Customer Reviews

Finian's Rainbow (1947 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I fell head over heels in love with the score (and the sound on the remastered CD)immediatly upon first hearing of it. The recording (and the score) blew me away.

I just picked up a copy of the earlier CD edition of this recording, as a point of reference. Since I had only heard the recording for the first time a few days ago, my ears were attuned to the newer CD version.

First thing I noticed was the difference in order of songs. Nothing all that huge, but still significant. I also noticed that the voices in the later CD version come across in a sound quality astounding for recordings of 1947. Actually, when I was listening (on my way to work) to the CD for the first time, I had to pull over and examine the CD case. I had always understood that the recording was originally released on 78's: but what I heard on the CD was decidedly not 78's sound.
And this is coming from one who knows something about 78's...I'm practically knee deep in my collection of them.

I think the difference in the sound on the remastered CD and the sound I generally expect (and totally love, in its own right) from 78's is due to the going back to nearly virgin acetate discs as the masters for the CD.

Acetates tended to sound wonderful for one or two playings...but after that...they were much worse than shellac or metal masters...or even LP's (as far as surface noise and distortion were concerned). But if Sony tapped into acetates stored away unplayed for more than fifty years for the source of the CD...that would explain the amazing sound.

I did find some reviews on line which stated that there was distortion in the newer CD...expecially on Ella Logan's part. I don't exactly agree with that. I don't hear distortion (on my equipment, at least). What I do hear is more of the unique quality of her voice which may have been lost if the recordings were to be sweetened by filtering (and some of the vocal overtones thereby shaved off) in an attempt to reduce surface noise on the issued 78's.

On the acetates (and thereby, on the remastered CD edition), I notice a bit of "breathiness" and "buzz" in the voice which was probably evident when Logan was heard in life up close (and she sounds like she was miked pretty close up on the original recordings). When I listen to the earlier CD edition (as well as on the 1962 LP reissue), the voice sounds sweeter; but not better. I'd still take the newer CD version over any other incarnation of the 1947 Original Broadway Cast recording. Hands down.

First off, if you HAVEN'T heard the remastered and expanded original cast album of Finian's Rainbow, don't fret; you aren't missing much. This remaster DOES bring to light many nuances hidden on the previous CD version, which is what we usually expect in a remastered CD. I would be more than happy to give this CD 5 stars, except that the remastering process also brought the SURFACE NOISE on the original recording discs to light as well.

According to the booklet, the sources used for this CD are not the same recording discs used since the album was released in 1947. This CD is taken from alternate discs (of the same takes) that were stored unplayed for more than 50 years. These discs supposedly had fewer marks and blemishes on the playing surfaces than the original discs. The noise is not a very major problem, but it is evident on this version where it was not on the previous CD release. The distortion and noise in the show's best song, "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" is pretty bad. There is a previously unreleased track on this CD which, according to the booklet, had a swishing noise on the recording disc. This swish was digitally edited out and is not audible on that particular track. Why the same treatment wasn't applied to the rest of the scratches and pops is beyond me.

If you can get beyond the surface noise (I can't), the album is not too bad. The cast sings very well. But I would suggest that you look for the previous CD release of Finian. The monaural sound on that album is very clean and clear, with little or no evidence whatsoever of surface noise.

This lovely reissue of FINIAN'S RAINBOW is a real treat. The Burton Lane-E.Y. Harburg score includes classic numbers like "Look to the Rainbow", "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?", "Something Sort of Grandish" and "That Old Devil Moon".

It catapulted the beguiling Ella Logan to Broadway stardom, in the plum lead role of Sharon; and also featured a commanding performance by David Wayne as the leprechaun Og.

This new reissue of the peerless 1947 original cast album has been remastered from the original, almost-pristine acetate master discs, which had remained untouched since the recording was originally made. These acetate discs contained alternate 'takes' of the numbers as well as additional music cues and dialogue. Presented here for the first time is the complete "That Great Come-and-Get-It Day". There are also demos of 3 songs performed by E.Y. Harburg himself.

Highly-recommended. [SONY SK-89208]

Great sound; great music; great vitality. I don't know how this music manages to cast such a spell. Maybe it's because it was the first show I ever saw, though I'm more inclined to credit the talent that created and performed it. This recording captures the magic of Finian's Rainbow at its most potent, and the reissue engineers deserve applause for not adding reverb or other gimmicks to make the sound more "modern" and less immediate. But I did notice one difference in a lyric from the 1947 book: She sings "swellish condish" instead of "hellish condish." Apparently, the h-word was acceptable on the stage 60+ years ago, but not in the living room.

