Broadway: The American Musical [Box]

Original Soundtrack/Various Artists
5 discs

0. DISC 1:
1. George M!: Give My Regards to Broadway - (from "George M!")
2. Swanee, song (for Capital Revue, by various composers) - (from "Sinbad")
3. When the Moon Shines on the Moonshine - Bert Williams (from "Ziegfeld Follies Of 1919")
4. Ziegfeld Follies of 1919, revue: A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody - (from "Ziegfeld Follies Of 1919")
5. Mon homme (My Man), song - Fanny Brice (from "Ziegfeld Follies Of 1921")
6. Lady, Be Good!, musical: Fascinating Rhythm - Adele Astaire/George Gershwin (from "Lady Be Good")
7. If You Knew Susie - Eddie Cantor (from "Big Boy")
8. Oh, Kay!, musical: Someone to Watch over Me - Gertrude Lawrence (from "Oh Kay!")
9. Show Boat, musical in 2 acts: Bill - Helen Morgan/Victor Young & His Orchestra (from "Show Boat")
10. Show Boat, musical in 2 acts: Ol' Man River - Victor Young & His Orchestra (from "Show Boat")
11. Ain't Misbehavin', song - (from "Hot Chocolate")
12. Simple Simon, musical: Ten Cents a Dance - (from "Simple Simon")
13. Body and Soul - Libby Holman (from "Three's A Crowd")
14. Americana, musical (3rd edition): Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? - Lennie Hayton & His Orchestra/Bing Crosby (from "Americana")
15. Gay Divorce, musical: Night and Day - Fred Astaire/Ted Lewis Orchestra (from "Gay Divorcee")
16. As Thousands Cheer, revue: Heat Wave - Ethel Waters/Benny Goodman & His Orchestra (from "As Thousands Cheer")
17. Roberta, musical: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Leo Reisman/Tamara (from "Roberta")
18. Anything Goes, musical play: You're the Top - Ethel Merman/Johnny Green & His Orchestra (from "Anything Goes")
19. Porgy and Bess, opera: Summertime - Anne Brown (from "Porgy & Bess")
20. Knickerbocker Holiday, musical play: September Song - Walter Huston (from "Knickerbocker Holiday")
21. Leave It to Me, musical: My Heart Belongs to Daddy - Eddy Duchin/Mary Martin (from "Leave It To Me")
22. Higher and Higher, musical: It Never Entered My Mind - (from "Higher & Higher")
23. Pal Joey, musical: Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered - (from "Pal Joey")
24. This is the Army, revue: Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning - Irving Berlin (from "This Is The Army")
25. Oklahoma!, musical: Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' - (from "Oklahoma!")
0. DISC 2:
1. On the Town, musical: New York, New York - John Reardon/Adolph Green (from "On The Town")
2. Carousel, musical: If I Loved You - Jan Clayton/John Raitt (from "Carousel")
3. St. Louis Woman, musical play: Come Rain or Come Shine - Ruby Hill/Harold Nicholas/Ruby Hill (from "St. Louis Woman")
4. Annie Get Your Gun, musical: There's No Business Like Show Business - Ensemble (from "Annie Get Your Gun")
5. Finian's Rainbow, musical: How Are Things in Glocca Morra? - Ella Logan (from "Finian's Rainbow")
6. Where's Charley?, musical: Once in Love with Amy - (from "Where's Charley?")
7. Kiss Me Kate, musical: Wunderbar - Alfred Drake/Patricia Morison (from "Kiss Me Kate")
8. South Pacific, musical: Some Enchanted Evening - Ezio Pinza (from "South Pacific")
9. Lost in the Stars, musical play: Lost in the Stars - Todd Duncan (from "Lost In The Stars")
10. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, musical play: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend - Carol Channing (from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes")
11. Guys and Dolls, musical: Luck Be a Lady - (from "Guys & Dolls")
12. King and I, musical: Getting To Know You, The - (from "The King & I")
13. Of Thee I Sing, musical: Who Cares? - Victor Trent Cook/Jack Carson/Betty Oakes (from "Of Thee I Sing")
14. Kismet, musical (after works by Alexander Borodin): Stranger in Paradise - Richard Kiley (from "Kismet")
15. Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), opera: Ballad of Mack the Knife - (from "Threepenny Opera")
16. Pajama Game, musical: Hey There, The - (from "The Pajama Game")
17. Damn Yankees, musical: Whatever Lola Wants - Gwen Verdon (from "Damn Yankees")
18. My Fair Lady, musical: I Could Have Danced All Night - Julie Andrews (from "My Fair Lady")
19. Most Happy Fella, musical: Standing on the Corner, The - Alan Gilbert/Shorty Long (from "The Most Happy Fella")
20. Bells Are Ringing, musical: The Party's Over - Judy Holliday (from "Bells Are Ringing")
21. Candide, operetta in 2 acts (original version, withdrawn): Glitter and Be Gay - (from "Candide")
22. West Side Story, musical: Tonight - Carol Lawrence (from "West Side Story")
0. DISC 3:
1. Music Man, musical: Seventy-Six Trombones, The - Robert Preston (from "The Music Man")
2. Flower Drum Song, musical: I Enjoy Being a Girl - Pat Suzuki (from "The Flower Drum Song")
3. Gypsy, musical: Everything's Coming Up Roses - (from "Gypsy")
4. Sound of Music, musical: My Favorite Things, The - Mary Martin (from "The Sound Of Music")
5. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical: Put On a Happy Face - Dick Van Dyke (from "Bye Bye Birdie")
6. Fantasticks, musical: Try to Remember, The - (from "The Fantasticks")
7. Camelot, musical: Camelot - (from "Camelot")
8. Carnival, musical play: Love Makes the World Go 'Round - (from "Carnival")
9. How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, musical: I Believe in You - (from "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying")
10. No Strings, musical: The Sweetest Sounds - Diahann Carroll/Richard Kiley (from "No Strings")
11. Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, musical: Comedy Tonight, A - Zero Mostel (from "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum")
12. Stop the World - I Want to Get Off, musical: What Kind of Fool Am I? (from "Stop The World--I Want To Get Off")
13. Oliver!, musical: As Long as He Needs Me - Georgia Brown (from "Oliver!")
14. Hello, Dolly!, musical: Hello, Dolly! - (from "Hello, Dolly!")
15. Funny Girl, musical: People - (from "Funny Girl")
16. Anyone Can Whistle, musical: Anyone Can Whistle - (from "Anyone Can Whistle")
17. Fiddler on the Roof, musical: If I Were a Rich Man - Zero Mostel (from "Fiddler On The Roof")
18. Golden Boy, musical: Night Song - Sammy Davis, Jr. (from "Golden Boy")
19. Man of la Mancha, musical: The Impossible Dream - Richard Kiley (from "Man Of La Mancha")
20. Sweet Charity, musical: If My Friends Could See Me Now - Gwen Verdon (from "Sweet Charity")
21. Mame, musical: Open a New Window - (from "Mame")
0. DISC 4:
1. Cabaret, musical play: Willkommen - (from "Cabaret")
2. Hair, musical: Let the Sunshine In - James Rado/Lynn Kellogg/Melba Moore (from "Hair")
3. Promises, Promises, musical: I'll Never Fall in Love Again - Jill O'Hara (from "Promises, Promises")
4. Company, musical: The Ladies Who Lunch - Elaine Stritch (from "Company")
5. No, No, Nanette, musical: Tea for Two - Susan Watson (from "No, No Nanette")
6. Follies, musical play: I'm Still Here - (from "Follies")
7. Jesus Christ Superstar, musical: I Don't Know How to Love Him - (from "Jesus Christ Superstar")
8. Grease, musical: We Go Together - Barry Bostwick/Walter Bobbie (from "Grease")
9. Pippin, musical: Corner of the Sky - (from "Pippin")
10. Little Night Music, musical: Send In the Clowns, A - (from "A Little Night Music")
11. Wiz, musical: Ease On Down the Road, The - Hinton Battle/Stephanie Mills/Ted Ross/Tiger Haynes (from "The Wiz")
12. Chorus Line, musical: One, A - Cast (from "A Chorus Line")
13. Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville, musical play: All That Jazz - (from "Chicago")
14. Annie, musical: Tomorrow - (from "Annie")
15. Evita, musical: Don't Cry for Me Argentina - (from "Evita")
16. Barnum, musical: Come Follow the Band - (from "Barnum")
17. 42nd Street, musical play: Lullaby of Broadway - Jerry Orbach (from "42nd Street")
18. Dreamgirls, musical: And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going - (from "Dreamgirls")
19. Nine, musical play: The Bells of St. Sebastian - (from "Nine")
0. DISC 5:
1. Cats, musical: Memory - (from "Cats")
2. Cage Aux Folles, musical: I Am What I Am, La - George Hearn (from "La Cage Aux Folles")
3. Sunday in the Park with George, musical play: Move On - Mandy Patinkin/Bernadette Peters (from "Sunday In The Park With George")
4. Miserables, musical: Do You Hear the People Sing?, Les - (from "Les Miserables")
5. Phantom of the Opera, film score: The Music of the Night, The - (from "Phantom Of The Opera")
6. City of Angels, musical: You're Nothing Without Me - James Naughton (from "City Of Angels")
7. Miss Saigon, musical: The American Dream - Jonathan Pryce (from "Miss Saigon")
8. Doctor Jazz - Gregory Hines (from "Jelly's Last Jam")
9. Sunset Boulevard, musical: With One Look - (from "Sunset Boulevard")
10. Smokey Joe's Caf, musical revue: On Broadway - Victor Trent Cook/Frederick Owens/Kenny Ard/Adrian Bailey/Frederick B. Owens (from "Smokey Joe's Cafe")
11. Victor/Victoria, musical play: Le Jazz Hot - Julie Andrews (from "Victor/Victoria")
12. Rent, musical play: Seasons of Love - Company (from "Rent")
13. Lion King, musical play: Hakuna Matata, The - Jason Raize/Max Casella/Scott Irby-Ranniar/Tom Alan Robbins (from "The Lion King")
14. Producers, musical play: I Wanna Be a Producer, The - Matthew Broderick (from "The Producers")
15. Mamma Mia!, musical play: Dancing Queen - Louise Plowright/Jenny Galloway (from "Mamma Mia!")
16. Hairspray, musical play: Good Morning Baltimore - Marissa Jaret Winokur (from "Hairspray")
17. Movin' Out, ballet: Movin' Out - Michael Cavanaugh (from "Movin' Out")
18. Boy from Oz, musical play: I Go to Rio, The - (from "Boy From Oz")
19. Wicked, musical play: Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel/Kristin Chenoweth (from "Wicked")
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 92899

