Customer Reviews

Gypsy: A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, and the overture to "Gypsy." This is still one of the greatest cast recordings in the whole Broadway pantheon. Sheer bliss.

Totally agree with the other reviewer who wrote about the overture. There is an overture from one other musical that comes close - "Funny Girl" - another Jule Styne score :-) As for "Gypsy", there is no point listing highlights. The entire score is magnificent!!!

Ethel Merman singing on Broadway; is it necessary to say more?
You will sing along and you will sing LOUD!

You can argue all you want to about who was the best Mama Rose (Angela Lansbury in my opinion), but the fact remains that Gypsy is one of the best American musicals ever created. The overture is by now classic, the rest of the score perfection. Ethel Merman was electric and unforgettable creating the original Rose, and the rest is history. It is the role that every Broadway leading lady wants a crack at and most suceed admirably (except perhaps Tyne Daly who was not capable of performing the role and should have stuck to television mothers).
A great score, Jule Styne's music is wonderful and Sondheim's lyrics are masterful! A must have album for any theater collector.

I had this LP many years ago. I had forgotten just how great this show was. It's better than any of the Rodgers and Hammerstein shows that also were so great during this era. It was the right vehicle to showcase Merman. Nobody else could do like her the new version with Patti Lapone pales in comparsion.

The rhythm of the score is very attractive about the music
The slight sensual flare to several of the songs from this musical about a strip-tease has a toned down feel, yet still communicates the ordeal
The vocal quality is perfect with practically no (I don't hear any) mistakes makes it more interesting
All the songs are in the right place; no non-sequitor
I love this musical

WHERE is the comparison???

This is an amazing document of WHAT Broadway [and musicals] should be all about.

The rest?

Pale imitations - see track # 16!