Customer Reviews

Subways Are for Sleeping (1962 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
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Sometimes a cast album of a flop can be more entertaining than many hits. This album, recorded by Columbia in 1962, is a good example of that. The show itself was mainly notable for producer David Merrick's infamous gimmick ad where he got quotes from people with the same names as the major New York critics. But on CD, without the book problems that plagued the show, it sounds like a million dollars: Styne's tunes may not be up to his best (no hits here), but they are mostly delightful melodies played by a terrific orchestra and topped off with another one of Styne's great overtures. Comden and Green contribute witty lyrics filled with their trademark optimism and starry-eyed love of New York. The performers are a distinctive bunch, led by Sidney Chaplin (and his love-it-or-hate-it singing), Carol Lawrence, and Phyllis Newman, who won a Tony for this show. The whole thing is recorded in Columbia's best early-'60s sound, with its typical wide stereo separation. Get this CD if you want a cast album that just plain makes you feel good. (Note: Fynsworth Alley -- which recently dumped its founder, Bruce Kimmel -- has just made the even more desirable Columbia cast album of JUNO available, but so far it's only available from their website.)

It's been a long wait for this cast album - long one of my favourites - to appear on CD. Though a Broadway flop, it has one of Jule Styne's finest scores, and Columbia's recordings as produced by Goddard Lieberson were the best sounding albums of the era. 'Taking My Time' and 'Comes Once In a Lifetime' were the closest to hit tunes, but there are half a dozen other gorgeous melodies as well, including Carol Lawrence' lovely and plaintive 'Girls Like Me' and the duet 'Who Knows What Might Hve Been.' Great orchestrations, fabulous sound, and a super score by Styne, Comden and Green - a real treat for lovers of the best in popular song.

Yes, believe it or not - this is an exceptionally good show score
and although the production closed after only half a year on Broadway due to a weak book, the performers (some of Broadway's best), the music, the lyrics, the orchestrations and the sound recording are state of the art. Lawrence appeared in only a few shows (WEST SIDE STORY, SARATOGA and this) but was a brilliant talent - a fine singer and a fine singing actress. Chaplin couldn't sing a note but appeared in quite a few hit musicals as the male lead (BELLS ARE RINGING, FUNNY GIRL and this). Supporting players Orson Bean and Phyllis Newman (who won a Tony for this performance and the hand of lyricist Adolph Green) are youngsters bursting with style. Goddard Lieberson never topped himself sound-wise - this is his masterpiece - the taps in I SAID IT AND I'M GLAD and their moves between speakers, the bells in BE A SANTA - are as resonant and full-sounding as Solti's famous Donner hammer blow in DAS RHEINGOLD. The orchestrations range from touching (the plaintive high violin supporting HOW CAN YOU DESCRIBE A FACE) to softly romantic the light bongo drum rhythms in WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN?). This is one of the great Broadway musical scores and this album is magnificent.

In 1962, audiences were used to one primary plot in their entertainment. However, "Subways Are For Sleeping" introduced many sub-plots which was unusual for the time. Plus the topic of homelessness was considered extremely taboo in the early sixties. I believe if this show got a good face lift and put back out there, it may just find an audience that it never found before. I liked the "Subway Directions" part of "Ride Through The Night". These patters are still difficult even by today's standards. I think this show was before it's time.

Sidney Vaught
www.sidneyvaught.net

What a wonderful show! Sydney Chaplin,son of Charlie Chaplin and the grandson of Eugene O'Neill, was a great leading-man find in the 1960's. However, he didn't seem to get along with his leading ladies. First, he and Carol Lawrence almost fought onstage and then he and Barbra Streisand were great enemies in "Funny Girl." But Chaplin won a Tony for "Bells Are Ringing" as did his co-star Judy Holliday.

I think it's time for a revival of "Subways Are For Sleeping." There are two scripts and perhaps combining the two might create an acceptable script. Do it as a early 1960's pastiche and you might have a great revival with Bernadette Peters and James Naughton.

Great idea, huh?

I saw "Subways" on opening night.It is a shame that this show didn't make the cut. It was truly a terrific Broadway show. A great score, superb cast and a show that made you hum the score as you left the theatre.

