All Just to Get to You

1. Lucky Just Believe

2. I Can't Forget Her

3. Four Nights in Albuquerque

4. Angry Heart

5. Talk to Me

6. You Will

7. Resurrection Day

8. This Could Get Good

9. Only Cure

10. All Just to Get to You

11. Lonely Town

All Just to Get to You,Derryl Perry,Music City Records,Country,Pop

Average customer rating: A really Fine Romance A Musical Treat

Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music European Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Very Best of Grappelli and Menuhin Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards Menuhin & Grappelli Play... Anything Goes, With Yo Yo Ma Jazz in Paris: Oscar Peterson-Stephanie Grapelli Quartet, Vol. 1 ASIN: B000002SDR Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Cheek To Cheek
2. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
3. The Piccolino
4. Change Partners
5. Top Hat
6. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
7. Heat Wave
8. The Way You Look Tonight
9. Pick Yourself Up
10. A Fine Romance
11. All The Things You Are
12. Why Do I Love You?
13. I Get A Kick Out Of You
14. Night And Day
15. Looking At You
16. Just One Of Those Things
17. My Funny Valentine
18. Thou Swell
19. The Lady Is A Tramp
20. Blue Room

Customer Reviews:

A really Fine Romance.......2007-07-05

It doesn't get any better than these two playing these guys! Some of it was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Use your imagination... It's all just swell.

A Musical Treat.......2006-01-08

"The true mission of the violin is to imitate the accents of the human voice, a noble mission that has earned for the violin the glory of being called the king of instruments." ~ Charles-Auguste De Bériot ~

Yehudi Menuhin and Stéphane Grapelli together had made some of the most beautiful music ever-recorded. And I believe that this is one of the many successful albums they recorded together. In this recording, both violinists have showed their excellent musicianship and interpretative eloquence as well, making it one of my most cherished CDs from my collection.

These are the main ingredients of a perfectly-made CD for your listening pleasure: mix violins, piano, bass and drums together, combine two terrific violinists, season with the best melodies in the 20s, 30s and 40s from Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hart. Add the musical talents of Nelson Riddle, Max Harris, Martin Taylor, Eddie Tripp, Alan Clare and the rest of the studio musicians. Now all you have to do is to sit back, relax and savor these stunning melodies coming from your CD player. Listen to it in full-volume and fill your music room with the sheer beauty of these classics.

One of my favorite musical instruments is violin. With its four strings, it gives a whole wide range of musical versatility and I simply love the fascinating sound it produces.

My personal highlights are the best tunes from Jerome Kern - "The Way You Look Tonight" (Nelson Riddle arranged this particular track and conducted the Woodwind and Brass section), "A Fine Romance," "Pick Yourself Up," "Why Do I Love You?" and "All The Things You Are."

My choices from Irving Berlin's gems are - "Isn't It A Lovely Day?" featuring the great artistry of Nelson Riddle in arranging and conducting, "Cheek To Cheek" and "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm."

The Cole Porter repertoire represented his musical sophistication in "Night And Day," "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and "Just One Of Those Things."

The choice cuts from the talented and creative team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart are "My Funny Valentine" and "Thou Swell."

Listening to this CD is so delectable and equivalent to having my favorite dessert - be it Tiramisu, New York Cheesecake, Black Forest Cake, Chocolate Soufflé, Créme Brulee, Chocolate Mousse or Chocolate-Coated Strawberries! ;)

A musical treat.

Average customer rating: The songs stand on their own Sounds Very Good Nice remix but nothing outstanding MY FAIR LADY SOUNDTRACK FINALLY GIVEN ITS DUE ON SACD

My Fair Lady Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack) The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack) West Side Story Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) South Pacific (1958 Film Soundtrack) ASIN: B00005J9XS Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Why Can't the English? - Alan Jay Lerner,
3. Wouldn't It Be Loverly?
4. I'm an Ordinary Man
5. With a Little Bit of Luck
6. Just You Wait
7. Rain in Spain
8. I Could Have Danced All Night
9. Ascot Gavotte
10. On the Street Where You Live - Orchestra African Fiesta
11. You Did It - Rex Harrison, , Wilfried Hyde-White,
12. Get Me to the Church on Time
13. Hymn to Him - Isobel Elsom, Marni Nixon
14. Without You
15. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - Stanley Holloway
16. Embassy Waltz [*] - Marni Nixon
17. You Did It - Rex Harrison, Marni Nixon
18. Just You Wait (Reprise) - Rex Harrison
19. On the Street Where You Live (Reprise)
20. Show Me
21. Flower Market
22. Get Me to the Church on Time
23. Hymn to Him
24. Without You
25. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
26. End Titles
27. Exit Music

Customer Reviews:

The songs stand on their own.......2006-05-27

Many people can associate this sound track with the movie, "My Fair Lady" that was that is a film version of Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion". This is a classic musical with many well known songs by Lerner and Loewe.

However unlike many musicals the songs have a life of their own. Even though they matched the story perfectly, they are they type of songs that one could instantly blurt out in the thrill of the moment. I my self found that "On the Street Where you live" matched perfectly when I was in love in my youth.

Sounds Very Good.......2006-05-16

This album and CD format sound very good. I was quite pleased. THE RAIN IN SPAIN and ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE are favorites of mine. I am glad this soundtrack got a top notch presentation. Well worth the wait.

Nice remix but nothing outstanding.......2004-03-06

After reading one review that gave this recording five stars I purchased it. Although it probably is a better recording than past CDs - don't expect the sound of a modern recording. A couple of the songs are very much clearer, but over-all I did not find this recording to be a revelation.

