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By 1953, RCA Victor already boasted a considerable number of Broadway classics in its catalogue – from original cast recordings of Brigadoon and Paint Your Wagon to studio cast renditions of South Pacific and Finian’s Rainbow.  But the label was eager to build up its musical theatre repertoire and compete with the likes of Columbia and Decca.  To that end, the Show Time series was launched – a collection of 16 EPs, each dedicated to four songs from a beloved musical or operetta.  The EPs were also released as eight 10-inch LPs, with two shows per record (one on each side).  Despite featuring top-tier artists (many of whom starred in the shows on Broadway and elsewhere) and musical directors, most of these recordings have languished in obscurity throughout the CD and digital era.  Now, the U.K.’s Stage Door Records label has come to the rescue with a complete reissue of the Show Time series on CD.

On March 19, Stage Door will issue the first of three volumes collecting the full series.  The Show Time Series EP Collection Volume One presents RCA Victor’s EPs of six shows, for a total of 24 tracks from:

• Oklahoma! (Rodgers and Hammerstein);
• Carousel (Rodgers and Hammerstein);
• Show Boat (Kern and Hammerstein);
• The Cat and The Fiddle (Kern and Harbach);
• Babes in Arms (Rodgers and Hart); and
• Jumbo (Rodgers and Hart).

Oklahoma! and Carousel both feature leading man John Raitt who had performed Curly on tour in Oklahoma! and originated Billy Bigelow in Carousel on Broadway.  (A decade later, in 1964, Raitt would star in a complete Oklahoma! LP opposite Florence Henderson for Columbia.  The next year, he starred in a Music Theater of Lincoln Center revival of Carousel recorded by RCA.)  Show Boat preserves William C. Smith’s “Ol’ Man River” which he had performed in the show’s 1948 City Center revival.  Carol Bruce reprised “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” which she’d sung as Julie in both the 1946 and 1948 New York productions.  (Columbia had recorded the 1946 staging.)

Stephen Douglass (Damn Yankees) and Patricia Neway (The Sound of Music) surveyed The Cat and The Fiddle, and William Tabbert (South Pacific) and Lisa Kirk (Kiss Me, Kate) were among the performers enlisted for Babes in Arms.  Kirk joined Jack Cassidy in the selections from Jumbo.  (Two years earlier, Cassidy had recorded Babes in Arms for Columbia.)  Celebrated conductors Jay Blackton and Lehman Engel led the orchestras for these EPs.

Stage Door’s presentation of these 24 tracks on one CD is accompanied by a booklet featuring liner notes by George Dansker as well as a sessionography of recording dates.  The Show Time Series EP Collection Volume One is limited to 500 units only.  Future volumes will include Show Time recordings of Anything Goes, Porgy and Bess, Girl Crazy, Kiss Me, Kate, and more.

It’s Show Time on March 19 from Stage Door.  This title is made available due to current U.K. public domain laws.  Pre-orders placed directly from the label typically arrive before street date.  You’ll find the pre-order links and full track listing below.

Various Artists, The Show Time Series EP Collection Volume One (Stage Door STAGE 9081, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Stage Door)

Oklahoma! (EPA 474, 1953)

1. Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’ – John Raitt
2. Oklahoma! – John Raitt
3. People Will Say We’re in Love – Patricia Northrop and John Raitt
4. The Surrey with the Fringe on Top – John Raitt

Carousel (EPA 475, 1953)

5. If I Loved You – Doretta Morrow and John Raitt
6. June Is Bustin’ Out All Over – Brenda Lewis
7. You’ll Never Walk Alone – Brenda Lewis
8. What’s the Use of Wond’rin – Doretta Morrow

Show Boat (EPA 476, 1953)

9. Ol’ Man River – William C. Smith
10. Why Do I Love You? – Helena Bliss and John Tyers
11. Make Believe – Helena Bliss and John Tyers
12. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man – Carol Bruce

The Cat and The Fiddle (EPA 477, 1953)

13. The Night Was Made for Love – Stephen Douglass
14. She Didn’t Say Yes – Stephen Douglass
15. Try to Forget – Patricia Neway
16. Poor Pierrot – Patricia Neway and Stephen Douglass

Babes in Arms (EPA 478, 1953)

17. Where or When – William Tabbert
18. The Lady Is a Tramp – Lisa Kirk
19. My Funny Valentine – Lisa Kirk
20. Johnny One Note – Sheila Bond

Jumbo (EPA 479, 1953)

21. Little Girl Blue – Lisa Kirk
22. My Romance – Jack Cassidy
23. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World – Jack Cassidy
24. Over and Over Again – Jordan Bentley