Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields - Sweet Charity: A New Musical Comedy (1966 Original Broadway Cast)

This document of Bob Fosse's 1966 Broadway production is almost enough to make one forget the dreadful and dated 1968 film version with Shirley MacLaine (who, though brilliant, never rose above the film's concessions to the era--who'll ever forget Sammy Davis Jr.'s "psychedelic" production number on "The Rhythm of Life"?). Ironically, it was the late, great Fosse's film debut. More's the pity he simply didn't just provide a visual document of his original Broadway show; after all, it was Fosse who'd conceived the notion of a musical comedy based on Fellini's 1957 film Nights of Cabiria as a vehicle for Broadway star Gwen Verdon (Mrs. Fosse at the time) and then put writer Neil Simon together with composer Cy Coleman and lyricist Dorothy Fields. Onstage, it simply worked great. The score produced two huge hit standards--"Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now"--and proved that fantasies about hookers (even though Charity's called a "taxi dancer" here) with hearts of gold could provide mainstream entertainment years before Julia Roberts became Pretty Woman. Sony gives the rerelease its regular Broadway Masterworks series update treatment, with previously unreleased tracks, elongated songs (featuring material cut from the original album), interviews from opening night, and even composer Coleman performing three songs from the show with an orchestra for a long-unavailable album he cut in the late '60s. --Bill Holdship Amazon.com

A CLASSIC!

Fellini's NOTTE DI CABIRIA adapted into a Broadway show? Almost impossible! Yet, here it is, wonderfully conceived. The music, the lyrics and the interpreters are terrific. Through the music, you really sense it's Fosse material. This digitally remastered edition is technically perfect. If you have the movie soundtrack, get this theatre version as well because it contains songs that did not appear in the film. Destined to become a landmark in the history of the Broadway show. June 16, 2006

THIS IS ONE CHARITY WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD

THERE IS AN OLD SAYING "THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THAT ANYMORE" AND SWEET CHARITY AS DIRECTED BY BOB FOSSE AND DANCED,SUNG AND ACTED WITH GRACE AND VULNERABILTY BY THE GREAT GWEN VERDON AND WONDERFUL ROUSING SONGS BY CY COLEMAN AND DOROTHY FIELDS AND ESPECIALLY THE ENERGETIC, SENSUAL AND WITTY CHOREOGRAPHY OF BOB FOSSE. THIS CD HELPS RECAPTURE THAT MOMENT IN TIME BUT ONLY AURALLY AS THE ELECTRIC DANCING OF VERDON TO 'IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW' 'THERE'S GOTTA BE SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS' AND 'I'M A BRASS BAND' CANNOT BE REPLICATED ON CD. ANOTHER DANCE HIGHLIGHT WAS 'THE RICH MAN'S FRUG' WHICH EVEN ON THE RECENT REISSUE OF THE OBC STILL HASN'T BEEN FULLY RECORDED. FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW WONDERFUL A BROADWAY RECORDING CAN BE WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO RUSH TO THEIR NEAREST RECORD STORE AND RECAPTURE FOR AT LEAST 50 MINUTES A SHOW SCORE FROM THE DAYS WHEN MUSICALS WERE TRULY MUSICAL AND A MUSICAL COMEDY WAS TRULY A MUSICAL COMEDY. July 1, 2005

Classic Musical w/ Gwen Verdon

"Sweet Charity", starring Gwen Verdon as the hopelessly optimistic Charity, is a classic mid-sixties musical, with a terrific score by Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields.

Best Tracks include:

Big Spender [classic!]
If My Friends Could See Me Now [classic!]
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This
Baby, Dream Your Dream
Sweet Charity
Where Am I Going?
I'm A Brass Band

Actually, most of the above are probably Broadway standards!

June 26, 2005

Definitive version of Broadway classic!

This is a Braodway musical that has it all, and the great songs from this classic are all beautifully preserved on this CD.

The best thing, though, is the performance of Gwen Verdon in the title role. Just through her vocals, you will be able to imagine her in her prime..hoofing, mugging and charming you as she did with so many lucky audiences over her long, illustrious career.

A great tribute to all the creative forces involved in the creation of this durable, toe-tapping, musical production! February 8, 2005

I LOOOOVE this musical

One of my all-time favorites.

Only a few tracks seem to drag it down - "Too Many Tomorrows" with James Luisi, and "You Should See Yourself". January 9, 2005

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