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Track Listings
| 1. Overture | |||
| 2. How To Succeed | |||
| 3. Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm | |||
| 4. Coffee Break | |||
| 5. Company Way | |||
| 6. Company Way (Reprise) | |||
| 7. Rosemary's Philosophy | |||
| 8. A Secretary Is Not A Toy | |||
| 9. Been A Long Day | |||
| 10. Been A Long Day (Reprise) | |||
| 11. Grand Old Ivy | |||
| 12. Paris Original | |||
| 13. Rosemary | |||
| 14. Act I Finale | |||
| 15. Cinderella, Darling | |||
| 16. Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise) | |||
| 17. Love From A Heart of Gold | |||
| 18. I Believe In You | |||
| 19. Pirate Dance | |||
| 20. I Believe In You (Reprise) | |||
See all 22 tracks on this disc
| |||
Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, stars Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch, John Larroquette as J. B. Biggley, introduces in her Broadway debut Rose Hemingway as Radcliffe's onstage romantic interest Rosemary Pilkington, Tammy Blanchard as Hedy La Rue, Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump, Rob Bartlett as Twimble/Wally Womper, Mary Faber as Smitty, Ellen Harvey as Miss Jones, Michael Park as Bert Bratt, and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist Anderson Cooper making his Broadway debut as the voice of the narrator. The cast of 30 includes Cameron Adams, Cleve Asbury, Tanya Birl, Kevin Covert, Paige Faure, David Hull, Justin Keyes, Marty Lawson, Erica Mansfield, Barrett Martin, Nick Mayo, Sarah O'Gleby, Stephanie Rothenberg, Megan Sikora, Michaeljon Slinger, Joey Sorge, Matt Wall, Ryan Watkinson, Charlie Williams and Samantha Zack.
Product Description
50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette. The album, produced by five-time Grammy nominee Robert Sher, was recorded by the cast and orchestra on at the legendary Manhattan Center in New York City. How To Succeed... has music and lyrics by Academy Award and Tony Award winner Frank Loesser, and a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, based on the book by Shepherd Mead.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
On the New Broadway Cast Recording of How to Succeed... - which pays heavy homage to the recent resurgence of 60's nostalgia- listeners are treated to one of the most comprehensive and complete recordings of this score to date. It's little wonder that this show received a revival during this period - especially when you consider that most of these "new" 60's period musicals don't have scores with the verve, wit or the musical style in which Loesser excelled. No new recording will ever replace the near-perfect original cast album, with signature performances by Robert Morse, Rudy Vallee, virginia Martin, Boinnie Scott, Claudette Sutherland, Ruth Kobart and Sammy Smith. Why bother? UNLESS.. you have a new, fresh and different take on a classic. I sincerely believe this new recording has a reason for being.. and folks, it really has little or nothing to do with Daniel Radcliffe.
As we all know, a cast recording is typically the only permanent record of a show, so it's very possible that actors acquit themselves far better (or far worse)on the record than they do in the theatre. I fully admit I have seen very little of this production, so I am basing it all on the CD.
A huge tip of the hat to producer Robert Sher for once again knowing his audience. This album will sell widely to the Harry Potter fanatics - most of whom have probably never purchased a Broadway Cast Album in their lives. (so despite Radcliffe's Tony snub, he IS putting butts in the seats and he WILL sell CD's. Sher wisely knows that any new recording of a show has to have a unique hook to get theatre fanatics to shell out the money for a cast album of a show of which they already own two versions. Sher, like J Pierrepont Finch, succeeds on all levels. All of Sher's cast recordings give the listener more than they expect - and How to Succeed is not an exception. For the Potter fanatics, they get Radcliffe. For the theatre fanatics we get Bonus tracks, Reprises, Exit Music, Bow Music, Dance music and the new orchestrations - beautifully captured on disc by an orchestra that sounds MUCH larger than it is.
This album, utilizes new "Mad Men" period infused orchestrations that pay homage to Robert Ginzler's original legendary work, yet give the show a sound that makes this How To Succeed as satisfying as a cup of that elusive "Coffee Break" Coffee. Specifically, the new orchestrations for "Cinderella, Darling" (cut from the last revival and MANY regional productions) are so unique to this production, (Taps that mimic typewriters) it sounds like a totally new song - and it's tracks like this that make this a must-have.
