Jo Stafford singing “I’ll Buy It,” with music by Burton Lane, from the CBS TV musical Junior Miss.

mikerhone:

me2ism:

“There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” from Sweet Charity (Original London Cast, 1967)

music Cy Coleman lyric Dorothy Fields

performance Josephine Blake, Paula Kelly, Juliet Prowse

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Meanwhile, Across the Pond: London Cast Recordings of Broadway Hits, Day 4

This is most certainly my favorite song in the score—and perhaps by favorite in Cy Coleman’s catalog.  I find the hook in the accompaniment irresistible.  All three ladies give joyous and idiosyncratic performances here (click on their names to learn more about them), and the recording is more complete than the version found on the OBCR.

You may want to check out my earlier post from this recording of Prowse singing “You Should See Yourself”.

One of my favorite songs, too.  And it contains what is probably my most favorite lyric in all of musical theater: “When I sit at my desk on the forty-first floor/In my copy of a copy of a copy of Dior.”

Think about what Dorothy Fields did with those last nine words.  This character’s fondest dream isn’t to have a Dior original.  Or a copy.  But a copy of a copy of a copy.  Every sad little thing you need to know about that character in nine short words.  Incredible.

blues2broadway:

As I wait for bosses to clear the work, I shall hum this to make myself feel better. My go to song for feel-sorry-for-myself nights, a Jerome Kern (I believe) collaboration with Dorothy Fields (I believe too. Life’s hard without googling…. ). Here sung wonderfully by Ella Fitzgerald, but the version in my head is usually Fred Astaire and Ginger  Rogers. 

I can’t remember whether I did a Kern day. I definitely haven’t put up Fields. I have a request for William Finn. I shall line them all up. 

me2ism:

“On the Sunny Side of the Street” from Lucky in the Rain (2000 Studio Cast Recording)

music Jimmy McHugh lyric Dorothy Fields

performance Barbara Cook

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Read More

(Click through for video.)

pumpkinpandas:

Let’s get all 1920’s up in this bitch.

Fuck Yeah Remixes!

me2ism:

“You Should See Yourself” from Sweet Charity (Original London Cast)

music Cy Coleman lyric Dorothy Fields

performance Juliet Prouse

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I seem to have fallen down a Sweet Charity rabbit hole, inspired by this video.  And I ain’t even mad.  

And I love Prouse’s take light, bouncy take on this song.  The Verdon version (verd-sion?) somewhat annoys me.  

me2ism:

Dusty Springfield - If My Friends Could See Me Now 

(thanks to my friend Greg)

yourdailybway:

Blackbirds of 1928 | Baby
Adelaide Hall, with Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds Orchestra, accompanied by Will Vodery’s Plantation Orchestra

Music: Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics:  Dorothy Fields

Note: The Plantation Orchestra was the pit band for the production.

broadwayelevators:

Sound Stage 9 Orchestra
“The Rhythm of Life” from Sweet Charity
Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
from Music From Sweet Charity

This is typical of the quickie tie-in albums made when a show is a hit or a film version gets made. Released by Vocalion, a budget imprint of Decca at the time, to tie into the movie adaptation of Sweet Charity, this disc was recorded by studio players assembled just for the occasion. Nevertheless, its groovy arrangements highlighting unexpected instrument choices (flute! bells! harp!) makes it a fun listen. Plus, it includes covers of the songs written for the film, which get recorded far less frequently than “Big Spender” or “If My Friends Could See Me Now.”

What do you think, are instrumental numbers fair game on a blog devoted to a lyricist?