3t) Nighl Was Made lor Love' and "She Didn't Say 'Yes'." One of the RCA Victor "Show Time" series, LPM-3151, .$3.15. "CONNECTICUT YANKEE" (R Rodgers and L Hart). This score is not done justice by the cast on this RCA recoiding. The incomplete presen­ tation of some fine songs that Dick Rodgers and Theatre Music on LP Larry Hart wrote falls away without much magnitude. Al Goodman's orchestra, Earl Wrightson. and Elaine Malbin. Numbers like "Thou Swell" and "My Heart Stood Still" are out of Messrs. Rodgers and Hart top drawer. RCA LK-10L:6. S4.19: Tliiiiies. Thii ifccortiiiig is iroai tiie =0Uiiutt-ack. EW things of the LP era have Fred Astaire, Nanette Fabra\, Cyd Chars^ise are "CONVERSATION PIECE" (Noel Coward). Noel been more gratifying than the fine. One of the highspots is Astaire's very Coward. Lily Pons, and Columbia records ful­ relaxed singing of 'By Myself." The songs are fil their mission in this original recording ovi F"candid" exposures permitted of briUiant. Mary Martin's ver.sion, C-Ml 4751. is two twelve-inch Col. SL-163, $11.90. This is a good too, but not complete. Victor LPM-3155 play with music. Although this recording does the great, good, and perhaps not-so- features Harold Lang and Edith Adams, both not star musically, its stars give better than good products of the Broadway musi­ worth hearing. average perlormances. Mr. Coward presents his part artfully in his inimitable style. Lily Pons cal stage in the last half-dozen years, "BLACKBIRDS OF T928" (McHugli-Fields). sings beautifully. Most notable song in the Four choice selections from this "Blackbirds" show is the enchanting "I'll Follow My Secret a living record of a certainly dynamic score are presented with great "Know-How" by Heart." aspect of American life never hereto­ Cab Calloway and Thelma Carpenter. Miss Carpenter is unforgettable doing "I Must Have "DOWN IN THE VALLEY" (K Weill and A fore available in such profusion or That Man" and "Doin' the New Low-Down." Sundgard). This recording on Decca's DL-6017. This recording deserves attention. LPM-3154. $3.85. features Alfred Drake and Jane Wilson detail. S3.15 singing some of Kurt Weill's not-too-remem- berable score. To be sure, there have been "ex­ "BLOOMER GIRL" (H. Arlen-E. Y. Harburgi. cerpts" and "selections" from prime The combination of people and music has failed "FANNY" (Harold Rome-S. Behrman). The to make this "original cast" DL-8015 recording "original cast" album has just appeared with Broadway products dating back to the a captivating one. Cast includes Celeste Holm, Ezio Pinza. Walter Slezak, William Trabbert, David Brooks, and others. Repetitioiis and et al., in their original roles on RCA Victor time of Al Jolson and George M. leaves much to be desired, $4.85. LOC-1015 ($5.95). Eadie and Rack, duo-pianists Cohan, to Clifton Webb in "As Thou­ par excellence, provide their own kind of "BOYS FROM SYRACUSE" (Rodgers-Hart). A treatment for the Rome tunes on Liberty. sands Cheer" singing "Not for All the ribald, first-rate score from the years when Dick Rodgers worked with Lorenz Hart. Portia "FINIAN'S RAINBOW" (Lane-Harburg). One Rice in China" and "How's Chances?" Nelson and Jack Cassidy are only adequate in of the finest Broadway musicals of the Forties or the original ORIGINAL prewar their singing assignments, but Bibi Osterwald provided one of the best "original cast" record­ is superb, Columbia ML-4837, $5.95. ings of all time. The brilliance of the sound ma^ "Porgy and Bess." But these were be dated according to today's hi-fi standards, "BRIGADOON" (A. J. Lerner-F. Loewe). The but the brilliance of the cast, lyrics, music, and tentative efforts at best, and instating "original cast" RCA recording has everything a arrangements cannot be questioned. Ella as much for what they omitted as thej- record should. A good cast with pleasing, but Logan, David Wayne, Donald Richards, and the sometimes weak voices, and excellent support Lyn Murray Singers are all fine. Col. ML-4062. were gratifying for what they in­ from the orchestra and chorus. Lee Sullivan $5.95. sings with a convincing air, especially the beau­ cluded. The recent, more inclusive tiful "Come to Me, Bend to Me," RCA LOC- "FLAHOOIEY" (E- Y. Harburg-S. Fain). Capi­ 1001. $5.95. On the M-G-M record E-3135, $4.85, tol has the only recording to date. This show procedure may reveal shortcomings, there is Gene Kelly, who doesn't quite have the album gets very little publicity, but in many but also it gives all the rope neces­ voice to sing Loewe's music. The full orchestra cases is superior to some of show albums which makes pleasant listening. Of the two you