MY FAIR LADY SOUNDTRACK FINALLY GIVEN ITS DUE ON SACD.......2001-08-02

Warner Bros' 1964 film version of My Fair Lady, Lerner and Loewe's brilliant musical adaptation of Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, is a genuine motion picture classic, fully worthy of all the awards and praise it has garnered since it's release nearly forty years ago.

My Fair Lady boasted a discrete 6 track stereophonic sound mix, which was state of the art for it's time and still probably sounds better than the majority of today's pictures.

This new SACD format CD offers the best sonic presentation of this soundtrack ever made available to the music buying public. With this release Sony has corrected a horrible injustice done to My Fair Lady in its previous CD. Gone is the sloppy editing of bits and pieces of meaningless dialogue excerpts and intrusive Foley effects, which served only to show the total lack of respect the producers had for these performances. While this SACD is not completely free of such tampering, this time the small amount of dialogue is beautifully edited and serves properly as lead in to the songs. Unlike the original LP release the extended versions of all the songs are presented here, along with The Embassy Waltz and the Entr'acte music.

I won't get into the debate over Audrey Hepburn's casting except to say that at this point in time Julie Andrews, although obviously a better singer than Hepburn and probably wonderful on the stage, could not have even come close to the level of brilliance displayed by Audrey Hepburn in this role on the screen.

Unfortunately precious little of Hepburn's superb performance is to be heard on this SACD, which leaves us with a debate over how Marni Nixon, Hepburn's vocal double, compares to Julie Andrews. Other than the fact that her Cockney accent is not so great, Nixon acquits herself quite admirably in the role, although I believe that Hepburn should have been allowed to do more of the singing with Nixon stepping in vocally when the going got rough, such as she did for Deborah Kerr in The King and I. But even so, Marni Nixon is arguably every bit as good a singer as Julie Andrews and performs the songs beautifully.

Add to that the fact that this soundtrack offers Rex Harrison's most polished performance of Professor Henry Higgins and since his songs were recorded live at the time of filming, there is a spontinenity in them lacking in the Broadway and particularly in the London Cast Recordings.

Stanley Holloway performs his songs with much more zest in this recording as well. But the greatest improvements over the original are the outstanding orchestral arrangements and conducting by Andre Previn assisted by Robert Tucker's excellent choral work. The brassy, puny orchestras and shrill choruses on all other recordings pale by comparison.

Still, the Original 1956 Broadway Cast Recording should be a part of any serious music lover's collection, if only to savor Julie Andrews' sterling vocal performance as the original Eliza Doolittle. The 1964 soundtrack reviewed here should be equally enjoyed on its own merits, as mentioned above, and for allowing one to hear in brilliant stereo sound a more complete and better orchestrated version of Lerner and Loewe's musical masterpiece.

Now if only Sony would go back and correct another major injustice by redoing the horribly mutilated expanded CD soundtrack of West Side Story as well.

Average customer rating: Peculiar Gershwin Never Sounded Better!

Gershwin: Piano Music Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: After The Ball plus Highlights from Vaudeville Moonlight Bay: Songs as Is Songs as Was The Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls, Vol. 2 Gershwin Plays Gershwin: The Piano Rolls Sing Gus Kahn ASIN: B000005IY8 Release Date: 1992-04-09

Tracks:

1. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Swanee
2. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Nobody But You
3. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise
4. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Do It Again
5. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Fascinating Rhythm
6. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Oh, Lady Be Good
7. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Somebody Loves Me
8. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Sweet And Low Down
9. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): That Certain Feeling
10. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): The Man I Love
11. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Clap Yo' Hands
12. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Do Do Do
13. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): My One And Only
14. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): 'S Wonderful
15. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Strike Up The Band
16. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Liza
17. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): I Got Rhythm
18. George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Who Cares?
19. Other Piano Pieces: Rialto Ripples
20. Other Piano Pieces: Three Preludes-Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
21. Other Piano Pieces: Three Preludes - Andante con moto e poco rubato
22. Other Piano Pieces: Three Preludes - Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
23. Other Piano Pieces: Impromptu In Two Keys
24. Other Piano Pieces: Three-Quarter Blues
25. Other Piano Pieces: Merry Andrew
26. Other Piano Pieces: Piano Playin' Jazzbo Brown (Jasbo Brown Blues)
27. Other Piano Pieces: Promenade
28. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise
29. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: How Long Has This Been Going On?
30. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: By Strauss
31. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Someone to Watch over Me
32. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Nice Work If You Can Get It
33. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: The Man I Love
34. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Just Another Rhumba
35. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Isn't It A Pity?
36. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: They All Laughed
37. Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Love Is Here To Stay

Amazon.com

William Bolcom is my kind of musician. He writes music that is sometimes adventurous but always based in a recognizable American idiom. And he's a terrific ragtime pianist, the best Joplin player I've heard. With these credentials, of course he's a wonderful Gershwin player. These are the best piano performances of Gershwin I know. After you hear those, Bolcom joins his wife Joan Morris for very flavorful versions of 10 George and Ira Gershwin songs. The whole disc is a delight, and the original analog recordings still sound fine. Highly recommended to all Gershwin lovers. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Peculiar.......2005-01-26

I can see how someone might enjoy this album. William Bolcom is a top-flight pianist and the idea of playing the tunes as George Gershwin played them at parties is intriguing.

Because my ear is used to it, I guess, I would like to have heard longer performances of fewer songs. Each one sounded to me like a snippet -- over too soon. Because of that, plus the fact that I'm not a fan of Joan Morris' showy voice, I give the album one thumb up.

