South Pacific [Cast Recording]

Original 1949 Broadway Cast Recording (Artist), Richard Rodgers (Composer, Conductor), South Pacific (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: South Pacific
• Conductor: Richard Rodgers
• Composer: Richard Rodgers
• Audio CD (May 5, 2009)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: SONY CLASSICS
• ASIN: B001VRDRI8
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,910 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Act I: Overture (Orchestra) (Instrumental)

2. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Dites-moi (Barbara Luna, Michael DeLeon) (Voice)

3. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; A Cockeyed Optimist (Mary Martin) (Voice)

4. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Twin Soliloquies (Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza) (Voice)

5. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Some Enchanted Evening (Ezio Pinza) (Voice)

6. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Bloody Mary (Sailors, Seabees, Marines) (Voice)

7. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; There is Nothin' Like a Dame (Myron McCormick, Sailors, Seabees, Marines) (Voice)

8. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Bali Ha'i (Juanita Hall) (Voice)

9. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair (Voice)

10. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; A Wonderful Guy (Mary Martin, Nurses) (Voice)

11. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Younger Than Springtime (William Tabbert) (Voice)

12. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Act II: Happy Talk (Juanita Hall) (Voice)

13. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Honey Bun (Mary Martin) (Voice)

14. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; You've Got To Be Carefully Taught (William Tabbert) (Voice)15. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; This Nearly Was Mine (Ezio Pinza) (Voice)

15. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; This Nearly Was Mine (Ezio Pinza) (Voice)

16. South Pacific - Original Broadway Cast Recording; Finale: Dites Moi (reprise) (Mary Martin, Barbara Luna, Ezio Pinza) (Voice)

17. Loneliness of Evening* (Voice)

18. My Girl Back Home* (Voice)

19. Bali Ha'i* (Voice) Various

20. South Pacific (Symphonic Scenario for Concert Orchestra)* (Instrumental)

Editorial Reviews

This Rodgers & Hammerstein landmark won a Pulitzer to go with its 10 Tonys. It also unleashed several standards we couldn't imagine being without: Bali Ha'i; Some Enchanted Evening; I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair; Younger Than Springtime , and more!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Performance, but, Alas, Poorly Remastered September 17, 2009

By Great Faulkner's Ghost TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD

When I saw that Sony Classics had reissued this CD in May of 2009, I was hoping that it was a new transfer/remastering to compact disc of this enduring and (potentially) magnificent sound recording from 1949. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case. This appears to be the 1998 transfer/remaster, but now packaged in an eco-friendly cardboard digi-pack instead of the old plastic case. Other than that, it's the same.

So, what's the problem with the 1998 remaster? The problem is that the first CD release of this, from 1988, sounds SO MUCH BETTER! The 88 release is one of the most natural, rich, and "analog" sounding compact discs in my collection, quite amazing for the early compact disc era, when compact discs were themselves not yet a mature technology. The 88 appears to be a relatively straight transfer of the master tape. In contrast, the 98 version has a decidedly brittle sound, which several people have remarked upon in their review of the 1998 release, apparently unaware of how good the 88 sounds The root of the problem appears to be that the 98 mastering seems to have used rather cold sounding electronics for the transfer from tape to digital, and perhaps some digital processing, which has made the sound tinny and "synthesized." What we really need now is a flat transfer of the 1949 tapes,using proper analog mastering equipment. Until then, the release you want is the first release on compact disc (1988; Columbia CK 32604; DIDP 70263; Barcode: 7464-32604-2). The 1988 CD has the same cover as the mid-1950s LP release, the close-up of the Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin instead of the anchor pattern.) The 1988 compact disc does not have the extra cuts of the 1998 transfer, but the sound is so much better, but it's well worth looking out for. I hope that some day Sony will consider releasing this again with a sensitive and respectful remaster. The performance, quite apart from the medium, is magnificent and deserves the best possible archival restoration.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Try and find the 1988 CD Release January 23, 2010

By Publius

Format:Audio CD

I have just listened to a copy of the first CD release of this score. I am told this first CD release was transferred from the 78 masters (must have been acetates because there is next to no surface noise). The mastering (uncredited as far as I can tell) is superb. On this older CD the recording sounds better than many tapes from the early to mid 1950's, and can be truly considered one of the first mass-market, high-fidelity recordings. This was also the first original-cast LP to be issued in both the then-standard "album" of 10-inch 78 rpm discs, and also in Columbia's new LP format. The Sony/Columbia transfer of the 1947 Finian's Rainbow is good (although there is surface noise that probably could have been eliminated), but not this good. South Pacific was, I believe, also the first to be recorded using both the standard method of direct-to-disc cutting and on magnetic tape (a medium that became known only after WW II).

