Golden Boy

Lee Adams, Charles Strouse, Sammy Davis Jr. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 1993)
• Label: Dead Line
• ASIN: B00000DPF7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #782,795 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Workout

2. Night Song

3. Everything's Great

4. Gimme Some

5. Tick Around

6. Don't Forget 127th Street

7. Lorna's Here

8. This Is The Life

9. Golden Boy

10. While The City Sleeps

11. Colorful

12. I Want To Be With You

13. Can't You See It

14. No More

15. Finale - The Fight

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Golden Boy already had quite a showbiz legacy by the time this 1964 Broadway musical debuted. Clifford Odets's heavy drama was originally produced (sans music) in 1937 as part of New York's Group Theater, featuring in its cast, among others, Lee J. Cobb, Elia Kazan, and Francis Farmer; John Garfield starred in a 1952 Broadway revival of Golden Boy, while the film version was what turned William Holden (in the title role) into a star. Sammy Davis Jr. was already a star--the Rat Pack was in full bloom--when he made his Broadway musical debut as the title character in the Charles Strouse-Lee Adams transformation of Odets's original play, directed by soon-to-be-great film director Arthur Penn, no less. Davis's presence added a racial theme to this story of a prize boxer, addressed in such songs as "Colorful." Unfortunately, the Strouse-Lee score isn't nearly as impressive as their earlier Bye Bye Birdie--no standards were created here--although the fine "Gimme Some," with its rock & roll progression, could have been an outtake from that show. And "Don't Forget 127th St." is the kind of grand production number Broadway rarely delivers anymore. Sammy, meanwhile, is in full, uh, Sammy glory here, and a few of these songs were part of his nightclub repertoire during the mid-'60s. His fans will undoubtedly cheer this remastered rerelease on CD at last. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Re-recorded versions of some songs on this CD, March 16, 2006

By 

Mark Andrew Lawrence "Theatre Reviewer" (Toronto) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Golden Boy (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

GOLDEN BOY was a 1964 Broadway musical starring Sammy Davis Jr. It was edgy and dramatic and despite some turmoil during the out-of-town try-out, it came into New York in good shape and was greeted by strong reviews.

Capitol taped the cast album a few days after the opening. But Sammy Davis has been experiences bought of laryngitis and felt his vocal performance sounded raspy. (It does, but it serves the gritty material well.) SO, some months later he persuaded Capitol to let him re-record his tracks. The newer versions reveal a smoother voice but he takes many liberties with the vocal lines adding stylizations that were not part of the original score. The remixed LP was issued (with a different cover art) and reissued again in 1977.

There have been 4 CD releases of this title. The first on Bay Cities had only a short catalogue life. EMI's release in their Broadway Angel series of Broadway classics lasted a little longer (and had excellent liner notes in the booklet.) Razor&Tie did a cheap re-release and now it's back on DRG. All 4 CD editions use the re-mixed LP master. A shame no one thought to include the original tracks even if they have to be dubbed from an LP (the master tapes were said to be destroyed.)

The re-recorded songs are: Night song, Gimme Some, Stick Around, I Wanna Be With You, and Can't You See it. Also the re-mix uses "The Fight" as the Final Track (A ballet fight scene with mostly rhythm accompaniment) whereas the original LP included a dramatic and moving reprise of "Gimme some." Collectors should watch for the original LP in used record stores to hear the full score.

Still, this is one of the best and most under-rated scores by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Billie Daniels has a great number "While the City Sleeps" and shares the spotlight with Davis in "This is the Life." Even with the inferior second takes, "Night Song" and "I wanna Be with You" remain powerful.

It is a score that improves with each listen, and a shame it remains so little known.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the finest Broadway soundtacks of the '60s., July 3, 2003

By 

Roger Yost (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Golden Boy (Audio CD)

Sammy Davis Jr.,Paula Wayne,Billy Daniels and the ensemble combine to deliver an entertaining remake of the classic story. This one had breakthrough lyrics related to the sensitive black/white relationship at the heart of the story. My favorites are 'I want to be with you,' and the light-hearted '127th Street,' although 'No More' deserves to rank with 'We Shall Overcome' in the annals of up-by-the-boot-straps spirituals. Some of the lyrics dealing with the icons of 1964 are amusing in retrospect, but the music holds up well from a distance of nearly 40 years. Onward.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite scores- breathtaking!, August 10, 2006

By 

Kathleen Donaldson "jverder537" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Golden Boy (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

The score for Golden Boy written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams is neglected. It's quite sad that it is because the entire piece is so brilliant. Strouse's music is filled with urban jazz flavored pieces that are wonderful. Adams' lyrics are sharp, sardonic and sometimes even touching.
Sammy Davis Jr. gives a performance that deserved to be be legendary. The rest of the cast is top notch as well. Billy Daniels shines in my favorite song, "While the City Sleeps."
It was the year of Fiddler on the Roof, everyone was thrilled and exited with Fiddler. Although Fiddler on the Roof is excellent and a classic, Golden Boy is my kind of show and in my opinion...better.