LuPone! I love Patti's "Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered" and the inclusion of "I'm Talkin' to My Pal". Bebe Neuwirth's "Zip" is also a highlight, but very similar to her Lola in Damn Yankees.

Fascinating background on why Gene Kelly wasn't cast in the movie version. Thanks for the info, TulitaPepsi. I always wondered why Kelly didn't reprise his role. I'm not a big Gene Kelly fan, but this role was one I would have loved to see his portrayal of.

I'm really looking forward to this revival because I love the score!

I do have to say that the 1952 Broadway Revival Cast Recording of 'Pal Joey' is my favorite. I enjoy each and every of the performers performances greatly.

---

I've waited my whole life to hear a Joey sing "I'm Talking to My Pal" in a production of Pal Joey.

---

Updated On: 10/16/08 at 10:36 PM

I agree Curtain. And I hope they use more than a synthesizer, drums and guitar. Joey is a "big" show that deserves the full treatment. I remember with horror what the Roundabout did to Follies several years back and am praying that some "concept" doesn't cloud the basic joys of the show. I would have opted for a commerical revival, but realize that that's a tall order these days. So I am thankful for what we'll get and pray to the theatrical gods that Roundabout doesn't f_____k it up.

---

Updated On: 10/16/08 at 10:06 AM