Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
#1Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/22/12 at 12:36pm
I was just humming THE GAME from DAMN YANKESS yesterday.
RIP and thanks for the great scores!
http://playbill.com/news/article/167355-Richard-Adler-Composer-of-Pajama-Game-and-Damn-Yankess-Dies-at-90
#2Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 10:20am
RIP.
I'm surprised no one has posted in this thread.
#2Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 10:27am
He was "co-responsible" for two of my favorite scores of the '50s. Adler lived to be 90 while Ross died at 29. One can only imagine the musicals and songs that might have been written had he lived.
RIP
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#3Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 12:04pm
Their big success with PAJAMA GAME followed almost immediately by DAMN YANKEES! was the envy of all aspiring Broadway songwriters.
I always find the score of PAJAMA GAME refreshing whenever I hear it. The cast album on Columbia is sheer joy from start to finish. (Although I do have a slight preference for the film soundtrack album with Doris Day, "boxy" Warner Bros soundtstage sound and all...it includes the extended dance music but drops three minor songs and the Overture - all heard on the first album.) The revival cast with Harry Connick Jr. has a weird (to my ears) flat unnatural sound an I don't enjoy the reduced orchestrations.
DAMN YANKEES! is a less perfect album on its original cast disc. The record just never generates the same excitement as did PAJAMA GAME. The film soundtrack has even less to recommend it: cutting songs, changing lyrics and putting Tab Hunter in as the lead. As an alternate, I prefer Thomas Sheppard's telescoped version of the entire show with the 1994 Broadway cast. There, at least you can hear what a fun show DAMN YANKEES! can be.
As for KWAMINA, aside from the final song "Another time, Another Place" I find little to enjoy. Adler was lost without Ross.
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
beautywickedlover
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
#4Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 12:06pmBoth musicals are such classics. RIP!
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#5Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 12:06pmMay there forever be Stars in his Eyes.
#6Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 12:24pmRest In Peace.
tdl83
Stand-by Joined: 1/28/08
#7Richard Adler, Composer of Pajama Game and Damn Yankess, Dies at 90
Posted: 6/23/12 at 1:36pmRichard Adler was the best....Everything he did was great. This is from 1st hand experience. "A MOTHER'S KISSES" was one of the best scores i ever worked on.....Hopefully the recording is not completed....but someday.
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