Gershwin Never Sounded Better!.......2002-06-25

This is a fantastic CD! Back in the 70's, pianist William Bolcom and his singer wife Joan Morris made a delightful series of albums on the Nonesuch label of old songs from the first half of the twentieth century - just glorious voice backed by brilliant piano. As Ira Gershwin might say - who could ask for anything more? The music is not only beautifully performed, you can hear the joy of the performance in every note. And Bolcom and Morris were never better than when doing Gershwin.

A combination of two albums, the first part of this CD is all piano. The Gershwin Songbook consists of brief (some under a minute) versions of some of his more popular songs in the way that Gershwin himself famously played them at parties. They demonstrate that Gershwin was as gifted a pianist as he was a composer. The other instrumental tracks are some of Gershwin's solo piano pieces, including the wonderful Rialto Ripples, a rag written when he was just seventeen. For me, the pinnacle of both Gershwin's and William Bolcom's artistry is reached on the second of the three preludes - a classic study of a bluesy mood.

Just when you think things can't get any better, Joan Morris arrives. She effortlessly sings and swings her way through ten of Gershwin's best songs from the cheeky comedy of By Strauss to the smoky moodiness of Someone To Watch Over Me. Maybe I'm just an incurable old romantic, but the ballads are the best of all.

No Gershwin collection can be complete without this CD. Now if only I could find a copy of that Bolcom/Morris song about Humphrey Bogart...

Average customer rating: Most beautiful music

Menuhin & Grappelli Play... Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duke, Vernon | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music European Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart The Very Best of Grappelli and Menuhin Anything Goes, With Yo Yo Ma Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards Jazz in Paris: Oscar Peterson-Stephanie Grapelli Quartet, Vol. 1 ASIN: B0002Z83LG Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

1. Fascinatin' Rhythm
2. Soon
3. Summertime
4. Embraceable You
5. Liza
6. A Foggy Day
7. 'S Wonderful
8. The Man I Love
9. I Got Rhythm
10. He Loves And She Loves
11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
12. They All Laughed
13. Funny Face
14. Our Love Is Here To Stay
15. Lady Be Good
16. These Foolish Things
17. Laura
18. April In Paris
19. Autumn Leaves
20. Autumn In New York

Tracks:

1. Cheek To Cheek
2. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
3. Change Partners
4. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails
5. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
6. Heat Wave
7. The Way You Look Tonight
8. Pick Yourself Up
9. A Fine Romance
10. All The Things You Are
11. Why Do I Love You?
12. I Get A Kick Out Of You
13. Night And Day
14. Looking At You
15. Just One Of Those Things
16. My Funny Valentine
17. Thou Swell
18. The Lady Is A Tramp
19. Blue Room
20. Jealousy
21. Skylark

Customer Reviews:

Most beautiful music.......2005-08-17

This is happy music.
Just plain happy, instrumental music.
Highly recommend to everyone.

Average customer rating: Precise, pointed and peerless !!! the "Fair Lady" in London... My Fair Lady again? Broadway vs London vs Movie It's good but,..

My Fair Lady (1959 Original London Cast) Alan Jay Lerner Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast) Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack) The Sound of Music (1965 Film Soundtrack - 40th Anniversary Special Edition) ASIN: B000007OHU Release Date: 1998-06-02

Tracks:

1. Act I: Overture
2. Act I: Why Can't The English?
3. Act I: Wouldn't It Be Loverly
4. Act I: With A Little Bit Of Luck
5. Act I: I'm An Ordinary Man
6. Act I: Just You Wait
7. Act I: The Rain In Spain
8. Act I: I Could Have Danced All Night
9. Act I: Ascot Gavotte
10. Act I: On The Street Where You Live
11. Act II: You Did It
12. Act II: Show Me
13. Act II: Get Me To The Church On Time
14. Act II: A Hymn To Him
15. Act II: Without You
16. Act II: I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
17. The Embassy Waltz

Amazon.com

My Fair Lady is without question one of the greatest shows ever created for the musical theater. It's a charming, hilarious, and touching adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, pitting flower girl Eliza Doolittle against Prof. Henry Higgins, the self-absorbed and ill-tempered linguist who bets that he can turn her into a lady by improving her diction. Lerner and Loewe's score includes some of the best-loved songs in the canon: "Why Can't the English," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "The Rain in Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," "Get Me to the Church on Time," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," among others. The 1959 London-cast stereo recording is generally held in lower regard than its Broadway counterpart, recorded three years earlier in mono. But why quibble? The principals are all the same--Rex Harrison as Higgins, Julie Andrews as Eliza, Stanley Holloway as her dad, and Robert Coote as Col. Pickering (Leonard Weir replaced Michael King as Freddy Einsford-Hill)--and it's still a classic recording in its own right that you'll treasure for years. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Precise, pointed and peerless !!!.......2007-01-03

One listen to the London original cast recording of My Fair Lady and you know why this CD still sells. Despite the decades, the recording sounds fresh, clear and crisp. There is no background noise on this CD! Moreover, the songs by Lerner and Loewe are brilliantly composed and the lyrics are clever, witty and poignant. This CD proves it.

The CD opens with the overture to the musical stage play and then goes right into the first song entitled "Why Can't The English?" More spoken than sung by Rex Harrison, "Why Can't The English" fleshes out his character's lament that too many British people don't speak English well. The melody is catchy and the lyrics are funny at times even if some of the humor is dated.

The lesser educated British have their say in the next number, "Wouldn't It Be Loverly." In this song, sung by Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle with male backup singers and a chorus of whistlers, demonstrates how these persons really do want to lead a much more sophisticated life with more luxuries.

