Customer Reviews

Pal Joey: 1995 Original New York Cast Recording

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Why does Pal Joey not hold the same place in America's heart as such musicals as West Side Story and The Sound of Music? This is truly a fabulous, wicked, and enchanting show that should be experienced by anyobody with even the smallest interest in musical theatre. Peter Gallagher is a perfect Joey, and of course the show's centerpiece, "Bewitched", is sung intelligently and beautifully by Patti Lupone. The orchestra is in top form as well, truly shining on such dance breaks as the seductive "That Terrific Rainbow" and the playful "Plant You Now." Of course, the musical highlites are Joey's numbers including the catchy "You Mustn't Kick It Around". "What Do I Care For A Dame" sparkles with the witty and satirical lyrics of Lorenz Hart, a master in his field. Richard Rodgers proudces some of his finest and riskiest melodies as well, perfectly setting the mood for this dark comedy. But perhaps, "I'm Talking To My Pal" is worth the price of the entire album. Though this song had unfortunately been cut from the original show, the decision to re-instate it was a wise one: this song is perhaps the most beautiful tune, both musically and lyrically, that the duo has ever composed. Though the verse could have been taken at a softer tempo and a gentler arrangement, this gem should not be missed. Buy this album, it is Broadway at its best.

Until now we had only two recordings of this Rodgers and Hart classic - the riveting 1950 Columbia cast recording with great performances, great sound and great orchestrations -and - the mediocre 1952 Broadway revival cast. This new recording is splendid - sonically fabulous, the great original orchestrations used in the 1950 recording even more stunning with stereophonic and digital presence; performances by Lupone and Gallagher as well as rest of cast are superb. Brisk, breezy, jaunty and full of sass - a superb recreation that can take its place beside the recent concert revival recording of THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE as stellar recreations of Rodgers and Hart gems.

What a terrific album! More than sixty years after it was composed by Rodgers and Hart, the score of "Pal Joey" shines as brightly as a new penny. The songs are just great: "I Could Write a Book" and "Bewitched" are of course absolute classics. But it's the less well-known numbers that really knocked me over -- it's literally impossible NOT to tap your feet, drum your fingers, shake your booty . . . or whatever during "Happy Hunting Horn" or "Plant You Now, Dig You Later!" This recording is first rate. That Patti Lupone is wonderful is certainly no surprise, but I have to say that Peter Gallagher's singing talent WAS somewhat surprising -- to me at least. Bebe Neuwirth makes a splash with the witty and wonderful "Zip" (a song about Gypsy Rose Lee). The rest of the cast is less well-known but extremely talented. The original orchestrations were used and they definitely stand the test of time. This is one super album -- and especially if you love the music of Rodgers and Hart!

I have listened to the original studio cast recording with Vivienne Segal & Harold Lang, and also to the acclaimed 1952 revival recording with Jane Froman & Dick Beavers (with Elaine Stritch singing "Zip"!) - but, for my money, this 1995 City Center Recording is the definitive "Pal Joey". (Please don't mention the Sinatra / Hayworth / Novak film soundtrack which is a travesty and actually has very little to do with "Pal Joey".)
On this recording, Peter Gallagher as Joey Evans is a stand-out. His vocals are very strong and pure and he really seems to capture the essence of the character. Daisy Prince as Linda is also very fine vocally, as is Bebe Neuwirth's memorable rendition of "Zip". The real treat here though is Patti LuPone's Vera Simpson. I doubt that I shall tire of listening to her "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" for a very long time to come, and I love the "Den of Iniquity" duet with Gallagher. This recording is now quite difficult to come-by, but it is well worth tracking down. Oh, and what a treat to hear those original orchestrations performed so brilliantly by the Coffee Club Orchestra! Definitely one for your collection if you're either a Rodgers & Hart buff, or a fan of the evergreen Miss. LuPone. +++++

One of the best revival of the show. Miss Lupone is a wonderful Vera, all the cast is great and the orchestration very fine. This cd include also a wonderfull song cut from the original production (I'm talking to my pal)

Wow, this is a sexy version of the musical! I didn't see it live, but you can certainly feel the heat when you hear Patti Lupone singing Hart's VERY suggestive lyrics. I think a non-operatic style works best for a woman singing about being in lust. I actually like Lupone's version of "Bewitched" better than Segal's famous one, for just that reason. It's a more "earthy" and "animal" interpretation if you will.

People tend to remember Rodgers and Hammerstein, not Rodgers and Hart, which is a real shame. There's humor, sweetness, darkness, satire, jadedness, pain, disappointment and loss spread out in the body of Hart's work. Pal Joey is a musical that contains all these elements.

I loved the musical numbers in the Sinatra-Hayworth-Novak film version, and I like all of them as actors and Sinatra as a singer, but hearing the original song lyrics and knowing the original storyline now, I realize how cheated I was by the film version. It is hardly the same story. This show was sexy and "non-judgmental" enough to be way ahead of its time! And who hasn't known some rascal who was something like Joey? That's part of the enjoyment.

Of all the Broadway show CDs I own, I probably play this one the most. This is my favorite Broadway show and the performances are all on the mark. PAL JOEY is Rodgers and Hart's masterpiece and at the time was a major breakthrough in story telling for the musical theater with its dark depiction of reality.

The 1995 City Center Encores production of Pal Joey remains one of the highlights of this annual series. The performances on this recording meld perfectly with the songs they sing. Peter Gallagher is a perfect Joey; charming and commanding(I have to believe his name came up for this recording after performing a similar gangster, Sky Masterson, in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls.) Patti Lupone delivers another peerless performance with the songs What is a Man? and the classic Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered. The supporting cast delivers as well with sparkling orchestrations and what an overture!!!

I hadn't heard the other recordings of Joey, or even the complete score, but this is great stuff. I wish someone would revive this on Broadway again. Such a great score. A top notch cast of singers, headed by the wonderful Patti Lupone as Vera and Bebe Neuwirth doing Zip! How can you lose? Essential for any Broadway musical lover. I just wish they'd record all the other Rodgers and Hart shows. Many are still waiting to be recorded.

Having already purchased the original cast and film score its interesting to compare the different songs that make up each and the different styles of vocal production. But if you are only going to have one recording this is probably the best as its combines songs & versions from all of the show's performance history. The singing style is much more what an audience in 2006 would expect as well. Traditionalists and purists might not be happy though.