Notes and Editorial Reviews
On their first appearance in the late 1980s and early 1990s
John McGlinn’s Broadway albums were much praised by Gramophone’s
Adrian Edwards and others. And rightly so, for they offer a
fresh, modern take on true American classics. Having missed
these releases first time around, I was finally able to hunker
down and enjoy Annie Get Your Gun – just one of several budget-price reissues from this stable.
Factor in some fine voices – operatic baritone Thomas Hampson
among them – and it’s not hard to see why these discs are self-recommending.
Read more
Starting with ‘Ragtime Restaurant’ from Kern’s first complete
score Red Petticoat – like Berlin’s Annie it’s
a comedy Western – the characterful Hugh Panaro adds real class
to this collection. Ditto Rebecca Luker, who made such a delightful
impression as Winnie Tate. As for the London Sinfonietta and
their enthusiastic chorus, they seem entirely at ease with these
foot-tappin’ tunes. I particularly commend the jazzy brass,
who play as if to the manner born. And there’s a languid charm
to ‘Drift With Me’ from Love o’ Mike, the swaying choral
line and Jeanne Lehman’s light, bright soprano a joy to hear.
Not all this music is equally memorable, but Panaro’s ‘I’m So
Busy’ makes the most of Kern’s waltzy tune. McGlinn springing
the dance rhythms with wonderful ease and naturalness. Meanwhile,
‘Till The Clouds Roll By’, penned by the great P.G. Wodehouse,
is another of those deeply nostalgic tunes, reminiscent of enchanted
evenings at the parental gramophone. Tenor George Dvorsky, who
has an attractive, supple voice, is most enjoyable here and
in his catchy ‘Whip-Poor-Will’, with Jeanne Lehman. The latter
teams up with Rebecca Luker for a fine rendition of ‘The Bullfrog
Patrol’, the orchestra as pointful as one could hope for.
The two numbers from Dear Sir find Kern in a winsome
mood, the well-upholstered orchestration especially beguiling.
But it’s the trip-tripping songs, such as ‘She Didn’t Say ‘Yes’’,
that stay with you. And then there’s the film Men of the
Sky, a Warner Bros release from 1931 that’s since vanished
into the ether; the surviving song ‘Every Little While’ is a
delight though, Dvorsky in melting voice. Again, one’s ear is
irresistibly drawn to the nicely scaled playing of the London
Sinfonietta. And what a pleasure to hear the firm, lyrical tones
of Thomas Hampson in ‘The Song is You’ from one of Kern’s double
acts with Hammerstein. Broadway tunes just don’t come more memorable
than ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’, movingly sung here by Jeanne
Lehman.
The final tranche of songs includes Hampson at his most assured
in ‘The Folks Who Live On The Hill’ – the trombone playing is
fabulous, too – while the rest of the singers, including a stratospheric
Lydia Milá, make a splendid ensemble in ‘Heaven In My Arms’
from Kern and Hammerstein’s last collaboration, Very Warm
For May. Interesting that this 1939 hit was directed by
Vincente Minnelli, who went on to direct the great MGM musicals
Meet Me in St. Louis and An American in Paris.
In many ways, this album belongs to the band, who prove they
can boogie with the best in ‘Harlem Boogie-Woogie’. A splendid
sign-off for a most enjoyable collection.
Broadway anthologies just don’t come much better than this.
EMI’s spunky sound – this is an Abbey Road recording – is perfect
for this repertoire, vocal and instrumental balances well judged
throughout. Even the rather skimpy liner-notes and lack of song
texts can’t dampen my enthusiasm for this terrific disc.
Dim the lights, crack open the Chardonnay and just enjoy.
-- Dan Morgan, MusicWeb International Read less
Works on This Recording
2.
Very Good Eddie: Babes in the Woods by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Hugh Panaro (Voice),
Rebecca Luker (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1915; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 49 Secs.
3.
Love o' Mike: Drift with Me by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Jeanne Lehman (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: Modern
Length: 4 Minutes 20 Secs.
4.
Have a Heart: I'm so Busy by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Rebecca Luker (Voice),
Hugh Panaro (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: Modern
Length: 4 Minutes 12 Secs.
5.
Sally: Whip-poor-will by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Jeanne Lehman (Voice),
George Dvorsky (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: Modern
Length: 4 Minutes 54 Secs.
6.
She's a Good Fellow: The Bullfrog Patrol by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Rebecca Luker (Voice),
Jeanne Lehman (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 52 Secs.
7.
Dear Sir: I Want to Be There by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Rebecca Luker (Voice),
George Dvorsky (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: Modern
Length: 4 Minutes 40 Secs.
8.
Dear Sir: Wishing Well Scene by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Rebecca Luker (Voice),
George Dvorsky (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: Modern
Length: 7 Minutes 52 Secs.
10.
Every Little While by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Jeanne Lehman (Voice),
George Dvorsky (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Length: 4 Minutes 39 Secs.
12.
Music in the Air: The Song is You by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Thomas Hampson (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1932; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 10 Secs.
13.
Roberta: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Jeanne Lehman (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1933; USA
Length: 3 Minutes 35 Secs.
15.
Very Warm for May: Heaven in My Arms by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Lydia Milla (Voice),
George Dvorsky (Voice),
Jeanne Lehman (Voice),
Rebecca Luker (Voice),
Hugh Panaro (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1939; USA
Length: 5 Minutes 23 Secs.
16.
The Last Time I Saw Paris by Jerome Kern
Performer:
Thomas Hampson (Voice)
Conductor:
John McGlinn
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1941; USA
Length: 4 Minutes 26 Secs.
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