Buy from North America

Buy UK or Rest of World

Download Links

> iTunes > Prime Music > Spotify > YouTube Music

You may also like

Guys and Dolls (Highlights) CDJAY 1356

THREE CD PRESENTATION

Music Lyrics and Libretto by
Frank Loesser

Starring
Louis Quilico (In his last ever recording)
Emily Loesser
Richard Muenz
Nancy Shade
Don Stephenson
Karen Ziemba

and Special Guest
Jo Sullivan Loesser

The National Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by
John Owen Edwards

There are three Opera masterpieces from Broadway, George Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS, Kurt Weill's STREET SCENE and Frank Loesser's THE MOST HAPPY FELLA. JAY Records are proud to add the second to it's proposed complete recordings of the trilogy.

As with STREET SCENE (CDJAY2 1232), this recording of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA is absolutely complete. Not only complete but it includes over 30 minutes of cut material not previously heard. The reason for the cut was that the original actress who sang the role of Marie could not sing the music, but with the great opera/musical star, Nancy Shade who sings the role on JAY's complete recording, the glorious music have been recorded to stunning perfection for the first time.

Opera legend Louis Quilico, recognised as one of the world's greatest Rigolettos takes on the taxing lead role of Tony, one which he sang to great acclaim at the New York City Opera a few years back. When the original production first opened on Broadway, Mrs. Loesser (Jo Sullivan) sang the role of Rosabella and now over 45 years later, her daughter, the Broadway star Emily Loesser takes on the same role for the recording. This all star cast recording includes Tony award winners as Karen Ziemba (currently wowing them on Broadway with the smash hit, CONTACT), Richard Muenz and Don Stephenson (currently starring in the Broadway bound revival of FINIAN'S RAINBOW). John Owen Edwards conducted The National Symphony Orchestra.

Although it's sung through (almost), the score is jam packed with hit songs such as STANDING ON THE CORNER, JOEY JOEY JOEY, BIG D, MY HEART IS SO FULL OF YOU, SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, HAPPY TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTENCE, WARM ALL OVER, ROSABELLA amongst others.

Recorded in Digital Dolby Surround Sound at Abbey Road Studios in London and Clinton Studios in New York. 

1. Overture
   National Symphony Orchestra
2. Scene: Thank You...
   Walter Charles
3. Ooh! My Feet!
   Karen Ziemba
4. Scene: Hey, Where's What Her Name...
   Walter Charles, Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
5. I Know How It Is
   Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
6. Scene: It's Jewelry,,,
   Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser
7. My Dear Rosabella
   Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
8. I Don't Know Noing About You
   Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
9. Scene: I Live On My Grape Ranch...
   Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser, Walter Charles, Girls
10. Maybe He's Kind-a Crazy...
    Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
11. Somebody, Somewhere
    Emily Loesser
12. The Most Happy Fella
    Louis Quilico, George Lee Andrews, Company
13. Scene: Oh, Hello Marie...
    Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
14. I Don't Know Noting About Her
    Louis Quilico, Nancy Shade
15. Scene: Hi Boss...
    Don Stephenson, George Dvorsky, Michael Gruber, Guy Stroman
16. Standing On The Corner
    Don Stephenson, George Dvorsky, Michael Gruber, Guy Stroman
17. Scene: All Right, Break it Up...
    Richard Muenz, Drew McVety, Louis Quilico
18. Joey, Joey,Joey
    Richard Muenz
19. Scene: Hey, Tony What's The Italian...
    Richard Muenz, Louis Quilico
20. Soon You Gonna Leave Me, Joe
    Louis Quilico, Richard Muenz
21. Rosabella
    Louis Quilico
22. Opening Act One Scene Three
    Mark Slama
23. Abbondanza
    Alfred Boe, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton
24. Scene: And Thsi Is Tony's Barn...
    Kristin Chenoweth, Mark Slama, Louis Quilico, Company
25. Plenty Bambini
    Louis Quilico, Art Ostrin
26. Scene: Hey! Boss!...
    Richard Muenz, Louis Quilico
27. Sposalizio
    Stephen Davis, Alfred Boe, Joseph Shovelton, Company
28. Scene: Bocci Ball Anybody?...
    Steve Routman, William Burden, Kristin Chenoweth, Mark Slama
29. Scene: Well, Here We Are...
    George Lee Andrews, Richard Muenz, Emily Loesser
30. I Seen Her At The Station
    George Lee Andrews, Richard Muenz
31. Benvenuta
    Alfred Boe, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton, Richard Muenz
32. Scene: It's Very Lovely,,,
    Emily Loesser, Charlotte Vaughn Raines
33. Such Friendly Faces
    Emily Loesser
34. Scene: Thank You Very Much...
    Emily Loesser, Richard Muenz, Nancy Shade, Stephen Davis, Company
35. No Home, No Job
    Emily Loesser
36. Scene: Step Back Everybody...
    William Burden, Emily Loesser, Louis Quilico, Nancy Shade, Company
37. Don't Cry
    Richard Muenz, Emily Loesser

