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See the cd set for a full listing of tracks (track listings are identical). This four-tape set covers more than 80 years of American musical theater and Hollywood musicals, interspersed with a comedy bit or two. That's necessary for a collection like this, which starts with George M. Cohan and Bert Williams in the middle of the first decade of the 20th century and ends with the mid-1990s revival of Showboat. Anyone likely to be interested in it is just as likely to own at least some of what's here. Most, though not all, of the major bases are covered -- the works of Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Freed and Brown, Lerner and Loewe, Wright and Forrest, and Meredith Willson. There also a lot of prime historical artifacts, such as early 20th century recordings of legends like Cohan ("I Want to Hear a Yankee Doodle Tune"), Al Jolson ("That Haunting Melody," "My Mammy"), and Marilyn Miller ("Look for the Silver Lining"), and period stars such as Nora Bayes, Joe Weber and Lew Fields, most of which show up on Tape One. The accompanying booklet is reasonably thorough, although the notes emphasize the theatrical works rather than the careers of many of the performers represented, which is unfortunate, since many of the artists were major figures in their time who are otherwise unrepresented in the current music catalog. There are gaps, to be sure -- no Kiss Me, Kate or Silk Stockings among the Porter works, and the representation of almost all of the major composers except Sondheim is very sketchy at best. Additionally, the attention paid to Hollywood musicals is slightly distracting, especially given that they don't exactly get a full treatment either. This box is a handy beginning for anyone just discovering musicals, and the early 20th century rarities on Tape One may attract more serious fans, who will have to decide how much of their collections they want to duplicate in order to get them.
CONDITION: NEW
TRACK LISTING
Disc: 1
1. Mother Goose: I Want To Hear A Yankee Doodle Tune - George M. Cohan
2. Abyssinia: Nobody - Bert Williams
3. Pousse Cafe: The Contract Scene - Joe Weber/Lew Fields
4. The Jolly Bachelors: Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly? - Nora Bayes
5. Vera Violetta: That Haunting Melody - Al Jolson
6. Watch Your Step: I've Gotta Go Back To Texas - Elizabeth Brice/Charles King
7. Sweethearts: Sweethearts - Christie MacDonald
8. Have A Heart: Napoleon - Billy B. Van
9. Ziegfeld Follies Of 1919: You'd Be Surprised - Eddie Cantor
10. Ziegfeld Follies Of 1921: Second Hand Rose - Fanny Brice
11. Ziegfeld Follies Of 1922: Mr. Gallagher And Mr. Shean - Gallagher & Shean
12. Music Box Revue Of 1922: Say It With Music - John Steel
13. Shiffle Along: Love Will Find A Way - Nobel Sissle/Eubie Blake
14. The Vagabound Kings: Song Of The Vagabonds - Dennis King
15. Hit THe Deck: Sometimes I'm Happy - Louise Groody/Charles King
16. Show Boat: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Helen Morgan
17. The New Moon: Lover, Come Back To Me - Evelyn Herbert
18. The Jazz Singer: My Mammy - Al Jolson
19. Honky Tonk: I'm The Last Of The Red Hot Mammas - Sophie Tucker
20. The Broadway Melody: Broadway Melody - Charles King
21. Rio Rita: You're Always In My Arms - Bebe Daniels
22. Sally: Look For The Silver Lining - Marilyn Miller
23. Too Much Harmony: Thanks/Buckin' The Wind - Bing Crosby
Disc: 2
1. Footlight Parade: By A Waterfall - Ruby Keeler/Dick Powell
2. The Band Wagon: I Love Louisa - Fred Astaire
3. Porgy And Bess: Porgy's Lament & Finale - Todd Duncan
4. Red, Hot And Blue!: Red, Hot & Blue! - Ethel Merman
5. Follow The Fleet: Let's Face The Music And Dance - Fred Astaire
6. Broadway Melody Of 1936: I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin' - Eleanor Powell/Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra
7. Rose Marie: Indian Love Call - Jeanette Macdonald/Nelson Eddy
8. Curly Top: Animal Crackers In My Soup - Shirley Temple
9. Pigskin Parade: Texas Tornado - Judy Garland
10. Pigskin Parade: It's Love I'm After - Judy Garland
11. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs: Someday My Prince Will Come - Adriana Caselotti
12. Lady In The Dark: My Ship - Gertrude Lawrence
13. Panama Hattie: Just One Of Those Things - Lena Horne
14. A Connecticut Yankee: To Keep My Love Alive - Vivienne Segal
15. Oklahoma!: Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin' - Alfred Drake
16. Meet Me In St. Louis: The Trolley Song - Judy Garland
17. On The Town: I Can Cook, Too - Nancy Walker
18. Carousel: If I Loved You - John Raitt/Eileen Christy
Disc: 3
1. Annie Get Your Gun: Doin' What Comes Natur'lly - Ethel Merman
2. Brigadoon: The Heather On The Hill - Marion Bell/David Brooks
3. Allegro: Allegro - John Battles/Lisa Kirk/Robert Reeves
4. High Button Shoes: Papa, Won't You Dance With Me? - Nanette Fabray/Jack McCauley
5. Wish You Were Here: Wish You Were Here - Jack Cassidy
6. Singin' In The Rain: Singin' In The Rain - Gene Kelly
7. Peter Pan: Never Never Land - Mary Martin
8. Kismet: Gesticulate - Alfred Drake
9. The Golden Apple: Windflowers - Priscilla Gillette
10. My Fair Lady: Wouldn't It Be Loverly? - Julie Andrews
11. West Side Story: America - Chita Rivera
12. The Music Man: Ya Got Trouble - Robert Preston
13. Damn Yankees: A Little Brains, A Little Talent - Gwen Verdon
14. Gypsy: Some People - Ethel Merman
15. Gigi: The Night They Invented Champagne - Louis Jourdan/Hermione Gingold/Leslie Caron/Betty Wand
16. Fiddler On The Roof: If I Were A Rich Man - Zero Mostel
17. Flora, The Red Menace: All I Need Is One Good Break - Liza Minnelli
18. Hello, Dolly!Before The Parade Passes By - Carol Channing
Disc: 4
1. The Sound Of Music: Do Re Mi - Julie Andrews
2. Mame: Bosom Buddies - Angela Lansbury/Beatrice Arthur
3. Cabaret: Wilkommen - Joel Grey
4. Hair: Aquarius - Company
5. Company: The Ladies Who Lunch - Elaine Stritch
6. The Grass Harp: Chain Of Love - Barbara Cook
7. Follies: Waiting For The Girls Upstairs - Alexis Smith/Dorothy Collins/Gene Nelson/John McMartin
8. A Little Night Music: Send In The Clowns - Glynis Johns
9. Cabaret: Cabaret - Liza Minnelli
10. A Chorus Line: One - Chorus Line Cast
11. Chicago: Roxie - Gwen Verdon
12. The Wiz: Ease On Down The Road - Stephanie Mills
13. Sweeney Todd: A Little Priest - Angela Lansbury/Len Cariou
14. Sophisticated Ladies: Sophisticated Lady - Gregory Hines
15. La Cage Aux Folles: I Am What I Am - George Hearn
16. Into The Woods: Last Midnight - Bernadette Peters
17. Guys And Dolls: Sue Me - Faith Prince/Nathan Lane
18. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Lonette McKee
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