The cast performs this score with character - and that's something that was missing terribly from the '95 Matthew Broderick revival. These people are supposed to be slightly offbeat as they inhabit this cartoon corporate world. Mary Faber and Tammy Blanchard come across very well - while not totally supplanting the unforgettable characterizations created by Claudette Sutherland and Virginia Martin respectively, they bring their own offbeat takes on the roles to the album for a satisfying, yet different, listening experience.
Ellen Harvey trills and shrills her way through the act two showstopper "Brotherhood of Man." It's a perfectly valid characterization of Miss Jones, but still not as indelible as Ruth Kobart's harried harridan or as wild and abandoned as Lillias White's gospel infused take on the role.
Rose Hemingway as Rosemary is refreshing on the recording - bringing the role of Rosemary back to the comic ingenue style of Bonnie Scott and Michelle Lee rather than the pinched Karen Walker character vocals of Megan Mullally in the last revival.
John Larroquette, as J.B. Biggley, is a totally different animal than many Biggleys. He's all bombast and brio, where most actors play him as a doddering fool. He comes across very well in Grand Old Ivy - which has been appropriately re orchestrated to match his bombast. It's a college band meets Dixieland arrangement, which is tailor-made to his performance. This Biggley is a blowhard - which truly works for Larroquette.
Christopher J Hanke as Bud Frump is a slight disappointment on the album, as once again, we find a Frump who has been directed to play Frump as a fey evil queen. Even Charles Nelson Reilly made Frump's rat fink exasperation amusing and quirky on the OBC Album. Hanke falls well short of that.
Rob Bartlett, in the dual roles of Twimble and Wally Womper comes cross with the charm and fun of a character guy who has seen and done it all. My only complaint with the Male Ensemble is that their sound is not as robust and full as one might have hoped. It seems that there are too many thin-sounding Les Miz pop tenors and not enough Goulets in this ensemble to produce that "Corporate office male-dominated" sound that was so prevalent in the original. Of course, that's Broadway these days.
So, what about this upstart Harry Potter starring in his first musical?
No, Daniel Radcliffe is not one of our great Broadway vocalists, but, with all due respect, neither was Bobby Morse. Morse's performance was predicated on his prodigious charm and offbeat puppy dog looks. On the recording, Radcliffe comes across ever so slightly as an homage to Morse - and that's not a bad thing at all. His "I Believe in You" comes off more sweet and as a wide-eyed juvenile rather than the cocky corporate cad - I assume he was coached to sing it like this to overcome the limitations of his vocal power. On the recording, it works.
It's almost regrettable that this wasn't an enhanced CD with video clips. If you have seen press reels and footage from this production, you'll see Radcliffe dancing with boundless energy and being tossed about the stage by the Grand Old Ivy football team. Even if the physical energy Radcliffe produces on stage doesn't translate to the recording, He's still a very lovable Finch.
That being said, It's a terrific and markedly different addition to any cast album collection - I daresay you'll be listening to this far more often than you will the last revival.
As we all know, a cast recording is typically the only permanent record of a show, so it's very possible that actors acquit themselves far better (or far worse)on the record than they do in the theatre. I fully admit I have seen very little of this production, so I am basing it all on the CD.
A huge tip of the hat to producer Robert Sher for once again knowing his audience. This album will sell widely to the Harry Potter fanatics - most of whom have probably never purchased a Broadway Cast Album in their lives. (so despite Radcliffe's Tony snub, he IS putting butts in the seats and he WILL sell CD's. Sher wisely knows that any new recording of a show has to have a unique hook to get theatre fanatics to shell out the money for a cast album of a show of which they already own two versions. Sher, like J Pierrepont Finch, succeeds on all levels. All of Sher's cast recordings give the listener more than they expect - and How to Succeed is not an exception. For the Potter fanatics, they get Radcliffe. For the theatre fanatics we get Bonus tracks, Reprises, Exit Music, Bow Music, Dance music and the new orchestrations - beautifully captured on disc by an orchestra that sounds MUCH larger than it is.
This album, utilizes new "Mad Men" period infused orchestrations that pay homage to Robert Ginzler's original legendary work, yet give the show a sound that makes this How To Succeed as satisfying as a cup of that elusive "Coffee Break" Coffee. Specifically, the new orchestrations for "Cinderella, Darling" (cut from the last revival and MANY regional productions) are so unique to this production, (Taps that mimic typewriters) it sounds like a totally new song - and it's tracks like this that make this a must-have.