Credits

Producer

Cy Coleman; David J.P. Kapp; Manie Sachs; Dick Jones; George Avakian; George R. Marek; Goddard Lieberson; Henry Jerome; Hugh Fordin; Arnold Maxin; E.O. Welker; Jack Kapp; Joe Carlton; Jerry Leiber; Jerry Wexler; Joe Linhart; Larry Morton; Marc Shaiman; Mark Mancina; Martin Koch; Michael Kapp; Mike Berniker; Mike Stoller; Mitchell Ayres; Nicholas Gilpin; Nigel Wright; Andy Wiswell; Phil Ramone; Arif Mardin; Stephen Schwartz; Steve Skinner; Thomas Z. Shepard; Alain Boublil; Charles Gerhardt; Andrew Lloyd Webber; Claude-Michel Schnberg; Tim Rice; Hugo Winterhalter; Charles Strouse; Michael Kantor (Compilation); Didier C. Deutsch (Compilation); Steve Berkowitz (Compilation); Darcy M. Proper (Compilation); Brian Drutman (Compilation)

Engineer

This boxed set includes a 55 page booklet containing annotations about each track and photographs from each production.
Personnel: Tom Waring, George Gershwin (piano).
Audio Mixer: Darcy Proper.
Liner Note Authors: Michael Kantor; Lawrence Maslon.
Recording information: 06/30/1919-11/10/2003.
Photographers: Don Hunstein; Springer; Paul Kolnik; Martha Swope; Joan Marcus; Fred Fehl; Friedman-Abeles ; Carol Rosegg.
This five-CD box set, containing 106 tracks and running six-and-one-third-hours, is an audio companion to the six-part PBS documentary series Broadway: The American Musical, but not the soundtrack to that series. Rather, it is a sampler covering 84 years of recordings and 99 years of show tunes. One song has been chosen from each of 102 musicals. (There are also two shows that get two songs each, the landmark musical Show Boat and, oddly, Ziegfeld Follies of 1919.) This restriction actually gives the collection a broader reach than the TV series, which focuses attention on particularly significant shows, songwriters, and performers, but it also gives the set less depth, since great shows tend to have more than one great song in them. As with the series, the compilers give greatest emphasis to the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, decades that contribute 50 of the tracks here. This is in part by necessity; the original Broadway cast album only came into vogue in the '40s, and show music from before that period is not as well represented on record, at least as performed by the stage stars. For example, there are no recordings from the cast of the 1932 revue Americana, which forced the compilers to include a recording of the show's hit song "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" as sung by Bing Crosby, who did not include Broadway shows among his credits. In part, too, however, the de-emphasis on music from before the 1940s comes from the compilers' decision to ignore operetta; there are no compositions here by Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg, or Rudolf Friml, for instance. Instead, this is the history of the Tin Pan Alley-style 32-bar song as perfected by Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, and George Gershwin, among others. Drawing from the major record labels that recorded original Broadway cast albums from the '40s on, the compilers hit their stride by the end of the first disc, and from then to the beginning of the fourth disc they present one memorable song from a memorable show after another. A true show music fan might have quibbles about what's left out (no Yul Brynner or Rex Harrison, nothing from House of Flowers or Peter Pan), but the choices are solid for the most part. By the '70s and '80s, however, things begin to seem more questionable, and the selection falls apart completely in the '90s and 2000s, from which only 13 tracks are featured. The compilers, who include songs from nine shows still running in New York as of the album's release date (early 2005), seem only too willing to abandon Broadway for pop/rock anthology shows like Mamma Mia! and Movin' Out. In fact, of those 13 tracks, only seven come from newly written scores of the '90s/'00s. Meanwhile, however, the Tony Award-winning scores to such shows of the period as The Will Rogers Follies, Falsettos, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Passion, Titanic, Ragtime, Parade, Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Avenue Q have been ignored. Clearly, the compilers are historians with a much better sense of the distant past than of the near-present. The collection contains a 56-page booklet dominated by brief comments on the shows from which the songs came. These notes would have benefited from a proofreader, who might have known how to spell Meredith Willson's last name, and a fact-checker, who might have known that Dave Kapp, not Jack Kapp, produced Guys and Dolls and that Tim Rice did not co-produce Cats. ~ William Ruhlmann

Critic Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (p.85) - "[With an] awesome expanse....Selections range from standard to surprising to clever..." - Grade: A-