haines his way

02/20/2003:
"THE NOT OK OKLAHOMA"

Well, dear readers, I’m looking forward to my signing this very evening at Barnes and Noble at The Grove. It begins at seven o’clock, so tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell the man in the street. I have chosen the selections I shall read, which differ slightly from what I’ve done in the past. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?
Last night I watched the first forty-five minutes of Mr. Trevor Nunn’s production of Oklahoma! It’s on a PAL DVD. I’m sure it’s a lovely production but you sure wouldn’t know it from this DVD. Why is it so hard for the people who do these to know how to do them correctly? If you’re shooting a stage production there will be a certain amount of artifice. Sorry, you cannot get away from it much as you might like. But they’ve made the silly and ridiculous decision to shoot everything within the proscenium. The immediate problem with this is that you never, not once, get the geography of the set, from a front and center perspective. Okay, that’s a bad thing, but rather than have the courage of their convictions, at the end of every scene they cut to a camera which is at the rear of the stage looking out at the audience. So, not only do we not get geography, we don’t even get to see the set changes. We do get to see the audience, however. We have lots of shots of the audience before the show starts, during scene changes (fully lit, by the way – BTW, in Internet lingo), clapping wildly at the end of numbers. But once a scene begins we are within that proscenium two inches from the actors and the audience is simply gone. No laughs, no sound from them whatsoever. Terrible. It looks like Stroman’s dances are fun, but it’s hard to tell because you never seen them from the front other than a couple of times, and then the front view is never wide enough because we’re within the proscenium. Terrible. I mean, they're shooting a stage show - by doing it the way they're doing it they're almost trying to hide that fact, but then they suddenly don't hide it. It's schizo and it's a load of hooey. Hugh Jackman is a manly Curley, the Laurie is non-descript and ordinary as is Ado Annie, I wanted to kill the actor playing Ali Hakim (that’s how annoying he was), Aunt Eller was good, but this production seems, at least at the forty-five minute mark, to have none of the magic of Mr. Nunn’s Carousel. Then again, if Carousel had been filmed like this it probably wouldn’t have any magic either. Someday they’ll get it right – maybe our very own Brent Barrett’s Kiss Me Kate will be better.
Speaking of our very own Brent Barrett, his marvelous and sparkling Unseemly Interview will be up tomorrow. You simply must check it out because Brent is charming, funny and candid, not necessarily in that order.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I do believe I have some excellent questions to answer, don’t I?

