Starring: - Jan Clayton
- Charles Fredericks
- Colette Lyons
- Carol Bruce
Description:
This release from the budget UK label Prism includes selections from the landmark 1946 Broadway revival of SHOW BOAT, along with bonus selections from the original 1928 London production.
The 1946 revival of SHOW BOAT featured Jan Clayton (the original Julie in CAROUSEL) as both Magnolia and her daughter Kim, with Charles Fredericks as Ravenal, Colette Lyons as Ellie, Carol Bruce as Julie LaVerne, Buddy Ebsen as Frank, Kenneth Spencer as Joe and Helen Dowdy as Queenie.
Jan Clayton is wonderful as both Magnolia and Kim, and is lovely with Magnolia's big numbers "You Are Love", "Why Do I Love You?" and "Make Believe"; but later lets her hair down for Kim's manic flapper tune "Nobody Else But Me".
Carol Bruce is a heart-rending Julie LaVerne, singing a particularly plaintive "Bill" and a jaunty "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man". Colette Lyons does well by the comical soubrette role of Ellie, and sings a spirited "Life Upon the Wicked Stage".
From the 1928 London set, Edith Day plays both Magnolia and Kim, with Howett Worster as Ravenal and Marie Burke as Julie LaVerne. Edith Day is well-suited to Magnolia's numbers, but the song added for Kim, "Dance the Night Away", is a huge clinker, and was wisely dropped and replaced by "Nobody Else But Me" for the '46 revival.
Added as a bonus track is "I Still Suits Me", written for the 1936 film version as a rueful duet between Joe and Queenie. It is sung here by Paul Robeson (the original Joe) and Elisabeth Welch.
1. Overture
2. Cotton Blossom
3. Make Believe
4. Ol' Man River
5. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
6. Life Upon The Wicked Stage
7. You Are Love
8. Why Do I Love You
9. Bill
10. Nobody Else But Me
11. Cotton Blossom
12. Make Believe
13. Ol' Man River
14. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
15. Queenie's Ballt-Hoo
16. You Are Love
17. Why Do I Love You
18. In Dahomey
19. Bill
20. Dance The Night Away
21. I Still Suits Me
Showboat
