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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For a long time Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel lived in the shadow of its phenomenally successful immediate predecessor, Oklahoma! Based on Ferenc Molnar's play Liliom, Carousel took many risks for its time, and it's now easier to appreciate them. Though the songwriters gave the story a more upbeat ending, the subject matter, about a brutal man's treatment of the women in his life and its impact on his fate, was undeniably dark. Furthermore, Rodgers and Hammerstein were arguably more stylistically audacious than in Oklahoma!. Rodgers, for instance, dispensed with the traditional overture, composing a piece titled "Waltz Suite: 'Carousel'" instead. No wonder, then, that many R & H fans actually prefer Carousel to its older sibling. This 50th-anniversary edition of the recordings made by the original cast offers alternate takes of three tracks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Product Description
The unsurpassed original cast recording, with If I Loved You; June Is Bustin' Out All Over; You'll Never Walk Alone , and more Rodgers & Hammerstein classics.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I don't remember the first time I heard John Raitt do the Soliloquy,I did not see the ORIGINAL PRODUCTION..(Wasnt born yet). I do know that he is the best! Several years ago he performed with the Boston Pops and of course he had to do that number. What a voice! Although this recording is in monaural, it is still worth the price! I am one of those people who think that Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein's best work, and there is always something magical and sad about cranking a recording of the OBC up on the stereo,especially "Highest judge of all". What a find,what a treasure!
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Carousel" is the great American musical. Try as they might, no composer (including Rodgers and Hammerstein) has surpassed it.
Having said that, I would recommend the 1993 recording of the Original London Cast of the Nicholas Hytner revival of "Carousel" over this one. While I am a bigger fan of the voices here (especially John Raitt and Jan Clayton), the truncated numbers and out-and-out cuts make listening to this album a tragic experience.
I am usually a believer that the original cast recording is the one to buy as it represents what the composer had in mind while putting the show together, but I do not believe that here. The 1993 recording is far better than this. While this 1945 recording does hold an important place in history, the 1993 recording should be considered definitive.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This CD from the MCA Broadway-Gold range features the peerless original 1945 cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL, regarded by the duo as their favorite of all their collaborations.
The 1945 cast featured John Raitt, in his Broadway debut, as the carnival barker Billy Bigelow with the lovely Jan Clayton as Julie Jordan. The role of Carrie is played by Jean Darling with the cast rounded out by Christine Johnson as Nettie, Eric Mattson as Enoch Snow, Murvyn Vye as Jigger and Connie Baxter.
Raitt's amazing voice perfectly inhabits songs like "The Highest Judge of All" and the breathtaking "Soliloquy". Jan Clayton is a perfect fit for Julie. Miss Clayton would go on to further distinction a few years later, playing both Magnolia and Kim in a landmark revival of SHOW BOAT. Jean Darling perfectly captures the breathless romantic longing of Carrie with the delightful "Mister Snow".
Sound quality is quite good for the age of the material. This cast album is naturally a must-own for all fans of musical theatre
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Historically Important, But Don't Make It Your Only Recording That You...
Carousel is to many R & H fans, their best show/score and it is one of their more popular shows. It opened on April 19, 1945 at the Majestic Theatre and ran on for 890 performances... Read more
Published 23 months ago by skifan
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic of the Genre
Despite being radically shortened to fit on ten sides of a 12" 78rpm record album, Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest score has not been better served on disc than this original... Read more
Published on September 20, 2010 by William McKeldin Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
About the Orchestrations:
In response to Anthony Barkdoll's criticism of the original
orchestrations to Carousel's 1945 Broadway Cast:
According to Rodger's autobiography, "Musical... Read more
orchestrations to Carousel's 1945 Broadway Cast:
According to Rodger's autobiography, "Musical... Read more
Published on March 31, 2006 by J. S. Judd
5.0 out of 5 stars
ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM
Although i like the movie soundtrack a lot,i was glad to get the original cast album that includes one track:THE HIGHEST JUDGE OF ALL that was not in the movie. Read more
Published on September 12, 2004 by alain robert
2.0 out of 5 stars
Doesn't stand the test of time
Yikes. I bought this based on the reviews (and because I prefer the original cast recordings as well). But quite frankly, this album is no fun to listen to. Read more
Published on October 23, 2003 by Anthony Barkdoll
4.0 out of 5 stars
The first but certainly not the best recording of "Carousel"
"Carousel" was the second musical collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein and this 1945 album "featuring members of the original New York production" has... Read more
Published on February 11, 2001 by Lawrance M. Bernabo
3.0 out of 5 stars
More for Historical documentation
Most of the complaints lodged here by other listeners are quite valid. The score of CAROUSEL was not as easily truncated to fit the old-format 78 RPM records: The middle section... Read more
Published on February 4, 2001 by Mark Andrew Lawrence
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of Rodgers & Hammerstein!
Of all the musicals done by the legendary team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, this is my favorite. Read more
Published on December 17, 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
An R&H favorite!
Easily one of the greatest musicals of all-time, Carousel offers quite a bit! John Raitt makes his best Broadway appearance in this musical! Read more
Published on August 13, 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
A better album than it seems!
Reviewer #1 stressed the bad points of Carousel. I am giving this album 3/5 stars and I have better things to say about it. Read more
Published on July 13, 1999
