12 Songs from Call Me Madam

by Ethel Merman

Overview

Call Me Madam, a fictionalized account of the life of Washington hostess and ambassador to Luxembourg Pearl Mesta, was Irving Berlin's final hit Broadway musical. It was also his second collaboration with Ethel Merman, who had starred in his most successful show, Annie Get Your Gun. Opening October 12, 1950, Call Me Madam settled in for a run that eventually totaled 644 performances, making the commercial prospects of a cast album bright. Unfortunately, there was a glitch. The show had been financed by RCA Victor Records, who claimed the cast album. But Merman was an exclusive recording artist for Decca, one of RCA's major rivals. The result was two albums: RCA replaced Merman with Dinah Shore, while Decca replaced the rest of the original cast with Dick Haymes, Eileen Wilson, and a chorus. The Decca album got out of the gate first and, featuring the show's star, was bound to be the more successful anyway; it just missed topping the charts. Merman is, of course, the recording's chief asset, as she belts out half of the album's songs (the original EP and 10" LP versions had only eight tracks, but they were quickly superseded by a 12-track 12" LP), including "Marrying for Love" and "The Best Thing for You." Her duet with Haymes, "You're Just in Love," was the hit of the show, reaching the Top 40. Haymes was in typically good voice on his solo, "Once Upon a Time Today." ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	05/15/2001
Label:	Geffen / Universal
UPC:	0008811052126

Tracks

1. Call Me Madam, musical~The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball
2. Call Me Madam, musical~Washington Square Dance
3. Call Me Madam, musical~Lichtenburg (Cosmo's Opening)
4. Call Me Madam, musical~Can You Use Any Money Today?
5. Call Me Madam, musical~Marrying for Love
6. Call Me Madam, musical~The Ocarina
7. Call Me Madam, musical~It's a Lovely Day Today
8. Call Me Madam, musical~The Best Thing for You
9. Call Me Madam, musical~Something to Dance About
10. Call Me Madam, musical~Once Upon a Time Today
11. Call Me Madam, musical~They Like Ike
12. Call Me Madam, musical~You're Just in Love
13. Panama Hattie, musical~My Mother Would Love You
14. Panama Hattie, musical~I've Still Got My Health
15. Panama Hattie, musical~Let's Be Buddies
16. Panama Hattie, musical~Make it Another Old Fashioned, Please

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ethel Merman   Primary Artist,Vocals
Harry Sosnik & His Orchestra   Primary Artist
Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Dick Haymes   Primary Artist,Vocals
Eileen Wilson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Gordon Jenkins   Primary Artist,Conductor
Harry Sosnik   Primary Artist,Conductor
The Orchestra   Primary Artist
Gordon Jenkins Orchestra   Primary Artist
Chorus   Primary Artist
Joan Carroll   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Brian Drutman   Compilation Producer,Reissue Producer
Max O. Preeo   Liner Notes,Associate Reissue Producer
Suha Gur   Mastering,Digital Mastering
Gordon Jenkins   Performer
Harry Sosnik   Performer
Chris Roberts   Executive Producer
Tom Keller   Photography
The Orchestra   Performer
Steven Lasker   Digital Transfers
Ron O'Brien   Reissue Producer
Dick Haymes   Performer
Erick Labson   Digital Compilation,Preparation
Eileen Wilson   Performer
Joan Carroll   Performer
Cole Porter   Composer
Irving Berlin   Composer
Andy McKaie   Reissue Coordination
Steve Lasker   Digital Transfers