Yes, Virginia, I have some excellent questions and by gum and by golly I am going to answer them because frankly or even gregoryly I’m just a boy who cain’t say no – oh, an Oklahoma! reference.
William E. Lurie asks if there are songs from Mr. Irving Berlin’s version of the Mizener Brothers story (the same story Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Weidman are telling now in Bounce or whatever the hell it’s called) other than the three I recorded. It’s been awhile since I went through all that material, but if memory serves a couple of others ended up in his aborted movie project, Say It With Music, but I really don’t remember to be absolutely certain. Who was doing the book to Mr. Berlin’s version? If it’s not in the booklet notes, I’m afraid I can’t tell you. Among the other Berlin material, were there any shows far enough along to be reconstructed and produced today? The way it worked was, I was allowed to go through all the files, but they were just filled with music sheets, so it’s hard to know what shows were in what stage. Some of the songs we chose were literally just melody lines and lyrics with the most rudimentary chord symbols. Lanny Meyers and I had to put ourselves in a Berlin frame of mind to harmonize those particular songs, and when the family heard them they were quite certain that Mr. Berlin would have been pleased as punch. Have I ever considered doing a revue of the material I recorded? I have considered many things and that is one of them.
Matthew asks if the CDs I made of Overtures was for personal use or did I actually produce two CDs with Overtures on them. Nope, I just made my own home-grown Overtures CDs for my very own listening pleasure.
George asks if I can give the proper pronunciation of Varese Sarabande. Yes, I can: Vuh-rehz Sarah band.
JMK asks if the rumor about the Tourette’s benefit being cancelled is true. Yes, sadly it is. The charity decided to cancel based on the ticket sales. Unlike the LA concert, we’d told them they were responsible for getting the word out and for ticket sales, and basically they just didn’t get the word out enough, although, that said, I think if they’d put a concentrated effort into the two weeks we had left I think they would have been fine.
Jrand52 asks if I was ever of a certain mind about a performer and then after meeting said performer realized I was of the wrong mind. Yes, shockingly, Laurie Beechman and Brent Barrett. I was very slow in coming around to working with either of them, but once I actually met them and got to know them, I knew it would be magic. If I knew a performer was best for a project but I was personally at odds with said performer would I cast someone who might not be as good, but with whom I could get along. I’ve used the expression, life is too short, and I believe in it. If I didn’t enjoy working with someone it wouldn’t matter how good they were, it’s not worth the time and energy and negativity. I would simply find someone who could do the job as well or better and that would be that.
Tom from Oz asks who was the best Gypsy Rose Lee I’ve seen on stage or film. Did I ever meet the real Gypsy? Have I read her autobiography? I thought Christa Moore was the best Gypsy ever. But I also liked Natalie Wood very much, and I thought Cynthia Gibb did okay, too. Never met the real Gypsy but I did meet the gypsy in my soul once. Haven’t read her autobiography. Do I know of any Baby Junes who have gone onto stardom? Yes, June Havoc.
Jay asks what my thoughts are on intermissions, specifically the fact that the revisal of Anyone Can Whistle is not two acts rather than three. I think Anyone Can Whistle was originally in three acts partially because of set problems. I’m sure it would work fine in two acts. The Most Happy Fella works very well in three, but might also work in two. What I do not like is when they insert an intermission into a show that originally was designed not to have one.
Kerry asks why in the song Everybody Wants to be Sondheim does Mr. Guy Haines pronounce it as “Sond I’m” without the “h”. Well, that is how he pronounces it, and ironically it is how I pronounce it, too. I suppose one could sound the “h” but it’s not nearly as smooth to sing it that way.
George mentions that on Brent Barrett’s Kander and Ebb album the song Give Me Love is paired with Only Love, but Only Love is not listed on the track list. Was it an oversight or because there wasn’t enough Only Love to warrant listing it? I haven’t heard it in a while, but I’m sure that’s the reason.
Sandra asks if I had an essay due tomorrow on the use of symbolism in Mr. George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (not 1984, dear reader Sandra), what would I say? First of all, I love Nineteen Eighty-Four, it’s one of the greatest books ever written in my humble opinion. I, however, would not talk about the use of symbols in Nineteen Eighty-Four, I would talk about the use of cymbals in Nineteen Eighty-Four. That is a much better topic for an essay. Many bands in Nineteen Eighty-Four used cymbals, and in the novel by Mr. Orwell, the cymbals crash with relevance on almost every page.
Dennis asks if out of all the things I’ve had the good fortune to do, is there something I would love to do but have never had the chance to do. Yes, yes, and yes. I would love to be in a Broadway show, that is my great dream. Barring that, I would love to have a show of my own devising on Broadway, and that may yet happen. What is Mr. Jason Graae up to? He has been doing lots and lots of concerts all over the country.
KT asks if I’ve kept up with my tap dancing since The First Nudie Musical. No, I’m afraid I haven’t. I’m afraid that when I went dancing last Friday night I looked like quite the buffoon. Do I get excited about helping out and encouraging promising young-or-otherwise performers, be it writers, performers or musicians? Not only do I get excited, I put my money where my mouth is – I’ve hired many unknowns in all those fields to work on my albums, movies and shows. I love new talent. Would I like to teach or do workshops in comedy, production, music, writing? I’ve lectured quite a few times and I’ve really enjoyed it. One of the things I’ve discussed doing was having something like a master’s class with singers, specifically geared to studio work and song interpretation. I would love doing that. I would also enjoy teaching and working with writers, too.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must go hither and thither and also yon, and I must relax and rest my voice so I have a sparkling tone this evening. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite underrated scores, the ones you probably listen to more than the classics? In other words, your guilty pleasure stage and film musical scores. I’m sure we’ve done at least a variation on this topic, but probably not in a long while and I always find your answers interesting and we do have new posters, too. I’ll start – Minnie’s Boys, Whoop Up, Wildcat, Take Me Along, Smile, Lolita, My Love, The Yearling, Passion Flower Hotel, Dance a Little Closer and quite a few others. Your turn.

