Cole Porter - Out Of This World (1950 Original Broadway Cast)

Maybe you need to see it

The show, to begin with, is just ordinary, definitely not Cole Porter at his best. And, it does not translate well to sound recording. The few things the critics in 1950 liked--sets and costumes, and Charlotte Greenwood's comic genius and high kicks--cannot be heard.
The lyrics are banal, taken out of context, and do little to propel the plot line. Some are banal, in or out of context. There is considerable 1950 humor, that will not be clear to someone who did not live during that time.
Vocally, there is nothing outstanding. For all of her attributes, Charlotte Greenwood does not have a pleasant singing voice. Priscilla Gilette sounds strident.
I will say this for the overture. As it begins, we catch an "Out of This World" feeling. But from there . . .
Maybe you need to see it. September 26, 2008

The Inimitable Miss Greenwood

I can confirm that while Porter originally tried to get Carol Channing and then Judy Holliday for the part of Juno, he was thrilled when Charlotte agreed to do the role - it was a big deal for her, as she was taking the New York stage for the first time since leaving Broadway in the late 1920's, and Porter worked with her at his house in Beverly Hills, making sure she was OK with the material. He wrote three new songs for her, interspersed throughout the rehearsal and tryout phases - "I Sleep Easier Now" was the last new song he wrote, with "Men, Men, Men" (as Charlotte called it) and "Nobody's Chasing Me" coming before that.

In my biography of Charlotte (just published this past April), I talk about OUT OF THIS WORLD's trials and troubles, and relate the confirmation I got from some of Charlotte's co-stars that she kept the show from closing within the week. It ran for over four months, and as George Gaynes (who played Jupiter) told me, "It was because of Greenwood."

- Grant Hayter-Menzies May 28, 2007

Tbe best CD of this, and maybe the last.

Now is the perfect time to buy the CD of this.

Sony's transfer engineers used state-of-the-art restoration software to remove the roughness and surface noise from the originals, but (thankfully) they resisted the urge to tart-up the sound with artificial reverb, faux stereo, and thundering bass. This is by far the best-sounding CD of this ever released, and it may be the last.

The age of music ownership in America may be drawing to a close. Five years from now, this music may only be available by download, you may only be "borrowing" it, and it probably won't come with the the authentic cover art or the 16-page booklet.

(See also the original broadway Out of This World.) February 19, 2006

If you take a little time ...

...you may realize that this is some of Cole's finest music and wittiest lyrics. It takes a few listens for it to dawn on you. There is quite a gamut of emotion here as well. 'Use Your Imagination' and 'I Am Loved' are sensitive and beautiful songs. The numbers performed by Priscilla Gillette are often pointed out as comedic highpoints in the recording, but 'They Couldn't Compare To You' (William Redfield) will snare you into giggles with every listen. My favorite is Barbara Ashley's 'Where, Oh Where?' The song opens with a grand verse which hearkens back to forgotten times when men were noble and women were sweet. But my, what is she really singing about? Oh, how very funny and how naughty of Cole, like so many of these songs. I just love this recording so much. I find myself going back to it frequently, even more frequently than Kiss Me Kate. November 9, 2005

average score, Charlotte Greenwood is sensational

OUT OF THIS WORLD features a catalogue of second-rate Cole Porter songs, the cast headed by comedienne extraordinaire Charlotte Greenwood. Greenwood was the show's main saving grace on Broadway, and on the cast album she operates in the same capacity. The rest of the cast is fine and stong (William Eythe, Priscilla Gillette, William Redfield, Barbara Ashley, George Jongeyans-Gaynes and David Burns), but none equal the sparkle and finesse that Greenwood possesses. Greenwood and the cast give the score more fanfare and credibility than it deserves, none of the songs could be counted among Cole Porter's finest (remarkably "From This Moment On" was dropped during tryouts), but numbers like "I Got Beauty", "I Sleep Easier Now" and "Nobody's Chasing Me" are turned into showstoppers thanks to Miss Greenwood. Sound quality is excellent for its 1950 vintage. For completists only. August 14, 2004

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