The Broadway musical, Gypsy, opened on this day in 1959, sixty three years ago. It is frequently considered one of the crowning achievements of the
mid-twentieth century's conventional musical theatre art form, often
called the book musical. Gypsy has been referred to as the greatest American musical by numerous critics and writers. Ben Brantley wrote ("what may be the greatest of all American musicals...") and Frank Rich wrote that "Gypsy is nothing if not Broadway's own brassy, unlikely answer to King Lear." Theater critic Clive Barnes wrote that "Gypsy
is one of the best of musicals..." and described Rose as "one of the
few truly complex characters in the American musical."
vinyl LP front cover detail
Two musicals were the bombs that blew open the sacred doors of the "Temple of Musicals"; two years earlier West Side Story was the first and Gypsy with Ethel Merman, in the role of Rose, was the second bomber who set off the blast!
vinyl LP front cover
illustrations by Oscar Liebman
photo of album cover by Styrous®
On August 12th in 1961, I had just turned 21 and I saw the touring company of the Broadway musical, Gypsy; Sandra Church had dropped out of the show as Gypsy Rose Lee but Ethel Merman
was still playing the role of Rose and she was indeed, dynamite. Little
did I anticipate that 15 or so years later I would be using music from
this show when I worked with the girls at the Hungry i in San Francisco.
As the play is about the famous burlesque stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee, the songs were made to order for the strippers at the club. You Gotta Have A Gimmick is the ultimate description of what a good stripper must do and have to succeed. Then Let Me Entertain You is innuendo at its very best; it would have been a perfect vehicle for Mae West. What a shame she did not sing it at some point during her career.
In 1962 Gypsy was captured on film with Natalie Wood taking on the role of Gypsy Rose Lee and Rosalind Russell as her mother, Rose.
An interesting note: in the musical Jack Klugman of The Odd Couple fame, has the role of Herbie, in the film version, Karl Malden assumes that role.
vinyl LP front cover details
illustrations by Oscar Liebman
detail photos of album cover by Styrous®
photos by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Side 1:
A1 - Overture 4:45
A2 - May We Entertain You, Vocals, Jacqueline Mayro, Karen Moore - 1:12
A3 - Some People, Vocals, Ethel Merman - 3:37
A4 - Small World, Vocals – Ethel Merman - 2:15
A5 - Baby June And Her Newsboys, Vocals – Billy Harris (2), Bobby Brownell, Gene Castle, Jacqueline Mayro, Karen Moore, Steve Curry - 1:35
A6 - Mr. Goldstone, I Love You, Vocals – Ethel Merman - 2:21
A7 - Little Lamb, Vocals – Sandra Church (2) - 2:35
A8 - You'll Never Get Away From Me, Vocals – Ethel Merman, Jack Klugman - 2:28
A9 - Dainty June and her Farmboys, Vocals – Lane Bradbury, Sandra Church (2) - 2:17
A2 - May We Entertain You, Vocals, Jacqueline Mayro, Karen Moore - 1:12
A3 - Some People, Vocals, Ethel Merman - 3:37
A4 - Small World, Vocals – Ethel Merman - 2:15
A5 - Baby June And Her Newsboys, Vocals – Billy Harris (2), Bobby Brownell, Gene Castle, Jacqueline Mayro, Karen Moore, Steve Curry - 1:35
A6 - Mr. Goldstone, I Love You, Vocals – Ethel Merman - 2:21
A7 - Little Lamb, Vocals – Sandra Church (2) - 2:35
A8 - You'll Never Get Away From Me, Vocals – Ethel Merman, Jack Klugman - 2:28
A9 - Dainty June and her Farmboys, Vocals – Lane Bradbury, Sandra Church (2) - 2:17
Side 2:
B1 - If Mama Was Married, Vocals – Lane Bradbury, Sandra Church (2) - 2:47
B2 - All I Need Is The Girl, Vocals – Paul Wallace (2) - 4:32
B3 - Everything's Coming Up Roses, Vocals – Ethel Merman - 3:04
B4 - Together, Vocals – Ethel Merman, Jack Klugman, Sandra Church (2) - 2:43
B5 - You Gotta Have A Gimmick, Vocals – Chotzi Foley, Faith Dane, Maria Karnilova - 3:33
B6 - Let Me Entertain You, Vocals – Sandra Church (2) - 2:53
B7 - Rose's Turn, Vocals – Ethel Merman - 4:18
Credits:
Arranged By [Dance Music] – Betty Wahlberg, John Kander
Illustration – Oscar Liebman
Lyrics By – Stephen Sondheim
Music By – Jule Styne
Written-By [Book By] – Arthur Laurents
Music Director – Milton Rosenstock
Orchestrated By – Robert Ginzler, Sid Ramin
Producer – Goddard Lieberson
Sleeve Notes – George B. Dale*
Vocals [Baby June] – Jacqueline Mayro
Vocals [Baby Louise] – Karen Moore
Vocals [Dainty June] – Lane Bradbury
Vocals [Electra] – Chotzi Foley
Vocals [Herbie] – Jack Klugman
Vocals [Louise] – Sandra Church (2)
Vocals [Mazeppa] – Faith Dane
Vocals [Rose] – Ethel Merman
Vocals [Tessie Tura] – Maria Karnilova
Vocals [Tulsa] – Paul Wallace (2)
Illustration – Oscar Liebman
Lyrics By – Stephen Sondheim
Music By – Jule Styne
Written-By [Book By] – Arthur Laurents
Music Director – Milton Rosenstock
Orchestrated By – Robert Ginzler, Sid Ramin
Producer – Goddard Lieberson
Sleeve Notes – George B. Dale*
Vocals [Baby June] – Jacqueline Mayro
Vocals [Baby Louise] – Karen Moore
Vocals [Dainty June] – Lane Bradbury
Vocals [Electra] – Chotzi Foley
Vocals [Herbie] – Jack Klugman
Vocals [Louise] – Sandra Church (2)
Vocals [Mazeppa] – Faith Dane
Vocals [Rose] – Ethel Merman
Vocals [Tessie Tura] – Maria Karnilova
Vocals [Tulsa] – Paul Wallace (2)
Ethel Merman, Jule Styne And Stephen Sondheim – Gypsy - A Musical Fable
Label: Columbia – OL 5420
Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Musical
Label: Columbia – OL 5420
Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Musical
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
YouTube links:
Sandra Church ~ Let Me Entertain You
Natalie Wood ~ Let Me Entertain You
Faith Dane, Chotzi Foley & Maria Karnilova ~ You Gotta Have a Gimmick
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