Replies: 46 Unseemly Comments

Sondheim's a "New Yawker," yes?
Maybe that's why he drops his haitch!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/20/2003 08:56 AM PST

Well, we've already heaped oodles of praise on MACK AND MABEL as an underrated score--or, anyway--a great score tied to a bad book. I agree with BK on DANCE A LITTLE CLOSER; I was surprised how much I liked it. I would add NINE and ON A CLEAR DAY...
And can we nominate underrated composers, while we're in the underrated neighborhood? I nominate Hoagy Carmichael.
Posted by Pam @ 02/20/2003 09:12 AM PST

Today's Career Exploration session wasn't quite as ground-breaking as many of our others. Aside from the middle-aged hippie who's been out of work for twenty years outlining his plan to move to Ireland with his "mistress of some kind," the most interesting part was when my foot fell asleep and then I had to get up and share a handout with somebody else.
And my copy says "1984" on the cover, not Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Posted by Sandra @ 02/20/2003 09:12 AM PST

Well, you won't believe it - I just received notice that Barnes and Noble has once again cancelled the signing. Apparently, they double booked tonight and have only realized this now. It all sounds like a load of hooey to me, but I haven't been the one dealing with it, my publicist has. In any case, you can't fight these people, and I'm quite annoyed. So, don't tell your friends, don't tell your neighbors. A nice boycott of Barnes and Noble is suggested, and perhaps some angry letters, too. I have to quietly fume now.
Posted by bk @ 02/20/2003 09:20 AM PST

I hope some commiseration will make you feel slightly better, BK. Barnes and Noble are real jerks. I tried to schedule readings there (I used to edit a literary magazine), and they couldn't have been less helpful. We wound up doing it at Borders instead -- drew a pretty large crowd that, I'm sure, ended up buying plenty of merchandise. So poo on B&N. A pox upon the house of Barnes, and ditto upon the estate of Noble.
Altogether now, let's stick out our communal tongue: :P
Posted by Lulu @ 02/20/2003 09:27 AM PST

Sorry about the B&N problem BK. If you let us know who the other author is who is doing a signing tonight we'll be sure not to buy his/her book.
Since BK has answered I'd like to throw in my two cents. The best actress I've ever seen as Gypsy was (believe it or not) Debbie --- I mean Deborah Gibson who played it at Papermill opposite the Rose of Miss Betty Buckley (very good, but not the best Rose I've seen). Miss Gibson really had the role down pat and the change from awkward to sophisticated was well delineated. I've read both Miss Lee's Memoirs and the book by her son Eric Lee Preminger (Otto is the father)and they are both fascinating. As you may or not know, when the rights to the memoir were sold to be a musical Ms. Lee's comment was "you can change anything you want except the name". I saw Miss Havoc read from her (as yet unpublished) book about the same period as Act I of the musical and it was quite different. She said the musical was "a fable", not a true story. As for Rose, from what I have heard she was no worse than the mothers of Clifton Webb or Delores Grey.
Re today's topic: some of BK's choices would also be on my list to which I would add PROMENADE, WINDY CITY, THE HUMAN COMEDY, OH! CAPTAIN, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S and W.C. I know there are more but I can't think of them now.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/20/2003 09:36 AM PST

BK,
Sorry about the B&N thing. I was quite looking forward seeing you again and introducing my wife to you. Do you think perhaps you'll some day be able to do a signing in my neck of the woods, at Vroman's (a very well loved and respected independent bookstore in Pasadena)?
Posted by VinTek @ 02/20/2003 09:53 AM PST

I had just finished typing my essay in a not-typing-it kind of way, when I was approached by someone I believe is our very own Imdrina Mbututu, deposed Prince of Kwambaland. He presented me with a book entitled "The Art of Self-Realization" and asked for a donation. When I told him that I didn't have any money, he took the book back and instead gave me a pamphlet and an invitation to a feast where I can bring my donation.
Well, I am getting the evil eye from the librarian for having a bottle of Cherry Coke in the library, so I'd better vamoose.
Posted by Sandra @ 02/20/2003 10:02 AM PST

Well, if Miss Liz Smith is to believed, you lucky people on the West Coast will get to see Stockard Channing in the all-star Actor's Fund benefit reading of All About Eve. John Ritter will play Gary Merril's role of Bill Sampson. Angela Lansbury is said to be playing Thelma Ritter's role of Birdie, Margo's dresser and Tim Curry will be playing Addision DeWitt, Blythe Danner and Victor Garber as Karen and Lloyd Richards, Carl Reiner as Max Fabian and Melissa Manchester as the Pianist. No mention yet about Eve.
Some of my favorite underrated scores (AKA Guilty Pleasures) have been mentioned. Here they are in no particular order. Nine, Dance a Little Closer, On a Clear Day, They're Playing Our Song, Dear World, Celebration, Romance, Romance (especially the first act) and Working. I may think of more later as I peruse my CDs at home.
Posted by Ben @ 02/20/2003 10:05 AM PST

I agree with William E.'s selection of Windy City - a good score with some really funny lyrics. But the show (at least on the London stage) was pretty awful.
Other underrated scores, which I bang on about here on a regular basis:
Lola
A Doll's Life
Goodtime Charley
3 Musketeers
Carmelina
A Class Act
Eleanor
Lizzie Borden
Floyd Collins
The Grass Harp
Night of the Hunter
Heading East
The Hired Man
Is There Life After High School
Parade (Jason Robert Brown)
Rags
Romance, Romance
Titanic
Weird Romance
Woman of the Year
Zorba
And, call me pretentious, but there are a couple of foreign language musicals I love:
Kristina Fran Duvemala by Bjorn & Benny from Abba (but nothing like Abba) and Tordenskiold from Norway, which has great melodies.
Posted by Allan @ 02/20/2003 10:08 AM PST

One of my favorite underrated scores happens to be one that I was introduced to by none other than Bruce Kimmel on the first day we met - Henry, Sweet Henry. (He was brainstorming duets for Alice and Emily's second album and asked me what I thought of "I'm Blue Too." I didn't yet know the song. I sure do now!)
I also find myself listening to Celebration and Subways are for Sleeping all the time.
Posted by dlevy @ 02/20/2003 10:19 AM PST

Well, I have been extremely errant and truant, but I have been travelling most of the first part of the month. Not that any of my fellowHainsie/Kimlets should necessarily care or have noticed. I did see Miss Faith Prince do her cabaret act in a much-too-big concert hall in Florida (her "Something Wonderful" as Miss Adelaide was both funny and touching), and the curvaceous (sp?) Miss Jane Monheit heat up a Valentine's Day concert at the Kennedy Center. Last night I also attended the opening night of Mamma Mia! here in slushy Richmond VA (dear reader Jose will be playing the pit for later performances). And next Tuesday, we see the only and only CHER. It has been a full month.
But to stay on topic -- guilty pleasure musical must be a toss-up between Two Gentlemen of Verona and I Had a Ball, especially the title number. One of my favorite little-known movie scores is David Shire's ravishing Return to Oz, but for a guilty pleasure film soundtrack, it must be La Liz in A Little Night Music.
Posted by Philip Crosby @ 02/20/2003 10:35 AM PST

Stockard Channing as Margo! I think that will be quite brilliant. Excellent decision (if Liz Smith is correct...but isn't she usually, about such things?). I confess that I am wondering if John Ritter will be able to hold his own with her, though perhaps I do Ritter a disservice -- it's not as if I'm terribly familiar with his work outside the milieu of Three's Company.
I can't honestly think of any "guilty pleasures" as far as showtunes go (in that regard, I know no shame. I even confess to being a big fan of Oklahoma, which I understand is widely regarded as overrated, old-fashioned, etc. by many).
However, I do have other musical guilty pleasures, chief among them Elvis tunes (early ones like Heartbreak Hotel, though I'm also fond of the unabashedly sentimental Can't Help Falling in Love) and the occasional twangy country-and-western song, like Faron Young singing Hello, Walls or Hank Williams doing...well, just about anything.
These, I think I can honestly label "guilty pleasures."
Posted by Lulu @ 02/20/2003 11:10 AM PST

WOW... I can't believe it. Meltz and Ernest have their own website!
it's
http://www.meltzandernest.com
Can't wait to see what goodies appear there soon!
Posted by Craig @ 02/20/2003 11:26 AM PST

Just to be contrary, stopped at Barnes & Noble a short while ago and spent many many many dollars.
Posted by contrary me @ 02/20/2003 12:41 PM PST

Another underappreciated score by Mr. Styne, Hallelujah Baby! starring the ever lovely Ms. Leslie Uggams. Also, Shendandoah. My friends groan whenever I listen to it, but I love it.
Posted by Ben @ 02/20/2003 12:45 PM PST

