Golden Boy (1964 Original Broadway Cast) [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Lee Adams (Artist), Charles Strouse (Artist), Sammy Davis Jr. (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 21, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1977
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Drg
• ASIN: B000CQNVQC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,146 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Golden Boy already had quite a showbiz legacy by the time this 1964 Broadway musical debuted. Clifford Odets's heavy drama was originally produced (sans music) in 1937 as part of New York's Group Theater, featuring in its cast, among others, Lee J. Cobb, Elia Kazan, and Francis Farmer; John Garfield starred in a 1952 Broadway revival of Golden Boy, while the film version was what turned William Holden (in the title role) into a star. Sammy Davis Jr. was already a star--the Rat Pack was in full bloom--when he made his Broadway musical debut as the title character in the Charles Strouse-Lee Adams transformation of Odets's original play, directed by soon-to-be-great film director Arthur Penn, no less. Davis's presence added a racial theme to this story of a prize boxer, addressed in such songs as "Colorful." Unfortunately, the Strouse-Lee score isn't nearly as impressive as their earlier Bye Bye Birdie--no standards were created here--although the fine "Gimme Some," with its rock & roll progression, could have been an outtake from that show. And "Don't Forget 127th St." is the kind of grand production number Broadway rarely delivers anymore. Sammy, meanwhile, is in full, uh, Sammy glory here, and a few of these songs were part of his nightclub repertoire during the mid-'60s. His fans will undoubtedly cheer this remastered rerelease on CD at last. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Re-recorded versions of some songs on this CD, March 16, 2006

By	Mark Andrew Lawrence "Theatre Reviewer" (Toronto) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

GOLDEN BOY was a 1964 Broadway musical starring Sammy Davis Jr. It was edgy and dramatic and despite some turmoil during the out-of-town try-out, it came into New York in good shape and was greeted by strong reviews.

Capitol taped the cast album a few days after the opening. But Sammy Davis has been experiences bought of laryngitis and felt his vocal performance sounded raspy. (It does, but it serves the gritty material well.) SO, some months later he persuaded Capitol to let him re-record his tracks. The newer versions reveal a smoother voice but he takes many liberties with the vocal lines adding stylizations that were not part of the original score. The remixed LP was issued (with a different cover art) and reissued again in 1977.

There have been 4 CD releases of this title. The first on Bay Cities had only a short catalogue life. EMI's release in their Broadway Angel series of Broadway classics lasted a little longer (and had excellent liner notes in the booklet.) Razor&Tie did a cheap re-release and now it's back on DRG. All 4 CD editions use the re-mixed LP master. A shame no one thought to include the original tracks even if they have to be dubbed from an LP (the master tapes were said to be destroyed.)

The re-recorded songs are: Night song, Gimme Some, Stick Around, I Wanna Be With You, and Can't You See it. Also the re-mix uses "The Fight" as the Final Track (A ballet fight scene with mostly rhythm accompaniment) whereas the original LP included a dramatic and moving reprise of "Gimme some." Collectors should watch for the original LP in used record stores to hear the full score.

Still, this is one of the best and most under-rated scores by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Billie Daniels has a great number "While the City Sleeps" and shares the spotlight with Davis in "This is the Life." Even with the inferior second takes, "Night Song" and "I wanna Be with You" remain powerful.

It is a score that improves with each listen, and a shame it remains so little known.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite scores- breathtaking!, August 10, 2006

By	Kathleen Donaldson "jverder537" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The score for Golden Boy written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams is neglected. It's quite sad that it is because the entire piece is so brilliant. Strouse's music is filled with urban jazz flavored pieces that are wonderful. Adams' lyrics are sharp, sardonic and sometimes even touching.
Sammy Davis Jr. gives a performance that deserved to be be legendary. The rest of the cast is top notch as well. Billy Daniels shines in my favorite song, "While the City Sleeps."
It was the year of Fiddler on the Roof, everyone was thrilled and exited with Fiddler. Although Fiddler on the Roof is excellent and a classic, Golden Boy is my kind of show and in my opinion...better.

4.0 out of 5 stars A very neglected Broadway score!, May 10, 2009

By	Judith Kay McGee "JKM" (Park Forest, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I persuaded my parents to purchase this recording (LP format) some time ago, and it still has the insert with the Tony Walton drawings and the LeRoy Nieman portrait of Sammy Davis, Jr. in the show. I periodically listen to the recording even today - the Charles Strouse-Lee Adams score is very good and reflective of its time and era. I agree that Davis' voice is raspy; then (perhaps now, too) cast recordings were made right after a show's opening with an augmented orchestra, not a pit orchestra, so perhaps this was some of the source of the raspiness.

I like Paula Wayne's performance and songs too - she really sounds like Lorna Moon.

For those of us who followed Davis' career over the years evidently the show had problems from the get-go. Clifford Odets, who created the show in the 1930's, died before the show's opening and William Gibson - a very good writer on his own - brought together the final product. Additionally, Davis himself - who was a very severe critic of his own work as he grew older - wasn't satisfied with the book. What we have left - perhaps there are some You Tube clips out there - is the printed script. If you can find a copy of it, I think it's pretty good, and makes me wish that I had been able to see the show early in its run. Perhaps it was simply too difficult a show to sustain over a long run.

I do recommend this recording and at some point will purchase the CD release.