There are three Opera masterpieces from Broadway, George Gershwin's Porgy And Bess, Kurt Weill's Street Sceneand Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. Jay Records are proud to add the second to it's proposed complete recordings of the trilogy.
As with Street Scene, this recording of The Most Happy Fella is absolutely complete. Not only complete but it includes over 30 minutes of cut material not previously heard. The reason for the cut was that the original actress who sang the role of Marie could not sing the music, but with the great opera/musical star, Nancy Shade who sings the role on Jay's complete recording, the glorious music have been recorded to stunning perfection for the first time.
Opera legend Louis Quilico, recognised as one of the world's greatest Rigolettos takes on the taxing lead role of Tony, one which he sang to great acclaim at the New York City Opera a few years back. When the original production first opened on Broadway, Mrs. Loesser (Jo Sullivan) sang the role of Rosabella and now over 45 years later, her daughter, the Broadway star Emily Loesser takes on the same role for the recording. This all star cast recording includes Tony award winners as Karen Ziemba (currently wowing them on Broadway with the smash hit, Contact), Richard Muenz and Don Stephenson (currently starring in the Broadway bound revival of Finian's Rainbow). John Owen Edwards conducted The National Symphony Orchestra.
Although it's sung through (almost), the score is jam packed with hit songs such as Standing On The Corner, Joey Joey Joey, Big D, My Heart Is So Full Of You, Somebody Somewhere, Happy To Make Your Acquaintance, Warm All Over, and Rosabella amongst others.
Recorded in Digital Dolby Surround Sound at Abbey Road Studios in London and Clinton Studios in New York.
TRACKLIST:
CD One:
