Customer Reviews

Annie Get Your Gun - Studio Cast album

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's always fair weather when DRG breaks out the old stuff. We thought we heard every recording of 'Annie' that's meant to be heard, but this CD, with Doris Day and Robert Goulet, hit's the bull's-eye. Never thought they did the show? They didn't. This is a 1963 studio recording---back in 1950, Columbia Records' visionary president Goddard Lieberson pioneered the notion of studio cast recordings (he started with 'Pal Joey'); the idea was to assemble a cast of singers to record an entire score as if they were in an actual Broadway production. Lieberson proved that anything they could do he could do better, even if it didn't come naturally. Hey, there's no business like show business and we say it's wonderful!

Finally making it's return on CD is this 1963 studio cast recording of Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, starring Doris Day and Robert Goulet. This was one in a long succession of Broadway show albums put together by Columbia Records (other titles in the series included "Show Boat" and "The King and I", both starring Barbara Cook; "Oh, Kay!" with Jack Cassidy, and Mary Martin in the first complete recordings of "Babes in Arms" and "Girl Crazy").

Historically this was the first time that the AGYG score had been heard in stereo, albeit with revised orchestrations provided by Phil Lang. Franz Allers leads the orchestra and the results are very fine. There is however a certain *something* missing from the duets featuring Day and Goulet, and that's because, due to other work commitments, the two performers were unable to get together and had to record their vocals on different coasts--Day in Los Angeles, and Goulet in New York. So that means that Broadway's hottest casanova never waxed lyrical with Day in the same studio! Imagine the chemistry if they had though.

Annie Oakley is one of the musical theatre roles which strangely eluded Ms Day throughout her career; happily this recording gives us a nice idea of how she would have fared in the part. Likewise Robert Goulet never got the chance to play Frank Butler in a major revival of the show, even though the material seems tailor-made for a singer of his range.

ANNIE completists will appreciate DRG's efforts in finally bringing this recording back on CD. Recommended.

Well I am a Doris Day fan no doubt. I was raised in the late 60's and 70's so I remember lots of Doris Day movies from TV mostly. My parents listened to her records so what is an all American guy to do but fall in love with Doris. All the rest of the world did:) After a listen to this CD you will love Doris too. All she ever sang and did her shinning personality just came through. This soundtrack is loaded with wonderful Berlin tunes, all familiar and hummable (is that a word?). Goulet and Day handle each song with just the right touch and vocal punch. She can be coy and western or soft and gentle. I also have to give a nod to the sound of this CD. It is absolutely glorous, the wonderful highs and the big full sounding lows. They did a fantastic job. In short it is a light hearted, joyful, fun piece of entertainment. If this is what you are looking for, you have found it with this CD. You will be singing along in the car in no time.

On paper this sounded like a dynamite idea. And given the talent involved, it should have ended up that way. The great Doris Day was ideal to play Annie. But alas, this is not one of her finest vocal performances. While she does extraordinary work on the beautiful ballads here, the comedy numbers fall very flat. Her timing and vocal mastery are simply not there on those numbers. They actually sound more like early rehearsals than final takes. In fact, one part of "Anything You Can Do" is simply unlistenable to me. Oddly, her vocals were recorded first, then the orchestrations were recorded later, and it shows. It just doesn't "gel" in the way it would if all parties had been present at once, or even if she had been singing to the orchestral playback, as was common at the time.

The arrangements are banal, most particularly the Overture, as well as "There's No Business Like Show Business," which is unwisely done as a choral piece at the end, removing all distinction and meaning from it's witty and biting lyrics about the theatre, and depriving the cast of sinking their teeth into it. Similarly, many of the shows racier lyrics have been completely removed, leaving a "blander" Annie.

One Day standout aside from the ballads is this rendition of "I Got The Sun In The Morning," which is far and away the best of the three recorded versions Day made. Robert Goulet's work is superlative throughout.

The best cd version to date remains the 1966 Lincoln Center Revival cast with Ethel Merman, Bruce Yarnell and Jerry Orbach. Ethel's no Doris Day, but she still nails all the songs, and the orchestrations have never been equalled or bettered.

I love Doris Day. In my opinion this is the best recording of Annie. Her voice is perfect for this. It's not so refined as the others I have heard. She truly sounds like a country Annie Oakley. :-)

I know this musical very well, and have seen many productions of it. This is only a studio recording of the songs, but I wish Doris Day could have been in the movie, "Annie Get Your Gun" as well as "Calamity Jane" when she gave the performance of her life! Ms. Day can use her voice in so many different ways, and she is perfect for "Annie Get Your Gun."
If you enjoy Doris Day and this musical, you wont be disappointed.

This is one of the best recordings of this score. Although recorded in the early 1960's, the sonic quality is up to todays standards. Doris Day's singing is at it's peak. Her legendary ability to make you feel she is in the room with you is incredible.

The only quibble is that the two leads Day & Goulet are not on the finale "No Business Like Show Business".

This has always been one of my favorite albums to feature Robert Goulet. I agree with another reviewer who said it is as though Goulet and Doris Day were right there in the studio together. This is especially true on "Anything You Can Do (which is one my favorite songs from "Annie Get Your Gun." One would think they were arguing with each other face-to-face.

I have already ordered this CD and can't wait for it to arrive. I thought I was going to have to make do with an old cassette that I transferred to CD.

I believe this album was part of a Doris Day CD box set released by Bear Family some years ago. I enjoy hearing Doris Day, but didn't feel like spending the money on that box set just to get "Annie Get Your Gun."

I'd say "It's Wonderful" that this album is available as a stand-alone disc.

I bought the Annie Get Your Gun CD and very happy !
I had the pleasure of buying one of the original albums in NYC and was able to get back stage and have Robert Goulet sign the album cover.
He told me that he could not even find HIS record and that he & Doris Day never even met while recording the album
I now have the signed cover in a frame above my computer , so now that I have the CD, I can carry him around with me!

THank you for quick service and wonderful selections
Susan Katz

I was so thrilled when my CD arrived, and was thrilled even more while listening to it. First of all, I'm a big fan of the late Robert Goulet, and have almost all of his recordings. I'm also a big fan of Doris Day, and with Robert Goulet and Doris Day singing duets together, made this CD a greater treat for me. I also appreciate the fact that DRG dedicated this CD to the memory of Robert Goulet.