Other great songs on this CD include the rousing "Get Me To The Church On Time" sung by the memorable Stanley Holloway; the beautiful love ballad "On The Street Where You Live" performed by Leonard Weir; "I Could Have Danced All Night" which is performed flawlessly by Julie Andrews who belts out those incredibly high notes; and "The Rain In Spain" delivered by Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison and Robert Coote. Excellent!

One especially amusing song is entitled "A Hymn To Him" performed mostly by Rex Harrison with some assistance from Robert Coote. The violins at the beginning of this number are beautiful in the musical arrangement.

The CD concludes with a extra bonus monophonic track of the waltz music for the scene in which Henry Higgins takes Eliza Doolittle to the Embassy ball. "The Embassy Waltz," conducted by Percy Faith, offers a beautiful musical arrangement that leaves you wanting more--so don't be surprised if you get the urge to play the CD all over again from the very beginning and enjoy it once more.

The musical arrangements are carefully planned and executed throughout; only Lerner and Loewe were capable of producing such a fine score to go with this stage play. The tempo of the score is faster overall than it was for the original Broadway production; this is especially evident in the opening notes of the overture. Nevertheless, it all works brilliantly.

The liner notes boast terrific black and white photos of the actors in the stage play along with a special color photo of Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison. Didier C. Deutsch contributes a lengthy essay about the history and production of My Fair Lady as well.

The music and lyrics to the original London cast recording of My Fair Lady are timeless. Even today, more than four decades later, the soundtrack still sells well. The musical is one with which many people can identify as it illustrates through words and music the blossoming love affair between Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle. Indeed, the story and the music add to the enchantment as we realize that even Higgins and Doolittle themselves are unaware of the full power of their mutual attraction until the very end of the stage play. My Fair Lady will remain a classic musical; and the score to the stage play on this album is priceless. May you enjoy this soundtrack as much as I did!

the "Fair Lady" in London..........2006-09-23

In 1956, Lerner and Loewe's MY FAIR LADY swept into Broadway and quickly captured the hearts of critics and audiences alike, the perfect transformation of George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion" into the world of the musical theatre. Both Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews played the show for two years on Broadway before yielding to replacements (Edward Mulhare and Sally Ann Howes), and in 1959 traveled across the pond to headline the London company. The show opened at the Drury Lane Theatre in April 1959, and ran for 2,281 performances.

While both Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison had laid down their definitive performances as Eliza Doolittle and Prof. Henry Higgins for the 1956 original Broadway cast album of MY FAIR LADY, the subsequent 1959 London production allowed them to record another album, in the brand-new stereophonic format.

Despite this 1959 recording having a sweeter sound than the earlier 1956 mono album, this sadly remains the lesser of the two, because a lot of the energy and flash had disappeared from Julie Andrews' voice in the years she had performed the role. On the Broadway album, Andrews gives a rich performance that runs the gamut from cockney guttersnipe to regal high society, but comparing the two albums directly, she does not sound at her optimal best on the London set. Andrews has acknowledged that she found the role of Eliza both physically and vocally exhausting, even more so because of the lack of body-mikes, and the projection must have been gruelling at times. No wonder that so much of the bloom in Andrews' voice had vanished by the time she reprised her role in London. Despite Andrews, the album does have a few merits including breezy orchestrations under the direction of Cyril Ornadel (the Overture is given a much faster tempo than is heard on the Broadway set).

The supporting cast includes Stanley Holloway (also reprising his Broadway role) as Eliza's dustman father Alfie. The role of Freddy is played by Leonard Weir (his "On the Street Where You Live" is very charming), and Robert Coote also repeats his Broadway role as Colonel Pickering.

The 1959 London cast of MY FAIR LADY, just like the 1956 Broadway album, has never been out of the catalogue, though the confusion between the two albums still exists, despite the fact that the London album sports a gold-brown cover and the Broadway album is white. Sony Broadway Masterworks' edition features a bonus track of the "Embassy Waltz", a mono recording from 1956.

My Fair Lady again?.......2005-06-04

I have heard the Columbia Masterworks recording of this show as it was produced in Isreal. Same orchestrations, different lyrics! In Hebrew of course. I wish it were still available.

Broadway vs London vs Movie.......2003-10-02

Let's begin by comparing both the Broadway and London scores to the 1964 movie soundtrack-- actually there is no comparison! Both Broadway and London surpass the movie recording by far, only demonstrating the HUGE mistake Hollywood made by not casting Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle. Andrews' purely delightful soprano voice and perfect diction cannot even be compared to Marni Nixon's voice dubbing in the film. In addition, Andrews is British, which is critical to this play, unlike Nixon's purely American accent heard in the film.

As far as Broadway vs London MFL recordings, I would have to agree with the others who are in favor of the "white" Broadway album. While both are very good, the Broadway album does appear to be less "forced" than the London album due, most likely, to the fact that it was recorded before the cast had exhausted themselves singing the score after a few years on the stage. Both Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews appear to be more "natural" in the Broadway album, and Andrews does definitely lose a bit of the innocence in her voice in this recording.

All in all, I would recommend that any MFL collector invest in both the Broadway and London cast recordings to make your own opinions. Yet, for someone looking to buy only one album, I would stick with the Broadway version. In all situations, save yourself some money and skip buying the film soundtrack.

It's good but,.........2003-07-26

If I had never heard the 1956 recording I would have thought this one was great....but to me, compared to its mono counterpart, this performance sounds more like a Wednesday matinee in the middle of a long run. The performers are all still wonderful, but it's very relaxed and and lacks the vivid characterizations found in the original. Any fan of "My Fair Lady," however, will want to have them both and decide for themselves!

