Wildcat (1960 Original Broadway Cast)

a haunting memory

Have you ever heard a song just one time and found it permanently engraved in your memory? Well, for me that song was "Hey look me over". I heard it just one time one a summer night in the early sixties. A local radio station was playing this album with the announcer reading the story line between tracks. The show failed because Lucy's health just couldn't stand up to being on center stage for ninety percent of the show twice a day for six days a week, so I never heard it again. Occasionally I would hear some marching band playing the tune, but I never heard the words sung again for forty years. The remarkable thing was that, from that one hearing, I could remember every word but one. the missing word was from the line that goes; "I'm a little bit short of the elbow room, but let me get me ...., then look out world, here I come!". Then, after forty plus years, I looked it up and found that it was available from Amazon, so the very next payday I ordered it. It was pretty costly but I felt it was worth it just to find out what that @#$% missing word was. Then I found out why it was so expensive. The album had never been released on CD, but an archive had it stored in their computer and was able, by paying royalties to the record company to offer a replication complete with a copy of the original artwork and liner notes reduced to fit in a jewel box case with the CD. Finally, I was able to listen to the entire soundtrack and hear the missing word: it was "some". and I was pleased to notice that the song was just the way I remembered it and had sung it back to myself over a hundred times over the years. I hadn't remembered the other songs on the album, but they were worth listening to.
How would I critique this album? Pure Lucy! It is easy to see why the show had to fold when Lucy collapsed on stage. Even on the album, she towers over the rest of the cast like a redheaded dynamo. Nobody in the world at the time could have taken her place except, possibly, Debbie Reynolds. Over the years, we have been so impressed by her comic genius that we tend to forget that she was just as brilliant as a singer, dancer and actor. This album showcases that other side of her skills. It is a shame that she never got a chance to make a movie version of this show, because it would have certainly have outshone her other musical, Mame.
The music in this show is light and cheery, and most of the cast was equal to their parts. The plot is basically an excuse for the songs and is forgettable for the most part. There is a bit of condescention towards Hispanic people that grates, now that we know more of the history of that culture. Nobody who knows the courage of the Mexican people and the suffering they have endured in their long quest for freedom can be content to see them portrayed as funny little men in floppy hats, living only for the next fiesta. It is saddening to see how ignorant we were just forty years ago. Aside from that short digression into stereotyping the play is basically just a fun evening. Nothing serious, a comedy tonight. If I had been able to get a ticket, I would have gone, had a good time, and carried the memory down through the years of seeing a great lady of comedy at the height of her powers.
I hope the record company will see fit to re-release this album, because every Lucy fan should get a chance to hear her perform at one of the major turning points in her career. For those who love lucy, this album is a Must Have Item. October 24, 2008

Sprightly Bright Musical of the Sixties

I have to agree with most of the other reviewers.....this is a forgotten gem..and I had also heard that Lucy was not a singer, but she comes through on about every song and has excellent support from Keith Andes, Paula Stewart, Clifford David (who would a few years later appear in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever") and others....The music is quite a treat from Hey Look Me Over to the wonderful "Give A Little Whistle"...alot of jaunty, bouncing rhythmic pieces that lend themselves to all of the talent displayed on this CD...thanks to Arkiv for releasing this wonderful show...I have already downloaded it to my I Pod....I would have loved to have been able to see this show in person.....I'm starting to replace all of my LP's that I collected way back when and am getting quite a collection of OBC's July 22, 2008

A Great Cast Recording

First of all, I must admit, I am a Lucille Ball fan. But that being said, this is truly a great cast album to add to your collection. First of all, you get Cy Coleman's music from his first musical. From the opening bars of the Overture, you can tell this is going to be an energetic musical and it is. "Hey, Look Me Over" in particular has to be one of the best 6/8 marches ever written for a musical. Secondly, you have Lucille Ball. I was amazed at how well Ball sang, being that she is Lucy who can't carry a tune. The rest of the cast is in fine form and the "Living Stereo" recording from RCA captured the orchestra just right, making it seem fuller than the usual broadway cast recordings of its time. By the way, just a note to a previous review, this show closed because Lucille Ball could not keep up healthwise with doing 8 performances a week. She passed out at a performance and wanted to close the show down for more than a month, but because of the musicians union, they couldn't afford to keep it open. Overall, a fun album to own. February 26, 2008

IT'S 2007 AND WILDCAT JACKSON IS BACK . . . . . . . . .

Yes, WILDCAT is back with us, as an ArkivCD (CD-on-Demand) from ArkivSong.

You either "Love Lucy," or you don't. Frankly, I've never been a fan, but that didn't stop me from buying the Original Broadway Cast recording (on LP) of WILDCAT back in 1960 or playing it so many times that I memorized practically every song. The score is one of Cy Coleman's best, and Carolyn Leigh wrote some great Broadway lyrics: "You've Come Home," "That's What I Want for Janie," "What Takes My Fancy," "One Day We Dance," "Give a Little Whistle," "Tall Hope," "El Sombrero," "Corduroy Road," and, of course, "Hey, Look Me Over." Was there ever a marching band that DIDN'T include that tune in at least one half-time show every year during the early 60s?

It all starts with one of the brassiest, high-energy overtures ever heard on Broadway. (Arrangements and orchestrations were by Robert Ginzler and Sid Ramin.) Next comes the rousing ensemble number "Oil!", followed by "Hey, Look Me Over!" Yes, each title is followed by an exclamation mark, but it really is that exciting. Too bad Romantic lead Keith Andes (1947 Theatre World Award winner for THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER) wasn't given more to do. (This is Lucy's show, and don't you forget it!) Regrettably, he has only one solo, but he shares a duet with Ms. Ball and leads the ensemble on a couple of outstanding numbers (great vocal arrangements by John Morris). Poor Paula Stewart isn't given a solo at all but must share the spotlight on two duets. The rest of the supporting cast (Dan Tomkins, Clifford David, Swen Swenson, Bill Walker, Edith King, Ray Mason, Al Lanti) are first rate, and the ensemble singing is tight and quite exciting.

Then why was the show a flop and a major disappointment? (It ran for only 171 performances.) In addition to all the talented people already mentioned, N. Richard Nash (THE RAINMAKER) wrote the book and Michael Kidd directed and choreographed. (I understand the dancing was outstanding!) What happened?

Two words: Lucille Ball. First of all, singing was not one of her major strengths. Although she does passably well most of the time, sometimes the sounds she makes are rather painful to the ear. And I suspect that Ms. Ball injected too much "Lucy" into the role at the expense of "Wildcat Jackson." (Her wail at the end of "You're a Liar" is downright embarrassing.)

Nonetheless, it's an excellent score and a lot of fun. If you're never heard it, you're in for a treat, and you'll be whistling and singing and humming most of the songs in no time. Kudos to ArkivSong for making it available. Go to their web site, and grab it up!

Highly Recommended. February 2, 2007

Lucy goes wild!!

Lucille Ball in a musical? Wildcat? Yep, and it's a lost classic. The show stiffed on Broadway but the soundtrack emerged based on Lcuille Ball's name recognition and I'm glad it did. The CD is now out of print, so you would do well to find the original LP oo R2R tape. Every song is top rate and the performances are to match. I wish I'd have seen this on stage but alas, it's long gone with only this to remind us of a classic performace in every sense. Makes you wonder, once again , why mediocre pamp like Grease has countless revivals and this wonderful score barely made it past its previews December 30, 2006

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