The Most Happy Fella (1956 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Frank Loesser (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 15, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027TC
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,528 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the sparkling Frank Loesser masterpiece, February 9, 2004

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Most Happy Fella (1956 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

THE MOST HAPPY FELLA is undoutably composer-lyricist Frank Loesser's masterpiece. Although there would be other big triumphs (GUYS AND DOLLS, HOW TO SUCCEED...) nothing quite matches FELLA for scope, dramatic intensity and sheer brilliance.

Based on THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED by Sidney Howard, the story concerns vineyard owner Tony Esposito (played by opera great Robert Weede). The outstanding supporting cast includes superb belters Jo Sullivan (THE THREEPENNY OPERA) and Susan Johnson (OH, CAPTAIN!); as well as Art Lund, Shorty Long, Mona Paulee, Helon Blount, Lois van Pelt and Lillian Shelby.

The original cast album of MOST HAPPY FELLA was given the grand treatment by Columbia Records (under the inspired guidance of wunderkind producer Goddard Lieberson). The show was recorded, save for a few lines, in its complete state, and released in a lavish 3-LP boxed set complete with a copy of the full-color programme.

Sony Classical have now faithfully reissued this landmark cast album in a great 2-disc set, which will be relished by all fans of this delicious score. Standout numbers include "Ooh, My Feet!", "Somebody, Somewhere" and the rousing "Big D.".

THE MOST HAPPY FELLA enjoyed a successful run of 678 performances yet failed to win any Tony's. It was unfortunate that FELLA opened in the same season as LI'L ABNER and MY FAIR LADY, which both took out all the big awards that year.

THE MOST HAPPY FELLA is one of Broadway's greatest musicals. [SONY S2K 48010]

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a stunner, April 28, 2000

By 

"path31783" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Most Happy Fella (1956 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

I knew Frank Loesser was an extremely talented composer. Under the glamorous, classic-broadway image of Guys and Dolls, you will find the work of a musical genius - i mean, just listen to the choral stuff in Sit Down and you'll know what I mean. But in The Most Happy Fella', his last fully-realized work, Loesser really topped himself. Here we have what is surely one of the greatest scores of all time. I have to say, the sheer amount of music on this score is incredible - the liner notes point out that Loesser was actually criticized for pouring years of effort into this show when the musical ingenuity he expended could have gone to create 6 more. Not only is the wonderful score represented on this CD set (pressed from 3 LPs) but so is every line of dialogue - you can actually follow the entire story, which is actually a plus, because the story is a heartbreaker. Every singer is in top form (especially Susan Johnson - I could weep for talent that later went wasted in such disastrous shows as Oh Captain and Whoop-up.) So, to sum up, BUY THIS RECORDING! You will not be sorry.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute must-buy for Broadway lovers + DVD available, April 25, 1999

By 

Jim Berg "Music Lover" (San Antonio, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Most Happy Fella (1956 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

My love for the Broadway show ignited as an 11 yr old when my mother dragged me to a performance of this cast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in about 1956. Wow! Lonely Robert Weede in love with Rosabella sang love and swear words with such gusto; Jo Sullivan (Loesser) became Rosabella; Susan Johnson and Short Long sang "Big D" like no other duo can and Shorty was the best 'girl gawker' when he sang "Standin' on the Corner;'then Art Lund opened his mouth to sing "Joey." Wow!

Well, if you want to hear THE perfect cast... singing some of the all time greatest show tunes with all of the operatic electricity of the MET, yet containing the humor and subtlety of Broadway, BUY THIS CD. There is NO substitute for this cast and this show.

Fully 80% of the show is sung, so 1956 is alive today for you to hear in an engineering masterpiece...the re-mastering of the original recording.

A DVD of the 1980 PBS production starring Georgio Tozzi is available at matsoncreative.com.