Barnum (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

by Barnum / O.B.C.

Overview

Barnum, the musical theater treatment of the life of impresario Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum (1810-1891) that followed the famed promoter from his first show in 1835 to his 1881 merging of his circus with that of James Anthony Bailey to form the Barnum & Bailey Circus, became a long-running success on Broadway upon its opening on April 30, 1980, largely due to the talents of its star, 44-year-old British actor/singer Jim Dale, who embodied the title role with all the extroverted charm required and won a Tony award for his trouble. Composer Cy Coleman and lyricist Michael Stewart's score was appealing, especially the inevitable "There Is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute" (Barnum's catch phrase), the lyrical ballad "The Colors of My Life," the lively "Come Follow the Band," and "Join the Circus," which Barnum and Bailey later featured as a theme song. Naturally, Coleman used circus music as his main inspiration, and Stewart imbued his lyrics with Barnum's sense of engaging balderdash. Barnum discoveries Joice Heth (Terri White), Tom Thumb (Leonard Crofoot), and Jenny Lind (Marianne Tatum) got their own songs, and there was a ringmaster (William C. Witter), who treated Barnum's life as though it was a series of circus acts. As Barnum's wife, Glenn Close had a rather thankless part, but she made the best of it, notably in her only solo, "The Colors of My Life (Part II)." Barnum necessarily loses a lot in a mere aural version, not only because Dale's stage-filling performance can't be seen, but also because the show on-stage is full of other circus performances. Still, the score is a stylistically consistent work that Dale and associates bring out well. The 2002 reissue adds four demos by Coleman and Stewart, including the cut songs "At Least I Tried" and "So Little Time." ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	05/28/2002
Label:	SONY MASTERWORKS
UPC:	0696998999923

Tracks

1. Barnum, musical~Overture Chase
2. Barnum, musical~There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute
3. Barnum, musical~Humble Beginnings Chase
4. Barnum, musical~Thank God I'm Old
5. Barnum, musical~The Colors Of My Life (Part 1)
6. Barnum, musical~The Colors Of My Life (Part 2)
7. Barnum, musical~One Brick At A Time
8. Barnum, musical~Museum Song
9. Barnum, musical~Female Of The Species Chase
10. Barnum, musical~I Like Your Style
11. Barnum, musical~Bigger Isn't Better
12. Barnum, musical~Love Makes Such Fools Of Us All
13. Barnum, musical~Midway Chase
14. Barnum, musical~Out There
15. Barnum, musical~Come Follow The Band
16. Barnum, musical~Black And White
17. Barnum, musical~The Colors Of My Life (reprise)
18. Barnum, musical~The Prince Of Humbug
19. Barnum, musical~Join The Circus
20. Barnum, musical~Finale Chase
21. Barnum, musical~The Final Event: There Is A Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute (reprise)
22. Barnum, musical~Come Follow The Band (bonus track)
23. Barnum, musical~At Least I Tried (bonus track)
24. Barnum, musical~So Little Time (bonus track)
25. Barnum, musical~Join The Circus (bonus track)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Original Broadway Cast   Primary Artist
Jim Dale   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Michael Stewart   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals
Terri White   Primary Artist,Lead Vocals
The Orchestra   Primary Artist
Barnum Cast Ensemble   Primary Artist
Glenn Close   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Circus Band   Primary Artist
Cy Coleman   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Lead Vocals
William C. Witter   Lead Vocals
Peter Phillips   Piano
Marianne Tatum   Lead Vocals
Barnum Ensemble (All Circus Performers)   Vocal Ensemble
Barnum Ensemble (Citizens of Bridgeport, Choir)   Vocal Ensemble
Barnum Ensemble (Washingtonians)   Vocal Ensemble
Peter Howard   Director,Conductor,Music Direction
Joe Layton   Staging,Director
Leonard John Crofoot   Lead Vocals
Karen Gustafson   Piano

Technical Credits

Joy Gilbert Manfried   Project Director
Andreas Meyer   Restoration
Abe Velez   Packaging Manager
Terri White   Performer
Frank D. Laico   Engineer
Mike Berniker   Producer
Potomac Marching Band   Instrumentation
Barnum Circus Band   Instrumentation
Barnum Orchestra   Instrumentation
Frank Laico   Engineer
Cy Coleman   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Vocal Arrangement
Darcy Proper   Reissue Producer,Mastering Engineer
Didier C. Deutsch   Reissue Producer
Peter Holsapple   Composer
Michael "Patches" Stewart   Composer
Michael Stewart   Composer,Lyricist,Lyricist
Michael Berniker   Producer
Vladimir Meller   Engineer
Ted Brosnan   Engineer
Joe Layton   Stage Director
Jim Dale & Company   Liner Notes
Glenn Close   Performer
Lisa Sparagano   Design
Jeremy Stone   Vocal Arrangement
Otts Munderloh   Sound Design
Joy Gilbert Monfried   Project Director
Hershy Kay   Orchestration
Abraham Velez   Packaging Manager
Martha Swope   Photography
Ken Fredette   Design,Art Direction
Stacey Boyle   Tape Research
Andreas K.W. Meyer   Restoration