can­ we find on the dealei-s' counters. The score and sary for all and sundry purposes. not go wrong with the RCA recording. lyrics are young and mellow. Although none of the music made the Hit Parade, it can't be SR considers itself fortunate to have "BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA" (A. Swartz and D. overlooked. Yma Sumac lets loose with her discovered in Richard Debnain a youth­ Fields). The best that can be said for this four-octave voice on a couple of numbers. "original cast" album is that Shirley Booth and ful enthusiast for the genre, a person Mae Barnes are doing their share in trying to "GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES" (Styne- make this recording an enjoyable one. The Robin). Your choice depends upon whether of inclusive knowledge and proper composer who did the score for "Bandwagon" you'd rather have the by-product of a good discrimination. A comparable summ.a- and other not-to-be-forgotten scores missed the movie or a great Broadway show. Hollywood boat with "By the Beautiful Sea." The lyrics contributes Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell ry relating to the substantial sound­ are understandable and sometimes hysterical. on ten-inch M-G-M E-208, $3. On C-ML 4290 The only show-stopping tune is an old one by Broadway gives us Carol Channing singing tracks of recent origin will be pre­ the name of "In the Good Old Summertime" "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" plus the sented sometime soon. as a counterpoint to "Coney Island Boat," rest of the excellent original cast. This is a Capitol S-531, $5.95. truly exciting musical show recording, $5.95. "GIRL CRAZY" (George and Ira Gershwin). In "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" (Berlinj. Ethel "CALL ME MADAM" d- Berlin). RCA LOC- 1952 Columbia released a joyous version with Merman's rousing performance on this twelve- 1000 put the "original cast" version out minus Mary Martin. It's a question whether one star inch Decca 8001, $4.85, one of the pioneering the star who made the show. Miss Merman's should deliver material associated with another "original cast" albums from way back in 1947, original role is sung by Dinah Shore—a lady of famous performer. But Miss Martin's renditions by the way, certainly overwhelms the version great talent, but not an E. Merman, $5.95. Decca of the numbers made famous by Ethel Merman that M-G-M released years later with the stars 8035 has Miss Merman and some other people are excellent Mary Martin even if they're not of the movie, M-G-M E-509, $3. Betty Hutton who fill in while she is catching her breath. It good Ethel Merman. The quality of the songs, and Keel. Merman and Berlin here are both at was Ethel Merman's show and it's the Decca of course, is very high for "Girl Crazy," "I their biggest and best. record with E. M. you can bet on for the better Got Rhythm," "Bidin' My Time," and "Em- results, S4.85. braceable You," ML-4475, $5.95. Another re­ "ANYTHING GOES" (Cole Porter). Wonderful cording features Judy Garland and Mickey songs like "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Blow "CALL ME MISTER" («• Rome). Decca DLP- Rooney while they were still "Kids," doing Gabriel Blow," and "You're the Top" sung pre­ 7005 offers very little in either performance or excerpts with great zest on ten-inch Decca- cisely by Mary Martin and accompanied by a music. "The art of capturing musical shows on 5412, S3. chorus which is not up to snuft. ML-4751, $5.95. LP records failed to help this Decca "original cast" album. Betty Garrett, Lawrence Winters, "GOLDEN APPLE" (Latouche-Moross). The "ARABIAN NIGHTS" (Lombardo and Loeb), and Jules Munsliin, $3.85. musical that scored such a big hit last spring DL-9013, $5.85. Lauritz Melchior sings the role has been recorded in brilliant 'Victor sound and of the Grand Vizier on this "original cast" "CAN-CAN" (C- Porter). It seems a pity, but the "original cast" makes delightful music. album. The reproduction is good, but the music Cole Porter's music and lyrics fail to make this Bibi Osterwald, Kaye Ballard, Portia Nelson, is anything but 1-A. The lilting "1,001 Nights" "original cast" Capitol S-452 albtmi worth­ and others are wonderful. Once in a while is the only (come-away-from humming) tune while. More than ever before the lyrics are there is a dull stretch, but for the greater part which will stick. Helena Scott and Hope Holi­ repeated time and time again. The bright cast of the material we have only the best regard day are the feminine songbirds and in good helps out very little to make this a collector's RCA LOC, $5.95.