The Fantasticks [1960 Original Off Broadway Cast]

( 3 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Cohen
Why is The Fantasticks the longest running musical in theater history, at 16,000 performances and counting? To celebrate the off-Broadway masterpiece's fifth decade, Decca has upgraded and remastered the classic original cast album featuring "Law & Order" star Jerry Orbach in his former incarnation as song-and-dance man. The celebrated score for this intimate and allegorical boy-meets-girl story by lyricist Tom Jones and composer Harvey Schmidt is host to a number of timeless melodies including "Try to Remember," "They Were You," "I Can See It," and "Soon It's Gonna Rain," the last two indelibly covered by Barbra Streisand early in her career. The crisp and improved ...
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Cohen
Why is The Fantasticks the longest running musical in theater history, at 16,000 performances and counting? To celebrate the off-Broadway masterpiece's fifth decade, Decca has upgraded and remastered the classic original cast album featuring "Law & Order" star Jerry Orbach in his former incarnation as song-and-dance man. The celebrated score for this intimate and allegorical boy-meets-girl story by lyricist Tom Jones and composer Harvey Schmidt is host to a number of timeless melodies including "Try to Remember," "They Were You," "I Can See It," and "Soon It's Gonna Rain," the last two indelibly covered by Barbra Streisand early in her career. The crisp and improved sound of this elegant reissue is a welcome opportunity to revisit an old friend, still hale and hearty, and sounding better than ever.
All Music Guide - Bruce Eder
On June 13, 1960, MGM Records made a recording of an off-Broadway musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt called The Fantasticks. At the time, the production was struggling to stay alive, and producer Lore Noto thought a cast recording might help generate more interest and some extra revenue. Since then, The Fantasticks has become a veritable Rock of Gibraltar on the theatrical landscape, having broken every longevity record for a musical production. This spring 2000 re-release of the cast recording, remastered in 24-bit digital audio, coincides with the 40th anniversary of the play's opening. It's also a deservedly first-class treatment of a sweet, clever, yet deceptively unassuming score. "Try to Remember," "Soon It's Gonna Rain," and "Much More" are the most famous songs in The Fantasticks, but there's not a number here that won't invoke smiles of pleasure, outright laughter at their lyricism and humor. Played on only five instruments, the music is hardly over-scored, but the players make the most of every note and nuance, and the beauty of the remastering, apart from its clarity, is the depth of the sound, which gives the spare forces every possible advantage. The singers -- Jerry Orbach, Kenneth Nelson, Rita Gardner, William Larsen, and Hugh Thomas -- never had a better showing than they get here, and it's possible even in the very cluttered "Rape Ballet" to fully and properly discern all of the rapid-fire Shakespearean conceits. The stereo recording has the discreet separation typical of its era, but the tapes have held up well and the richness of tone is a pleasant surprise. In music so tightly focused on the innocence and joys of youth, the rejuvenation of that sound makes this edition essential listening. The new annotation by Peter Filichia is also a welcome addition.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/25/2000
  • Label: Decca Broadway
  • UPC: 731454366526
  • Catalog Number: 543665
  • Sales rank: 2,465

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Overture - The Orchestra (2:00)
  2. 2 Try To Remember - Jerry Orbach (2:44)
  3. 3 Much More - Rita Gardner (2:33)
  4. 4 Metaphor - Rita Gardner (4:13)
  5. 5 Never Say No - Hugh Thomas (2:13)
  6. 6 It Depends On What You Pay - Hugh Thomas (4:19)
  7. 7 You Wonder How These Things Begin - Jerry Orbach (1:12)
  8. 8 Soon It's Gonna Rain - Rita Gardner (4:36)
  9. 9 The Rape Ballet / Happy Ending - Hugh Thomas (3:12)
  10. 10 This Plum Is Too Ripe - Hugh Thomas (3:34)
  11. 11 I Can See It - Kenneth Nelson (4:04)
  12. 12 Plant A Radish - Hugh Thomas (2:30)
  13. 13 Round And Round - Company (5:58)
  14. 14 There Is A Curious Paradox - Jerry Orbach (0:31)
  15. 15 They Were You - Rita Gardner (2:42)
  16. 16 Try To Remember (Reprise) - Company (2:05)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Jerry Orbach Vocals, Track Performer
Bobby Rosengarden Percussion
Kenneth Nelson Track Performer
Julian Stein Piano
Frank Martenez Bass, Cello
Rita Gardner Vocals
The Orchestra Track Performer
Huw Thomas Vocals
Fantasticks Pit Orchestra Performing Ensemble
Kenneth Nielson Vocals
Technical Credits
Ken Bloom Reissue Consultant
Jerry Orbach Contributor
Thom Bruce Contributor
Greg Calbi Remastering
Val Valentin Engineer
Kenneth Nelson Contributor
Harvey Schmidt Drawing, Logo Design
Julian Stein Arranger, Musical Director
Penny Bennett Reissue Design
Ed Wittstein Production Design
Denis McNamara Reissue Producer
Brian Drutman Reissue Producer
Rita Gardner Contributor
William Larsen Contributor
Hugh Thomas Contributor
Tom Jones Book
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 3 )
Rating Distribution

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(3)

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Still a classic

    Can you believe that Jerry Orbach went from the fantastics to Law and Order... we was delightful in his role on this album

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    the loveliest musical of all

    After watching the movie and seeing a performance at UCO, this endearing mirror of life by Schmidt and Harvey is my absolute favorite musical. The songs are quite enchanting and catchy. I am interested in researching the other musicals these composers have created such as Colette Collage and the Show Goes On.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The Greatest Musical On Earth

    Hi my name is Daniel Osborn. I am 15 and in the Lakewood High School drama club. We didn't do this musical but I would like to do it because it is the greatest musical on earth. Featuring Law & Orders Jerry Orbach. I first saw this play two years ago at a little theatre in Newark Ohio called Weathervane. It is a nice little theatre but the catch is its in a barn. They do musicals and plays every summer. When I saw this one I just fell in love with it bought the cd and fell more in love with it. I think it will keep running untill the end of time if you haven't already seen it I think you should Tom Jomes and Harvey Schmidt done a ''Fantastick'' job! When I grow up I want to be a broadway revivalists and an High School theatre director and this will be the first show that I will ever direct on stage.

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews