Search - Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin, Liza Minnelli :: Best Foot Forward

"snappy songs with a great cast & debut of...Liza Minnelli"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 05/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When they billed this as "the bright musical comedy", they hit the nail on the head. Some great talent with just piano accompaniment shows you've got what it takes, when you have a big orchestra behind you or an echo-chamber this is a piece of cake ~ but listen to these young players do their stuff ~ "Best Foot Forward" (original cast recording) from 1963.Many songs stand out, but my picks are ~ "THE THREE B's", featuring Liza Minnelli (Ethel), Kay Cole (Minerva) and Renee Winters (Linda), sing about the band their having at the dance (including the barrellhouse, boogie-woogie and the blues) ~ "WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM?", getting pinned at the grandstand is the topic, featuring Edmund Gayes (Hunk), Minnelli (Ethel), Kay Cole (Minerva) and Christopher Walken (Dutch), wonder what ever happened to him?But the highlight has to be ~ "YOU ARE FOR LOVING", the line is "what do you expect me to like basset hounds?", replies Liza Minnelli...this is where she shines, completely in the spotlight ~ the two bonus tracks (15 & 16) were studio recorded at a later date "YOU ARE FOR LOVING" and "WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM?", clearly shows she was destined for "stardom" in this her first New York stage debut. This show stills has the innocence and charm it had in 1963, so spin this CD, sit back and enjoy. Discover the pure talent and performance this troop gives the audience...as they put their ~ "BEST FOOT FORWARD"!Total Time: 52:36 on 16 Tracks ~ Varese Sarabande 302-066-221-2 ~ (2001)"

Neglected Martin and Blaine

profred | New York, NY USA | 07/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I agree with all the other reviews that praise Liza, I want to emphasize that even without Minelli this is a great little show -- the best of the campus musicals -- by the fantastically talented team of Martin and Blaine (best known for MEET ME IN ST LOUIS -- "Have yourself a merry little Christmas," "The Trolley Song," "The Boy Next Door"). The team wrote few shows, and went to Hollywood too fast. But they are fully the equal of the Golden Age writers -- Rodgers and Hart, Berlin, and Porter. And while Minelli's songs are well performed, the real highlights belong to other performers -- the ballad "Everytime" and the rousing "Buckle Down, Winsockie [sp?]." If Martin and Blaine had written nothing but "Winsockie" I would still adore them; the song is both the quintessential school Fight song, and its perfect sendup. The album, though with only piano accompaniment, is as good as we are going to get until "Encores" gets around to the show. In the meantime, who can resist Christopher Walken as a campus Lothario, just barely keeping his terrifying creepiness in check?"

Liza Minnelli in her professional stage musical debut!

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 08/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The 1963 off-Broadway revival of BEST FOOT FORWARD is really only notable as it marks the professional stage debut of young Liza Minnelli. Fans will marvel at the rawness and intensity of her voice in this recording, which is an invaluable addition to any cast-album collection.The charming score by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane includes the hit "Buckle Down Winsocki", as well as "The Three B's", "You Are For Loving", "You're Lucky" and "Shady Lady Bird".Liza Minnelli, in the scene-stealing role of Ethel Hofflinger, is fabulous in her numbers. Her voice is still in the developing stages (remember she was still in her teens at this time), while Kaye Cole and Renee Winters hit all the right notes as her girlfriends Minerva and Linda.Young Karin Wolfe shines in her main numbers "Shady Lady Bird" and "Ev'ry Time". It would be over a decade before Wolfe would star as the title character in the Broadway premiere of GIGI, but her voice sounds the same on both this recording and the GIGI original cast-album.This show also featured a young Christopher Walken (billed as Ronald), as well as a youthful and exuberant cast headed by Paula Wayne, Glenn Walken, Grant Walden, Edmund Gaynes, Truman Smith, Edwin Cooper, Jack Irwin and Tony Manzi.This new reissue from Varese Sarabande includes the cover versions of "You Are For Loving" and "What Do You Think I Am?" that Liza Minnelli recorded around the same time for the Cadence label."