Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording) [Cast Recording]

Carolee Carmello (Artist), Gavin Creel (Artist), Andrea Burns (Artist), Mark Linn-Baker (Artist), John Pizzarelli (Artist), Ann Hampton Callaway (Artist), Jessica Molaskey (Artist), Kay Swift (Composer), Aaron Gandy (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Aaron Gandy
• Composer: Kay Swift
• Audio CD (May 25, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: P.S. Classics
• ASIN: B0001XAQDM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,205 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mary Rodgers is usually heralded as musical theater's sole woman composer, but this new recording of a long-lost gem introduces us to another brilliant member of Broadway's thin female ranks: Kay Swift. Collaborating with her husband, lyricist James Paul Warburg (writing as Paul James), Swift penned a splendid collection of tunes-in turn touching, daffy, percolating and tender-for this 1930 show. Taking place in the unlikely setting of a tool-and-die factory, Fine and Dandy is a bubbly jazz age musical full of melodic invention and lyrical twists. Fans of the Gershwins' 1920s oeuvre will adore this world-premiere recording, and in fact George is namechecked in the wonderful title track, in which Carolee Carmello and Mario Cantone compete in spirited one-upmanship. The CD also includes four songs written by Swift between 1929 and 1950; like Plain and Fancy, they serve to remind us that Swift was one of Broadway's unsung heroes. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than Fine, and More than Dandy!, September 18, 2004

By 

T. Fanning "eclectic and loving it!" (Canterbury School, New Milford, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording) (Audio CD)

I am very selective in writing reviews for Amazon - so if you're reading this, then please know that I must really, really love this c.d. And I hope my "review" helps in your decision whether or not to buy it!
Having said that...this recording is tremendous. Kay Swift's music comes to life through the talented and spectacular voices, most notebly of Gavin Creel and Carolee Carmello. I think I listen to their duet (Track 10), at least once a day. The whole thing is just pure broadway fun, the way it used to be! The only bad thing about this c.d. is that you wished they had staged this musical, so that you could go see it live!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not To Be Missed, May 31, 2004

By 

Stephen Peithman (Davis, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording) (Audio CD)

Kay Swift, best-known for her close association with George Gershwin, was one of the few female composers to write for Broadway. Fine and Dandy was her first book musical, featuring lyrics by husband Paul James, and became one of the biggest hits of Broadway's 1930-31 season. However, like many musicals of the era, most of the original performance materials were lost over the years. In the mid-`80s, Swift began to reconstruct the score, assisted by orchestrator Russell Warner, who continued the work following her death in 1993. The new recording is a revelation, for the songs are, as the title says, fine and dandy--clever and romantic by turns, and always tuneful. Those who love Gershwin's "Strike Up the Band" and "Of Thee I Sing" will find a similar feel here, helped by strong performances from Carolee Carmello, Gavin Creel, Mario Cantone, Mark Linn-Baker and Jennifer Laura Thompson, bolstered by a full orchestra. The CD also includes several other songs by Swift, including the classic "Can't We Be Friends?"

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW Simply the best reconstructed show album to date!!, February 22, 2005

By 

William S. Oser "Snowys Dad" (New Hampshire USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fine and Dandy (2004 Studio Cast) (World Premiere Recording) (Audio CD)

Fine and Dandy is simply the best 30s musical to be reconstructed for CD yet, and it was a complete surprise because who knew any of the songs from this show? Well, we know them now and they are teriffic, and performed by an equally teriffic cast, especially Carolee Carmello, Gavin Cleel and Jennifer Laura Thompson. Would it be fair to say that Ms. Carmello is wildly underappreciated? I have adored her ever since seeing her as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors many years ago in Boston. Here she is wonderful especially in Lets Go Eat Worms in the Garden and Nobody Breaks My Heart. It was so unexpected to find such a treasure trove of foot tapping songs, but here they are. BUY THIS CD if you like musicals at all, you won't be sorry.