The cast performs this score with character - and that's something that was missing terribly from the '95 Matthew Broderick revival. These people are supposed to be slightly offbeat as they inhabit this cartoon corporate world. Mary Faber and Tammy Blanchard come across very well - while not totally supplanting the unforgettable characterizations created by Claudette Sutherland and Virginia Martin respectively, they bring their own offbeat takes on the roles to the album for a satisfying, yet different, listening experience.
Ellen Harvey trills and shrills her way through the act two showstopper "Brotherhood of Man." It's a perfectly valid characterization of Miss Jones, but still not as indelible as Ruth Kobart's harried harridan or as wild and abandoned as Lillias White's gospel infused take on the role.
Rose Hemingway as Rosemary is refreshing on the recording - bringing the role of Rosemary back to the comic ingenue style of Bonnie Scott and Michelle Lee rather than the pinched Karen Walker character vocals of Megan Mullally in the last revival.
John Larroquette, as J.B. Biggley, is a totally different animal than many Biggleys. He's all bombast and brio, where most actors play him as a doddering fool. He comes across very well in Grand Old Ivy - which has been appropriately re orchestrated to match his bombast. It's a college band meets Dixieland arrangement, which is tailor-made to his performance. This Biggley is a blowhard - which truly works for Larroquette.
Christopher J Hanke as Bud Frump is a slight disappointment on the album, as once again, we find a Frump who has been directed to play Frump as a fey evil queen. Even Charles Nelson Reilly made Frump's rat fink exasperation amusing and quirky on the OBC Album. Hanke falls well short of that.
Rob Bartlett, in the dual roles of Twimble and Wally Womper comes cross with the charm and fun of a character guy who has seen and done it all. My only complaint with the Male Ensemble is that their sound is not as robust and full as one might have hoped. It seems that there are too many thin-sounding Les Miz pop tenors and not enough Goulets in this ensemble to produce that "Corporate office male-dominated" sound that was so prevalent in the original. Of course, that's Broadway these days.
So, what about this upstart Harry Potter starring in his first musical?
No, Daniel Radcliffe is not one of our great Broadway vocalists, but, with all due respect, neither was Bobby Morse. Morse's performance was predicated on his prodigious charm and offbeat puppy dog looks. On the recording, Radcliffe comes across ever so slightly as an homage to Morse - and that's not a bad thing at all. His "I Believe in You" comes off more sweet and as a wide-eyed juvenile rather than the cocky corporate cad - I assume he was coached to sing it like this to overcome the limitations of his vocal power. On the recording, it works.
It's almost regrettable that this wasn't an enhanced CD with video clips. If you have seen press reels and footage from this production, you'll see Radcliffe dancing with boundless energy and being tossed about the stage by the Grand Old Ivy football team. Even if the physical energy Radcliffe produces on stage doesn't translate to the recording, He's still a very lovable Finch.
That being said, It's a terrific and markedly different addition to any cast album collection - I daresay you'll be listening to this far more often than you will the last revival.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By M. Secaur
Format:Audio CD
"How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" is more than just a mouthful of a title. It is also a genuinely good musical, possessing the stuff of classic Broadway magic to make it one: flashiness and spectacle; humor; catchy, unforgettable songs; a stellar cast to sing them; and at its core, an unshakable quantity of heart; which, unfortunately, lacks in many musicals of today.
I am a huge fan of musicals, but to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of this show before last year. I admit I probably would not have been interested in it at all except for the fact that Daniel Radcliffe was going to try his hand at playing the lead role; but let me tell you that I was completely blown away by how genuinely fabulous this show is.
Frank Loesser contributed one of his best musical efforts to "Succeed" and it shows, from the witty lyrics and one-liners to the clever and unforgettable songs that tie the story's intermittent bouts of insane comedy and sincere emotion into one cohesive whole. His classy, unforgettable score sounds even more fantastic with new orchestrations and crystal-clear recording quality. The 14-piece orchestra featured here seems bigger than it actually is, and brings something of a big-band flair to the retro-1960's songs. My favorite songs are without question "I Believe In You" and "Brotherhood of Man", which is one of the best showstoppers in all of musical theatre.
Director/Choreographer Rob Ashford created a gem for today's Broadway fans by chosing to helm this fabulous 50th anniversary revival production. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the definitive recording of this great show, supplanting the previous revival, the film version, and for some, even the original cast recording.
