The King and I [1964 Columbia Studio Cast]

by Rodgers & Hammerstein / Cook,Barbara

Overview

In his liner notes to the 1993 CD reissue of this 1964 studio cast recording of The King and I, Marc Kirkeby suggests two reasons for its existence, first that the 1951 original cast of the show "lacked great singers," and second that no stereo version of the show existed. But the 1956 original soundtrack, which was in stereo, boasted a "great singer" in Marni Nixon. Actually, there are two better reasons why Columbia Records chose to make a recording of the show. First, it didn't have one -- the original Broadway cast album was on Decca, and the original soundtrack was on Capitol. Second, RCA Victor, Columbia's third major rival, was about to record the 1964 Broadway revival. Coming up with a studio cast album gave Columbia a competitive product in the marketplace. The highlights of this version are found in the principals, Barbara Cook, who had appeared in a 1960 New York revival, giving a characteristically warm and affecting performance as Anna Leonowens, and Theodore Bikel, late of The Sound of Music, being, for once, a king who could sing. But the album on the whole falls victim to a typical weakness of studio cast albums: Never having been onstage together, the performers sound like they're in different shows. Bikel is the only one who is trying for a dramatic portrayal; Cook doesn't bother to alter her accent, so her declaration that she comes from Wales in one song is laughable. And songs like "My Lord and Master" are sung by opera singers -- like Jeanette Scovotti -- who sound like opera singers. The result is a muddle, though there are some fine performances. (This album marks the first recording of "Western People Funny." "March of the Siamese Children," a Cleveland Pops performance, has been added for the CD reissue.) ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	03/09/1993
Label:	SONY MASTERWORKS
UPC:	0074645332826

Tracks

1. The King and I, musical~Overture
2. The King and I, musical~I Whistle a Happy Tune
3. The King and I, musical~My Lord and Master
4. The King and I, musical~Hello, Young Lovers
5. The King and I, musical~March of the Siamese Children
6. The King and I, musical~Puzzlement
7. The King and I, musical~Getting to Know You
8. The King and I, musical~We Kiss in a Shadow
9. The King and I, musical~Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?
10. The King and I, musical~Something Wonderful
11. The King and I, musical~Western People Funny
12. The King and I, musical~I Have Dreamed
13. The King and I, musical~Song of the King
14. The King and I, musical~Shall We Dance?
15. The King and I, musical~Something Wonderful (Reprise)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

King and I Cast Ensemble   Primary Artist
Children's Choir   Primary Artist
Jeanette Scovotti   Primary Artist,Vocals
Theodore Bikel   Primary Artist,Vocals
Anita Darian   Primary Artist,Vocals
Daniel Ferro   Primary Artist,Vocals
Barbara Cook   Primary Artist,Vocals
The Orchestra   Primary Artist
Cleveland Pops Orchestra   Primary Artist
Women's Chorus of Dallas   Primary Artist
Lehman Engel   Director,Conductor,Orchestra,Choir/Chorus
Children's Chorus   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Oscar Hammerstein II   Lyricist,Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Philip J. Lang   Arranger,Orchestration
Edward Sorel   Cover Art
Ed Michalski   Engineer
Anita Darian   Performer
The Orchestra   Performer
Marc Kirkeby   Liner Notes
Thomas Z. Shepard   Producer,Digital Remastering
Theodore Bikel   Performer
Robert Waller   Balance Engineer,Engineer
Rodgers & Hammerstein   Composer
Fred Plaut   Engineer
Barbara Cook   Performer
Robert Wolf   Reissue Engineer
Cleveland Pops Orchestra   Performer