I thoroughly enjoyed this cd;the performances were unusual, but for me, really hit the mark.
Manhatten especially, was perfomed in a manner that is quite different, but the unusual arrangement made it all the more interesting.
The charm of a Rodgers and Hart song is the words. Rodgers was good, but without Hart, he would not be nearly as well remembered or loved. His stint with Hammerstein depended on the maudlin stupidity of Hammerstein's words attracting the vacuity of the american public. They suck. Though they do achieve a kind of amateurish poetry that other lyricists don't even try for. Hammerstein, which I've never heard anyone say before, could be quite witty. That said, this CD. I stupidly asked about the timings (I bought this through the Amazon Marketplace and consequently didn't lose much money) after I'd ordered the CD. Most of the choruses of "Manhattan" and "Mt. Greenery" are, as usual, left out. "As usual." That's the phrase. This is an "as usual" collection of R&H standards. It has as far as I'm concerned only 3 things to recommend it. "Bewitched, Bothered..." is sung with the original earthy lyric which after about 65 years of the Doris Day version was a joy. I think that track, by the way, is from the English cast revival, but I'm not sure. "Small Hotel" is sung complete, all the words, including the verse and the patter. And sigh "You Took Advantage of Me" is given a wonderful rendition, I thought. The rest is pleasant, achingly familiar background music. Maybe in another 100 years or so, all (or most or lots) R&H's rarities with complete lyrics will have made it to CDs (or their equivalent), and even hopefully some more studio cast recordings of their shows. Complete. I was very disappointed in this CD, and very glad I only spent $10.50 total for it.