I would love to see a revival. Perhaps the audiences of today would appreciate what the critics of 1962 didn't. Considering buying it? You will pleased.

The book for SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING was rewritten hastily while the show was undergoing an out-of-town try-out. Seems they threw the baby out with the bathwater and weakened the show. The score is better than average with typical Jule Styne songs and some sprightly lyrics from Comden and Green. You will NEVER mistake this for some overlooked masterpiece, but if you have a taste for fun flops this is one to enjoy. Carol Lawrence (of WEST SIDE STORY) is the femme lead while Sydney Chaplin croaks his way through his songs. (Jule Styne must have liked him - he cast him in BELLS ARE RINGING and FUNNY GIRL too!) Orson Beans sings about as well as most comics but Phyllis Newman won a Tony for her role as the girl with no clothes on. (The booklet will explain the convoluted plot though I doubt by the ened of the show few bothered to follow it.) It's nice to have this old album back on Cd. Even if you don't buy it for listening, get it as in investment: once the limited pressing sells out there will be no more and this will go up in value!

SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING is another of those fabulous Broadway flops which has a million-dollar score, and a cast direct from heaven. This new limited edition reissue from Fynsworth Alley is a welcome addition to any cast album collection.

Carol Lawrence (the original Maria in WEST SIDE STORY) and Sydney Chaplin (the original Nick Arnstein in FUNNY GIRL) headlined the musical, with a feisty firecracker supporting performance from Phyllis Newman who won a Tony for her showstopping turn in the supporting role of Martha Vale.

The score from Jule Styne is, as always, top-notch (he also wrote the scores for FUNNY GIRL; DARLING OF THE DAY; HALLELUJAH, BABY! and PRETTYBELLE, among others) whilst the lyrics of Betty Comden and Adolph Green are caustic, canny and witty.

Carol Lawrence sings some of the score's choice material including her introductory "Girls Like Me" and the infectious eleven o'clock number "I Said It and I'm Glad". Phyllis Newman's comedic skills are showcased in "I Was a Shoo-In" in which her character enacts a sordid Civil War melodrama.

The score is sublime. Included as bonus tracks are some songs cut from the show during tryouts, including rare demos by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, as well as Rose Marie Jun.

This is a limited edition release from Fynsworth Alley (limited to 5000 pressings). In addition I also recommend Fynsworth's reissues of REDHEAD, SAIL AWAY and JUNO (the latter is a Fynsworth website exclusive).

I am an ardent fan of Jule Styne's work. Subways Are For Sleeping is his 1961 Broadway musical with the team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green. I have loved this recording ever since I found it at a record convention years ago, and not just because it was from the year I was born! The show was infamous for Broadway producer David Merrick's ingenious scheme to boost ticket sales by using comments from ordinary people with the same names as the major Broadway critics and utilizing these quotes in the advertising. Listening to the cd, you wouldn't suspect that this was a flop! From the initial simulated sound of train wheels in the exciting Overture, the tuneful harmonies of the title song, Carol Lawrence's(West Side Story, Saratoga, etc) paean to working girls "Girls Like Me", "I Said It And I'm Glad", "What Is This Feeling In The Air?", the exciting "Ride Through The Night', her duets with Sydney Chaplin(Bells Are Ringing, Funny Girl, etc) the lovely beguine "Who Knows What Might Have Been?" and "Comes Once In A Lifetime" and his solos, the wonderful "I'm Just Taking My Time", "Be A Santa" and the gentle "How Can You Describe A Face?" are masterfully done. The show was also known for Phyllis Newman's Tony-winning performance with the reenactment of her unfortunate beauty pageant playlet in "I Was A Shoo-In" and her duet with Orson Bean the harmonic "Strange Duet" and his fretful, desperate "I Just Can't Wait". With amazing orchestrations by Philip J. Lang, under the baton of Milton Rosenstock, produced by genius Goddard Lieberson and with the strength, confidence and the enthusiam of all involved this recording just doesn't miss!

It was nice to hear the music again and it brought back great memries. I did not think the quality of the recording was as good as it could be. That was a little disappointing. But it's nice to have it back in my collection.