Rodgers & Hart's Dearest Enemy [Cast Recording]

Richard Rodgers (Composer), Richard Day-Lewis (Performer), Charles West (Performer), John Diedrich (Performer), Patricia Whitmore (Performer), Jane Powell (Performer), Sidney Burchall (Performer), Frank Holmes (Performer), Michelle Summers (Performer), Freddy Williams (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Richard Day-Lewis, Charles West, John Diedrich, Patricia Whitmore, Jane Powell, et al.
• Composer: Richard Rodgers
• Audio CD (January 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Bayview
• ASIN: B00006JM8W
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,051 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Heigh-Ho, Lackaday

2. War is War

3. I Beg Your Pardon

4. Cheerio

5. Full Blown Roses

6. The Hermits

7. Here In My Arms

8. Gavotte

9. I'd Like To Hide It

10. Where The Hudson River Flows

11. Bye And Bye

12. Old Enough To Love

13. Sweet Peter

14. Here's A Kiss

15. Finale

16. Bye And Bye (Bonus Tracks) [*]

17. Here In My Arms [*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good recording of Rodgers & Hart score, January 12, 2008

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The Music Man "If I Cannot Fly, Let Me Sing" (United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Rodgers & Hart's Dearest Enemy (Audio CD)

This 1981 recording of 1925's "Dearest Enemy" is a pleasant, faithful account of an unremarkable R&H score. Unfortunately, the producers didn't spring for a full orchestra, so we're left with piano, electric keyboard, drums and bass. Despite their reduced forces, the band manage to keep the tempos spritely; and the cast, despite being relative unknowns, gamely do their best to capture the mood of the 1920s in their mannerisms and inflections. The best thing about this score is Hart's always-clever lyrics, with special mention towards the opening number, "War Is War" which features a bevy of maidens gleefully singing "We're going to be compromised!" with all the glee of Monty Python's virgins waiting to be spanked. Richard Rogers music is fine, but little stands out, with the exception of the pretty ballad "I'd Like To Hide It", sung by Michelle Summers. Among the performers, leading man John Diedrich is probably the weakest of the bunch, sounding somewhat drowsy in his performances, while Charles West manages to sound blustery in his numbers, and the female performers all hit their marks. The recording adds two bonus tracks from the Original Australian cast, and are welcome for their historic value. The sound is good, the notes are skimpy, but overall this is a pleasant listen, definitely worth picking up for fans of early musical theater.