Minnie's Boys

Minnie's Boys Artist: Original Cast
Label: Project 3
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Format: Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD


UPC: 083673600227
EAN: 0083673600227
ASIN: B000008IIC


Release Date: 1992-03-30

Minnie's Boys


Related Categories:

Movie Soundtracks Movie Soundtracks
Categories | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. Five Growing Boys
  3. Rich Is
  4. Empty
  5. Nacogdoches Vaudeville Sequence: The Four Nightingales/Underneath It
  6. Mama, a Rainbow
  7. You Don't Have to Do It for Me
  8. Where Was I When They Passed Out Luck?
  9. You Remind Me of You
  10. They Give Me Love
  11. Minnie's Boys
  12. Be Happy
  13. Act/Finale

Similar Items:

  1. Ernest in Love (1960 Original Broadway Cast)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A lost gem.......2003-12-23

Finding the original cast album for "Minnie's Boys" is nearly-impossible. Through a ton of research and looking and hunting, I found one (At an absurdly high price) and snatched it up immediately, and I haven't regretted it since. This score is very catchy and has some songs that every bit as good a some of the smash hit musicals around today.

My initial complaint about the album was Shelley Winters performance as Minnie. Now, I realize that Ms. Winters probably suffers from the same fate as Bernadette Peters, Hairspray star Marissa Jaret Winkour, and other Broadway superstars in that what is compelling and endearing onstage doesn't always translate well on a CD. Shelley Winters really can't sing, I don't think. She tends to speak most of her songs, which actually (in my mind) works, but I can see how it would annoy some people.

The CD does not contain any cast information, so I don't know who the actors playing the FIVE Marx Brothers are (Yes, Gummo is included here) but they deliver solid performances. I believe Lewis J. Stadlen is playing Groucho, and he brings those legendary Groucho-isms to life. Whoever the actor is playing Harpo delivers a gorgeous "Mama, a rainbow" and when the Four Marx Brothers we've grown to love (NOT including Gummo) join together for the fantastic "Where was I when they passed out the luck?" it all works.

Since Amazon doesn't have a lot of information on this record, I'll fill in the blanks.

TRACKS:
1) OVERTURE: Bouncy and fun, reminds me a little of the "Mack and Mabel" overture if that means anything to you.

2) FIVE GROWING BOYS: We meet Minnie and several of her friends as they gather and complain about Minnie's five "lazy...happy...crazy...helpless, etc" boys. A nice fun uptempo opener.

3) RICH IS: The Marxes dream of wealth. Very funny moments, uptempo, and fun.

4) EMPTY: A slow ballad, lovely.

5) VAUDEVILLE ACT: Funny, as the boys break into showbiz and suffer from stage fright at the same time.

6) MAMA, A RAINBOW: Harpo sings this haunting ballad to Minnie when her birthday has been forgotten. Gorgeous song, the sheet music can be found in one of the Tenor editions of the Singers Musical Theatre Anthology.

7) YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IT FOR ME: Probably my least favorite song on the CD. Shelley Winters speak-sings this song, which I just don't think is catchy.

8) WHERE WAS I (WHEN THEY PASSED OUT LUCK): A true highlight of this CD, as Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo - or Julius, Leonard, Adolph, and Herbert - lament their troubles. Funny song, VERY catchy.

9) YOU REMIND ME OF YOU: Julius as Groucho performs this very VERY Groucho-appropriate song with a woman who I belive is supposed to be a lot like Margaret Dumont. It's very much like something from a Marx film. The writers of this song were obviously big Marx fans.

10) THEY GIVE ME LOVE: Shelley Winters sings more on this track than any other, and she's very effective as she talks about how despite everything her boys do to drive her crazy, she's lucky.

11) MINNIE'S BOYS: The BIG ensemble number, as the boys make it big and play the Palace. Very catchy song, very fun to sing.

12) BE HAPPY: A quiet highlight of the album. Minnie and the boys sing together about taking risks and being happy. It's a gorgeous song.

13) FINALE: Funny, and very cool, as the Marxes act is reconstructed and built into what we, as a modern audience, know today as their trademarks. Harpo's horn and wig, Groucho's mustache and walk, Zeppo as the straight man, Chico at the keys with his hat. Finally, the classic 'Marx Brothers' are born.

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