Kiss Me, Kate - The New Broadway Cast Recording (2000)

BROADWAY WEEK (SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2011)

Music & Lyrics: Cole Porter

Porter is one of my favorite writers of the first half of the 20th century. He always could write catchy songs, but he has two musicals that stand above all his others because they are so consistently strong: Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate. This 1999 revival ran for about 2 years. Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marin Mazzie, and Amy Spanger were perfectly cast and the revised orchestrations and quicker tempos brought a slightly updated sound to the revival without destroying the music. Sure, modern Broadway singers often feel the need to scream at the top of their lungs and over emote with every song they sing, but the material here is strong enough to compensate for that. Probably not the definitive version of this score, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: My favorites here are Another Op'nin' Another Show, Why Can't You Behave, Too Darn Hot (maybe my all-time fav Porter tune), Always True To You, and the lightweight We Open In Venice (which quickly becomes an earworm that is hard for me to shake). I usually skip I Hate Men, Kiss Me Kate, and Bianca. Even though it is one of the more popular songs from this musical, So In Love does nothing for me.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I saw this revival in January, 2000 at a Sunday matinee. As I approached the theater, I saw veteran actor Jerry Orbach and his wife. They were hanging around the entrance, apparently waiting for another couple to join them. I wasn't star-struck and was about to go introduce myself and tell him how much my children enjoy him as Lumière in Beauty And The Beast. But then I noticed that absolutely nobody was bothering him, so I figured I'd leave him alone, too, and let him enjoy his afternoon at the theater.

Various Artists - I Get A Kick Out Of You: The Cole Porter Songbook, Volume II (1991)

Classy versions of Cole Porter songs recorded by jazz's greatest vocalists; a Porter compilation done right by Verve Records. Most of the recordings date from the '50s, but there's a few from later decades as well. If all Porter had ever done was write memorable melodies, that would have been enough. But he was also a master lyricist as well, showing his wry sense of humor time and time again. I was unfamiliar with a few of the songs on this disc, which made for some fun discoveries. This would be a great cocktail party CD because every tune subtly swings and if your guests didn't like the music, you probably didn't want them at your party anyway. I'm tellin' you hep cats: this music really swings!

Tracks: Highlights here include Louis Armstrong singing You're The Top and I Get A Kick Out Of You with Oscar Peterson on piano, Dinah Washington singing So In Love, and Too Darn Hot by the Velvet Fog. I also like Shirley Horn's take on Get Out Of Town, and Ella Fitzgerald's rendition of Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Lunch Today) - dare I call this the definitive version of that classic? A fantastic band saves the classic Night And Day from Fred Astaire's vocals. Still, none of the 17 tracks should be skipped.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Even though I was a long-time Porter fan, I really went through a phase in the late '90s. CDs, movies, musicals, biographies, the whole nine yards. This was purchased during that phase. I can't believe I don't have the first volume.

Frank Sinatra - Sinatra Sings Cole Porter (2003)

A compilation of Sinatra recordings from the '40s. Porter was the complete package: catchy music and fun lyrics ("Do do that voodoo that you do so well"). You can't go wrong with Cole Porter, but this isn't a great disc. Mainly, that's due to the poor arrangements. While many of these tunes would be incredible swing band tunes, what we have here is Sinatra singing ballads over cheesy, shrill strings and backup singers. I have to assume that Sinatra was playing to the crowds of hysterical housewives that lapped up his music at the time (there's some live radio tracks here with screaming women to prove the point). Just to be fair, the recordings do have some historical value but it's really not a good representation of Sinatra's recordings of Porter songs. Every now and then, you can catch a phrase or two of Sinatra singing at the top of his game and that almost makes this disc worth it. 10 of the 18 tracks are radio performances so the recording quality isn't that great, it simply indicates that Sony was trying to make a little money by cleaning out the vaults. I should have purchased the 1996 compilation Frank Sinatra Sings The Select Cole Porter with arrangements by the incomparable Nelson Riddle. I still might.

Tracks: Some of my favorite Porter tunes are here, including I Get a Kick Out Of You, Begin the Beguine, Night and Day, Why Can't You Behave? (possibly the best track on the disc). Also included is a fun, playful duet with Rosemary Clooney, Cherry Pies Ought To Be You.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None