Search - Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, Frank De Vol :: The Best of Broadway, Vol. 1

Great Reissues from Early LP Days

The Movie Man | Maywood, New Jersey USA | 12/31/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD consists of the material on two 10-inch LP's issued in 1949 and 1950 by Capitol Records. Highlights of "Kiss Me Kate" are performed by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae. Selections from "South Pacific" are performed by Peggy Lee, Margaret Whiting, and Gordon MacRae. As a longtime Jo Stafford fan, I was very happy to see this material available on CD. Stafford sings "Always True to You in My Fashion," "I Hate Men," "Why Can't You Behave?," and duets with MacRae on "Wunderbar." The highlights of the "South Pacific" section are the two numbers performed by Margaret Whiting -- "A Cockeyed Optimist" and "(I'm in Love With) A Wondeful Guy." A really terrible version of "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" is performed by a male chorus so sugary that it wrings the passion right out of the song. For purists, please note that the complete scores from the shows are not here, just the best-known songs. For the complete scores, check out the Original Cast Albums. The extensive liner notes by Will Friedwald are outstanding. There are also nice photos and a reprint of the original "Kiss Me Kate" LP album cover."

TWO GREAT BROADWAY SHOWS STARRING GORDON MacRAE

Gordo fan! | North Bellmore, NY | 09/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gordon MacRae never disappoints when he sings! He is fantastic! Jo Stafford sings quite well here, too! I am just so happy that the record companies are finally re-releasing more Gordon MacRae albums from years ago onto compact disc! He was the greatest singer and entertainer that ever lived! In fact he was the most underrated singer, ever! I just wish that the record companies would re-release all of his albums in their entirety, as well as all of his 45 R.P.M.s and 78 R.P.M.s, onto CD! He is a national treasure!"