Now, any theatrical endeavor is always a team effort, and the supporting cast members, including John Larroquette, Mary Faber, Christopher Hanke, Rose Hemingway, and Tammy Blanchard, among others, is as good as you could want in any show. There isn't any one among them that doesn't perfectly become their respective roles. They all have great chemistry, and the gusto they exude is just thrilling. It's rare that the energy and color from a live performance can be successfully captured on CD, but with this album the transition is made quite nicely. Perhaps this is because it was recorded on an actual stage rather than in a recording booth.
Whatever the case, it is easily one of the most enjoyable cast albums I have ever listened to. The performances never feel stilted or restrained, and instead come exploding out to greet you as if you were in the theatre watching it live.
Of course, in mentioning the cast I can't forget to mention my impetus for discovering this musical in the first place, the star himself.
I have always believed Daniel Radcliffe to be an inordinately hard-working and talented person, and his performance here proves not only that, but also the fact that he is capable of doing so much more than Harry Potter. Even those who are huge fans of his already (myself included) may be pleasantly surprised by how well he carries his quintessential "Triple Threat" of singing, dancing, and acting, all with a ridiculous amount of energy and enthusiasm. He displays an incredible quantity of charm and charisma in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch, a young go-getting window washer who dreams of becoming something big in the business world.
Radcliffe has an excellent voice that is at once sweet, vibrant, and sincere; very easy on the ears and very natural; without the annoying vocal fixation that impairs most modern singers (i.e., by inserting a "pop" edge to their voice and all but ignoring the music itself). I can see a promising recording career in his future, should he choose to pursue it. Even in the dialogue sequences his energetic, youthful exuberance shines through and gives a new life to a character that too often has been portrayed as a ruthless, scheming anti-hero. His interpretation turns Finch into an albeit overly-ambitious but ultimately sweet-natured lad who you really want to succeed. He is also successful at hiding any trace of his British accent. It really makes you wonder what this boy cannot do!
I find that his Finch is far more believable than either Robert Morse's or Matthew Broderick's simply because of his own youth. The character's successes, failures, fearlessness in the face of defeat, and desire to succeed in everything he attempts befits a 21-year-old much better than a 30-something. Especially in his relationship with Rosemary; it just doesn't seem proper in someone older.
I truly hope that this incredible cast will be immortalized in film sometime very soon, for it would be a shame to lose the visual record of this great show were it ever to quit Broadway.
Anyway, take my advice: of you have never heard this amazing show you should not hesitate to go out and purchase this CD, which might be the best recording of it yet. "How To Succeed" doesn't try to preach morals or experiment with avant-garde concepts: It's just a good old-fashioned, feel-good, make-you-smile musical that wants nothing more than to entertain...and well, if you'll pardon the pun, it succeeds!
I am a huge fan of musicals, but to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of this show before last year. I admit I probably would not have been interested in it at all except for the fact that Daniel Radcliffe was going to try his hand at playing the lead role; but let me tell you that I was completely blown away by how genuinely fabulous this show is.
Frank Loesser contributed one of his best musical efforts to "Succeed" and it shows, from the witty lyrics and one-liners to the clever and unforgettable songs that tie the story's intermittent bouts of insane comedy and sincere emotion into one cohesive whole. His classy, unforgettable score sounds even more fantastic with new orchestrations and crystal-clear recording quality. The 14-piece orchestra featured here seems bigger than it actually is, and brings something of a big-band flair to the retro-1960's songs. My favorite songs are without question "I Believe In You" and "Brotherhood of Man", which is one of the best showstoppers in all of musical theatre.
Director/Choreographer Rob Ashford created a gem for today's Broadway fans by chosing to helm this fabulous 50th anniversary revival production. There is no doubt in my mind that it is the definitive recording of this great show, supplanting the previous revival, the film version, and for some, even the original cast recording.
Now, any theatrical endeavor is always a team effort, and the supporting cast members, including John Larroquette, Mary Faber, Christopher Hanke, Rose Hemingway, and Tammy Blanchard, among others, is as good as you could want in any show. There isn't any one among them that doesn't perfectly become their respective roles. They all have great chemistry, and the gusto they exude is just thrilling. It's rare that the energy and color from a live performance can be successfully captured on CD, but with this album the transition is made quite nicely. Perhaps this is because it was recorded on an actual stage rather than in a recording booth.
Whatever the case, it is easily one of the most enjoyable cast albums I have ever listened to. The performances never feel stilted or restrained, and instead come exploding out to greet you as if you were in the theatre watching it live.
Of course, in mentioning the cast I can't forget to mention my impetus for discovering this musical in the first place, the star himself.
