Seventh Heaven [Bonus Tracks]

by Original Broadway Cast

Overview

In the 1950s, with the Hollywood studio system in decline, a lot of movie talents looked east to Broadway for stage vehicles. That probably explains the existence of the 1955 musical Seventh Heaven. The property itself had begun life as a straight play in 1922, with a story set in Paris during World War I about two lower-class lovers. Then there was a 1927 silent film adaptation that won Janet Gaynor the first Oscar for a leading actress, followed by a 1937 remake. The composer attached to the musical version was Victor Young, a busy film scorer near the end of his career (he would die in 1956) who nevertheless managed to do the scores for six films the same year he did Seventh Heaven. The stars were two medium-level former MGM contract players whose work had included movie musicals (but who had never appeared on Broadway before), Gloria DeHaven, who at the advanced age of 30, was washed up as an ingenue in Hollywood, and Ricardo Montalban, who, at 34, was in his prime as a Latin lover. The rest of the cast was filled out with sturdy stage talent, including Robert Clary, Kurt Kasznar, and Beatrice (later Bea) Arthur (the latter two not heard on the cast album). And Chita Rivera, after years of chorus work, was moving up to her first featured part. Opening May 26, 1955, Seventh Heaven was the final show of the 1954-1955 season, and it never had a chance to find an audience, closing after 44 performances on July 2. The cast album reveals the performers to be talented, particularly Clary, who has three big, lively numbers. But it also reveals one possible reason for the show's failure, a pedestrian score. Young's movie credentials are referenced in the instrumental "Chico's Reverie," which sounds like it came from one of his films. But his songs are only adequate, and stage veteran Stella Unger's lyrics don't lift them out of mediocrity. As a result, Seventh Heaven is a minor effort that will be of interest only to completists who follow the careers of Rivera, Clary, or any of the other principals. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	10/07/2003
Label:	Decca / Universal
UPC:	0602498608470
Rank:	143988

Tracks

1. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Overture  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
2. Seventh Heaven, musical play~C'est La Vie  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  -  Chorus  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
3. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Where Is That Someone For Me  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  -  Chorus  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
4. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Camille, Collette, Fifi  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Pat Hammerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
5. Seventh Heaven, musical play~A Man With A Dream  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  -  Chorus  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
6. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Remarkable Fellow  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  -  Chorus  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
7. Seventh Heaven, musical play~If It's A Dream  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
8. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Happy Little Crook  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
9. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Sun At My Window, Love At My Door  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  -  Chorus  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
10. Seventh Heaven, musical play~A "Miss You" Kiss  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  -  Chorus  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
11. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Chico's Reverie (White and Gold Ballet)  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
12. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Love, Love, Love  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
13. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Love Sneaks Up On You  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
14. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Finale (C'est La Vie)  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  -  Orchestra  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
15. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Blessings  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young
16. Seventh Heaven, musical play~Where Is That Someone For Me  - Penny Bennett  - Crane Calder  - Mariano Caruso  - Robert Clary  - Don Coster  -  Coster  - Gloria DeHaven  - Brian Drutman  - Patricia Hamerlee  - Rafael Hernandez  - Ken Mandelbaum  - Ricardo Montalban  - Mark Onmann  - Gerrianne Raphael  - Chita Rivera  - Chris Roberts  -  Seventh Heaven Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Male Chorus  -  Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra  - Thanne Tangel  - Stella Unger  - Victor Wolfson  - Victor Young  -  Young

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Original Broadway Cast   Primary Artist
Victor Young & His Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Pat Hammerlee   Primary Artist
Seventh Heaven Male Chorus   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Robert Clary   Primary Artist,Vocals
Chita Rivera   Primary Artist,Vocals
The Orchestra   Primary Artist
Chorus   Primary Artist
Gerrianne Raphael   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ricardo Montalban   Primary Artist,Vocals
Max Meth   Musical Director
Crane Calder   Choir Conductor
Seventh Heaven Pit Orchestra   Orchestra
Mariano Caruso   Vocals
Don Coster Orchestra   Orchestra
Patricia Hamerlee   Vocals
Don Coster   Conductor
Seventh Heaven Chorus   Choir/Chorus
Victor Young   Conductor
Gloria DeHaven   Vocals

Technical Credits

John "Sly" Wilson   Stage Production
Mark Omann   Mastering
Brian Drutman   Reissue Producer
Robert Clary   Actor
Gloria Gaither   Presentation
Ken Mandelbaum   Liner Notes
Kurt Kasznar   Actor
Penny Bennett   Reissue Art Director
Chris Roberts   Executive Producer
Gerrianne Raphael   Actor
Thanne Tangel   Package Coordinator
Mark Onmann   Mastering
Rafaela Hernandez   Package Coordinator
Victor Wolfson   Book
Stella Unger   Book,Composer,Lyricist
Chita Rivera   Actor
Ricardo Montalban   Actor
Rafael Hernandez   Package Coordinator
Peter Gennaro   Choreographer
Victor Young   Composer
Gloria DeHaven   Performer,Actor
John Golden   Producer