Everyone has a very first record (or CD). For me it was a 78 rpm set of this very same FINIAN'S RAINBOW. Bought in a thrift shop perhaps 43 years ago, this album was a prized childhood possession. From repeated use, I knew all the songs and every word within it's covers, including such minute details as manufacturing processes. (Example: The 78s were supposed to have a particularly quiet background because a layer of brown paper sandwiched amidst the shellac of the discs helped cut down on surface noise, even as it made them less brittle. Now I can't swear that's true, but for sure FINIAN'S RAINBOW was a pleasure to listen to.)

"Finian's" trivia: This play was the first-ever winner of the "Best Musical" Tony Award. E. Y. Harburg's nickname was not "Yip," it was "Yit," a fact intentionally obscured over his career. Besides brilliant lyrics, he also created wonderful poetry. Harburg was an anti-war activist during the Vietnam War era. Ella Logan was indeed from Scotland. She never did try to disguise her brogue while playing an Irish lass on Broadway. David Wayne's post-Finian career was quite extensive. He appeared on live TV dramas in the late 40s, and acted in an amazing number of films and television shows over the next 40 years.

As for the 1947 cast album of FINIAN'S RAINBOW-- my opinion is naturally extremely favorable. Harburg's lyrics are some of the best Broadway has ever seen, and Burton Lane's music complements them perfectly. Best advice is: listen to the samples provided, and if at all intrigued, do buy this CD. If you're a fan of great Broadway shows, you need look no further for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

CD DETAILS--
The eight-page finely illustrated booklet is only slightly marred on page 2 by a nearly unreadable repro of the 1962 LP cover. "Look To The Rainbow" includes extra orchestration. The version here of "That Great Come-And-Get-It-Day" is how the song actually sounded on stage. "The Begat" is the first (and best) waxing-- this one wasn't used for decades due to a technical glitch, since repaired. Sound quality of all is superb. The bonus tracks of Yit Harburg discussing and playing three RAINBOW songs are interesting, especially the last, "Don't Pass Me By," which was cut from the show.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME -- 52:50

This is the original cast album, featuring Ella Logan. I don't know if it has been digitally remastered but the music and voices are clear and delightful.

What a witty tuneful score this is - beautifully performed, everyone singing with such evident joy. A daft story on which the lightest of touches has been used by skilful tunesmiths and lyricist to create a thing of beauty. The recording in all its wonderful absurd innocence lifts the spirits.

I first heard this score on LP and was happy to see it come out in this remastered form. The engineers for it have done an outstanding job of restoring the sound from its original sources - dating back to 1947. The score is superb. It has one or two mediocre numbers but you can't argue with "How Are Things in Glocca Mora?", "Old Devil Moon", and other gems. Ella Logan leads a cast of great performers including a young David Wayne, who would go on to win a Tony Award for his portrayal of Og, the leprechaun. There are three bonus tracks of one of the show's creators, Yip Harburg, explaining some of the numbers and singing them for a live audience sometime in the early 1970s. It's documentation is ample, informtive, and full of pictures from the original production. On a side note, this show is slated for a Broadway revival in October, 2009. You won't be disappointed in buying this CD.

Finian's Rainbow original Broadway cast album CD soars with zestful songs, bringing back the wonder and fun of cast members and music by Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg. Although I never saw the original stage play (I was just a pup!), I grew up hearing the music since my mother not only sang songs from the show but owned the LP.
I adore about listening to the original cast on a CD because some ambient noises come through, too. I still own my Mom's LP but it is so scratched I decided to search for the original cast album and am happy it was available.

I just acquired the original issue of this recording on six ten inch Columbia 78's.

I am listening to the set as I write.

All I can say is "Wow"!

Now, mind you, I have thousands of 78's in my collection. I tend to be very forgiving about the foibles of 78's sound.

But.

The Finian's Rainbow 78's I just acquired sound much, much better than the LP transfers.
And almost as good as the 2000 CD reissue which was made from the virgin acetate discs.

This surprised me. Columbia 78's were often made from inferior 78 shellac/composition blanks. Especially on Columbias issued before the late thirties.

Anyway.

The 78's sound better than I expected. No surface noise, whatsoever. And the recorded ambiance is outstanding. Columbia must have done something special with this recording.