Customer Reviews

Pal Joey (1952 Broadway Revival Cast)

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

 

 

Froman and Stritch perform marvelously but the rest of the
show is rather a disappointment, suffering from performances,
orchestrations and tempi that do not better the 1950 studio
cast recording from Columbia. Here you have a slapdash short
overture and two songs not on that recording (the forgettable
CHICAGO and the melodic THE FLOWER GARDEN OF MY HEART). If you
want the extra material, go with the excellent recent studio
recording with Peter Gallagher and Patti Lupone. This has

the supporting cast of the stage revival but not the leads-
they appear in the 1950 studio recording. For Jane Froman
and Elaine Stritch fans only.

I couldn't agree more with the customer from Evanston, Illinois.
The Broadway Angel reissue is the BEST recording of the BEST musical ever (well maybe SHOW BOAT, nearly an opera, is #1)... PAL JOEY. I am amazed at all the Vivienne Segal "worship"; while she created the role of "Vera", her voice isn't all that great. I prefer even the mostly-dubbed Rita Hayworth, in the movie version, to Viv. Jane Froman, on the other hand, brought a smoky sensuality to her recording. "Bewitched..." and "What Is a Man?" (unfortunately cut from the '57 film) are just gorgeous! My hope is that Rob Marshall will do a film remake based on the original score. Thanx

Rodgers and Hart's best score is given its due in this astounding CD. Unavailable for over 40 years, Broadway Angel wisely reissued it on CD. Even with substitutes Jane Froman and Dick Beavers, this remains the one to have. Helen Gallagher, Elaine Stritch and the brassy orches- trations allow the listener to hear the score the way it was meant to be performed. END

So it is out of stock,but if you are patient,they will bring it back,even if many fans prefer the 1950 version.I discovered the show with that record and i still love it to this day.My only complaint is that the ballet JOEY LOOKS INTO THE FUTURE was not included here(the 1950 record and the 1995 revival have it).HELEN GALLAGHER is a knockout as GLADYS;DICK BEAVERS had a hard time fitting HAROLD LANG's shoes but he tries his best.What makes this show so great is the balance of uptempo numbers with the slower ones ,which brings you to the edge of your seat.It has everything a show needs:sass,humour,good looking girls and most important great songs.It also inspired BROADWAY at the time 1940 to go ahead with more adult oriented shows.Few lyric writers could really write such different shows like THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE and PAL JOEY,but HART was a master in his field.If PAL JOEY bores you,there must me a problem with you;you should consult a shrink.