Oklahoma! [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by 1964 Studio Cast

Overview

Composer Richard Rodgers once praised Florence Henderson as the ideal vehicle for his kind of music -- pretty, extroverted, and gifted with a very natural-sounding voice. In this studio recording of the groundbreaking musical Oklahoma!, Henderson sang the role of Laurey, a part she'd previously performed in a road company of the show. Joining her as Curly was John Raitt, who had originated the role of Billy in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel. Also receiving top billing on this recording was Phyllis Newman (a Tony award winner for Subways Are for Sleeping) as Ado Annie, the gal who "cain't say no." Each of these stars was in fine form, singing in a style -- unforced and full of personality -- that would no doubt please Rodgers. What mars this recording, however, is an echoey sound that ends up being too studio-bound for its own good. The voices are also saddled with unnecessarily cartoonish "new orchestrations" by Philip J. Lang. Unlike the straightforward and effective orchestrations created by Robert Russell Bennett for the original stage production, Lang overloaded the music with banjos, brass hits, and other '50s-era overkill, creating a sound more at home in a Lawrence Welk or Ferrante & Teicher arrangement than in a production of Oklahoma. Effectively, this recording remains a curious relic too tied to its 1964 recording date, thus negating the underlying timelessness of the material. ~ Neil Shurley

Product Details

Release Date:	03/13/2001
Label:	Emi Angel
UPC:	0724352735020

Tracks

1. Oklahoma!, musical~Overture
2. Oklahoma!, musical~Main Title
3. Oklahoma!, musical~Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'
4. Oklahoma!, musical~The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
5. Oklahoma!, musical~Kansas City
6. Oklahoma!, musical~Kansas City Ballet
7. Oklahoma!, musical~I Cain't Say No
8. Oklahoma!, musical~Many A New Day
9. Oklahoma!, musical~Many A New Day Ballet
10. Oklahoma!, musical~People Will Say We're In Love
11. Oklahoma!, musical~Pore Jud Is Daid
12. Oklahoma!, musical~Out Of My Dreams
13. Oklahoma!, musical~Out Of My Dreams Ballet
14. Oklahoma!, musical~Entr'acte
15. Oklahoma!, musical~The Farmer And The Cowman
16. Oklahoma!, musical~The Farmer And The Cowman Ballet
17. Oklahoma!, musical~All Er Nuthin'
18. Oklahoma!, musical~All Er Nuthin' Ballet
19. Oklahoma!, musical~People Will Say We're In Love (reprise)
20. Oklahoma!, musical~Oklahoma
21. Oklahoma!, musical~Finale: Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'
22. Oklahoma!, musical~Overture (LP version)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Orchestra   Primary Artist
Jay C. Flippen   Primary Artist,Vocals
James Whitmore   Primary Artist,Vocals
Joan Roberts   Primary Artist
Alfred Drake   Primary Artist
Gordon MacRae   Primary Artist,Vocals
Shirley Jones   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals,Vocals
Charlotte Greenwood   Primary Artist,Vocals
Gene Nelson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Celeste Holm   Primary Artist
Chorus   Primary Artist
Rod Steiger   Primary Artist,Vocals
Lee Dixon   Primary Artist
Gloria Grahame   Primary Artist,Vocals
MGM Studio Symphony Orchestra   Orchestra
Darcy Proper   Vocals
Jay Blackton   Vocals,Conductor
Oklahoma Cast Ensemble Men's Chorus   Choir/Chorus
Jay Flippen   Vocals

Technical Credits

John Palladino   Engineer,Editing,Producer,Mastering,Mastering Producer
Gordon H. Jee   Design,Art Direction
Jessica Novod Berenblat   Art Direction
Robert La Porta   Producer,Project Director
Darcy Proper   Remixing,Mastering,Digital Mastering,Digital Remastering
Charles Granata   Producer,Liner Notes,Reissue Producer
James Whitmore   Performer
Didier C. Deutsch   Producer,Liner Notes,Photo Courtesy,Re-Release Producer
Peter Matz   Unknown Contributor Role
Gordon MacRae   Performer
Charlotte Greenwood   Performer
Gene Nelson   Performer
Rod Steiger   Performer
Adolph Deutsch   Adaptation
Robert Russell Bennett   Arranger
Oscar Hammerstein II   Composer,Lyricist
Richard Rodgers   Composer
David Foil   Liner Notes
Jessica Novod   Design,Art Direction
Robert "Rocky" Rieger   Transfers
Robert Norberg   Unknown Contributor Role
Robert Helfer   Unknown Contributor Role
Oklahoma Cast Ensemble   Cast
Fred Zinnemann   Unknown Contributor Role
Burton Yount   Design,Art Direction