Classic Julie: Classic Broadway

by Julie Andrews

Overview

After a period of relative inactivity as a recording artist, Julie Andrews, then in her late fifties, returned to the recording studio for a series of projects for the Philips label in the early '90s. First, there was a studio cast recording of The King and I in 1992 in which she naturally took the role of Anna Leonowens, singing songs like "Hello, Young Lovers" and "Getting to Know You." Then there were two songwriter albums, Julie Andrews: Broadway - The Music of Richard Rodgers, released in 1994, and Julie Andrews: Broadway - Here I'll Stay - The Words of Alan Jay Lerner, held for release until 1996. Finally, Andrews took the original Broadway cast album of Victor/Victoria to Philips in 1995. Selections from these releases have been combined to create this compilation. Andrews is heard re-creating some of the music she is best known for, including medleys from My Fair Lady and Camelot, as well as The Sound of Music. But she also takes the opportunity to try out songs she never got the chance to sing onstage or in films, such as "On a Clear Day" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and "A Cock-Eyed Optimist" from South Pacific. Even in the works she did do, there are songs which were sung by others that she here appropriates, such as "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music. Even in her maturity, Andrews retains not only her famous poise and precise intonation, but also a wonderful voice. There are occasions when the orchestrations are overly bombastic, and there are song choices that do not entirely suit the singer, particularly the lusty "Bewitched." But most of the collection is impressive, if poignant, since, at least at the time of its release, it seemed to present the best of Andrews' final recordings. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	06/19/2001
Label:	Universal Classics & Jazz
UPC:	0028946859322
Rank:	201246

Tracks

1. On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, musical~On a Clear Day
2. South Pacific, musical~A Cock-Eyed Optimist
3. Hello Young Lovers, song (from "The King and I")
4. Here I'll Stay, song for voice & piano (from "Love Life")
5. My Fair Lady, musical~Overture (Excerpt)
6. My Fair Lady, musical~Wouldn't it be Lovely (Excerpt)
7. My Fair Lady, musical~Let a Woman (Excerpt)
8. My Fair Lady, musical~Just You Wait (Excerpt)
9. My Fair Lady, musical~Poor Professor Higgins (Excerpt)
10. My Fair Lady, musical~The Rain in Spain (Excerpt)
11. My Fair Lady, musical~You Did It (Excerpt)
12. My Fair Lady, musical~Show Me (Excerpt)
13. My Fair Lady, musical~I Could Have Danced All Night (Excerpt)
14. My Fair Lady, musical~I've Grown Accustomed to His Face (Excerpt)
15. Getting to Know You, song (from "The King and I")

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Julie Andrews   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ian Fraser   Primary Artist,Conductor,Musical Direction
Billy Byers   Primary Artist
Eddie Karam   Primary Artist
Angela Morley   Primary Artist
John Mauceri   Conductor
Ambrosian Singers   Choir/Chorus,Vocal Ensemble,Vocals (Background)
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra   Orchestra
London Musicians Orchestra   Orchestra

Technical Credits

Ian Fraser   Concept,Arranger
Denis McNamara   Compilation Producer
Penny Bennett   Creative Director
Carla Leighton   Design,Reissue Art
Frederick Loewe   Composer
Burton Lane   Composer
Angela Morley   Performer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Oscar Hammerstein II   Lyricist,Composer
Eddie Karam   Performer
Kurt Weill   Composer
Henry Mancini   Composer
Brian Drutman   Compilation Producer
Thomas Z. Shepard   Producer
Leslie Bricusse   Composer
Jay David Saks   Producer
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Frank Wildhorn   Composer
Michael Gore   Producer
Alan Jay Lerner   Lyricist,Composer
Billy Byers   Performer