Customer Reviews

1776 (1969 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I had an opportunity to see the stage version of "1776" and said I was not interested because making a musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence struck me as ridiculous. Then one day I was flipping around channels and stumbled on the Continental Congress arguing about something and then suddenly breaking into song. Sherman Edwards' songs range from the cute "The Egg," where the Founding Father argue over which bird should be the symbol of the new nation, to the poignant "Momma Look Sharp," as a young soldier tells of his best friend being killed in a battle, to the dramatic "Molasses to Rum," as a Southerner signs about the Triangle Trade. I find "The Lees of Old Virginia" where every word ends with "LY" to be obnoxious, but that is just me. "Sit Down, John" perfectly sets the town for this mix of history and song, while "But, Mr. Adams" will ensure that you will always remember who was on the Declaration Committee and which states they all came from.! The book by Peter Stone is fairly faithful to what really happened (John Dickinson and his supporters were absent on purpose the day of the crucial vote so that the Declaration would be adopted), but none of that matters all that much when all you are doing is listening to the songs.

This Original Broadway Cast recording offers William Daniels in the role of a lifetime as John Adams, Rex Everhart as Benjamin Franklin and Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson. Virginia Vestoff plays Abigail Adams and young Betty Buckley is Martha Jefferson. Many of the cast made it to the film version as well. The best testimony I can give for "1776" is that there are precious few moments when I can get teary-eyed listening to a musical on CD. When Adams sings "Is Anybody There?" is one of those moments. The idea of Adams, all alone in the dark chamber, seeing a vision of America's future, still strikes me as a powerful one. Besides, every time John and Abigail say goodbye to each other at th!e end of their "letters" I get choked up as well. No wonder I got my first degree in History. At least I got to finally see "1776" on stage when a touring company came to town last year.

1776 takes what many might consider a dull topic - the events leading to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence - and makes it riveting by exploring the interactions of the men behind it. Each one trying to do his best, and each with his own agenda, often at conflict with everyone else. The music represents a fine mixture of comedy (Lee's of Old Virginia), pathos (Mama Look Sharp) and bone stirring patriotism (Is Anybody There?). William Daniels leads a superb cast with his portrayal of the stubborn and frustrated John Adams. There is one minor detraction, and that is the absence of Howard Da Silva's wonderful interpretation of Ben Franklin. On the CD the part is played by understudy Rex Everhart. Everhart's Franklin is believable and well played, to be sure, but he lacks the sparkle that Da Silva gives Franklin - that twinkle in the eye of a man dealing with serious issues while trying not to succumb to self-importance. If you saw the movie with Da Silva, you will recognize the difference, but still enjoy Everhart's performance. Buy this CD - you will enjoy it thoroughly.

For me, 1776 is a great companion to MAN OF LA MANCHA as one of the most entertaining AND intellectually worthy amalgams of music, lyrics, book, theme, plot, characterizations and dialogue to ever come out of pre-1970's Broadway musical theatre. Each song is like a little gem, and displays the broad range of emotions and ideas with which 1776 brims. Satiric, romantic, hilarious, heartbreaking, disturbing, dark, inspiring, thoughtful, humane, and even a little bawdy, the songs glide and tromp all over the map, as does the show itself. As with LA MANCHA, 1776 broke open the Broadway musical, making it a pitch-perfect example of what can truly make a musical more than a toe-tapping time killer... while never becoming tedious, pompous, windy, or dull. If anything, it crackles with suspense.

And as to the reviewer who was shocked that it would win out over HAIR? Listen to "Mamma Look Sharp" or "Molasses to Rum to Slaves" to hear exactly the play's political and often-unflattering ideological landscape. This was definitely a Vietnam-era play whose content was as disturbingly pertinent, then, as it is, now. And, despite all of this, the score and play never become leaden or preachy. On the contrary, each performance is a gem, and each character is witty and unique. Who knew that history could be a passionate and fun adventure?

I almost wholly disagree with Amazon's review of this CD. In the Broadway version, William Daniels (John Adams) is more frantic, almost screaming at moments. By the time he made the movie, his portrayal of Adams was vastly better-- more passionate, more directed, less hollering. Regrettably, it's hard (impossible?) to find the soundtrack version on CD.

I first bought the vinyl version of this marvelous recording shortly after the musical opened on Broadway, and now own it on CD. I really enjoy it. It may not be totally acurate historically but, it is a good way to get your dose of american history. William Daniels,and Ken Howard are superb... I was told that Howard Da Silva was not able to do the actual recording for Franklin... Clifford David lacks the power and fire of John Cullum(Rutledge in the film version),but non the less does a good job and Rutledge who single handedly nearly destroys the whole effort. I have seen two professional and semi professional productions of the show(My community theatre is doing it in the spring,so I have loaned out my vinyl copy of the film recording(not currently available.) Does anybody know whatever happened to Virginia Vestoff, who was so wonderful as Abigal?? Havent seen or heard anything about here in ages.Anyway I am glad that this CD was finally made available on CD...now if they would just release the movie version too!

What a fun soundtrack! If you like the movie you will love the soundtrack as well. Though some complain about William Daniel's voice, I can't imagine anyone else singing it. He inflects such personality and character into his singing that it is the voice I will always associate with John Adams. I love all the songs but my favorites are BUT, MR. ADAMS and HE PLAYS THE VIOLIN, and THE LEES OF VIRGINIA is quite fun too. Heck the whole soundtrack is great. Even parts of the movie I didn't like as well (the triangle trade section of MOLASSES TO RUM) come out better on the soundtrack.

All I can say is, go on and buy it and have a ball learning your American history.

1776 has become an institution, thanks to the motion picture which was made of this original Broadway show, and which starred most of the cast from the theatrical production. It gets rerun every July 4th week on some movie channel or local station!

William Daniels IS John Adams to many people, and even though the story of the birth of the United States probably wasn't this lyrical and lively, Composer Sherman Edwards was historically accurate in the facts of the tale.

In addition to learning about the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this is also love story... in fact two love stories, with John Adams and his wife Abigail, separated by circumstance and interacting only in his mind, and Thomas Jefferson and his wife, Martha, here, played by the big throated (and now legendary) Betty Buckley.

There is also a sense of fraternity, with the members of the Continental Congress grappling with the concept of breaking away from a tyranical ruler. And even though you know the outcome, the story is still filled with tension and excitement in the mechanics of it. Just how DID this country get formed?

The disc's liner notes explain the show's libretto and give you some rare behind-the-scenes info about the creation of the musical, the challenges it faced before becoming the standard that it now is, and a bit about the amazing Mr. Edwards, which is a story worthy of being told as well.

It's an Independence Day must!

Just recently I saw a very well-done local production of "1776." I must say that what most impressed me about the show, while I was watching it,was its superbly written libretto: the scenes in which the members of the Congress debate are filled with dramatic tension. But listening to the original Broadway cast recording has made me appreciate the score, the high quality of which I failed to fully recognize on first hearing. The score of "1776" includes such fine songs as "The Lees of Old Virginia," "But Mr. Adams," "Yours, Yours, Yours," "He Plays the Violin," "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men," "Momma, Look Sharp," and "Molasses to Rum" (and these are merely my own favorites). I've also come to realize that the songs in this show aren't meant to advance the plot, but instead serve as respites from the fraught-with-tension debate scenes; "Molasses to Rum" is the only song that is sung during an actual debate.
The performances on the original cast recording are highly enjoyable. William Daniels as an urbane and witty John Adams is clearly in the Rex Harrison - Robert Preston tradition of Broadway "speak-singers." Occasionally when he has to really "sing" (as in "Is Anybody There?"), Daniels' voice does become harsh sounding; however, his love duet with Abigail ("Yours, Yours, Yours") is sung very nicely. Ron Holgate as Gen. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia is delightful in his comic song. Scott Jarvis as a young courier is touching in his song about a dying boy soldier. Clifford David as Sen. Rutledge of South Carolina sings and acts powerfully in "Molasses to Rum," in which he reveals mixed feelings about the slave trade. A particular highlight is the number "Cool, Cool Considerate Men," sung with sly wit by Paul Hecht as the Tory John Dickinson. But the women -- Virgina Vestoff as Abigail Adams and Betty Buckley as Martha Jefferson -- are the vocal stars of the recording and provide a nice respite from all the male voices. The sound is incredibly life-like for a recording made more than thirty years ago. Mark Kirkeby's CD booklet notes (which explain, among other things, the very effective "doubling" of instruments in the recordings of "Molasses to Rum" and the "Roll Call") are excellent. "1776" is a strong musical that should be heard and -- better yet -- seen.

If you haven't seen the movie or the original broadway play, you may not find the attraction many people like myself have for this recording. This is a fantastic recording of the Broadway play (sans William DaSilva as Franklin - he was out recovering from a heart attack at the time of the recording). The leads definitely have "questionable" singing credentials. Most people wouldn't think of William Daniels (KITT from Knight Rider and Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World) and Ken "The White Shadow" Howard as great singers, but it's more than carrying a tune that was important. It was the acting and presentation of the characters that makes these performances great. It is fantastic we have the movie available for people to see, because I don't think people would appreciate this recording as much if it wasn't for that.

So, unless you are already a fan of the original broadway production or the movie, I would suggest that you skip this version for now. Instead, I do suggest you go see the movie. Once you are hooked by that, then you will want to come back to enjoy the songs again and again.

The subject matter is as timeless as time itself. And after listening to samples of the oringinal soundtrack, I have rediscovered exactly how timeless a classic this musical-and it's music is. From the first song to the last, every song grabs you, pulls you in, and makes you want to sing along. I personally enjoy the Broadway recording much more than the folm soundtrack, even though many fo the actors from the stage production are also in the film: William Daniels, Ken Howard, and many others. I never tire of hearing the congress tell John Adams "Sit Down, John", or the declaration committee, one by one sing "But Mr. Adams". I say stars and stripes, forever, for the lively "1776".