Customer Reviews

This Is the Army & Call Me Mister [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've loved the music for This is the Army for years, plus I really appreciate Irving Berlin (writer of the music) for his loyalty to America. All profits from this production went to support the war effort. As usual, he wrote wonderful music and words that matched perfectly in mood. I only wish the movie version had included the song, That Russian Winter, which I assume was included in the stage production.

Betty Garrett is, as usual for her, very funny as she sings about being 'surplus me' (in the midst of other post-war surplus items) where she had once been pursued by many soldiers, one gathers. I haven't seen the show Call Me Mister. Now, after hearing the songs, I'd like to eventually.

Like the original, sounds beautiful. Fell like you are back there hearing it again as I once did. Fun to listen to. Great job. Well done.

I can't review the Irving Berlin portion of this CD, but I can the Call Me Mister portion. I have the 10 inch LP it came from. The music is really fun, though it definitely is a return to an era long gone. It made Betty Garrett a star. Her "South America" and "Little Surplus Me" are wonderful turns by her. Lawrence Winters' voice starts the show with a rousing "Going Home Train" - each person sings his verse, adding on top of the one before. The romantic song - "Along with Me" - is sung by Danny School and Paula Bane. She is very good, and he showed great promise, a promise cut short by physical ailments and strokes that eventually claimed his life.

Don't let the fact that this show is totally unknown now bother you. It is delightful and worth investigating.

After initially posting this review, I received and listened to the new CD. The music in the Rome piece is in a different order than the 10 inch LP. I don't know why. Irving Berlin sings some of the numbers in his own show, so how much more authentic can you get?

I bought this CD for my parents and they are really enjoying it. This musical is from their era and they were so happy to hear this music again after so many years. Anyone who grew up in the 1940's would most likely enjoy this CD and the musical trip down memory lane.