[.ca] Damn Yankees

This One's Really Fun...:
"Damn Yankees" was one of two film musicals co-produced by George Abbot and Stanley Donen, the other one being "The Pajama Game." Both pictures were marked by an exuberance that you rarely saw, even in movies of the time, and the feeling really comes through on this CD. Two cautions: (1) because of censorship requirements of the time, several songs are truncated or included with revised "radio" lyrics - don't expect a complete recording of the score, and (2) studio executives forced Tab Hunter into the "Joe Hardy" part -- he tries gamely, but he really can't sing or dance. Still, the album as a whole is a treat. Particular highlights include Ray Walston (as the devil) savoring "Those Were The Good Old Days," Gwen Verdon's sultry "Whatever Lola Wants," and the cast's "Shoeless Joe" number. And yes, that's a young Bob Fosse cutting up with Verdon in the "Who's Got the Pain" number near the end. For the soundtrack of a 50's vintage picture, the audio is clean and has a fair range to it. For the price, this disc is one great deal.

The ultimate nostalgic trip:
With hesitation I rented Damn Yankees, being that I hate baseball and everything associated with it. However, this film really is about something much different...and the soundtrack really captures the enchantment of this story...about how our dreams are the figments of our realities. And Gwen Verdon...sheeee-it.

It certainly has more than "A Lil Bwains, A Lil Tawent"...:
This is absolutely one of my favorite CD's in the entire world. First, let's talk about the differences between it and the Broadway CD. The Broadway recording contains two absolutely lovely songs, "A Man Doesn't Know" and "Near To You", and also the hilarious "The Game." These three were cut from the movie and replaced by "There's Something About An Empty Chair" (The only Damn Yankees song I cannot stand... it's just not fun nor pretty...). Otherwise, with a few changes in the length and phrasing of "A Little Brains, A Little Talent", "Whatever Lola Wants", and "Who's Got The Pain"... it's no different than the Broadway CD. However, I LIKE this CD more than the Broadway CD. I don't know why... the background music just sounds better to me over all, and Gwen Verdon actually SOUNDS like herself. Don't get me wrong, I own the Broadway CD also and I LOVE IT, but if you're debating, this is definitely the way to go (unless one of the cut songs is your favorite). After all, there's nothing like hearing the phrases "Hallo Joe!" and "ERP!" now is there? :o)

Dynamic recording of great score:
This soundtrack of the 1958 film version of the Adler-Ross Broadway hit "Damn Yankees" really makes me wish I could get my hands on a copy of the film itself. This great score is very well-represented by the entire cast, almost all of it directly from the original Broadway company. Dynamic readings from the baseball players and Rae Allen as the reporter in "Heart" and "Shoeless Joe," Ray Walston recreating his Tony-winning role as Mr. Applegate in "Those Were the Good Old Days," and especially the great Gwen Verdon, also recreating her Tony-winning, starmaking role of Lola. Though she was probably a better dancer than a singer, Verdon makes up for it with her incredible energy and zest. (And I bet nobody noticed her singing skills in the film, as I expect she was dancing too well for them to even care) From "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" to her famous "Whatever Lola Wants" seduction to "Who's Got the Pain," which also features her choreographer and later husband, Bob Fosse, Verdon is wonderful. And the shows two ballads, "Goodbye, Old Girl" and "There's Something About An Empty Chair" (The last written especially for the film) are pretty good, too. Definitly worth a look.

Could be better, but competent:
This CD is an exact replica of the 1958 LP. My only regret is the fact that they should have re-issued the original tracks with the underscoring and full dance orchestrations. As it stands, this is a very enjoyable listening experience with "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" (Verdon) being the show's standout number.

• Overture - Warner Bros. Orchestra
• Six Months Out of Every Year - Shannon Boliin, Robert Shafer
• Goodbye, Old Girl - Tab Hunter, Robert Shafer
• Heart - Russ Brown, Nathaniel Frey, Jimmie Komack, Albert Linville
• Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo. - Rae Allen
• There's Something About an Empty Chair - Shannon Boliin
• Whatever Lola Wants - Warner Bros. Orchestra
• Little Brains, a Little Talent - Gwen Verdon
• Whatever Lola Wants - Gwen Verdon
• Those Were the Good Old Days - Ray Walston
• Who's Got the Pain? - Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon
• Two Lost Souls - Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon
• There's Something About an Empty Chair (Reprise) - Shannon Boliin, Robert Shafer