Jerry Herman, Carol Channing - Hello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition)

Sitting in the balcony at the final preview of this 1964 Jerry Herman show, still very much in school and long before my career as a critic began, I knew somehow that I was witnessing theatrical history. Even as that callow youth, I was certain that Carol Channing had been born to play the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, the meddling turn-of-the century New York widow who had been adapted from Thornton Wilder's straight play The Matchmaker. Channing has proved me right by playing the role ever since, of course, miraculously only improving with age. Beyond Dolly herself, however, the musical emitted a synergistic exuberance (at least five years before we used the word "synergy"). The supporting cast, including David Burns, Eileen Brennan, and Charles Nelson Reilly, were terrific. Herman's tunes and lyrics were sublimely crafted both to create their characters and stand alone. (The title song took on a life of its own.) The show's designers, librettist Michael Stewart and director Gower Champion, combined to transport the audience to 60 years earlier in little old New York. This wasn't all just my opinion: Hello, Dolly! won a record 10 Tonys. The original cast recording can still take you to that other time and place, even if you didn't see the original show. But, at the risk of offending my inner adolescent, the 1994 revival, naturally starring Channing, was even better--both on stage and on disc. --Robert Windeler Amazon.com

Hello Dolly with commentary from C. Channing

This is a GREAT version of the Hello Dolly Original Cast album with many "extras" not included on the Original Cast album.

Included on this CD are interviews with Carol Channing about her experience with this show -- some very enlightening commentary about the plot and the character of Dolly Levi which I had never thought about before.
This is a much deeper show after listening to her interpretation, and has enhanced my enjoyment of the song "Before the Parade Passes By" and "Hello Dolly!" numbers included on the CD.

In addition to the cast recording are numbers from the Pearly Bailey production (outstanding) and also some original songs from the show which was originally written with Ethel Merman in mind as Dolly. The liner notes included give a great history of the show and information regarding Merman's role as Dolly - information which I was never aware of before reading and listening to her perform several numbers which did NOT appear in the Carol Channing version on B'way, but were re-introduced to the show when Merman performed it on B'way.

Overall - for the price of this CD you are getting a lot of extras that any theater lover would enjoy. I rate this a 5 stars out of 5 stars due to the quality of the recordings and the extra features included. Enjoy! September 7, 2008

Wonderful CD

I have to say this deluxe edition is a welcome add-on to my CD collection...I now have the Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, and Mary Martin versions on CD...I believe Arkiv Music is the only vendor for the Mary Martin "London" version, but if you go to their website you can get that version as well as the Pearl Bailey version for $13.99 per copy...there are not any liner notes on either one, but was nice to finally replace my LP's with the CD's...I also purchased Jerry Herman's "The Grand Tour" for that price too!! I must mention the extra's on this Deluxe version are outstanding and liner notes are formidable!! It was nice to hear the numbers that Jerry Herman created for Ethel Merman, and to hear Pearlie Mae's rendition of So Long Dearie.....If there were only recordings made of some of the other Broadway star's Dolly's..like Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, and Ethel Merman (the complete shows of these performers), although they only performed the role for a few months..I know Phyllis Diller, and Eve Arden also performed the part...When I was at Southern Illinois University in the sixties, I got to see Dorothy Lamour as Dolly in a roadshow on our campus (1967)....she was very good even though she was in her 50's at the time...What I most remember about her performance is what she said at the end of the show...she gave special thanks to our fighting men in Viet Nam and saluted them for all of their efforts!! Well, again a very well done album, and show, which we will all remember for years to come Amen!! August 18, 2008

The Best [period]

This is the best recording of Hello Dolly! without a doubt. The ONLY flaw in the entire show is Eileen Brennan as Irene Molloy. Her voice is not the greatest, but it doesn't really matter. The bonus tracks are to die for Mary Martin's are spectacular and Pearl Basiley's are great and Ethel Mreman's are just splendid. The packaging is not great though. The booklet is glued to the inside cover. Inspite of the packaging flaws this is the recording to get. The bonus tracks are splendid. July 6, 2008

Wonderful Soundtrack

This is the original recording, with all of the best names included. Wonderful, wonderful music. June 26, 2007

DOLLY WILL NEVER GO AWAY

Great re-mastering of original BWay cast album with wonderful other Dollys, particularly Pearl Baily who makesHello, Dolly! (1964 Original Broadway Cast) (Deluxe Edition) the title tune her own. It is still a great score and a delight to own. May 17, 2007

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