1. Overture - National Symphony Orchestra
2. Scene: Thank You... - Walter Charles
3. Ooh! My Feet! - Karen Ziemba
4. Scene: Hey, Where's What Her Name... - Walter Charles, Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
5. I Know How It Is - Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
6. Scene: It's Jewelry,,, - Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser
7. My Dear Rosabella - Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
8. I Don't Know Noing About You - Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
9. Scene: I Live On My Grape Ranch... - Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser, Walter Charles, Girls
10. Maybe He's Kind-a Crazy... - Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
11. Somebody, Somewhere - Emily Loesser
12. The Most Happy Fella - Louis Quilico, George Lee Andrews, Company
13. Scene: Oh, Hello Marie... - Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
14. I Don't Know Noting About Her - Louis Quilico, Nancy Shade
15. Scene: Hi Boss... - Don Stephenson, George Dvorsky, Michael Gruber, Guy Stroman
16. Standing On The Corner - Don Stephenson, George Dvorsky, Michael Gruber, Guy Stroman
17. Scene: All Right, Break it Up... - Richard Muenz, Drew McVety, Louis Quilico
18. Joey, Joey,Joey - Richard Muenz
19. Scene: Hey, Tony What's The Italian...
20. You Gonna Leave Me, Joe - Louis Quilico, Richard Muenz
21. Rosabella - Louis Quilico
22. Opening Act One Scene Three - Mark Slama
23. Abbondanza - Alfred Boe, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton
24. Scene: And Thsi Is Tony's Barn... - Kristin Chenoweth, Mark Slama, Louis Quilico, Company
25. Plenty Bambini - Louis Quilico, Art Ostrin
26. Scene: Hey! Boss!... - Richard Muenz, Louis Quilico
27. Sposalizio - Stephen Davis, Alfred Boe, Joseph Shovelton, Company
28. Scene: Bocci Ball Anybody?... - Steve Routman, William Burden, Kristin Chenoweth, Mark Slama
29. Scene: Well, Here We Are... - George Lee Andrews, Richard Muenz, Emily Loesser
30. I Seen Her At The Station - George Lee Andrews, Richard Muenz
31. Benvenuta - Alfred Boe, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton, Richard Muenz
32. Scene: It's Very Lovely,,, - Emily Loesser, Charlotte Vaughn Raines
33. Such Friendly Faces - Emily Loesser
34. Scene: Thank You Very Much... - Emily Loesser, Richard Muenz, Nancy Shade, Stephen Davis, Company
35. No Home, No Job - Emily Loesser
36. Scene: Step Back Everybody... - William Burden, Emily Loesser, Louis Quilico, Nancy Shade, Company
37. Don't Cry - Richard Muenz, Emily Loesser
CD Two:
1. Prelude To Act Two - National Symphony Orchestra
2. Fresno Beauties Part One - Men
3. Cold And Dead - Richard Muenz, Emily Loesser
4. Fresno Beauties Part Two - Men
5. Scene: Ma Che Brutte Sortel... - Louis Quilico, William Burden, Ladies
6. Love And Kindness - William Burden, Louis Quilico
7. Scene: Hey, You Mad At Me... - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
8. Happy To Make Your Acquaintance - Emily Loesser, Louis Quilico
9. Scene: Oh, Marie... - Karen Ziemba, Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
10. Happy To Make Your Acquaintance (Reprise) - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
11. I Don't Like This Dame - Nancy Shade, Karen Ziemba, Men
12. Big D - Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson, Company
13. How Beautiful The Days - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser, Nancy Shade, Richard Muenz
14. Act Two Scene Three Opening - National Symphony Orchestra
15. Scene: Just Look At 'Em... - Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
16. Young People - Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
17. Warm All Over - Emily Loesser
18. Old People Gotta Sit Dere An' Die - Louis Quilico
19. Scene: Now You Got To Look Out For This Label Glue... - Don Stephenson, Karen Ziemba
20. Scene: Oh, Hello Pasquale... - Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson
21. I Like Ev'rybody - Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson
22. Act Two Scene Five Opening - National Symphony Orchestra
23. Scene: Isn't It Wonderful?... - Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser
24. I Love Him - Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
25. Scene: Easy Now... - William Burden, Louis Quilico
26. Like A Woman Loves A Man - Emily Loesser, Louis Quilico
27. My Heart Is So Full Of You
28. Scene: Hey Paesan!... - Louis Quilico, Company
29. Hoedown - Mark Slama, Company
30. Scene: Rosabella! What's-a Matter... - Louis Quilico, William Burden, Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser, Company
31. Mamma, Mamma - Louis Quilico
CD Three:
1. Prelude Act Three - National Symphony Orchestra
2. Abbondanza (Reprise) - Alfred Boe, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton
3. Scene: Fellas? Hey, fellas... - Don Stephenson, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton, Alfred Boe
4. I Like Everybody - Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson
5. Scene: Before The Party Begins... - William Burden
6. Song Of A Summer Night - William Burden, Company
7. Scene: Carissima! What's-a Matter... - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
8. Please Let Me Tell You - Emily Loesser
9. Scene: Ma Che C'e?... - Louis Quilico, Stephen Davis
10. Scene: So You're Finally Gettin' Out Of Town... - Richard Muenz, George Dvorsky, Michael Gruber, Guy Stroman, Louis Quilico
11. She Gonna Come Home Wit' Me - Louis Quilico, Nancy Shade, Karen Ziemba
12. I Made A Fist - Don Stephenson, Karen Ziemba
13. cene: He's Gonna Be Tony's Bambino... - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
14. I Canno' Leave You Money - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
15. Finale Act Three - Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser, Company
16. Exit Music - National Symphony Orchestra
17. House And Garden - Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
18. Tony And Marie Duet / Nobody's Gonna Love You Like I Love You - Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
19. Eyes Like A Stranger - Nancy Shade, William Burden
20. Is It Fair? / Warm All Over / Old People Gotta Sit Down An' Die - Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
21. I'll Buy Everybody A Beer - William Burden, Company
22. Wanting To Be Wanted - Jo Sullivan