She Loves Me (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Jerry Bock (Performer), Sheldon Harnick (Performer), Barbara Cook (Performer), Daniel Massey (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Barbara Cook, Daniel Massey
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B000001FM8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,202 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #22 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Classic Musicals

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This utterly charming musical had a disappointing Broadway debut in 1963 despite the high-powered pairing of director Harold Prince (his first musical) and the songwriting team of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof). Thanks to a legendary cast album that took up an unprecedented two LPs (74 minutes on one CD), the show gathered a loyal following, eventually becoming a repertory staple and earning Broadway and London revivals in the 1990s. Based on the same Hungarian play as the 1940 James Stewart film The Shop Around the Corner (and its successors, In the Good Old Summertime and You've Got Mail), the sweet romantic story follows two shop clerks who can't stand each other but are also anonymous pen pals. Barbara Cook sang one of her best roles as Amalia, Jack Cassidy won a Tony as the cad Kodaly, and the rest of the cast is also perfect. The booklet includes production photos, a loving appreciation, and a detailed synopsis, but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Dear Friend...." SHE LOVES ME is a true masterpiece! October 21, 2003

By Byron Kolln HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

SHE LOVES ME is one of the most beautiful Broadway musicals ever to grace the stage. The gorgeous Sheldon Harnick-Jerry Bock score is filled with strong numbers, there's not a clinker in the bunch. The original 1963 Broadway cast album is still the best-ever available recording of the show (not to mention the most complete).

Based on the film THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, the story concerns shopkeepers at a European perfumerie store. Barbara Cook (THE MUSIC MAN, CANDIDE, PLAIN AND FANCY) stars as Amalia Balash; with Daniel Massey (STAR!) as Georg Nowack, Barbara Baxley as Ilona Ritter, Ralph Williams as Arpad Laszlo, Jack Cassidy (FADE OUT-FADE IN) as Steven Kodaly and Nathaniel Frey (GOLDILOCKS) as Ladislav Sipos.

Barbara Cook gets the bulk of the show pieces including "Will He Like Me?", "No More Candy", "I Don't Even Know His Name", and the showstopping, now-immortal "Vanilla Ice Cream". Cook joins Daniel Massey for the frenzied, delightful "Where's My Shoe?" and Massey later sings the Title Song to perfection. Barbara Baxley sweeps us up into musical comedy-heaven with the hilarious "A Trip to the Library".

The entire cast is strong and effective. I have said it many times; the Bock-Harnick score surpasses even their biggest hit, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and its such a crime that the musical isn't well-known to the greater public.

A superb cast album, just as delicious as vanilla ice cream...

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best January 21, 2002

By loesser

Format:Audio CD

This story started as a Hungarian play came to B'way and then Hollywood with James Stewart as "The Shop Around the Corner". It was made into a Hollywood musical with Judy Garland and Van Johnson called "In the Good Old Summertime" and recently was reincarnated as "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks. All were good entertainment, but "She Loves Me" is the best. Harnick and Bock have written a perfect little gem and this is the best recording of that gem. Other recordings may have better leads than Daniel Masseybut no one else has Barbara Cook singing Ice Cream-one of Broadway's finest moments!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most intimate of all musicals - superb. November 18, 1998

By A. Andersen

Format:Audio CD

SHE LOVES ME made LP history in being the first original cast album to be spread over two discs. The music is enchanting, the performances are dramatically and romantically brilliant, with special praise for Barbara Cook in her finest characterization. This is a brilliant show, beautifully and lovingly conceived, intimate and glowing with grace and beauty. A true gem and worthy of including in everyone's CD collection. The show was too intimate to survive for long on Broadway (barely over 300 performances)but it did garner Tony noms for Best Musical, Book, Score, Direction and won a Tony for Jack Cassidy in the supporting musical category. A must-hear.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A charming show May 25, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

Barbara Cook is WONDERFUL in this forgotten gem by Bock & Harnick which has only been rediscovered in the last several years thanks to a Broadway & London revival. Miss Cook considers this one of her favorites too, because she almost always performs songs from it in her cabaret and touring act. I was lucky enough to see the London revival in the gorgeous Savoy Theater. I have all 4 cast cds (orig. 1963 cast, London 1964 cast, 1990s B-way revival & 1990s London revival), but I have a soft spot for this particular recording, even tho Barbara Baxley as Illona CANNOT SING. This recording is the only one that has the sweet but sad song "Tango Tragique" complete with clever lyrics. Future productions cut the song but kept the music as background in the cafe scene.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST! January 28, 2001

By Barry Plaxen

Format:Audio CD

This CD contains the score to (arguably) the best score of the 60s, and certainly the last/best score of the Golden Age of Musicals. It also contains the most incredible performance I have ever seen in a Broadway musical. One only has to hear Barbara Cook's coda to "Tango Tragique" or her plaintive "Will He Like Me" to know why she is a legend. This is also a perfect example of a score in which the lyrics reveal characterizations, advance plot and are sumptuously gorgeous. The singing-acting of Ms. Cook, Jack Cassidy and the others is far superior to all the other versions.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Your collection is not complete without this!! July 9, 2004

By David

Format:Audio CD

When I purchased this recording, I thought that Bock and Harnick would have the ghost of "Fiddler" haunting this, because that is a great show. This Cd made me forget about "Fiddler". Yes, it is that good. You recieve all the charm of a musical comedy, but much more wit than other comedies. Do Not put this on while you are doing household chores. The show is so absorbed in the music that you must pay attention to enjoy it fully. A good majority of the songs are short, but they still shine. The sound is very good. Most of the performances are great, especially Barbra Cook. She proves she can play, and sing, any role. She plays the pompus librarian in "The Music Man", and plays the unsure store clerk here. Why dont you own this yet? Buy it today.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Before "Fiddler" August 11, 2005

By A. Kaplan

Format:Audio CD

Before Bock and Harnick wowed the American Musical Theater with Fiddler on The Roof, they composed and wrote "She Loves Me" an innovative musical comedy (for its time) with no chorus, no dancing (though it was expertly blocked and choreographed); just a stream of wonderful music that is captured perfectly in this original cast recording. Just listening to Barbara Cook's crystal clear soprano voice is worth the price; the late Jack Cassidy, Daniel Massey and Barbara Baxter only add to this perfect recording.