Search - Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern, Jan Clayton :: Show Boat (1946 Broadway Revival Cast)

A Masterpiece

Pope | Wisconsin, United States | 06/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In terms of age, this 1946 revival cast album is as close as we can get to having an Original Cast Album of Show Boat. Although this revival was staged nearly 20 years after the 1927 original, this is the first "complete" cast recording. This was not the first revival of Show Boat, but the second. The first revival was staged in 1932. This album was originally recorded by Columbia Records on February 11-14, 1946. While the sound quality on this album (mono, of course) is beginning to show its age, it is no less captivating and moving than it would have been 56 years ago. For the most part, sound is crisp and clear and superb throughout. Most of the cast is not well known today-only Jan Clayton stands out-and this album is by no means complete, but I cannot understand why it is so under appreciated and forgotten as Show Boat albums go. As the booklet states, one scene and 3 minor songs were cut from this revival. "Where's the Mate for Me?" "I Might Fall Back On You" and "After the Ball" do not appear on this album.On the plus side, "Ol Man River" and "Why Do I Love You" are presented here more closely in tempo to their original 1927 counterparts. Both are sung in their longer, original versions here as well. The Overture here is not the original 1927 one (see the 1988 studio cast album for that), but the one here is very majestic and good. This one was also used for the 1962 Studio Cast Album (also on Columbia, with John Raitt/Barbara Cook/William Warfield).Hats off to the cast as well. Charles Fredericks is right on the money as Gaylord Ravenal, right up there with Howard Keel from the film, although I prefer Keel's singing. Frederick's strong tenor is excellent. Jan Clayton is also dynamite as Magnolia, fresh from starring alongside John Raitt in the original B'way production of Carousel. Kenneth Spencer, as Joe, is no William Warfield but he is just as good. Carol Bruce makes a wonderful Julie and is much more pleasant to listen to than what is had on the 1962 Columbia Studio Cast album. Bill, as heard here, has never sounded better. It is difficult, though, to compare her to Ava Gardner (who was dubbed for the film).Playing time is 40:36, which is kind of generous for ten tracks and is about normal as Cast Albums of the mid-Forties go. I highly recommend this cast album, at the very least for its historical significance as being the earliest cast album of Show Boat released. IMHO, this recording of Show Boat, along with the OBC of Brigadoon, Oklahoma, and Carousel have that irresistable sound of an early Broadway cast recording (however poor the sound quality may be, most notably on Brigadoon).
Better sound quality can be heard on any more recent recordings and more complete versions of Show Boat are heard on the Original Soundtrack Album of the 1951 MGM film and on the 1988 John McGlinn complete reconstruction of the show as heard in 1927, but this album is very much worth its money and I believe you'll enjoy it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"

A good but not essential SHOW BOAT

Mark Andrew Lawrence | Toronto | 09/11/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"An original cast recording of the 1940s version of SHOW BOAT. Originally on 78 RPMS the sound is somehwat dated. The cast is adequate but the recording fails to generate much genuine excitement.Better recordings: Sony's 1964 studio cast with John Raitt & Barbara Cook; the 1993 Toronto cast starring Rebecca Luker; and EMI's complete 3 CD set that recreates the original 1927 version."