Annie Get Your Gun (1946 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING] [EXTRA TRACKS] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [SOUNDTRACK]

Irving Berlin (Composer), Ethel Merman (Performer), Ray Middleton (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Ethel Merman, Ray Middleton
• Composer: Irving Berlin
• Audio CD (July 25, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B00004VVZX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,288 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

With all due respect to Bernadette Peters's wonderful, Tony-winning portrayal in the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun, the role of sharpshooting Annie Oakley belongs to Ethel Merman. Her bold, brassy performance of Irving Berlin's best score is legendary, as are the songs themselves, including "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly," "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun," "They Say It's Wonderful," "I Got the Sun in the Morning," "Anything You Can Do," and, of course, the classic industry anthem "There's No Business Like Show Business." This rerelease of the original 1946 cast recording includes four bonus tracks recorded in 1972: the overture, "Colonel Buffalo Bill" and "I'm a Bad, Bad Man" (both removed along with "I'm an Indian Too" for the politically correct 1999 revival), and "An Old-Fashioned Wedding," which was written for the 1966 revival. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still tops of all 8 recordings of the score, July 14, 2000

By	A. Andersen (Bellows Falls, VT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Annie Get Your Gun (Original 1946 Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Although this was conceived for 12 78 rpm sides, it is still the best of the 8 (so far) recordings of the work due to the classic Merman performance, surprisingly good sound (for Decca) and the warm spirit that infuses this medley of hits. There are a few songs missing as well as the overture but those can be made up for by buying the next best CD - the Merman Lincoln Center revival. She's still in fabulous voice here and the excellent stereo sound, complete score and marvelous supporting cast bring this very close to the original - it also boasts a new Berlin song written for the revival. Other recordings made are/were: Judy Garland soundtrack released on disc and tape but now out of print; Betty Hutton soundtrack released in many forms on disc and tape but now out of print; Mary Martin/John Raitt touring company and tv version - available on CD; Doris Day/Robert Goulet studio recording now out of print; Kim Criswell/Thomas Hampson studio recording now out of print; Bernadette Peters recent revival. The comparison of the Garland and Hutton versions are amazing. Garland's performance is fine but the songs are paced lethargically slow; the re-recordings for Hutton when Garland was fired from the film and the MGM lot are a lot brisker, livelier and "present." Someone needs to put both the Garland and Hutton tracks on a single CD with the rest of the film tracks for a fun release. FLASH - for those that mourn the film's unavailability on video due to Berlin estate legal restrictions should check out the video release of the black and white kinescope of the Mary Martin/John Raitt live tv performance - fabulous. Now out of print on Hen's Teeth Video but a copy rests with REAL TO REEL VIDEO in Walpole, N.H. for rental.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Remastered, December 11, 2000

By	Peter Prainito (Lombard, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Plain and simple, any true lover of Annie Get Your Gun needs to have the following in their libary: 1.) This 1946 original version with Ethel Merman in her prime (sure her voice is gritty, but perfectly suited to the character); 2.) the 1966 Lincoln Center revival with Ethel Merman again (Old Fashioned Wedding alone is worth the purchase); 3.) the Kim Criswell studio recording on EMI (sadly out of print right now); 4.) the movie soundtrack with Betty Hutton and Howard Keel who are simply fabulous (the recording quality is a letdown, however) 5.) THE MOVIE!..... buy it on video or DVD, but just buy it! These are your essential AGYG purchases. A lot of people also like the new Broadway recording starring Bernadette Peters. Although she does a fine job, I cannot give this version my recommendation as for numerous reasons that I have pointed out in a previous review.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One And Only Original Annie, September 3, 2000

By	Peter Kline (Coral Springs, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This recording sounds as delightful as it always has with Ethel Merman belting out the Irving Berlin Score. Nice remastering. Note: The MGM movie soundtrack is due soon with both the Betty Hutton version as well as the Judy Garland pre-recordings. (Hutton replaced Garland, who was fired by MGM for not showing up on time). In addition the DVD is arriving next month with 3 of the filmed Garland segments as a bonus