Average customer rating: for GOOD reason! (I couldn't give it 0 stars and have page post)

Marilyn Horne: The Men in My Life Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Górecki, Henryk Mikolaj | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sondheim, Stephen | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Film Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Horne, Marilyn | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Hadley, Jerry | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Bernstein, Leonard | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Berlin, Irving | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Gershwin, George | C to G | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Rodgers, Richard | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: An American Songbook [Australia] Great Recordings Of The Century - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta / Ackermann No One Is Alone Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000003FQ0 Release Date: 1994-08-16

Tracks:

1. Swingin' On A Star
2. The Man I Love
3. You're Just In Love
4. Blah, Blah, Blah/Just In Time
5. Small World
6. Long Before I Knew You
7. Friendship
8. All The Things You Are
9. In The Still Of The Night
10. Some Enchanted Evening
11. I Get Embarrassed
12. All Through The Night
13. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
14. All I Ask Of You
15. The Little Things You Do Together
16. Love Walked In/Our Love Is Here To Stay
17. Somewhere

Customer Reviews:

for GOOD reason! (I couldn't give it 0 stars and have page post).......2007-07-17

Short and Sweet!

In case you're wondering why this is only going for $2. for new copies from secondary dealers, is because it wasn't worth the $16.00 it originally was priced at! What a SHOCK when I got this home from the store and put it in my machine!

I gave it away in a grab bag at work!

All I can say is: "Miss Horne, I am so sorry that you allowed this to be released...it's worse than the stuff that Callas/Di Stefano did at the end."

Average customer rating:

Collection: Say It With Music (Dlx) Andr Kostelanetz Manufacturer: Collectables ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Easy Listening | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00007L8X4 Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

1. Say It With Music Remember Blue Skies
2. Top Hat White Tie And Tails How Deep Is The Ocean (How High
3. This Is The Army Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning Soft
4. Whatll I Do Always The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers
5. The Piccolino Cheek To Cheek
6. White Christmas
7. The Girl That I Marry Say It Isnt So Mandy
8. Give Me Your Tired Your Poor God Bless America
9. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Yesterdays
10. Ive Told Every Little Star The Song Is You
11. The Night Was Made For Love She Didnt Say Yes All The Things
12. Look For The Silver Lining They Didnt Believe Me Long Ago (A
13. I Dream Too Much The Jockey On The Carrousel
14. Why Was I Born The Way You Look Tonight Who
15. Make Believe Bill
16. Why Do I Love You You Are Love Ol Man River
17. Fascinatin Rhythm
18. Mine
19. The Man I Love
20. Embraceable You Soon
21. I Got Rhythm
22. Bess Oh Wheres My Bess
23. S Wonderful
24. Maybe
25. Someone To Watch Over Me Oh Lady Be Good
26. Embraceable You
27. Strike Up The Band
28. Begin The Beguine
29. All Through The Night
30. I Concentrate On You
31. I Love You
32. Night And Day
33. In The Still Of The Night
34. Ive Got You Under My Skin
35. Blow Gabriel Blow
36. Just One Of Those Things (Bonus Track)
37. Hallelujah Time On My Hands
38. Tea For Two
39. Carioca
40. Without A Song
41. More Than You Know
42. Orchids In The Moonlight
43. Sometimes Im Happy I Know That You Know
44. Through The Years Drums In My Heart
45. Malaguena
46. La Cumparsita
47. Mexicana Medley
48. Yours (Quiereme Mucho)
49. Siboney
50. Caminito
51. Adios
52. No Taboleiro De Bahiana
53. The Moon Of Manakoora
54. Lotus Land
55. Kashmiri Song
56. Jamaican Rhumba
57. Flamingo
58. Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)
59. Andalucia
60. Sweet Leilani (Bonus Track)
61. Frenesi (Cancion Tropical) (Bonus Track)
62. Show Boat
63. South Pacific
64. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
65. An American In Paris
66. Porgy And Bess

Album Description

The multi-faceted Andre Kostelanetz left his mark on the music world as an acclaimed conductor/arranger/accompanist. His most notable contribution is the creation of the Easy Listening genre, done by bridging the gap between Classical and Pop music. Highlights on this 6 CD box set include Irving Berlin's 'Cheek To Cheek', George Gershwin's 'The Man I Love' and Jerome Kern's 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes'. Includes 3 bonus tracks 'Just One Of Those Things' (Cole Porter), 'Sweet Leilani' (from Waikiki Wedding) & 'Frenesi' (Cancion Tropical). Standard jewel cases housed in a deluxe wooden box w/hinged lid (approx. 6 x 5''). Collectables. 2003.

Average customer rating:

Best Buy Presents Chicago / Daryl Hall & John Oates: 1998 Tour Collector's 2 CD Set Chicago , Hall & Oates , Daryl Hall , and John Oates Manufacturer: Best Buy ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000P93V6G

Product Description

Ultra-rare 1998 commemorative concert of both Hall & Oates and Chicago. After the production, these two legendary live performances were never made available on tape or DVD. Only a limited, commemorative tribute 2 CD set through Best Buy Stores (long out of print) who sponsored the tour. July 7th, 1998, these 2 super groups rocked Harbor Lights Pavilion in Boston all night long!! Great interviews, too. Both shows were superb. Daryl & John played: Romeo is Bleeding, Out of Touch, Say It Isnt So, Urges, If a Promise Aint Enough, One on One, Sara Smile, Throw the Roses Away, I Cant Go For That, Maneater. Then Chicago took the stage with: Dialogue- Part I & II, Make Me Smile, Color My World, Youre My Inspiration, Free, If You Leave Me Now, Feeling Stronger Every Day, Saturday in the Park, All Roads Lead to You, Just You and Me, Beginnings, Does Anybody Know What Time It Is, Im a Man, Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away, In the Mood, 25 or 6 to 4. It was a tremendous show for old and new fans, alike.

