Search - On Your Toes, Pal Joey :: On Your Toes / S.C.R.

Two rare Rodgers & Hart cast albums back in print

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 02/04/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This disc will be of particular interest to Rodgers & Hart collectors, for both of the recordings featured are making their CD debut.



First up, we have the 1952 studio cast of ON YOUR TOES. This was part of Columbia's early series of studio musical albums featuring popular theatre singers of the day (other titles included "Babes in Arms" and "Girl Crazy" both with Mary Martin, "Oh Kay!" with Jack Cassidy, and "Oklahoma!" with Nelson Eddy).



ON YOUR TOES is headed by the talented singer/musical arranger Portia Nelson--immortalised as Sister Berthe in the movie version of "The Sound of Music". Jack Cassidy (who it seems was a mainstay for this Columbia series) also features, along with Ray Hyson, Zamah Cunningham; and Laurel Shelby as Miss Porterfield. This recording was particularly popular upon it's release, although sales inevitably dropped off when Decca released the cast album to the 1954 Broadway revival starring Elaine Stritch and Bobby Van.



The 1957 studio cast album of PAL JOEY was geared as a direct cash-in on the Frank Sinatra movie version, which was also released that year. Popular band vocalists Martha Tilton and June Hutton feature prominently in the cast; Bob McKendrick is Joey, and Marilyn Maxwell sings the showstopping comedy number "Zip!".



Sound quality is fine (the older '52 ON YOUR TOES typically exhibits more click and hiss) but the rarity of these recordings lessens all of that. [STAGE DOOR RECORDS 9002]"