Customer Reviews

Gift of The Maji

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With score by Richard Adler, THE GIFT OF THE MAGI was one of those television "Specials" once favoured by US television networks. Adapted from a well-known story, it enjoyed instant viewing but has rarely been revived. Premiered in late 1958, its star, Sally Ann Howes was Adler's wife at the time and a leading lady with show business background (father was celebrated British stage star Bobby Howes)so her presence added stature to a cast which included Allen Case, Bibi Osterwald, Howard St. John and the Jersey Quartet.

The songs are tuneful with Howes in wonderful form for ballads CHRISTMAS IN YOUR HEART and the feistier WHAT TO DO; Case giving a smooth version of A BETTER WORD FOR LOVE and the two stars in duet for THE NAME'S THE SAME. HE'S A COMPANY MAN from Howard St. John and the Chorus is also catchy from a score of just seven numbers with-between-tracks plot narration by Eli Wallach.

As a Sally Ann Howes collection, nine additional tracks feature her glorious soprano voice with solo numbers extracted from musicals in which she appeared - SUMMER SONG, BET YOUR LIFE and ROMANCE BY CANDLELIGHT. WAITIN' FOR MY DEARIE emanates from a television version of BRIGADOON and there's also a trio of songs she featured on THE DINAH SHORE CHEVY SHOW in 1960, although these television cuts must be appreciated more for their rarity value rather than sound quality.

Based on the classic O'Henry story, THE GIFT OF THE MAGI comes from the golden age of television musicals. Designed by composer/lyricist Richard Adler (THE PAJAMA GAME, DAMN YANKEES) as a showcase for the talents of his then-wife Sally Ann Howes (PAINT YOUR WAGON, MY FAIR LADY), the show co-starred other Broadway stars like Allen Case and Bibi Osterwald, with narration by Eli Wallach. It was broadcasted on NBC as part of the 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' in December of 1958, with the cast recording released shortly afterward.

The score as a whole is quite tuneful, highlights definitely include Ms Howes' main solo number "What to Do?"; other delights are to be had in "The Name's the Same", "Christmas in Your Heart" and "He's a Company Man". I don't know if Adler intended for GIFT OF THE MAGI to have an eventual life on the stage (he was also preparing the ill-fated KWAMINA! as a Broadway vehicle for Ms Howes during this period, as well as a never-produced musical version of OF HUMAN BONDAGE); though I can see Off-Broadway or smaller theatre groups putting this charming score back onto the boards.

In addition, Flare has filled the remainder of the disc with highlights from Sally Ann Howes' early West End musical hits. Tracks are pulled from the original London casts of BET YOUR LIFE ("I Love Him As He Is", "What Care I?"), ROMANCE IN CANDLELIGHT ("My Heart Says Yes"), SUMMER SONG ("Summer Song", "I'll Be Remembering"); as well as a TV special of BRIGADOON ("Waitin' for My Dearie").

[Flare Records SPEC1038]