Your favorite Cy Coleman songs...

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 5:17pm

What are your favorite Cy Coleman songs?

My are:

You Can Always Count on Me ("City of Angels")
No Man Left for Me ("Will Rogers Follies")

[pab]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 5:23pm

With Every Breath I Take ("City of Angles")
Our Private World ("On The Twentieth Century")

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 5:26pm

With Every Breath I Take -- especially the Nancy LaMott version...

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 5:30pm

I've been mourning Cy's untimely death all day today (like many others, I'm sure) by listening to his entire canon.

While 20TH CENTURY remains my favorite Coleman score, I must say that "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" is my favorite Coleman song.

[pab]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 5:32pm

The version of 'With Every Breath I Take' sung by Kay McClelland is my favorite, not the reprise with includes James Naughton even though that is okay, the solo one is just the best.

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 05:32 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 5:34pm

I, too, love the score of "On the Twentieth Century" and have always wondered why there hasn't been a revival of this show.

[NBC]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:27pm

There are many, but highlights for me are You Can Always Count on Me, Lost and Found and You're Nothing Without Me from City of Angels, and Big Spender, There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This, Rhythm of Life and Rich Man's Frug from Sweet Charity.

(And I would like to add that I will be forever grateful to Mr. Coleman for composing Rich Man's Frug, thereby giving Bob Fosse the opportunity to choreograph that number and hence my favorite Fosse dancer the chance to perform it.)

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 06:27 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:34pm

ok, where do i start?
You're Nothing w/o Me
(the rest of the City of Angels soundtrack)
Someday is for Suckers,
Rich Mans Frug,
A lovely day to be outta jail
(the rest of The Life)

oy, teh list goes on... he was 1 of my favs, hands down

[dry2olives]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:38pm

I suppose my favorite isn't a showtune. "The Best is Yet to Come", with its odd and uplifting syncopation. I can't hear that song without thinking of dark rooms, chilled drinks and lightly bobbing heads.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:41pm

"If my friends could see me now" from Sweet Charity
"Mr. Greed" from The Life
and of course
"You can always count on me" from City of Angels.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:45pm

YOU FASCINATE ME SO

WHEN IN ROME (I DO AS THE ROMANS DO)

THERE'S GOTTA BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS

PINK TAFFETA SAMPLE, SIZE 10

I'M GONNA LAUGH YOU RIGHT OUT OF MY LIFE

IT AMAZES ME

I WALK A LITTLE FASTER

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS

WITCHCRAFT

HERE'S TO US

WHERE AM I GOING?

MY PERSONAL PROPERTY

SEESAW

POOR EVERYBODY ELSE

THE WAY I SEE IT

HEY THERE, GOOD TIMES! Updated On: 11/19/04 at 06:45 PM

[musicgal04]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:49pm

The Rich Man's Frug is my absolute favorite dance number. I also totally agree with You Can Always Count on Me

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:50pm

"Real Live Girl" "I've Got Your Number" and "To Be a Performer". LOVE Little Me!

[shira467]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 7:14pm

I loved "Here's To Us"

And for some reason, "If My Friends Could See Me Now" - because I think everyone can relate to it - at least I can.

So many songs....

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 7:23pm

1. Never Met A Man I Didn't Like
2. I'm Nothing Without You
3. Hey Look Me Over
4. Too Many Tomorrows
5. I'm A Brass Band
6. You Can Alway Count On Me

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 8:05pm

Thanks, MusicMan, for including SEESAW and I LOVE MY WIFE. Both scores have that Broadway zing that is so often lacking these days. Singers had real songs to sing, and the melodies were infectous. "Hey There Good Times" is impossible NOT to hum, as is "It's Not Where You Start." But I really enjoy "A Mover's Life" and even "Love Revolution."

And he wrote a song for Luci Arnaz to sing in the road company of SEESAW, to replace "Ride Ot the Storm" called "The Party's On Me" that stopped the show. She was quite wonderful in that role, better, even that the good Michele Lee. I always wondered what happened to the song. It was a good fix on the show -- because it closed act one with a Gittel number, during which she had her ulcer attack. Anyone else see Luci in that memorable 2nd company?

[gettinhep]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 8:33pm

Rhythm of Life
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This
With Every Breath I Take

Auggie, you are right on the money when you mention the infectious rhythms and melodies of Coleman's songs. They have that big Broadway sound. If you hear these songs in a theatre, there is a physical reaction to the sound - it is palpable. It is a sensation that can be rather addictive. Cy Coleman certainly added to the the addiction of many theatregoers. He will be missed. But, at least we can still hum his melodies.

[MatureDignity]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 8:46pm

"You're Nothing Without Me"
"Someday is for Suckers" and "Use What You Got" from The Life
"If My Friends Could See Me Now"

[MusicMan]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 8:59pm

What is so singular about Coleman is his infusion of what could be called "cafe society jazz" into his Broadway scores. Though elements of jazz have certainly been present in musicals since its inception, Coleman consistently brought a true jazzman's sound into the pit, a sound which, ironically enough, has been a rarity in so democratic an art form as the musical.
(Not to mention that he gave me my first job on a Broadway show, for which I shall be forever thankful).

Aug, THE PARTY'S ON ME was recorded by Coleman on an album by the same name in 1976. Vocalists on the album include
Patti Austin and Laurie Beechman. You might also be interested to know that two cut songs from SEESAW, namely BIG FAT HEART (which was later replaced by NOBODY DOES IT LIKE ME) and PICK UP THE PIECES can be heard on LOST IN BOSTON III. On that album you can also hear a wonderful number cut from SWEET CHARITY called PINK TAFFETA SAMPLE, SIZE 10. However, do yourself a favor and track down an old Sylvia Syms recording where she gives the definitive performance of the song.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 10:35pm

What an extraordinary compendium of information you always are, MM. Sadly, it takes a marquee-dimming moment like this one to reconnect with the treasure trove of valuable lore that you provide. I first joined ths board, reading your in depth appraisals of the sublime to the ridiculous about 13 months ago. (Even when we didn't agree.) I'm sad about Coleman, but delighted to be learning more from a primo achivist like MusicMan. I'm gonna dig up the Coleman album and light a candle this weekend. Please, stick around, keep us in touch with days gone by--and honest, MM.

Updated On: 11/21/04 at 10:35 PM

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 10:40pm

anything from CITY OF ANGELS, especially-

"You Can Always Count On Me"
"Double Talk"
"You're Nothing Without Me"

[MusicMan]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 10:50pm

I blush, Auggie.

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 11:13pm

As an enjoyable song that gets stuck in my head so often:

Barnum - One Brick At A Time


Truly a sad day. I was actually listening to my Barnum cd around 2am this morning. Take care, Cy.


Charlie
[e-mail]

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 11:28pm

Add to the list these 2 from "Welcome to the Club"

1. In The Name Of Love
2. At My Side

[alterego]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 11:54pm

My vote goes for 'Hey, Look Me Over', however I do have a soft spot for 2dryolives suggestion of 'The Best Is Yet To Come', also 'Witchcraft' Which I believe Carolyn Leigh was respondsible for the lyrics.