Gypsy (1973 Original London Cast) [CAST RECORDING]

Angela Lansbury, Gypsy (Related Recordings), Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor Broadway
• ASIN: B000003F2A
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,318 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, June 20, 2000

By A Customer

If you just want to listen to Gypsy for a loud brash singer, then get the original 1959 (with Ethel Merman). If you want a recording that's indicative of the drama and the entire production and of Angela Lansbury's incredible performance, then buy this album. I own four different recordings of this show (including Merman, Tyne Daly and Bette Midler) and this one puts them all behind.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch Out World Here's Rose, July 1, 2000

By	Jim Jr (Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I saw Ethel Merman attempt to play "Rose" in "Gypsy" twice. All she did was stand and yell the songs and had no subtlties in her character. She just played a nasty person with no redeaming features. The big number, "Rose's Turn", at the end of the show was very unpleasant as she came out seeming to say: "Here's my big number and I want applause!" Then I was lucky enough to see Angela Lansbury who made "Rose" a real person, with a magnificant performance that showed many facets of a complex woman. She sang better than Merman as she really tried to shade her numbers to bring out the real person this woman should be. Yes, she could "belt" the numbers when necessary but never shout them as Merman did. I know this musical well as I have played "Herbie" the male lead, so understand the characters and their relationships. Even on this album, not seeing her performance in person, Miss Lansbury comes across as a wonderful, real character. It is a performance to treasure. The first time you hear some of the English accents, it might seem strange, but then you realize that the "newsboys - Baby June" numbers are purposly done poorly as the act was not a good one and has to come over that way. It is just the right touch for those numbers. Listening to "Rose's Turn" by Lansbury is chilling as you can hear the woman coming close to a breakdown as it should be. This has become my favorite version of one of the best scores ever written for a Broadway musical because of the superb Angela Lansbury.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Mamma ever, but British accents are bizarre, February 15, 2000

By A Customer

Lansbury was the single best Mamma Rose ever, for this reviewer's money--she had both the best voice (though lacking the sheer belting power of Merman) and could act better than any of the others (with the possible exception of Betty Buckley). This recording is worth hearing just for her, though the awfulness of Dainty June's Newsboys singing with cockney accents ("Extra! Extra!/'ey look at the 'eadloines/ Around the biggest scoop of the decaide!") significantly detracts from the listening pleasure of this recording.