E. Y. Harburg, Jule Styne - Darling Of The Day (1968 Original Broadway Cast)
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CD Details
Artist: E. Y. Harburg, Jule StynePerformer: Darling of the Day
Edition: Music CD
Format: Cast Recording
Published: 1998
CD Release Date: 2011-08-17
Music Label: Rca Victor
Soundtracks:
- Overture (From 'Darling Of The Day')
- He's A Genius
- To Get Out Of This World Alive
- It's Enough To Make A Lady Fall In Love
- A Gentleman's Gentleman
- Let's See What Happens
- Panache
- I've Got A Rainbow Working For Me
- Money, Money, Money
- That Something Extra Special
- What Makes A Marriage Merry
- Not On Your Nellie
- Sunset Tree
- Butler In The Abbey
- Finale
Music reviews of Darling Of The Day (1968 Original Broadway Cast)
Music Review: DELIGFHTFUL 'DARLING' AND ENCHANTING PATRICIA RUTLEDGE AVAILABLE ONCE AGAIN . . .
Rating: 4 Stars
DARLING OF THE DAY didn't do too well on Broadway. In fact, it lasted for on 32 performances. Reason? Steven Suskin writes in the liner notes: "Musical comedies live or die on the strength of their music and lyrics, it is said; a weak book is rarely enough to scuttle a fine score. Jule Styne and Yip Harburg's DARLING OF THE DAY, though, was unable to withstand the ministrations of no less than five bookwriters, not to mention six directors and choreographers. The show even had four different titles along the way. What all of this indicates is a lack of overall vision, in this case stemming from the producers. What it means, in practical terms, is that the songwriters - the only creators who remained constant - found themselves haplessly rewriting to order, to the order of whoever happened to be around at the time. It is no wonder that DARLING OF THE DAY turned out to be a mess of an entertainment. It is surprising, and somewhat disheartening, to find that the unfortunate events subsumed a polished gem of a score."
Equally disheartening: this excellent recording is among a large number of shows RCA has delected from its catalogue. But hold on! Thanks to ArkivMusic, it is now available as an Arkiv CD-on-Demand, complete with original art work and liner notes!
If only today's Broadway songsmiths could write a score as tuneful and entertaining. Even Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim (DO I HEAR A WALTZ?) failed to write a waltz as lovely as "Let's See What Happens." And some of Harburg's lyrics would do W.S. Gilbert proud: "Just avoiding Maharajahs and obsequious old codgers" . . . "I'd lie gladly in your casket while the horsy set at Ascot" . . . ("To Get Out of This World Alive"); "Shakespeare will be shaken and awaken Francis Bacon, and they'll each deny the other wrote KING LEAR" . . . ("A Butler in the Abbey") Yes, the opening number ("He's a Genius") does sound as though it might have come from MY FAIR LADY, and "To marry and live merrily and not just temporarily". . . ("What Makes a Marriage Merry") sounds like a Munchkin song. Harburg was, after all, the lyricist for THE WIZARD OF OZ. The score contains a couple of weak songs and a schizoprenia of styles (all those directors and book writers), but overall it's a delightful "polished gem of a score."
Additionally, DARLING OF THE DAY boasts a most wonderful, powerhouse performance by Patricia Rutledge, 1968 Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Musical. (Actually, she tied with Leslie Uggams in HALLELUJAH, BABY.) She's delectable in "It's Enough To Make a Lady Fall in Love," "Let's See What Happens," "That Something Extra Special," "What Makes a Marriage Merry," and - especially - "Not on Your Nellie." It's a performance not to be missed and well worth the price of this CD. Although Vincent Price may not have the mellifluent tones of Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, Christopher Plummer or other non-singing actors who headlined musicals of this period, at times he is surprisingly good. The orchestrations by Ralph Burns are Broadway-big-and-brassy and the singing ensemble has great fun with Buster Davis' fine vocal arrangements.
Hats off to ArkivMusic for making this and other RCA deletions available once again: DO RE MI - 1960 original Broadway cast; FINIAN'S RAINBOW - 1969 revival cast; HELLO, DOLLY! - 1967 revival cast with Pearl Bailey; HOW NOW, DOW JONES - 1967 original Broadway cast; LEGS DIAMOND - 1988 original Broadway cast; A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - 1975 original London cast; OLIVER! - 1968 film soundtrack; SILK STOCKINGS - 1955 original Broadway cast; STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW - 1977 original off-Broadway cast; WILDCAT - 1960 original Broadway cast. AND they're available right here at amazon.com.
So, glom on to them now and encourage ArkivMusic to resurrect the rest of RCA's in-limbo show titles.
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