I have always believed Daniel Radcliffe to be an inordinately hard-working and talented person, and his performance here proves not only that, but also the fact that he is capable of doing so much more than Harry Potter. Even those who are huge fans of his already (myself included) may be pleasantly surprised by how well he carries his quintessential "Triple Threat" of singing, dancing, and acting, all with a ridiculous amount of energy and enthusiasm. He displays an incredible quantity of charm and charisma in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch, a young go-getting window washer who dreams of becoming something big in the business world.
Radcliffe has an excellent voice that is at once sweet, vibrant, and sincere; very easy on the ears and very natural; without the annoying vocal fixation that impairs most modern singers (i.e., by inserting a "pop" edge to their voice and all but ignoring the music itself). I can see a promising recording career in his future, should he choose to pursue it. Even in the dialogue sequences his energetic, youthful exuberance shines through and gives a new life to a character that too often has been portrayed as a ruthless, scheming anti-hero. His interpretation turns Finch into an albeit overly-ambitious but ultimately sweet-natured lad who you really want to succeed. He is also successful at hiding any trace of his British accent. It really makes you wonder what this boy cannot do!
I find that his Finch is far more believable than either Robert Morse's or Matthew Broderick's simply because of his own youth. The character's successes, failures, fearlessness in the face of defeat, and desire to succeed in everything he attempts befits a 21-year-old much better than a 30-something. Especially in his relationship with Rosemary; it just doesn't seem proper in someone older.
I truly hope that this incredible cast will be immortalized in film sometime very soon, for it would be a shame to lose the visual record of this great show were it ever to quit Broadway.
Anyway, take my advice: of you have never heard this amazing show you should not hesitate to go out and purchase this CD, which might be the best recording of it yet. "How To Succeed" doesn't try to preach morals or experiment with avant-garde concepts: It's just a good old-fashioned, feel-good, make-you-smile musical that wants nothing more than to entertain...and well, if you'll pardon the pun, it succeeds!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a pleasure it is to hear this vibrant recording. Daniel Ratcliff and others deliver stellar performances. More important, the CD has a large portion of the score. This isn't a 45 minute LP transfer. It's nearly the whole thing, Reprises included. The score sparkles. Harry, uh, Daniel may not have the most vibrant voice, but then neither did either predecessor on Broadway in his role. Robert Morse's voice was not this vibrant. It's the personality that has to come through. It's a shame that DR received no awards for this performance, because any actor that can carry a show like this deserves that applause. John Larroquette does well, too, of course, but it's Finch's star that is rising in "business, without really trying."
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't hate it
But I didn't love it either. I think I would have appreciated it more had I seen Radcliffe and Laroquette live. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Cecil B
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music is great
I really enjoy the music, but was hoping for a DVD, not just a musical CD. That was my error for not reading the description more thoroughly.
Published 4 months ago by Gail Pochop
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great soundtrack
I was able to see this on broadway. I love love love being able to bring this home. My kids love it as well
Published 6 months ago by Mar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Revival, Equally Fantastic Recording
I was lucky enough to see this production with the original revival cast. I enjoyed every minute of the performance and promptly ordered this CD. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kipce
4.0 out of 5 stars
if you like musicals...
This is a soundtrack from a good American musical. The story is corny, but the music is catchy! I ordered this for my son whose high school presented this musical in the Spring. Read more
Published 10 months ago by K. Burton
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoying wso far
I haven't seen the musical yet or the original one. I saw some clips on youtube and decided to purchase the whole album. It is way cheaper than buying individually. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Bevo warrior
5.0 out of 5 stars
He can sing too!
Saw this version of the muscial on Broadway and I knew I had to have the music. All the actors were wonderful the music is a lot of fun and kudos to Dan Radcliffe who has proven... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Yvonne Teach
5.0 out of 5 stars
UPBEAT AND GOOD FUN!
Not only hearing the music but reading the story on the CD booklet is so good to do before seeing the show - you get so much more out of it and am really looking forward to seeing... Read more
Published 18 months ago by H. A. Scandrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great CD
Excellent record from the Legendary Daniel R. and the great cast.
The music is fun and let you remember the wonderful Broadway production.
The music is fun and let you remember the wonderful Broadway production.
Published 18 months ago by Osolopo
4.0 out of 5 stars
CD: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
An enjoyable CD. It was especially good since we went to see the show in October. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) was quite good as was John Laroquette.
Published 18 months ago by Lee A. Emanuel
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