Search - Van Johnson, Patricia Lambert, Original London Cast :: The Music Man: Original London Cast (1961)

London Music Man Blows Sour Note

William Kirkham | Elizabeth, New Jersey USA | 06/04/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"What a big disappointment. This album lacks about half of the songs from the show, including ``Iowa Stubborn,'' ``Shipoopee'' and the ``76 Trombones/Goodnight My Someone'' medley. Van Johnson is OK in the title role, but Patricia Lambert makes no discernable attempt to sing in an American accent, so the it sounds like the setting for the show is River City-on-Thames instead of River City, Iowa."

Pleasant-enough recording of "The Music Man"

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 01/14/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is the 1961 London cast album of THE MUSIC MAN; and while it lacks the overall energy and "wow-factor" of the Broadway recording (starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook), it's a decent attempt all the same.



Debuting on Broadway in 1957, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN was a heartfelt valentine to small-town values and spirit, which instantly struck a chord with nostalgic audiences. Professional con-man Harold Hill arrives in the community of River City intending to swindle the residents with promises of starting a boys' band; instead he falls in love with the town's beautiful and headstrong librarian, Marian Paroo. With his past quickly catching up with him, Harold must move quickly if he wants to win the girl...and the respect of the townsfolk.



The London production starred Van Johnson as Prof. Harold Hill, and Patricia Lambert as Marian "the Librarian" Paroo. They are both well-suited to the material; Van Johnson is an infectious presence with his performances of "Ya Got Trouble", "Seventy Six Trombones" and "Marian the Libranian". Patricia Lambert gamely crawls out from underneath the looming shadow of Barbara Cook to create her own unique spin on Marian; her glowing soprano soars through "Goodnight My Someone" and "Till There Was You", and the two-part medley of "Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You?" (where Lambert is accompanied by the Iowa Four) is totally magical.



A very young Denis Waterman plays Marian's lisping younger brother Winthrop (he's heavily featured during "The Wells Fargo Wagon" in addition to the rousing "Gary, Indiana"). The orchestrations (almost identical to the Broadway album) are energetic and crisp. Van Johnson and Patricia Lambert manage to conjure up lots of chemistry, especially in the love duet "Till There Was You"; and the whole album is cleanly mastered for CD.



For fans and completists, the London cast album of THE MUSIC MAN will be a handsome addition."