Search - Various Artists :: Mr. Wonderful (1957 Original Broadway Cast)

NOT JUST FOR SAMMY DAVIS, JR. FANS . . .

J. T Waldmann | Carmel, IN, home to the fabulous new Regional Perf | 07/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The 1956 MR. WONDERFUL was conceived by composer Jule Styne and designed to show off Davis' many talents . . ." according to the liner notes by Max O. Preeo. And that ain't necessarily bad. I purchased the CD mostly to fill a gap in my collection, and I wasn't expecting anything more than a Vegas-type showcase for the star. But I was pleasantly surprised. A typical show-biz story of a talented kid making it big, it starts off with a snappy opening ("1617 Broadway") that rivals "Christopher Street" from WONDERFUL TOWN and "Fugue for Tinhorns" from GUYS AND DOLLS, segues into "Without You I'm Nothing" with Jack Carter (surprisingly good) and Pat Marshall (winner of the 1946 Theatre World Award. She's REALLY good!), then to a set piece for Sammy & the Will Mastin Trio, "Jacques D'Iraque." My toes were tapping furiously for six minutes.Alright, the ballads, with the exception of "Mr. Wonderful" are pretty pedestrian and the duet between Ms. Marshall and Olga James - "Talk to Him" - advocates violence when talking and cooking and sex won't land your man, but the show also has "Too Close for Comfort" and a rousing version of "Sing You Sinners" by Mr. Davis, and other delights. An excellent document of Davis' first Broadway role, not to mention the only recorded broadway performances of Jack Carter and Pat Marshall. (The golden-voiced Olga James can be seen and heard as Cindy Lou in Otto Preminger's movie version of CARMEN JONES - soundtrack out of print). Plus it's Chita Rivera's first show to get recorded.The sound quality is rather "tinny," but perhaps DECCA will remaster and reissue this entertaining show album."