Search - Johnny Mercer, Phil Silvers :: Top Banana (1951 Original Broadway Cast)

Phil Silvers and Rose Marie at the top of their form

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 03/02/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"TOP BANANA is a cute little Broadway show from 1951, with a good score by Johnny Mercer. It features Phil Silvers and Rose Marie in the leads, with fine support from Linda Doherty, Jack Albertson, Bob Scheerer and Ted (Sport) Morgan.TOP BANANA opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in November of 1951, closing in August of 1952 due to a vacationing Phil Silvers. It reopened a few weeks later before closing in September after 350 performances.The score features a few gems including Rose Marie's infectious "Sans Souci", as well as "You're So Beautiful That...", "I Fought Every Step of the Way", "Only If You're in Love" and "A Word a Day", which became the show's hit song.For Broadway collectors, this album is a real gem."

A few good songs

Don Diego Vega | United States | 01/26/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Should you buy this LP? Well, not if it's over $4.

This show was a hit. It ran on B'way for over 350 shows. Phil Slivers was great in it. The audience understood

that it was a bash on Milton Berle. This launched Silver's career into high gear.

The album sounds great. BUT Phil has a sore throat (and you can tell by the recording!).

His song with Rose Marie, A Word A Day, was the only song that audiences remembered.

Still, for historical purposes, we should be pleased that this recording exsists."