I love Shenandoah. "We Make A Beautiful Pair" is a great duet (check it out on the skinner/ripley album too) and I love "next to lovin I like fighting best". The equity dinner theater I worked for once upon a time ago did the show for 6 weeks and I loved sitting in during rehearsals and when I went with clients.
Oh.. also love "Over the Hill". It's right up there with "I'm Past My Prime"
Posted by Ben @ 02/20/2003 12:50 PM PST

I am still fond of listening to "Windy City", "Gone With The Wind", "The Card", "Whistle Down The Wind" and "The Happy Time". The Alan Price musical "Andy Capp" also is a pleasure.
I have only seen two of the shows so the scores have to stand by themselves.
Probably the most played "failure" is "The Baker's Wife" which is beautiful. (And the show is so dull).
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/20/2003 01:00 PM PST

I agree with Ben about SHENENDOAH. When I first saw it in 1975 I thought it was a nice little show, but old fashioned compared to other shows I saw at the same time (the off-Broadway A CHORUS LINE, CHICAGO, PACIFIC OVERTURES, etc.). When it was revived in the early 90s I realized that not only was it not old fashioned, it was exactally the kind of show that nobody was writing any more and that Broadway needed as an antidote to the over-produced pop operas that were flooding Broadway at the time. SHENENDOAH would make a wonderful film and should be shot on location. This would be an excellent family film like they don't make any more.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/20/2003 01:05 PM PST

I hate when I do that. The post just above Tom's is mine TO Ben, not from Ben..
Posted by Craig @ 02/20/2003 01:06 PM PST

Tom---
Is Andy Capp based on the comic strip of the same name? When was it produced? I don't recall ever hearing anything about it.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/20/2003 01:07 PM PST

BK: I must agree with Dear Reader VinTek. Vroman's in Pasadena is a much more seemly venue for you to do a personal appearance/book signing than B&N. (Fooey on B&N!) Vroman's is a rarity these days: a quality independent bookseller. They have an excellent selection, a knowledgable staff, a well developed book signing program, and a very loyal clientele. That it is a mere two blocks from my office is only gravy. I urge you to urge your publicist to get in touch with the good people at Vroman's!
Posted by Jay @ 02/20/2003 01:07 PM PST

And my guilty pleasure would be the ill-fated "One Night Stand" with Charles Kimbrough, Catherine Cox and Jack Weston.. A fabulous Syne overture too!
Posted by Craig @ 02/20/2003 01:08 PM PST

William -
Shenendoah was a film - just not a musical. It was with Jimmy Stewart. But yes.. as a musical film now would be a great idea.. just not sure how it would 'sell'
Posted by Craig @ 02/20/2003 01:09 PM PST

Have just read all the other "Score" suggestions. "Windy City" with three votes. Now that is a surprise. I have long wanted to see the show as it sounded like such fun on the record.
I remember asking my "house sitter" to record "Oklahoma" when I was out of the country. I thought it would be great. Two years on and I have still not watched more than 15 minutes. I wanted an audience reaction to give it some life. Hugh Jackman looked so right and he was terrific in "Beauty & The Beast" and "Sunset Boulevard".
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/20/2003 01:12 PM PST

Yes! Andy is from the comic strip. the star was the wonderful Tom Courtenay. Alan Price (one time member of Eric Burdon's Animals) was "commenting" on the characters through song. The plot is almost non existent. (1982).
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/20/2003 01:16 PM PST

I was never a great fan of Oklahoma until I saw it at the National with the same cast as on the DVD and I was mesmerised from start to finish. I haven't seen the DVD, but from what I've read here, it obviously doesn't bear comparison with the show 'in real life'. The sets were fantastic, managing to convey the wide open skies which I would imagine Oklahoma must have (or have had). It's a shame if that doesn't come across on the DVD.
Tom - trust me, you wouldn't have enjoyed 'Windy City' on stage - stick to the CD.
Posted by Allan @ 02/20/2003 01:20 PM PST

Just need to comment on Bk's
notes on the RNT production
of "Oklahoma". Having just
been involved with a
production of "Oklahoma"
where the director and most of
the leads studied the RNT
video and the cast CD, (so
much so, the our Jud
pronouced the word "Broom"
"brewwwm") I'm lead to
believe that the British have no
business futszing (don't you
love that word?) with a piece of
Americana such as
"Oklahoma". While I love to
see people's fresh ideas with
old pieces of theatre, there are
certain things that should
remain sacred. Like the
original choreopraphy of
"Fiddler" or "West Side Story"
etc. I am thankful that no one
has touched "A Chorus Line"
for a revival, I dred the day that
happens.
Un-appreciated scores -
Eating Raoul
anything by Bernard J. Taylor
(to be apprecitated for their
uniqueness only)
My Favorite Year
Seusical!
The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer
Yeah, I'm for the underdog and
the rediculous!
Posted by Matthew @ 02/20/2003 01:30 PM PST

