This is the 1959 recording of the musical Showboat, by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II.  There have been many recordings of the musical since its debut in 1927; this recording is with Michael Collins and his Orchestra.

This recording was released on the label 'His Master's Voice' which was a subsidiary of EMI; it was later acquired by the Marconiphone Company, then subsequently by the Gramophone Company. It was run by Norman Newell.
 

 

Track Listing

01. 6:08 - Overture (Michael Collins and his Orchestra and The William Singers)
02. 4:48 - Make Believe (Marlys Watters and Don McKay)
03. 4:45 - Ol' Man River (Inia Te Wiata)
04. 4:22 - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Shirley Bassey)
05. 3:19 - Life Upon The Wicked Stage (Dora Bryan)
06. 4:48 - You Are Love (Marlys Watters and Don McKay)
07. 2:14 - I Might Fall Back On You (Dora Bryan and Geoffrey Webb)
08. 2:53 - Why Do I Love You (Marlys Watters and Don McKay)
09. 3:19 - I Still Suits Me (Inia Te Wiata and Isabelle Lucas)
10. 3:29 - Bill (Shirley Bassey)
11. 4:05 - Finale (Dora Bryan, Marlys Watters and Don McKay)
 

Sleeve Note

"Show Boat" is probably one of the most famous musical shows of all time. It seems to have everything that a musical needs - a wonderful story full of romance, excitement, even tragedy, and a score that will surely live forever.

Show Boat was originally based on a bestselling novel by Edna Ferber and the score was magnificently written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The immortal story of life on a Mississippi Showboat was first presented on Broadway in 1927 and has since been revived many times. As recently as 1951 there was a superb film version by M.G.M.

The score is one of the greatest of all time - included are such wonderful standards as Ol' Man River, Bill, Only Make Believe and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - every one a superb number that gives an artiste the finest opportunity to score a direct hit. When presenting a show such as this on a long playing record the cast is all important and we are particularly fortunate in having the musical talents of so many superb artistes.

Shirley Bassey brings a new magic to Bill and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man. Shirley is one of the greatest artistes recording today and this is a new departure for her. It is the first time she has been presented on a Long-Player version of a musical show, but we predict that there will be many future occasions when she will be starring in original cast records of shows specially written for her.

Don McKay and Marlys Watters came to London in 1958 to star in "West Side Story". They were an overnight success for their tragic performance in the brilliant Jerome Robbins musical, and the romantic duets of "Show Boat" could almost have been written just for them.

Who better to sing Ol' Man River than Inia Te Wiata? This magnificent song was originally made famous in England by Paul Robeson and it was quite a problem to try and use a voice to compete with such a great rendering as Mr. Robeson's. We did not hesitate to cast the thrilling voice of Inia Te Wiata, already famous as a recording star for his great performance on His Master's Voice LP "Chu Chin Chow".

What can one possibly say about Dora Bryan? She has tackled everything - films, revue, musical, drama, and been master of them all. Now, turning her individual talents to recording she presents Life Upon The Wicked Stage in her own own incomparable style and sings the delightful duet I Might Fall Back On You, with talented newcomer Geoffrey Webb.

Such a wonderful cast needs superb musical direction and in Michael Collins we feel we have the best. Greatly assisted by the fabulous orchestrations of Brian Fahey and the vocal excellence of the William Singers, this version of "Show Boat" will, we think, keep the humour, pathos, romance and gaiety of the Mississippi Story sailing along for many years to come.
 

Comments

"This is not just another album of show music. It is basic literature. It is magic."
Miles Kreugur - President of the Institute of American Music Inc.

"Show Boat is about many things, but one of the most important is the ever-flowing cycle of life, which like the river keeps rolling along without taking any notice of us."
John McGlinn
 

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