Girl Crazy (1990 Studio Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

George Gershwin (Artist), Ira Gershwin (Artist), John Mauceri (Artist), Lorna Luft (Artist), David Carroll (Artist), Judy Blazer (Artist), David Garrison (Artist), Vicki Lewis (Artist), Eddie Korbich (Artist), Stan Chandler (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 13, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005J0J
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #106,110 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Classic Musicals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Widely known for its (very loose) 1943 Hollywood adaptation with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, this musical is among the Gershwins' very best. Originally a star vehicle for Bert Lahr, the original 1930 production also featured Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman. This new complete recording includes pros like Lorna Luft, Judy Blazer, Vicki Lewis, and David Carroll, and all of them do a bang-up job. The book is a mere pretext: most of the songs are self-contained and could be used in just about any story, and many quickly became classics ("Embraceable You," "But Not for Me," "I Got Rhythm," "Bidin' My Time.") The upbeat score--the original pit orchestra included Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, and Benny Goodman--sees George Gershwin in complete sync with his jazz-crazed times. There's barely a wrinkle on this 70-year-old show. -- Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Musical Not To Miss, October 3, 2002

By	D. A Wend (Buffalo Grove, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As with so many Broadway shows, the story behind Girl Crazy is concerned with the quest for love and romance built into a thin story. The setting of Girl Crazy in Arizona provided a more exotic locale for 1930's America. What makes Girl Crazy so memorable are the songs: "Embraceable You," "Sam and Delilah," "Could You Use Me?," "Barbary Coast," " But Not For Me" and "I Got Rhytm." This is a well-cast recording of Girl Crazy with Lorna Luft (a daughter of Judy Garland) as Kate, Judy Blazer as Molly and Frank Gorshin as Gieber Goldfarb, to mention a few. The "But Not For Me" routine where Mr. Gorshin does several impression is truly wonderful. The vocal quartet singing "Biddin' My Time" are fabulous.

The orchestra, conducted by John Mauceri, play with real affection. They sound a bit muffled, as if they were playing in an orchestra pit, which may be an attempt for accuracy. The voices are loud and clear. This was the first complete recording of Girl Crazy made with the cooperation of the Library of Congress. The accompanying booklet is highly informative about the musical, the Gershwins and the orchestrators who expanded George Gershwin's musical ideas for the stage. This is a very special recording that is a great introduction to the musicals of the Gershwins.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget the Hollywood soundtrack and grab this one!, April 25, 2000

By	Jmark2001 (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This cd is a must for anyone who loves 1930's music and/or George Gershwin. This is the complete restored broadway musical with all of the numbers as they were originally conceived by Gershwin. The performances are excellent, the recording so fine that one can easily imagine having orchestra seats to the original show. Original orchestrations. Contains at least half a dozen Gerhswin standards with plenty of other surprises. Don't miss it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gershwin's Finest Done to a T, January 9, 2002

By	Kockenlocker "Thrusting Greatness" (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

I have all the albums in this series. But "Girl Crazy," which kicked off the series, is by far the best.

Using the orchestrations from the original Broadway Production captures what the feel and sound of the show must have been. The Gershwins wrote their best pre-"Porgy and Bess" score for this show. And it is a pleaure to hear how such standards as "Bidin' My Time," "But Not For Me," and, of course, "I've Got Rhythm," were orginally orchestrated.

Lorna Luft is just plain great doing the Merman numbers. She's not Merman, but sings her songs with wonderful gusto and feeling. I had never heard, "Boy, What Love Has Done To Me," Merman's final number in the show. It is a world-class song and I'm puzzled why it didn't become a standard as so many other songs from this show did. Luft sings it beautifully with a deft bewildered, comic touch.

Frank Gorshin is also superb as the comedy-relief New York cab driver.

Indeed, everyone and everything is hunky dory on this album. Including the wonderfully silly "Cactus Time In Arizona."

The notes with this album are extremely informative and entertaining. When I read who was in the pit band and that they did jam sessions instead of breaking for intermissions, I wished I could get in a time-machine and see and hear every performance, including Merman's show-stopping high note in "Rhythm."

This is an essential album for classic Broadway fans or anyone who loves the Gershwins.