"and" I forgot "Billy" with the pre-masked Crawford. A wonderful show with a brilliant performance.
Thanks Matthew. I also forgot the wonderful "Seussical". I would add "Steel Pier" too.
Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/20/2003 01:35 PM PST

Of course BILLY. What a great score. Was the book any good? And speaking of British musicals that either never played or were unsuccessful in NY, I love Jule Styne's BAR MITZVA BOY.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/20/2003 01:44 PM PST

Barnes and who?
A couple of my favorites have been mentioned including EATAING RAOUL which I hope to direct/choreograph someday. WORKING even though the recording doesn't have ALL the best songs on it.
Bob Merrill's NEW GIRL IN TOWN has some fun stuff in it and an Off-Broadway thing called A MAN WITH A LOAD OF MISCHIEF featuring Virginia Vestoff.
I have been in several productions of OKLAHOMA! each one different and the strength of the production rested entirely on the which performer was the best....it could be Curly's show or Laurey's or it could belong completely to Ado Annie and Will Parker.
SPOILER QUESTION? Joe Millionaire was a set of twins???
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/20/2003 02:19 PM PST

Dear Contrary Me:
Thanks for sharing. Thanks for stopping by. Always nice to know that there are such wonderfully supportive people out there. You do have another website you can go visit, don't you?
Posted by bk @ 02/20/2003 03:05 PM PST

My (condensed) list of underrated scores:
Angry Housewives (this needs to be recorded! I have a video of a local production that I was involved with)
The Baker's Wife
The Boy Friend and its sequel Divorce Me, Darling
Das Barbecü (BK produced)
Eating Raoul
Gifts of the Magi
The Hired Man
Jane Eyre [I now have the Canadian cast recording (thanks Allan!) as well as the Broadway cast recording for a more complete score]
Kristina från Duvemåla (I have no idea what anyone is saying, but I really like this recording)
Lucky Stiff (BK produced)
One Man Band
Prettybelle
Rags
Weird Romance
Whoop-Up
Zombie Prom
Posted by George @ 02/20/2003 03:16 PM PST

Sandra: Wasn't floop used extensively as a symbol in "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (aka 1984)?
For guilty pleasures for movie musicals, "Calamity Jane" is one of my favorites.
Posted by Kerry @ 02/20/2003 03:38 PM PST

Thought of another one, No Strings. Diahann Carroll singing The Sweetest Sounds is so sweet to me and Richard Kiley is wonderful. Also some that have been mentioned, Rags, Parade and The Baker's Wife. I also like the 1964 version of The Cradle Will Rock with Jerry Orbach. I did that show in the late 70s and have a soft spot for it. I know it's somewhat pedantic and subtle is not a word you can use to describe the show, but there are some amazing songs in the score IMHO.
Some film scores, the soundtrack from Lady Sings the Blues, I Could Go On Singing, Reds. and There's No Business Like Show Business
Posted by Ben @ 02/20/2003 03:51 PM PST

Since the film version of "Shenandoah" has been mentioned, I find it, too, has a very underrated score.
It's a beauty composed by Frank Skinner and conducted by Joseph Gerhenson. These guys are probably better known to you as the talents behind many of the glossy Universal films, such as as "Back Street" and "Madame X." Elmer Bernstein's lovely, evocative "Far From Heaven" is the type of score Skinner used to turn out several times a year.
There was a marvelous Decca recording of "Shenandoah" in both mono and stereo.
It's a recording a cherish!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/20/2003 04:40 PM PST

I, too, am very fond of Skinner's score for Shenandoah - it has that lush Decca sound I so like (listen to the soundtrack of Flower Drum Song some time - it's astonishing). All your choices make me want to go listen to all those CDs again. I'm also very fond of Rags, one of Strouse's best I think. Ever since listing Passion Flower Hotel this morning, all I've been singing all the livelong day is "All we need is a hammer, a little hammer to break the ice". I also rather like the score to Mr. Newley's film musical, Hieronymous Merkin, and of course I'm quite partial to Mr. Bacharach and Mr. David's Lost Horizon.
Posted by bk @ 02/20/2003 04:53 PM PST

