Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast)

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Original Soundtracks » Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast)
Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast)
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  1. Audio CD: Release Date 1990-10-25
  2. Publisher: EMI Digital; 1990-10-25
  3. Format: Box set, Cast Recording, Soundtrack
  4. Sales Rank in Music: #76259

Product Review

John McGlinn's sprawling, monumental three-CD set is about all the Show Boat any listener could ever ask for. In an obvious labor of love, McGlinn reconstructs the show as it ran on opening night, November 15, 1927, including every song, the original orchestrations, and all underscored dialogue. The most significant restoration is the dark choral number "Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun'," as Show Boat's serious subject matter helped establish its place as the most important turning point in the history of American musical theater. McGlinn also adds an appendix that includes songs cut before opening night and every song subsequently written for the show's many productions, most notably the love duet "I Have the Room Above Her," written for the 1936 film. (The recording is also available in a one-disc reduction called the "Broadway Show Album.")

Rest assured this 221-minute blockbuster is not just dry scholarship; it's also terrific listening, with McGlinn conducting a dynamic London Sinfonietta and a strong cast including Frederica von Stade as Magnolia, Jerry Hadley as Ravenal, Teresa Stratas as the tragic Julie, Bruce Hubbard as the worldly wise Joe, Karla Burns as Queenie, and David Garrison and Paige O'Hara as the comic couple Frank and Ellie. And of course the songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II are among the most glorious ever written: "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe," "Why Do I Love You," "Bill," "You Are Love," and "Life upon the Wicked Stage." Also included are exhaustive production notes, a history of the show, a detailed synopsis, and a libretto. John McGlinn's Show Boat is a staggering achievement and a recording for the ages. --David Horiuchi
Title Tracks for Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast)

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Still takes my breath away, December 1, 1999
Michael K. Halloran - See all my reviews
This review is from: Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast) (Audio CD)
I bought this set ten years ago when it first came out and thought it was absolutely incredible. I recently listened to it through again and my opinion of it has only grown. "Show Boat" is a revolutionary musical in the history of the genre. First produced by Florenz Ziegfeld in 1927, it was not only ground-breaking but tremedously popular. This recording aims to present all the music written for the show; this includes variants, substitutions, cuts -- you name it, this set has got it. Indeed, the shock of the first word ("Niggers") sets the tone for this set. "Show Boat" never aims to be easy: it challenges prevailing racial attitudes by showing the past as it was, not whitewashing the unfortunate truth.Fortunately, besides a wealth of wonderful music and challenging drama, the cast, chorus, conductor, and orchestra are all top-notch. Frederica von Stade takes the pivotal role of Magnolia with charm and sincerity. While one may...Read more


22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest musical theatre albums ever produced, February 10, 2002
albertatamazon (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast) (Audio CD)
There have been recordings of "Show Boat" since the 1930's, and there will be more recordings of it in the future. And there is a definitive 1936 film version, with four of the original Broadway cast members and one London cast member, which gives one as close an idea of what the original stage production may have been like. But for those who want to experience all of "Show Boat"'s astonishingly beautiful score, well sung with its original lyrics (which do include the "n" word--be warned if you are playing this album for an unsuspecting guest), as well as the original 1927 orchestrations and vocal arrangements, this is the album to have.

It is not so much the individual singers that make this album so great. After all, the 1951 soundtrack album does have Howard Keel and William Warfield, the 1936 film does have Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, Helen Morgan and Paul Robeson, and the 1994 Harold Prince revival (the Toronto version), is one of the finest sung show albums ever made...Read more


16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The only really great operatic staged recording of a musical, November 17, 2001
Jay Dickson (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast) (Audio CD)
The Eighties saw many recordings of classic musicals by operatic stars; many of them were passably solid (Frederica von Stade's SOUND OF MUSIC and ANTHING GOES), some were astonishingly odd (the WEST SIDE STORY with Kiri Te Kanawa as Maria and José Carreras--!!!--as Tony). But John McGlinn's loving re-creation of SHOW BOAT--in all its entirety, with all its many variations in songs and music--was by far the most spectacular and most beautifully accomplished. The operatic cast is ideal, from Teresa Stratas as a terrifyingly vulnerable Julie to Jerry haldey as a suitably overripe Ravenal, and the musical comedy stars like Paige O'Hara and David Garrison shiune in their roles. Best of all, it showcases many of the songs Kern and Hammerstein wrote for diofferent versions of SHOW BOAT that have been lost over the years, from the dark and haunting "Mis'ry's Comin' Round" chorus from Act I to the thrilling New Year's chorus of Act II. McGlinn has a great Magnolia in...Read more

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