Over the Rainbow
Showdate September 9, 2000

" Best of Broadway "


This week I played recordings from the 4-CD set "Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box 1935-1988", which my lovely father bought at a yard sale for $10 because he thought I "might like it". Yes, yes I do indeed like it, Dad. The recordings chronicle all cast recordings released on the MCA label from 1935 till 1988.

"There Must Be Someone For Me"
Vocals: June Havoc
Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter from 1944's "Mexican Hayride"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"We're Having A Baby (My Baby and Me)"
Vocals: Eddie Cantor and June Clyde
Music & Lyrics: Vernon Duke and Harold Adamson from 1941's "Banjo Eyes"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"You Can't Get A Man With A Gun"
Vocals: Ethel Merman
Music & Lyrics: Irving Berlin from 1946's "Annie Get Your Gun"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Nobody Makes A Pass At Me"
Vocals: Millie Weitz
Music & Lyrics: Harold J. Rome from 1937's "Pins and Needles"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"I Can Cook Too"
Vocals: Nancy Walker
Music & Lyrics: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green from 1944's "On the Town"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You"
Vocals: The Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra
Music & Lyrics:
Album: The Life Desire
Spine: Luck Life Recording Company

"Big Rock Candy Mountain"
Vocals: Burl Ives
Music & Lyrics: Elie Siegmeister from 1944's "Sing Out, Sweet Land"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Shy"
Vocals: Carol Burnett, Joe Bova and Ensemble
Music & Lyrics: Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer from 1959's "Once Upon A Mattress"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Dat's Love"
Vocals: Muriel Smith and the "Carmen Jones" Chorus
Music & Lyrics: Georges Bizet, Russell Robert Bennett and Oscar Hammerstein II from 1943's "Carmen Jones" adapted from Bizet's Opera "Carmen"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Rootbeer and Licorice"
Vocals: The Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra
Music & Lyrics:
Album: The Life Desire
Spine: Luck Life Recording Company

"South American Way"
Vocals: Carmen Miranda Con Bando da Lua e Garota
Music & Lyrics: Jimmy McHugh and Al Dubin from 1939's "Streets of Paris"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Night Letter"
Vocals: Jonelle Allen and Clifton Davis
Music & Lyrics: Galt MacDermot and John Guare from 1971's "Two Gentlemen from Verona"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Superstar"
Vocals: Ben Vereen
Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice from 1971's "Jesus Christ Superstar"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"The Usher from the Mezzanine"
Vocals: Carol Burnett
Music & Lyrics: Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green from 1964's "Fade Out - Fade In"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353

"Me And My Girl"
Vocals: Robert Lindsay and Maryann Plunkett
Music & Lyrics: Noel Gay and Douglas Furber from the 1986 revival of "Me And My Girl"
Album: Front Row Center: The Broadway Gold Box Set 1935 - 1988
Spine: MCAD4 - 11353