I've been meaning to mention to George, who posted that he was doing an LP to CD transfer of his Judy Garland "Lady in the Dark," that I think I found the same program on CD listed at eBay.
I searched for "Judy Garland" and "Lady in the Dark" just now, and turned up several items, among them auction #3312848967, which ends in five days.
Sorry I only remembered it now.
Posted by Sigerson Holmes @ 02/20/2003 05:43 PM PST

DECCA soundtracks are terrific - including those mentioned above. And including Magnificent Obsession, and those rock and roll oddities, ROCK PRETTY BABY and SUMMER LOVE.
BACK STREET and MADAME X are especially lush. And FLOWER DRUM SONG soundtrack is available on CD!!!
Will on WILL AND GRACE just gave Edith Head credit for designing the costumes for MY FAIR LADY. Somebody call heaven and let Cecil Beaton know he has been found out.
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/20/2003 06:11 PM PST

Where in tarnation is everyone, at Barnes and Noble? We need posts, we need the errant and truant, we need action we need hot cha cha, we need merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
Posted by bk @ 02/20/2003 07:36 PM PST

Speaking of Skinner. I am listening to Miss Emily's solo cd as I type this. I haven't put this cd on for quite some time and am thoroughly enjoying it as a new refind.
So.. I ask you.. what cd's have you all recently re-discovered?
Posted by Craig @ 02/20/2003 08:15 PM PST

No, I bypassed Barnes & Noble tonight after rehearsal.
Intense rehearsal, I might add.
Worked mostly on the duets tonight, solidly.
I had my hot cha cha and my Mu-Cha-Cha at rehearsal.
I did not have much mirth or merriment while singing Brel's MY CHILDHOOD.
Posted by td @ 02/20/2003 08:17 PM PST

Good evening...
BK - I tried to post earlier, but after clicking the "Unseemly Button", I could only scroll down to the end of your notes - actually, just down to "Lolita, My Love, The"
-and I wasn't able to scroll down any further - and, thus, was not able to post... Maybe other people encountered the same glitch?
So, as for underrated scores - and I think all of them have been mentioned by this point and time:
The Baker's Wife - So glad I've been able to do this show once - need to do it again
Baby - Love this show for many, many sentimental reasons.
Romance, Romance - Always have this in the car with me on tape.
Nine - Is this really considered under-rated?
Shenandoah - Old-fashioned, but powerful.
Eating Raoul - Wonderfully campy and tacky (purposely).
Weird Romance - The second half always makes me cry.
big - Faithful readers will know why I love this show.
Rags - I liked the version that AJT did in New York a couple of years ago with Ann Crumb and Christa Moore heading a cast of 13(!!!!).
Working - This was the first cast album I checked out of the Arlington Public Library. And I was in the pit for the Signature Theatre production.
-Jrand52 - Just what is missing from the Working OCR? I now there are some snippets and transitions, but I thought all the original numbers are on it.
Allan: Is the Eleanor o which you are referring, the one based on Eleanor Roosevelt's early life, and subtitled "An American Love Story"? If so, I'm on that recording. :-)
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/20/2003 08:51 PM PST

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....Jose, I only have the cassette, but I was thinking the Mason's Song was not there. Then again, maybe it is but it IS missing from the PBS video of the show. JR
Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/21/2003 04:19 AM PST

I don't want to second everyone's nominations--except to enthuse over Hieronymous Merken, a forgotten good/bad classic, sort of (copied by Fosse in at least one scene in All That Jazz)--so I will add a really guilty pleasure:
Lock Up Your Daughters, delightfully offensive, totally unproducible today due to its un-PCness. If you can't do the The Fantasticks with "Rape", how on earth could you do "Rape Upon Rape"?
Posted by William F. Orr @ 02/21/2003 05:06 AM PST

I have vivid memories of a time in my military past when my commanding officer was addressing some fiscal changes that were about to come our way that would alter how we did business (i.e., doing more with less). As he put it, we would endure because, he said,"When rape is inevitable, the best thing to do is lie back and enjoy it."
Believe me when I tell you he got a hearty round of applause and lots of chuckles over that!
Since we are now being subjected to subliminal terrorism by our own government, it won't be long before everyone has caught on and a lot of this silliness surrounding "P.C." will disappear.
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 02/21/2003 08:06 AM PST

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