1. Prelude To Act Two
   National Symphony Orchestra
2. Fresno Beauties Part One
   Men
3. Cold And Dead
   Richard Muenz, Emily Loesser
4. Fresno Beauties Part Two
   Men
5. Scene: Ma Che Brutte Sortel...
   Louis Quilico, William Burden, Ladies
6. Love And Kindness
   William Burden, Louis Quilico
7. Scene: Hey, You Mad At Me...
   Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
8. Happy To Make Your Acquaintance
   Emily Loesser, Louis Quilico
9. Scene: Oh, Marie...
   Karen Ziemba, Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
10. Happy To Make Your Acquaintance (Reprise)
    Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
11. I Don't Like This Dame
    Nancy Shade, Karen Ziemba, Men
12. Big D
    Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson, Company
13. How Beautiful The Days
    Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser, Nancy Shade, Richard Muenz
14. Act Two Scene Three Opening
    National Symphony Orchestra
15. Scene: Just Look At 'Em...
    Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
16. Young People
    Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
17. Warm All Over
    Emily Loesser
18. Old People Gotta Sit Dere An' Die
    Louis Quilico
19. Scene: Now You Got To Look Out For This Label Glue...
    Don Stephenson, Karen Ziemba
20. Scene: Oh, Hello Pasquale...
    Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson
21. I Like Ev'rybody
    Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson
22. Act Two Scene Five Opening
    National Symphony Orchestra
23. Scene: Isn't It Wonderful?...
    Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser
24. I Love Him
    Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
25. Scene: Easy Now...
    William Burden, Louis Quilico
26. Like A Woman Loves A Man
    Emily Loesser, Louis Quilico
27. My Heart Is So Full Of You
    
28. Scene: Hey Paesan!...
    Louis Quilico, Company
29. Hoedown
    Mark Slama, Company
30. Scene: Rosabella! What's-a Matter...
    Louis Quilico, William Burden, Karen Ziemba, Emily Loesser, Company
31. Mamma, Mamma
    Louis Quilico

1. Prelude Act Three
   National Symphony Orchestra
2. Abbondanza (Reprise)
   Alfred Boe, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton
3. Scene: Fellas? Hey, fellas...
   Don Stephenson, Stephen Davis, Joseph Shovelton, Alfred Boe
4. I Like Everybody
   Karen Ziemba, Don Stephenson
5. Scene: Before The Party Begins...
   William Burden
6. Song Of A Summer Night
   William Burden, Company
7. Scene: Carissima! What's-a Matter...
   Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
8. Please Let Me Tell You
   Emily Loesser
9. Scene: Ma Che C'e?...
   Louis Quilico, Stephen Davis
10. Scene: So You're Finally Gettin' Out Of Town...
    Richard Muenz, George Dvorsky, Michael Gruber, Guy Stroman, Louis Quilico
11. She Gonna Come Home Wit' Me
    Louis Quilico, Nancy Shade, Karen Ziemba
12. I Made A Fist
    Don Stephenson, Karen Ziemba
13. Scene: He's Gonna Be Tony's Bambino...
    Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
14. I Canno' Leave You Money
    Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
15. Finale Act Three
    Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser, Company
16. Exit Music
    National Symphony Orchestra
17. House And Garden
    Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba
18. Tony And Marie Duet / Nobody's Gonna Love You Like I Love You
    Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico
19. Eyes Like A Stranger
    Nancy Shade, William Burden
20. Is It Fair? / Warm All Over / Old People Gotta Sit Down An' Die
    Nancy Shade, Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser
21. I'll Buy Everybody A Beer
    William Burden, Company
22. Wanting To Be Wanted
    Jo Sullivan