Average customer rating: A Collection of the Original Oz Stage Productions Ain't it a Shame! Why the 1903 "Wizard" was forgotten A long overdue revisit to a classic American musical Long-Forgotten Broadway Hit Gets First Rate Revival

The Wizard of Oz - Vintage Recordings from the 1903 Broadway Musical Manufacturer: Original Cast Record ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection: Land of Oz/The Reluctant Dragon The Wizard of Oz (1988 London Cast) Shock Treatment (1981) The Wizard Of Oz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Deluxe Edition Into the Woods ASIN: B00009MPYQ

Tracks:

1. Wizard of OzSelection (Arthur Pryor's Band)
2. The Bullfrog and the Coon (Ada Jones)
3. Pocahontas (Edward M. Favor)
4. Daisy Donohue (Harry Tally)
5. Down on the Brandywine (Collins & Harlan)
6. Come Take a Skate with Me Sung (Collins & Harlan)
7. I Love You All the Time (Harry Macdonough)
8. The Moon Has His Eyes on You (Ada Jones)
9. When You Love, Love, Love (Thomas E. Whitbred)
10. When We Get Whats a-Comin to Us
11. Mister Dooley Sung (Edward M. Favor)
12. Julie Dooley (J. W. Myers)
13. Meet Me Down at the Corner (Jones & Spencer)
14. Budweisers a Friend of Mine (Billy Murray)
15. Theres a Lot of Things You Never Learn at School (Bob Roberts)
16. Under a Panama (Billy Murray)
17. Good Bye Fedora (Collins & Harlan)
18. Sitting Bull (Collins & Harlan)
19. I Love Only One Girl in this Wide Wide World (Harry Macdonough)
20. Sammy (Harry Macdonough)
21. The Tale of a Stroll (Morgan & Stanley)
22. Cant You See Im Lonely? (Ada Jones)
23. Are You Sincere? (Byron G. Harlan)
24. Hurrah for Baffins Bay (Collins & Harlan)
25. Football (Dan W. Quinn)
26. Id Like to Go Halves in That (Burt Shepard)
27. Rejoice!The Wizard is No Longer King
28. The Traveler and the Pie
29. Must You? (Dan W. Quinn)
30. Thats Where She Sits All Day (Dan W. Quinn)
31. The Sweetest Girl in Dixie (Henry Burr)
32. Scarecrow Laugh (Fred Stone)

Tracks:

1. Sammy Mira (Music Box Disc)
2. Must You? (Mira Music Box Disc)
3. Opening Prayer
4. Phantom Patrol
5. Just a Simple Girl from the Prairie
6. Poppy Song
7. Love is Love
8. When We Get What's A-Comin' to Us
9. The Traveler and the Pie
10. When You Love, Love, Love
11. Rejoice! The Wizard is No Longer King
12. Phantom Patrol (Aeolian Piano Roll)
13. My Little Maid of Oz Aeolian Piano Roll
14. The Tik-Tok Man of OzSelection (Rythmodik Piano Roll)
15. The Tik-Tok Man of OzSelection (Piano Roll)
16. Ask the Flowers to Tell You (Macdonough & Dunlap)
17. My Beautiful Dream Girl (John Barnes Wells)
18. My Pretty Little Piece of Dresden China (Bessie Wynn)
19. Gay Paree (Montgomery & Stone)
20. Travel Travel Little Star (Montgomery & Stone)
21. A Scotch Moriah (Montgomery & Stone)
22. Hurrah for Baffins Bay (Dan W. Quinn)
23. Daisy Donohue (Trombone Solo by Arthur Pryor)
24. Mr. DooleyMedley (Xylophone Solo J. Frank Hopkins)
25. Down on the BrandywineMedley (Edison Military Band)
26. The Bullfrog and the CoonMedley (Six Brown Brothers)
27. Ill Take You Back to Italy (Ada Jones & Billy Murray)
28. Father Goose Songs (Sallie Osbourne)

Album Description

The Wizard of Oz a musical with book and lyrics by L. Frank Baum and music by Paul Tietjens premiered on June 16, 1902, at the Grand Opera House in Chicago. It was an instant hit and made stars of David Montgomery (the Tin Woodman) and Fred Stone (the Scarecrow). On January 21, 1903 the show opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York. It ran for nine months and set out on the road with a second company right on its heels. The show toured, came back to New York, toured, and returned to New York again many times until finally disbanding around 1911. Stock and amateur companies continued to present it into the 1930s when it was overshadowed by the classic MGM film starring Judy Garland.

