I never actually saw her perform but I bought every
vinyl LP of the shows she was in; her most famous, of course, was as Lola in
Damn Yankees. But of all of them, my favorite was her show
New Girl in Town.
The
basic story line is Anna (
Gwen Verdon) is trying to live down her past and find love
with a young sailor, Mat Burke (
George Wallace), but Marthy (
Thelma Ritter), the jealous common law wife of Christopherson, tries to prevent her
from accomplishing that (
plot link below).
photographer unknown
The show takes place on the docks of the
New York City waterfront at the beginning of the twentieth century and the music brilliantly reflects the time and local. The song,
The Sunshine Girl (not to be confused by the 1968 song of the same name by
Herman's Hermits), is a
ragtime cakewalk complete with
banjo and some great harmonizing by a quartet of men.
In down-home, 1910 New York style, there are
Roll Yer Socks Up, a joyous and lively tune by the dock workers, their wives, girlfriends, whatever;
At The Check Apron Ball and
There Ain't No Flies On Me: "When I get dressed in all my best, I win every prize, I ain't got no flies."
In the lovely vein there is a beautiful
paean of the love only a father can have for his daughter;
Anna Lilla, is sung by Anna's father,
Cameron Prud'homme, when she first returns home..
photographer unknown
In the romantic vein are plenty of tunes; there is the beautiful,
Did You Close Your Eyes?, sung by
Gwen Verdon and
George Wallace;
It's Good To Be Alive sung by Verdon and
Look At 'Er sung by Wallace.
Of course there has to be the broken heart song or two; it has that If That Was Love, sung by Verdon, is a reflection on the disappointment of a love gone sour.
-
There has to be a fun song; there are several. The song,
Flings, sung by Lulu Bates,
Mara Landi and
Thelma Ritter is one. "Flings is wonderful things but they've gotta be flung while young."
Carol Burnett and
Martha Raye did a cover of the song.
Gwen Verdon was born in
Culver City, California,
in 1925. As a toddler, she had rickets, which left her legs so badly
misshapen she was called "Gimpy" by other children and spent her early
years in orthopedic boots and rigid leg braces. Her mother put the
three-year-old in dance classes. Further ballet training strengthened
her legs and improved her carriage.
photographer unknown
Verdon won four
Tony Awards
for her musical comedy performances, and served as an uncredited
choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for theater and
film. With flaming red hair and a quaver in her voice, she was a
critically acclaimed performer on Broadway in the 1950s, 1960s, and
1970s. Having originated many roles in musicals she is also strongly
identified with her second husband, director–choreographer
Bob Fosse,
remembered as the dancer–collaborator–muse for whom he choreographed
much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 – Orchestra* - Overture
A2 – H. F. Green And Chorus* - Roll Yer Socks Up
A3 – Cameron Prud'homme - Anna Lilla
A4 – Del Anderson, Eddie Phillips (2), Mark Dawson (6) - Sunshine Girl
A5 – Gwen Verdon - On The Farm
A6 – Thelma Ritter, Lulu Bates, Mara Landi - Flings
A7 – Gwen Verdon - It's Good To Be Alive
A8 – George Wallace* - Look At 'Er
A9 – George Wallace* - It's Good To Be Alive (Reprise)
Side 2:
B1 – Thelma Ritter, Cameron Prud'homme - Yer My Friend Ain'tcha?
B2 – Gwen Verdon, George Wallace* - Did You Close Your Eyes?
B3 – Chorus* - At The Check Apron Ball
B4 – Chorus* - There Ain't No Flies On Me
B5 – Gwen Verdon, Cameron Prud'homme And Chorus* - Ven I Valse
B6 – Chorus* - Sunshine Girl (Reprise)
B7 – Gwen Verdon - If That Was Love
B8 – Thelma Ritter And Chorus* - Chess And Checkers
B9 – George Wallace* - Look At 'Er (Reprise)
Companies, etc.
Copyright (c) – RCA
Copyright (c) – Radio Corporation Of America
Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis
Credits:
Adapted By (Text) [Book By] – George Abbott
Arranged By [Dance Music Devised By] – Roger Adams
Choreography [Dances & Musical Numbers Staged By] – Bob Fosse
Cover – Oscar Liebman
Directed By [Production] – George Abbott
Liner Notes – Douglas Watt
Music By, Lyrics By – Bob Merrill
Music Consultant [Dance Music Devised By] – Roger Adams
Music Director [Musical Direction] – Hal Hastings*
Orchestrated By [Orchestrations By] – Philip J. Lang, Robert Russell Bennett
Presenter – Frederick Brisson, Harold S. Prince*, Robert E. Griffith
Set Designer [Production Designed By] – Rouben Ter-Arutunian
Text By [Based On The Play "Anna Christie" By] – Eugene O'Neill
Notes:
Stereo-Orthophonic High Fidelity Recording
Living Stereo
Made in U.S.A.
Front cover: © RCA Printed in U.S.A.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Label side A): J2PY-2227
Matrix / Runout (Label side B): J2PY-2228
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamped side A): J2 PY-2227-5S I A 1
Matrix / Runout (Runout stamped side B): J2 PY-2228-5S I
Gwen Verdon, Thelma Ritter – New Girl In Town (Original Cast Recording)
Label: RCA Victor – LSO-1027
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Indianapolis Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1958
Genre: Stage & Screen
Style: Musical
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
YouTube links:
New Girl In Town ~
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, January 13, 2021
.jpg)
