Customer Reviews

Li'l Abner (1956 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At long last, this must-own recording is available in a properly remastered, easy-to-find CD. This is the kind of show Broadway doesn't have any more: Not a blockbuster, but a good solid hit that made money and kept audiences entertained for two years with jokes, great songs, smart staging and a perfect cast. Much of the fun of the show is preserved on producer Goddard Lieberson's Broadway cast recording, which has now been improved by the addition of 10 minutes' worth of material that didn't make it onto the LP, including the big ballet and an expanded version of the finale. There's also a lot of good stuff here that was dropped in the movie version, such as the biting "Oh, Happy Day" and the encore verses of "Jubilation T. Cornpone." Apart from the overture and ballet, the recording is in mono, but the sound is excellent nonetheless, with the engineers capturing all the detail of Phil Lang's raucous orchestrations. Above all, this recording is to be savored for Johnny Mercer's lyrics, perhaps the finest -- and certainly the funniest -- work of this master songwriter. This CD reissue features plenty of photos and notes, and the only quibble I have is that it doesn't feature a plot synopsis. But if you like musical comedy, you've got to have this CD.

It's great to have "Li'l Abner" back in print and sounding so good. Columbia has pulled the stops out, and the overhauled sound is excellent. What's unusual is the inclusion of some true stereo tracks. (Until now, only the soundtrack from the 1959 film version, with many of the same performers, had been released in stereo). "Abner" was the last Broadway cast LP recorded by Columbia in mono, but eager stereophile engineers (who would record "Bells Are Ringing" a few weeks later in the label's first complete stereo recording) mulitracked some of the "Abner" tracks. Wisely the numbers with vocals, recorded with orchestra on one channel and vocals on the other) were not used here and the original mono versions were retained. But there are full stereo versions of the show's Overture and, glory be!, "The Sadie Hawkins Ballet," recorded at a rehearsal session and included here for the first time. Other material has been slightly expanded, a song added after the Broadway opening is included and other Columbia artists' renditions of two songs cut from the score are here too. Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul has worked together the previous year in Hollywood on "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," another project for choreographer Michael Kidd, and are in sharper form here. Too bad it was their final collaboration. The songs are true toe-tappers, and Mercer's lyrics are still as sharp as ever. Grand Americana and grand Broadway.

I have been hoping this CD would be re-released, as I missed it when it came out a decade or so ago, and my vinyl version has been worn out over the years. It was certainly worth the wait. Mercer's lyrics are top-notch, and the tunes are the kind that stay in your head long after you've heard them. The bonus material on this CD is loads of fun; hearing Rosemary Clooney croon a song cut from the show is a joy. I only wish that the lyrics to the other cut number, "The Way to a Man's Heart", had been included in the booklet. But, there are some nice publicity stills in the booklet, and an informative commentary as well. Any fan of either Al Capp's comic strip or Broadway shows will love this CD.

For those of us who were unlucky enough to miss the first release of this CD in 1990...this CD was a long time coming! Witty, entertaining score and charming performances by Peter Palmer, Edie Adams, and Stubby Kaye highlight this wonderful CD. Just TRY listening to "Jubilation T. Cornpone" and "Progress is the Root of All Evil" without laughing once... you can't! Add to it other charmers like "If I Had My Druthers", "Namely You", Edie and Stubby's comic "I'm Past My Prime" and the snappy "Rag Offen the Bush" and you have a cast recording that should get fairly frequent play on your CD player.

"Lil Abner" the original cast recording! . . . a piece of Americana . . . a piece of "history" . . . it positively "stupefyin'"!

This is an expanded re-issue of the 1990 compact disc release. . . and contains bonus tracks: "There's Room Enough For Us" which was added after the show's opening, here is taken from the motion pictiure soundtrack. Also two songs cut from the show are here added: "It's a Nuisance Having You Around" here sung by Rosemary Clooney and "The Way To A Man's Heart" performed by Percy Faith and his orchestra. -- also a rehearsal tape of "Sadie Hawkin's Day Ballet" and "What's Good For General Bullmoose" and longer version of the "finale".

A memorable moment is provided by Stubb Kaye and the ensemble performing "Jubilation T. Cornpone" -- I remember his performance in the motion picture version of "Lil Abner" and this is a high-point of the show for me . . it just bubbles with real true "jubilation"! :)

Al Capp's characters were brought to life and given a human incarnation with this production.

Oh yes . . . lest I forget to mention this most important and relevant bit of information about this cd: it's more than worth the price you will pay to purchase this "original cast recording" just to see the photos included with the liner notes of: Tina Louise as "Appassionata Von Climax"! and Edith Adams as "Daisy Mae"! and Julie Newmar as "Stupefin' Jones! (hey! you get to see "two" photos of Julie as "Stupefyin' Jones"! - one more stupefyin' than the next!) -- I can see why Lil Abner never wanted to leave Dogpatch! :)

It is hard to believe that this was performed and recorded back in 1956 (almost 50 years ago now). It shows that creativity and talent are perennial and lasting. I am happy that Columbia Broadway Masterworks (Legacy) has updated/enlarged/expanded and re-issued this slsice of American musical history . . .and thanks to the cast of performers who brought it to life!

Although he is well recognized as one of AMERICA's best songwriter,BROADWAY has often eluded JOHNNY MERCER during his lifetime.LI'L ABNER was one of his most successfull show with a run of 693 performances in 1956.Written with composer GENE DE PAUL with whom MERCER had collaborated on the movie SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS,it is filled with marvellous songs like NAMELY YOU and THE COUNTRY'S IN THE VERY BEST OF HANDS.Who but the man from SAVANNAGH could have written such a satiristic song like JUBILATION T.CORNPONE?Needless to say that this reedition is a must for any MERCER devotee,with several added tracks.The original cast was full of beautiful girls.Some reedition are worth waiting for,this is one of them.Just beware of that CORNPONE,he may influence the current politicians.

Fantastic performance and technically superb recording. Al Capp's political satire (he was the best of his time) is well preserved in Senator Fogbound. Too bad this musical is not currently playing, as it would be a resounding success all over again. Or would our current congress outlaw it?

A great cast offering some lively performances make this a most enjoyable musical comedy. It was the first (of many) musicals adapted from the comics. Al Capp's delightfully zany characters had been entertaining readers for two decades when the musical stomped onto the stage of Broadway's St James theatre in November 1956. After a successful 2-year run, the cast went to Hollywood to translate the show into a very faithful film. The Lp was a steady seller as many colleges and regional theatre kept reviving the show. Sony Special Products released the record on CD in 1990 but apparently without clearing the release with Sony. They were told to withdraw the CD because it was slated for reissue in the Sony Broadway series. That never happened and the first CD issue became a highly prized collectors' item ($100 or more!) Now, Sony has finally restored the title to the catalogue. The remastering is first rate (as noted, some orchestral tracks are in true stereo) and the bonus tracks most welcome. It does seem odd that Sony did not re-print the synopsis from the original LP jacket: The film version is available if you're curious about the convoluted plot. The show is a noisy, lively and lacking in subtlety. Exactly the way a musical version of LI'L ABNER should sound!

If you like broadway musicals, this one will be perfect for you. Out of the 50's fun musicals following the lines of the music man. Delightful and pleasant the way the great ones usually are from this period. Try the DVD of the movie as well.

A cleverly written musical, that pokes fun at American politics and society. It is as relevant today as when the show first opened on Broadway in 1956.