Amazon.com
While there's not much dispute that Show Boat marked the dawn of the modern musical theater, its 1927 vintage means it's never had an original cast recording to consider definitive, although there have been various revival, studio, and film casts, as well as John McGlinn's outstanding three-disc reconstruction and compilations of early recordings. This 1962 studio cast stars John Raitt as Ravenal, Barbara Cook as Magnolia, William Warfield as Joe, and Anita Darian as Julie. It's a good cast--Cook and Warfield subsequently appeared in the 1966 revival--but it just seems a bit polite and safe compared to the darker, totally immersing experience of McGlinn's set. Still, if you're simply looking for a single well-sung, reasonably priced disc of the many Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II favorites, this may well fill the bill.
The 2000 reissue includes original and new liner notes and four interesting bonus tracks: the original Queenie, Tess Gardella, singing "Can't Help Loving Dat Man"; the original Julie, Helen Morgan, singing "Bill"; Paul Robeson singing "I Still Suits Me," written for the 1936 film; and Jan Clayton's "Nobody Else but Me," from the 1946 revival. --David Horiuchi
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Product Dimensions : 5.62 x 4.92 x 0.33 inches; 3.84 ounces
- Manufacturer : Masterworks Broadway
- Original Release Date : 2000
- Run time : 1 hour
- Date First Available : December 23, 2006
- Label : Masterworks Broadway
- Number of discs : 1