I am told that up to the current remastering, all previous releases of this recording had used the 78 transfers, not the tape. Now I know why. The sound is not only better, it is SIGNIFICANTLY better on the earlier CD release. On the new release the frequency range is quite limited; on the earlier release you get the full range up to 20K hz. Further, the grainy, harsh sound on this newer release, and some tape drop outs, are either due to a significant deterioration of the tape over 50-60 years, or the fact that tape technology was still rapidly evolving, and this was Columbia's first serious foray into the medium, or both. Apparently the technology for the 78's was significantly improving as well, but that medium was doomed, due to the limitation of the length of a side, and the fact that one could edit tapes.

Comparing the two CDs:
The First Release: Wonderful Sound. Downsides: Slight amount of reverb added, no bonus tracks, and on one track, You've Got to Be Carefully Taught a phrase right at the end of the song is cut, which is jarring to those who are used to it being there, and the song as written and performed has it. Why it is missing is a mystery.

The "Remastered Release: Mediocre sound, that's harsh on the ears. Bonus tracks: The ones by Martin and Pinza are nice to have (especially Loneliness of Evening, and My Girl Back Home which had been cut during the tryouts). The Suite complied by Robert Russell Bennett, however, is just a medley and musically pretty forgettable. My Girl Back Home was put back in the movie and the current Broadway revival. Loneliness of Evening has found its way into staged versions of R&H's Cinderella, where it fits.

If you love the score and also think that the original is still one of the, if not the, best recordings, see if you can find a used cc of the earlier CD release somewhere. It is out of print now.

You can reference it here:

[...]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I doesn't get any better May 16, 2012

By Vegan Marcos

Format:Audio CD

Mary Martin and Enzio Pinza! I know some of you are probably too young to remember Mary Martin but beyond the fact that she's the real life mother of J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), she was also the first for many broadway shows. She was the original Nellie Forbush in this broadway production which is pure delight. The cd has been digitally remastered and has no pops or clicks. Just the lovely voices of Mary Mary, Enzio Pinza and cast. Did I mention Mary was also the original Peter Pan too? Thankfully, there is a tv film of that production on dvd. Sadly, Mary was always twenty years out before Hollywood decided to make film versions of shows she had starred in. With South Pacific she was too old so the role when to Mitzi Gaynor. She was too old for the Sound of Music when a film version was made so the role when to the very lovely, Julie Andrews. Can you imagine the film version with another actor? Enzio Pinza, the great Italian actor, was virtually unknown here when he took the role of Emile de Becque. Enzio had made a few films in Italy and a few american language films. One notable one with Anthony Quinn. Look up Enzio. He had a classically trained voice and was truly and amazing actor. One of my true sorrows in life is that I was born too late to see either of these two amazing actors on broadway in theis musical.

Did I mention that South Pacific swept the tony's the year it was on broadway?

Best Musical Won
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Ezio Pinza Won
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Mary Martin Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Myron McCormick Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Juanita Hall Won
Best Producer Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, Leland Hayward and Joshua Logan Won
Best Director Joshua Logan Won
Best Libretto Oscar Hammerstein II Won
Best Original Score Richard Rodgers Won
Best Scenic Design Jo Mielziner Won

Probably not. Well, listen to this amazing broadway cast album and allow yourself to be whisked away for an hour or so to the South Pacific. This is, and always will be, one of my favourite recordings of South Pacific. So, do yourself a favour and buy this album. It's worth every cent that you spend on it and it will be a cd you will be proud to pass on to your children.