Search - Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Vivienne Segal :: Pal Joey (1950 Studio Cast)

Great score is really given its due

Tommy Peter | Baltimore, MD United States | 12/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since musicals weren't really being recorded when Rodgers and Hart's Pal Joey premiered on Broadway in 1940, there was no original cast album. Ten years later, Goddard Lieberson changed that by producing this superb studio album that gives what is often called the duo's best score its due in full- and then some! The fast, lively, and not necessarily sympathetic telling of the tale of a small-time con man who lies, cheats, and sleeps his way to the top shows both musicians in top form. Rodgers can be beautifully romantic in the familiar "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" and "I Could Write a Book," and just as easily switch to the low-down bump and grind of such songs as "That Terrific Rainbow" and "Zip," and his work is never less than great and mightily entertaining. Likewise, the great Hart uses his trademark clever and acerbic wit at full force here (He's just so darn funny that surely Lieberson and 40s and 50s audiences were shocked but no less delighted when he-by their standards, I imagine-frankly mentioned sex and sexuality in his lyrics and got away with it without being censored), but still shows us that, in spite of his knowing air, he is still in love with love and romance. This show also went a step further in the direction of integrated musicals pointed toward by Show Boat and most fully realized in Oklahoma! and most that came after it. There are the then-usual "in-performance" numbers (Set in a nightclub) like "Rainbow" and "specialty spots" like the wickedly delightful "Zip," but songs like "You Mustn't Kick It Around," "Bewitched," "Pal Joey (What Do I Care for a Dame?)," "Den of Inequity," and "Take Him" relate to the characters and the plot while not losing the melodic and lyrical genius of their writers. It is a testament to the genius of Rodgers and Hart (and the integrated musical) that "I Could Write a Book" can be and has been sung outside the context of this show as another lovely Broadway love song, but in the context of the show is Joey's smooth-talking, false pickup line, intended to get something quicker than romance out of the girl he's singing to. It works like a charm (Pun intended) either way.But now to this recording. Mr. Andersen has told you all you need to know about the orchestrations and the sound; I agree with everything he said. I would like to go a little more in-depth about the performances on this recording. Vivienne Segal reprises her original role of Vera, the society lady who, with no reservations about her married status, is bewitched by Joey. Segal has a somewhat odd, pseudo-operetic voice (Reminiscent of Gertrude Lawrence, although Segal certainly sings better than Lawrence ever did), but she gives an intelligent and witty reading of Hart's lyrics and, for that reason, "Bewitched" is a joy. It would have been interesting to hear what Gene Kelly (who won stardom as Joey in the original production) was like in the role, but Harold Lang is a worthy substitute. Not much of a singer, but the role calls for a dancer and Lang apparently fit that bill and has the confidence and charm the role needs in spades. This recording was so successful that it inspired a 1952 Broadway revival, and these performers were so good that they were hired to recreate their roles in that revival. You can hear why here. The supporting cast of singers seem to be "studio ringers" who clearly have never sung anything this fun before and are loving every minute of it. They got me caught up in their enthusiasm, and they and this whole recording are sure to do the same for you. So, what are you waiting for??One final note: As I think Mr. Andersen mentioned, the CD release of this album seems to be trying to pass itself off as the cast album of the Broadway revival (Which is, more or less, reviewed by Mr. Andersen below). Segal and Lang are the only performers the two albums have in common, and they were apparently even "replaced" on the official cast album of the revival! The packaging of this CD labels it "Broadway cast." Also, Kenneth Remo sings the part of Ludlow Lowell, who in the original production sang "Do It the Hard Way," and Remo sings it on this recording. However, apparently for the revival, it was reassigned to Joey, so the liner notes for THIS recording credit Remo both as Ludlow Lowell and "Joey Evans (in 'Do It the Hard Way')." Weird, huh?"