The show was legendary for its success and its impact on American culture. It was the Cats or Les Mis of the early 1900s--but the show has been swallowed by history. What made audiences of the early 1900s devour the show and return for more again and again? In this unprecedented 2-CD set—featuring over 145 minutes of vintage recordings and 64 pages of lyrics, photos, notes and synopsis—you can discover how The Wizard of Oz entertained the American public for the first two decades of the 20th century. And like the audiences of nearly a hundred years ago, you can hum along to "Budweiser," "Sammy," and "Hurrah for Baffin's Bay"—everyone's favorite songs from The Wizard of Oz! Also included in this comprehensive collection are recordings from later Oz musicals, The Woggle-Bug and The Tik-Tok Man of Oz written by Oz creator L. Frank Baum, as well as vintage non-Oz recordings by original "Wizard of Oz stars" Montgomery & Stone and Bessie Wynn

Customer Reviews:

A Collection of the Original Oz Stage Productions.......2006-12-07

This Double-Disk Collection contains music from the original and varied Oz Stage Productions: "the Wizard of Oz", "the Woggle-Bug" (based on 'Marvelous Land of Oz) and "the Tik-Tok Man of Oz" (based on 'Ozma of Oz'). There are plenty of "Wizard" songs and music, but there isn't a lot of "Woggle-Bug" and/or "Tik-Tok Man".
I often wondered how different the 1st & Original Production of 'Oz Wizard' was different to the book, and thanks to Mark Evan Schwartz's book "Oz: Before the Rainbow" I found out for myself (WORTH A READ!!). Later I got this CD to go along with the book's stage telling (more or less) and I listened in interest to the songs which, I read, were entirely different to the future Musicals of Oz. The songs are good, but not all of them are actually completely restored to perfection, so the singing may/will sound somewhat muffled. Also, due to the time it was made (for some reason), the songs don't actually fit into the story (even the stage's rewritten story) and sound distant/unrelated. But there are songs that sound similar to the original story ("Rejoice! The Wizard is No Longer King"). CD 2's Track 3 has music played during Silent Oz Film "His Majesty, Scarecrow" on the MGM 3-Disk DVD.
The best thing about this CD Collection is the two booklets packaged along with the disks: the first (entitled "The Records") has writing on "What the Wizard Was" with a synopsis of the stage production story and "About the Recordings", a listing of all the songs on CD 1 (which are helpful for "Selection" Tracks not specifically named on the back) and notes on the songs like their origins and background. Booklet 2 (entitled "The Lyrics") has the words to the songs (in case you can't make out the words/want to sing-along). BOTH CDs include b&w photos of the actors, performance (few of which can be seen in "Oz: Before the Rainbow" book) and even reprints of a few illustrations made for the stage. The pictures are the best part of this purchase.
The Entirely Different Songs may not fit with the story, original or rewritten, but there's nothing really wrong with the music when one enjoys to what they're listening to.
I know that there is also another 'Oz on Stage' CD Collection called "Before the Rainbow" . . . hmmm, I wonder if I should get that too?

Ain't it a Shame!.......2006-05-20

I think that this is a wonderful album of HISTORICAL value. Not too many people know this, but "the wizard of oz" was made into a smash hit in 1903, but because all the history was BARELY in obscurity, hungry tiger press wanted to educate the blockheads in the world about this remarkable piece of history. that being said, david maxine collected all of the old material, such as Piano rolls (my especial favorite of all of them is "the poppy song", i LOVE the bass notes: "nnn-ded-deh mmmm-ded-deh"), and music boxes, and cylinders, and records!
however, it is quite a shame that that CRAPPY movie with judy garland pushed this lovely musical into obscurity. i would have liked to see it in my day, but it was already lost in darkness, but thanks to the highly DIGNIFIED people in the world, this cd is available!! BUY IT!!!! I *ORDER* YOU!!! YOU CANNOT BE DIGNIFIED WITHOUT THIS REPLACING YOUR "RAP" GARBAGE WITH THIS JEWEL!!!!

Why the 1903 "Wizard" was forgotten.......2004-03-20

This truly remarkable 2-disc collection of old cylinders, discs, music boxes and piano rolls explains why the 1903 musical version of "The Wizard of Oz" did not survive the early thirties. It wasn't because it was before its time or even of its time, but simply because it was way behind the times. Its producers resisted composer's Paul Tietjens' attempts to write plot-driven numbers. His contribution survives only in the incidental music preserved on piano rolls (and the most interesting element on this collection) linking very disparate and even incongruous vaudeville acts by various authors and performers that graced the stage during the musical's multi-decade run. In other words, Baum was telling a story and the songs were telling another... As fascinating as they are for historical reasons, those numbers are commonplace, mostly uninspired flash-in-the-tin-pan ditties, with timid syncopation and a stong reliance on musical clichés. There is not a single standard among them and not even a decent lyric where "fine" doesn't rhyme with "mine" and "love you" doesn't rhyme with "I do"- or even "I know you know I know you do", as happens more than once. As an assemblage of shtick pieces and ephemeral sentimental or nonsensical ditties, this collection cannot be topped and it represents a monumental effort. Without it and its very generous and informative liner notes, I would not have the same appreciation for the absolute genius of Victor Herbert's operettas ("Babes in Toyland" came out the same year) where the more memorable songs are plot-driven and introduced and linked by the most luscious, inventive and varied incidental music ever heard outside an opera house. This sort of unified concept would culminate in Jerome Kern's "Show Boat" and it remains a truth today that the integration of plot and music - reminiscent of opera - is the true secret of successful and perennial musicals, whatever the current idiom. This collection also makes one appreciate the complete originality of the Hollywood film for actually going back to Baum's books, entrusting the songs, lyrics and music to Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg and Herbert Stothart and scrapping the musical's colourful but checkered history (except for casting ex-vaudevillians as the main characters, of course!). Highly recommended for its nostalgia value, its irreplaceable rarities and a better understanding of the history of American popular music.

A long overdue revisit to a classic American musical.......2003-09-30

Although it was one of the most financially successful stage musicals of the early 1900's, very little information is presently available on the 1903 production of THE WIZARD OF OZ. In what was obviously a labor of love, David Maxine has done much to correct this oversight by releasing a 2-CD set with over 145 minutes worth of extremely rare recordings of music from this and other OZ-themed musicals dating back to before World War I. Recorded materials include vintage acoustical disc and cylinder phonograph records, piano rolls, and music box discs, many of which go back almost a century. In addition, he has included two booklets worth of historical background information on the 1903 WIZARD OF OZ production, its stars, the individual musical numbers, and lyrics for the songs included on the CDs. (Lavishly illustrated with rare old black and white photos and artwork, these booklets, and the information they contain, are themselves worth the price of the set!) Several bonus CD tracks are included that offer rare recordings by Montgomery & Stone (the original Tin Woodsman and Scarecrow) and Bessie Wynn, who was also in the 1903 cast. Not just for dedicated Oz fans, this set is a "must have" for anyone interested in the history of American musical theater and American popular culture of the early 1900's.

Long-Forgotten Broadway Hit Gets First Rate Revival.......2003-09-17

One hundred and three years ago, author L. Frank Baum published the best-selling children's book of the 20th century, THE WIZARD OF OZ. Although the book was adapted several times as plays, silent motion pictures, animated cartoons, and radio shows in the next few decades, it is the 1939 MGM film that most people think of as THE WIZARD OF OZ. The success and popularity of that film completely eclipsed the memories of previous incarnations and even the book itself in popular culture. However, prior to the film's release, there was a successful stage version which premiered on Broadway in 1903 and delighted audiences for many years, making stars of Fred Stone and David Montgomery, the original Scarecrow and Tinman. As with the MGM film, chilren who saw THE WIZARD OF OZ on stage carried fond memories of the production into adulthood. Ray Bolger was so impressed with the Fred Stone's Scarecrow, that he remembered it vividly as an adult and based his own protrayal of the character in the movie on Mr. Stone's stage version.

Unfortunately, time and Judy Garland have pushed the once popular Broadway Smash into history. It has been all but forgotten...until now.

As the show moved from theater to theater and casts changed, so did the songs. Many of these were recorded on the primative equipment of the day: Wax cylinders, 78-RPM records, piano rolls, and music Boxes, and surprisingly many of these still exist. Now, thanks to those hard-working gents at HUNGRY TIGER PRESS, you can own these historic recordings on this awesome 2-CD set. THE WIZARD OF OZ: Vintage Recordings From The 1903 Broadway Musical contains over 145 minutes of terrific early 20th century music. You won't find "Over the Rainbow" or "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead!" here. Instead, this WIZARD OF OZ contains tracks like "Budweiser's a Friend of Mine", "Sammy", "Hurrah for Baffin's Bay", and "Rejoice! The Wizard is No Longer King", each one a portal over the rainbow to the Broadway stage of a century ago.

Obviously the play was quite different in plot from the movie--Dorothy travelled to Oz with her cow Imogene instead of Toto, for starters--, but the songs represent the style of popular music of 100 years ago and are collected here in a beautiful compilation. The set contains two booklets of liner notes which contain credits, lyrics, a written history of the production, and are extensively illustrated with photos and illustrations. Although the sound quality of the source material is not always up to today's standards, the songs are presented in the best versions possible, and the music is highly enjoyable. With 60 tracks and the wealth of information contained here, both written and photographic, this 2-CD set is good value for the money. A must-have for all collectors of WIZARD OF OZ memorabilia, an insightful look at popular music and Broadway history from a century ago, a glimpse into ethnic and racial stereotypes that were accepted at the time, and a curiosity for fans of the 1939 film, this set is big on appeal. Kudos to the Hungry Tiger Press for rescuing this treasure trove of musical history from obscurity!

Average customer rating: True Sweethearts

1930-1941 Manufacturer: Great Movie Themes ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Nostalgia | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music ASIN: B0000042KV Release Date: 1997-08-20

Tracks:

1. Indian Love Call - Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy
2. Rose-Marie - Nelson Eddy
3. Song Of Love - Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy
4. Waltz
5. I'm Falling In Love With Someone - Nelson Eddy
6. Italian Street Song
7. Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (Along The Highway) - Nelson Eddy
8. Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life (The Dream Melody) - Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy
9. A Little Love, A Little Kiss
10. Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes
11. The Kerry Dance
12. Smilin' Through
13. Lover Come Back To Me
14. One Kiss
15. Who Are We To Say? (Obey Your Heart) - Nelson Eddy
16. Isn't Romantic
17. Beyond The Blue Horizon
18. Will You Remember - Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy
19. Farewell To Dreams - Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy
20. Sweethearts Waltz

Customer Reviews:

True Sweethearts.......2000-10-16

This CD offers some of Jeanette Macdonald and Nelson Eddy's most beloved songs from their movies. Their natural chemistry is apparent in songs like "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" and their individual talents are shown in the solos that they sing. These two legendary performers draw the audience into their songs and each is a special memory of the movie that it came from. Macdonald and Eddy were made to sing together. It is surprising that they were not sweethearts off screen after hearing their voices and seeing their movies. Their passion and tenderness towards each other is something out of a fairy tale. This CD has all the fun, romance, and innocence that was epitomized in their movies. It is a true treasure and a favorite in my music library.

Music Album:

1. Another Round: Live [Live]
2. Baby Girl/Stand Back Up [CD-single]
3. Back in the Fire
4. Back on Track
5. Burnin' [Import]
6. Classic Country Christmas
7. Classic Guitar
8. Country Sampler: Green Hill Signature Series
9. Crazy Daddy
10. Dolly Horrorshow

Music Album