popular music:

	Kiss Me, Kate (1948 Original Broadway Cast) Cole Porter, Alfred Drake, ... Sony, 1998 average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

for more information click here

Very rarely has the score been bettered than the original 1949 cast album, reissued here on the Columbia Broadway Masterworks label. Patricia Morison plays Lilli, with Alfred Drake (OKLAHOMA!, KISMET, GIGI) as Fred, the feuding, ego-ridden leads. Lisa Kirk (ALLEGRO, MACK AND MABEL) is the sexy young starlet Lois, with Harold Lang (PAL JOEY) as her caddish boyfriend Bill.

KISS ME KATE opened at the New Century Theatre on Broadway in 1949, making history in its run of over 1000 performances. Patricia Morison is perfectly-suited to the role of Lilli. She offers a glowing rendition of "So in Love", whilst her duet with Alfred Drake in the tongue-in-cheek "Wunderbar" is sublime. Lisa Kirk gets three of the big showstoppers ("Why Can't You Behave?", "Tom Dick or Harry" and "Always True to You in My Fashion"), and nails each and every one. Harold Lang was a better dancer than he ever was as a singer, but is quite good on this disc.

A must-own.

for more information click here

Beautiful remastering of historic original cast recording

Recorded in January 1949, this album of KATEGORIE|/kiss" class="textlinks">KISS ME KATE has remained in print adn a steady best-seller for over 50 years now.

The sound on this newly remastered CD is crisp and clear and easily surpasses all previous issues. Sony even uses the original artwork from the very first LP release.

The performances remain as fresh as ever. Alfred Drake was Broadway's top leading man and sounds just glorious. Pat Morrison had less of a career but sounds just perfect as Lilli. Lisa Kirk is wonderful as Lois, and Harold Lang makes the most of his few moments on the record as her boyfriend, Bill. In an unusual move these peopel reunited 10 years later to re-record the score for Capitol in true stereo. They still sound great on that recording (on CD as part of the Broadway Angel series) but the performances are fresher on this recording made just 2 weeks after KIS ME KATE had opened on Broadway to rave reviews.

The CD booklet has good info about the show, though curiously, no synopsis. There are, however, a half dozen pictures of the original production. This edition featureds longer takes of "We Open in Venice", "I Hate Men" and "Too Darn Hot" though the total extra music adds but a minute to the album's running time. A bonus track of the Overture dates from a 1958 stereo recording by Lehman Engle.

KISS ME KATE was the first Tony Award winner for Best Musical (1949). The 1999 revival won a Tony for Best Revival.

for more information click here

Wish I had seen the actual Show!!!!

I wish I was about 20 when KATEGORIE|/kiss" class="textlinks">Kiss Me Kate opened so I could have witnessed this body shaking, gut bursting work of Cole Porter. This is the first time I've heard it. I can still feel the voices and music pumping through my blood stream with pleasure. You have to get it to get it so get it. You'll be more than greatful you did. Pardon me, I'm going to listen to it again!


Masterfully written

"KATEGORIE|/kiss" class="textlinks">Kiss Me, Kate" is a masterfully written show. The interplay between the stage and backstage is superb. The variety of music, from the near-classical "Were Thine That Special Face," to the comic "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," with the more traditional Broadway sound of "Wunderbar," holds the listener's interest throughout.
But, about this recording--
Who else but Alfred Drake could carry the role of Fred Graham? Patricia Morrison, properly shrewish as Lilli. The flirty voice of Lisa Kirk. Even Harold Lang, who is not the greatest singer ever to hit Broadway.
Wonderfully written, wonderfully performed, wonderfully recorded and remastered!

for more information click here

The best and maybe the last CD of this great musical.

Now is the perfect time to buy the CD of this.

Sony's transfer engineers used state-of-the-art restoration software to remove the roughness and surface noise from the originals, but (thankfully) they resisted the urge to tart-up the sound with artificial reverb, faux stereo, and thundering bass. This is by far the best-sounding CD of this ever released, and it may be the last.

The age of music ownership in America could be drawing to a close. Five years from now, this music may only be available by download, you might only be "borrowing" it, and it probably won't come with the the authentic cover art or the 26-page booklet.

(See also the original broadway CD of Out of This World.)

for more information click here

reviews: page 1, 2, 3



Tracks
Act I. Overture | Act I. Another Op'nin, Another Show | Act I. Why Can't You Behave? | Act I. Wunderbar | Act I. So In Love | Act I. We Open In Venice | Act I. Tom, Dick Or Harry | Act I. I've Come To Wive It Wealthily In Padua | Act I. I Hate Men | Act I. Were Thine That Special Face | Act II. Too Darn Hot | Act II. Where Is The Life That Late I Led? | Act II. Always True To You (In My Fashion) | Act II. Bianca | Act II. So In Love (Reprise) | Act II. Brush Up Your Shakespeare | Act II. I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple | Act II. Finale: Kiss Me, Kate | Overture [bonus track]

products you might be interested in

recommendations

"LEGITIMATE" VOICES . . . THE BARITONES (part 1 of ?)
The Classic COLUMBIA cast albums Part One: 1946-1959
There's no one around. Let's misbehave.
A collection of albums (Part 1)
Musicals

original

	Greatest Hits Once Sex And The City: Music From the Original Motion Picture At Folsom Prison Twilight Soundtrack

broadway

	Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast) Gypsy - 2008 Original Broadway Cast Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific (The New Broadway Cast) The Story So Far.. Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA: A Decca Broadway ...

cast

	Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast Recording) Repo! The Genetic Opera Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA: A Decca Broadway ... Gypsy - 2008 Original Broadway Cast Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)