Gower Champion was a dancer, a choreographer, and a director of musicals; he was not a songwriter. Therefore, the idea of organizing a club act (or a record album) consisting of songs from shows he was associated with is, strictly speaking, dubious. The best way to salute Champion would be to present a selection of the dances he performed and created. But Barbara Cook is a singer, not a dancer, and the show tune is her area of expertise. After beginning this live album from the Café Carlyle with a medley of songs from two ...
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Gower Champion was a dancer, a choreographer, and a director of musicals; he was not a songwriter. Therefore, the idea of organizing a club act (or a record album) consisting of songs from shows he was associated with is, strictly speaking, dubious. The best way to salute Champion would be to present a selection of the dances he performed and created. But Barbara Cook is a singer, not a dancer, and the show tune is her area of expertise. After beginning this live album from the Café Carlyle with a medley of songs from two shows Champion directed on Broadway, "We Love You Conrad" (rendered as "We love you, Gower") from Bye Bye Birdie and "Before the Parade Passes By" and "It Only Takes a Moment" from Hello, Dolly!, Cook notes that, among his more prominent credits, Champion once directed a regional production of Annie Get Your Gun, adding, "and that gives us a perfect right to do this next Irving Berlin song," "I Got the Sun in the Morning." Not so much a right as an excuse, one might carp, but Cook has a perfect right to sing any show tune she likes, on any pretext she chooses. And if the basic concept is suspect, you can't say the singer hasn't done her homework. This is very much an act, not just a collection of arbitrarily selected songs. Cook went out and interviewed people who knew and worked with Champion, and in between songs she provides anecdotes and insights into his career that will be gobbled up by show music fans. Those same fans, who have been in Cook's corner for decades, of course, will enjoy not only her treatments of the familiar standards, but also (and perhaps especially) the songs drawn from unsuccessful shows like The Happy Time and Mack and Mabel that have been little heard since those musicals closed decades ago. In Cook's warm, knowing interpretations, "Among My Yesterdays" and "Look What Happened to Mabel," among other lost gems, shine again. This intimate performance (the instrumentation is restricted to piano and bass, while the Café Carlyle is as tiny a listening room as it is tony) is both a musical accomplishment and a fascinating history lesson. Who cares if there's no dancing? ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fair. All our items come in the original case with artwork, though manuals and slipcovers are not always guaranteed to be included as these items are donated goods and will show some wear and tear from normal use. Jewel cases will be included but may be damaged and/or cracked. We typically resurface discs that are visibly scratched prior to shipping, but we do not test disc(s). Digital codes may not be included and have not been tested to be redeemable and/or active. Thank you for shopping with Goodwill Colorado! Orders shipped Monday through Friday. Safe and Secure Bubble Mailer! Your purchase helps put people to work and learn life skills to reach their full potential. Thank you!
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Good. This item has very light surface scratches that do not affect the use of the disc/s. This is a USED item. Case and cover may or may not have wear or damage. All items unless otherwise noted will include disc, case, and artwork. Codes have been used. Other contents such as booklets may vary, please inquire for details. All items ship Monday-Friday within 2-3 business days.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
