Stingiest Man in Town (1956 Original TV Cast) [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] [Soundtrack, Original recording remastered]

Fred Spielman & Janice Torre (Composer), Tutti Camarata (Conductor), Vic Damone (Performer), Johnny Desmond (Performer), Patrice Munsel (Performer), Robert Weede (Performer), Betty Madigan (Performer), Martyn Green (Performer), Robert Wright (Performer), Basil Rathbone (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack, Original recording remastered
• Label: Jasmine Music
• ASIN: B000HWXGDY
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,440 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Christmas Carol The Four Lads

2. An Old Fashioned Christmas Johnny Desmond

3. Humbug Basil Rathbone & Johnny Desmond

4. The Stingiest Man In Town The Four Lads

5. A Christmas Carol The Four Lads

6. I Wear A Chain Robert Weede & Basil Rathbone

7. Spirit Theme Basil Rathbone & Robert Wright

8. Medley Golden Dreams/It Might Have Been Vic Damone & Patrice Munsel

9. A Christmas Carol The Four Lads

10. The Christmas Spirit The Chorus

11. Yes, There Is A Santa Claus Betty Madigan

12. One Little Boy Basil Rathbone & Robert Wright

13. An Old Fashioned Christmas Johnny Desmond

14. The Birthday Party Of The King Johnny Desmond

15. A Christmas Carol The Four Lads

16. I Wear A Chain Basil Rathbone

17. Concerto Inferno Fred Spielman

18. Mankind Should Be My Business Basil Rathbone

19. The Christmas Spirit Basil Rathbone

20. One Little Boy Martyn Green & Basil Rathbone

See all 30 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Great television musical based on Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" with a star studded cast including Vic Damone, The Four Lads, Johnny Desmond, Basil Rathbone, Patrice Munsel and Betty Madigan. Included in this set are eight bonus tracks recorded by the stars of the production including Johnny Desmond. The popularity of this classic continues to this day and is still a popular fixture at schools and theatres across the country. This is a must have for the festive season

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally on CD, November 30, 2006

By 

Jim Jr (Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stingiest Man in Town (1956 Original TV Cast) [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

I have had the LP of this wonderful show since it was first aired back in the 50s. This is the BEST musical version of Christmas Carol. The cast for this show was wonderful. Partice Munsel is fantastic as Belle, Scrooge's almost wife. Her duets with Vic Damone "Golden Dreams" and "It Might Have Been" are truely memorable. There is one song that shouldbe a Christmas staple, "Birthday Party for the King". Another is "Yes, There is a Santa Claus".The idea of using the Four Lads as caroleers who bracket parts of the story was inspired. Their "Stingiest Man In Town" is just great. The whole cast is simply perfect.

There are many extra tracks on this CD that only add to making it terrific.The Four Lads calypso "Mary's Boy Child" is exciting and will make you want to start dancing.

If you have seen the cartoon version using the same songs, it just can not give an idea of how wonderful this original version is. This is a CD that can be played all year, not just during Christman.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fantastic musical score, and a fantastic album!, October 18, 2006

By 

Greg Ehrbar "'MouseTracksOnline'" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stingiest Man in Town (1956 Original TV Cast) [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

This is big news, especially for fans of Disney Legend Tutti Camarata and the classic Rankin/Bass TV shows. And it has BONUS TRACKS! This is a Columbia cast album from 1956, based on the CBS ALCOA HOUR live-action musical TV special starring Basil Rathbone as Scrooge. Camarata conducted the magnificent score by Janice Torre and Fred Spielman ("Paper Roses").

THE STINGIEST MAN IN TOWN was remade as an animated ABC special by Rankin/Bass in 1978 starring Walter Matthau as Scrooge, with the same songs. There was no soundtrack album, though a promotional LP that tied in with the 1978 show was released by the "Alcoa Singers."

Some of the 1956 arrangements on the Columbia album always sounded very Rankin/Bass to me, with the sweeping violins (that sound like Rudolph taking off). It turns out, as Tutti himself recalled, that longtime R/B arranger/conductor Maury Laws may have worked with Camarata on the arrangements, by coincidence! Anyway, it's really worth a listen I had given up hope that it would ever make it to CD. What a great gift!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful memories and songs. If only a video survived!, December 11, 2006

By 

Peter R. Erskine "2tal" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stingiest Man in Town (1956 Original TV Cast) [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

I grew up with this music during the holiday's. It is a wonderful combination of inspired actors and songs. Basil Rathbone is a terrific Scrooge (who knew he could sing!?) and The Four Lads as good as any Greek chorus. For many years I'd wander into used record stores just to see if there was a copy of this album only to have record players go the way of the dodo. I do have the album and a record player but they are both well beyond their prime. This is a treat to find available on CD. The animated video does not do the music or story justice. If only a copy of the original 1956 TV special could be found; that would be wonderful!