Search - Jeannie Carson :: Girl With the Sq

A girl with loads of star quality...

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 04/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"British-born musical theatre performer Jeannie Carson was one of the most talented female stars of her generation. She was first noticed in Noel Coward's mostly-forgotten 1950 offering ACE OF CLUBS, and then starred in Hugh Martin's "Daddy Long Legs" musical LOVE FROM JUDY in 1952, which enjoyed an extensive provincial tour in addition to a successful West End run. 1954 saw Carson star in two well-received movie musicals - AS LONG AS THEY'RE HAPPY and AN ALLIGATOR NAMED DAISY - both of which were intended as vehicles for the shapely Diana Dors; instead audiences came away raving about Ms Carson.



It was then off to America, where Carson starred in her very own TV series, entitled HEY JEANNIE!; as well as the Broadway revival of FINIAN'S RAINBOW where critics praised her adorable performance as Sharon (she was also a replacement for Mary Martin in the original Broadway run of THE SOUND OF MUSIC). She made her long-awaited return to England and the West End in 1966 with the new musical STRIKE A LIGHT, but despite her firebrand performance it never quite took off with audiences.



This CD includes Carson's first and only solo album, THE GIRL WITH S.Q., which was recorded in 1968. Carson's warm and vivacious voice zips through such showtune standards as "I Got Lost in His Arms" (from ANNIE GET YOUR GUN) but happily also includes selections from seldom-recorded flop shows like FLORA THE RED MENACE ("Sing Happy"); and ANYONE CAN WHISTLE ("A Parade in Town").



In addition, Vocalion has included the cover 'sides' of Carson's two main numbers from STRIKE A LIGHT (recorded in 1966), "I Don't Know the Words" and "Another Love". It's the perfect souvenir of a talented entertainer, remembered by far too few.



Highly-recommended. [Dutton Vocalion CDLF-8111]"