ON THE TOWN 12/28/44

This is a fantastic record. While not technically a cast album, I'm including it. So tough. Nice to hear the authors sing the parts they acted originally. Also- Nancy Walker is a blast singing her songs. I bet she was funny to see. Mary Martin, however, was NOT in the original cast. But isn't it nice to hear her croon these songs? Because croon is what she does (she sings Lonely Town!?). Not exactly a sense of urgency in what she is singing about. The actor in me cares, but then I just sit back and enjoy. Young Mary Martin is so pleasant to hear. So pleasant. The orchestrations on the record are lush and busy and fun. Side note. Bernstein is funny to listen to on the record player. He has more than one repetitive passage ('you got me...' or 'it's all free...") to which I got up more than once to check if the player was skipping. GRADE: B

SING OUT, SWEET LAND! 12/27/44

Ok. This one was a shocker. Maybe it's because I'm really into folk music right now, but I found this cast album to be thoroughly enjoyable. Traditional broadway singing, blues, soul, folk... this has is all. And the year is only 1944! This show was an Americana folk revue. It didn't even run that long. Fresh off of the success of OKLAHOMA!, Alfred Drake shows off his glorious voice ("Where" is particularly great- his crescendo on the last note is pretty impressive). I love the blues songs on side B with Juanita (Bali Ha'i) Hall and the 'spiritual ensemble' (????). The highlight for me, however, is Mr. Burl Ives. Of course we all know his Christmas album. In fact, that's all I knew of him. Little did I know that his roots were in the folk musical world, which is how he was showcased in this musical. With a simple guitar accompaniment, he delivers in a silk voice some of the best old folk songs I've heard. Truly a highlight. I wish the whole record was him singing folk songs. But then, that isn't very theatrical and cast recording-like. Which could be my one quibble. This is a great cast recording, but the songs really are just popular songs of the day (or past 100 years) and don't further any discernible plot at all.

GRADE: B+

Bloomer Girl 10/5/44

Harold Arlen has always been one of my favorite composers, and this score certainly confirms it. I'm definitely going to be listening to this show more often. By no means is this a cd of perfect performances. Joan McCracken is obnoxious on her comedy songs. I feel like the speaker is nagging at me while I'm listening to her sing "T'Morra' T'Morra'".... MAKE IT STOP....
However, the other songs are so beautiful on the ears. Fantastic orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett. Celeste Holm is quite charming, although I prefer her comedy to her legit singing. "The Eagle and Me" is a highlight. There are a couple musical passages that are just stunning- the strings in "Sunday in Cicero Falls" for example. It's also fun to hear Harold Arlen himself singing "Man For Sale".

GRADE: A-