The Broadway Musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstein
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Complete Broadway Musicals. Label: Sony Catalog #: 541696
When I saw the announcement of this set a couple of years ago, I knew I had to have it. Sure, I have several of these shows on CD already, some in Broadway Cast recordings, some in film music recordings. I saw it on sale, and finally bought it.
This set contains 12 CDs, packaged in sleeves with the original cover art, and a lavish 12 x 12 inch, 100-page book with essays on each show, production and behind-the- scenes photos, cast lists, plot summaries and more.
All that’s nice, but it’s the words and music that’s the gold here. Growing up in the Fifties, the songs from Broadway musicals were also the popular songs of the day, covered by all the big-name singers of the time. My parents listened to that music (along with big band and swing), and so did I before rock ‘n’ roll took over the airwaves. Here’s what’s on the set:
OKLAHOMA! Broadway Revival Cast Recording (1979)
CAROUSEL Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast Recording (1965)
STATE FAIR Original Broadway Cast Recording (1996)
ALLEGRO The First Complete Recording – Studio Cast Recording 2-DISC SET (2008)
SOUTH PACIFIC Original Broadway Cast Recording (1949)
THE KING AND I Broadway Revival Cast Recording (1977)
ME & JULIET Original Broadway Cast Recording (1953)
PIPE DREAM Original Broadway Cast Recording (1955)
CINDERELLA Television Cast Recording (1956)
FLOWER DRUM SONG Original Broadway Cast Recording (1958)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Original Broadway Cast Recording (1959)
For me, this set was just irresistible.
Tip the Wink 
Wow! This is a great set of Broadway classics! You should always give in to temptation!
Yep, this is the set I emailed you about, George. Now it’s your turn to buy it. These will be on the player for weeks!
Richard, definitely irresistible. I have seen and enjoyed some of these musical films, particularly OKLAHOMA!, SOUTH PACIFIC, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
Nice. We’ve seen OKLAHOMA (three times, including at the National Theatre in London), THE KING AND I and (most recently) the 2008 revival of SOUTH PACIFIC at Lincoln Center. (This is the version we have on CD.)
You’re right – this sounds like a George Kelley purchase to me,
Now that I think of it, we have a boxed set of Rodgers & Hammerstein DVDs:
STATE FAIR
SOUTH PACIFIC\
THE SOUND OF MUSIC
OKLAHOMA!
THE KING AND I
CAROUSEL
Jeff, your DVDs would be of the entire film, this is “just” the music and song.
I listened to The King and I today, the female lead was just a little to “operatic”, but over all a good performance.
I knew that. Just saying.