On hot days like we've been having I always think of this album/musical comedy. It is about a
flim-flam man who has spent his life bilking innocent farmers out of what little money they might have; then love shoots his sensual arrow deep into the scoundrel's heart.
It is a
musical with a book by
N. Richard Nash, lyrics by
Tom Jones (not the crooner), and music by
Harvey Schmidt. After the success of
The Fantasticks (
link below), the project was the composing team's first for
Broadway. There are some of the most wonderful Broadway tunes from it. Many long forgotten but truly wonderful.
Another Hot Day is one of those songs; it sets the tone for the rest of the show. A slow and languid harmonica intro captures the oppressive heat of the drought.
Little Red Hat is a delightful romp with the romantic Snookie singing of his sweeite. The coule of kids are adorable. While Lizzie pulls out all the stops with the hysterical, Raunchy; a mock strip song performed totally clothed. It's just great!
RCA Victor
released an original Broadway cast recording of this production on
November 3, 1963, one recording in stereo; one in mono. This copy is the mono version. Both recordings
were identical; each having 16 tracks.
Based on Nash's 1954 play
The Rainmaker, it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a
spinster living on a
ranch in the
American southwest, and her relationships with local
sheriff File, a cautious
divorcé who fears being hurt again, and charismatic
con man Bill Starbuck, posing as a
rainmaker
who promises the locals he can bring relief to the drought-stricken
area. Nash's book is faithful to his original play, although all the
interior scenes were moved outdoors to allow for the addition of
townspeople for ensemble numbers and dances. Many of Jones' lyrics come
directly from Nash's play.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 – Stephen Douglass And Townspeople* Gonna Be Another Hot Day – 4:04
A2 – Will Geer, Steve Roland And Scooter Teague Lizzie's Comin' Home – 2:12
A3 – Inga Swenson Love, Don't Turn Away – 1:59
A4 – Stephen Douglass, Will Geer And Steve Roland Poker Polka – 2:02
A5 – Townspeople* Hungry Men – 2:24
A6 – Robert Horton (5) And Townspeople* Rain Song – 3:52
A7 – Inga Swenson And Robert Horton (5) You're Not Foolin' Me – 4:00
A8 – Inga Swenson And Will Geer Raunchy – 2:46
Side 2:
B1 – Inga Swenson And Stephen Douglass A Man And A Woman – 3:25
B2 – Inga Swenson Old Maid – 3:22
B3 – George Church, Scooter Teague, Lesley Warren And Townspeople* Everything Beautiful Happens At Night – 1:55
B4 – Robert Horton (5) Melisande – 4:25
B5 – Inga Swenson Simple Little Things – 3:29
B6 – Lesley Warren And Scooter Teague Little Red Hat – 2:24
B7 – Inga Swenson And Robert Horton (5) Is It Really Me? – 2:04
B8 – Stephen Douglass, Robert Horton (5) And Inga Swenson Wonderful Music
B9 – Full Company* Rain Song Finale – 3:19
Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – Radio Corporation Of America
Recorded At – Webster Hall
Credits:
Directed By – Joseph Anthony
Engineer – Ernie Oelrich*
Illustration – Oscar Liebman
Lyrics By – Tom Jones (5)
Music By – Harvey Schmidt
Producer – Andy Wiswell
Supervised By – George Marek*
Written-By – N. Richard Nash
Notes:
Recorded At – Webster Hall, New York City
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Side A): PPRS-6184-1S
Matrix / Runout (Side B): PPRS-6185-1S
The
Original Broadway Cast*, Robert Horton (5), Inga Swenson And Stephen
Douglass – 110 In The Shade - The Original Broadway Cast
Label: RCA Victor – LSO-1085
Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1963
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Musical
Viewfinder links:
The Fantasticks
Golden Globe Award
YouTube links: