JackCassidy.com: a tribute

s a sought-after Broadway performer in the 1950s, Jack Cassidy lent his talent to a series of studio cast album recordings by Columbia Records. These early Broadway hit musicals might well have been lost to future generations had it not been for the vision of series producer, Goddard Lieberson. With orchestra and chorus under the direction of Broadway conductor Lehman Engel and featuring top Broadway performers of the day, the recordings are as timeless as they are nostalgic. Jack's vocals are a highlight of the series. To date, the studio cast albums of Oh Kay! and The Boys From Syracuse have been released on CD. Jack also performed on several other studio cast albums during this decade. In the late 1950s, Jack collaborated with Shirley Jones on several albums containing many familiar show tunes. A compilation of two of these albums, along with Brigadoon, was released in 1995 on CD. Additionally, a digitally remastered compilation of Speaking of Love and With Love From Hollywood was released in September 2002. Jack also performed on the Broadway cast albums of shows in which he appeared. Of these cast albums, Wish You Were Here, She Loves Me and It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman have been made available on CD.

1951 Babes in Arms
(Studio cast recording) Columbia CL823; re-released with JUMBO (see below); Columbia Records Mono #7070 (later release - no date listed, different cover)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Produced for records by Goddard Leiberson
Babes in Arms bounced into the Shubert Theatre, NYC on Apr. 14, 1937 with its youthful and vibrant cast. The story is familiar, touring actor's children decide to put on their own show in order to earn money and avoid "real" work on a farm. This 1951 recording stars the incomparable Mary Martin and a supporting cast lead by Mardi Bayne and Jack Cassidy. The well known score is familiar to theatre and non-theatre goers alike and contains the standards: "Where or When," "Babes in Arms (title song sung by Jack Cassidy)," "I Wish I Were In Love Again," "My Funny Valentine," "The Lady Is A Tramp," and "You Are So Fair."

1952 Roberta
(Studio cast recording) Columbia CL841; re-release special products A7030
Music by Jerome Kern, Lyrics by Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
Produced for records by Goddard Leiberson
Well known actress Kaye Ballard joins Jack Cassidy and Portia Nelson on the studio recording of Jerome Kern's Roberta-Lovely to Look At. The play originally premiered on Nov. 18, 1933. This comedic and complicated story involves an American football hero inheriting and running a Parisian dressmaking establishment. Highlights in this upbeat and well-known score include "I Won't Dance", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" (Joan Roberts) and the flirtatious 'challenge' song "Let's Begin".

1952 Wish You Were Here
(Original Broadway cast) LOC-1007; re-released May 21, 1996 (Compact Disc) BMG/RCA Victor 68326
Words and Music by Harold Rome; Book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan
Produced by Leland Hayward and Joshua Logan
A romantic comedy depicting vacation life for New Yorkers who invade the 'comfortable little mountains known as the Catskills' and the staff who are there to serve them. A young and extremely talented ensemble cast brings the score to life. Jack Cassidy, as a college boy working as a waiter, has enchanting vocals on the title song "Wish You Were Here" and "They Won't Know Me" and is a significant contributor to this recording (considered to be his first lead role as Chick Miller).

1952 On Your Toes
(London studio cast recording) Columbia CL837; re-released as a collectors series Columbia OS-2590
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Produced for records by Goddard Leiberson
On Your Toes debuted on Broadway in April of 1936. Jack Cassidy and Portia Nelson lead a talented cast in a lively interpretation of this witty and satirical musical based on the ballet. Gorgeous phrasing abounds on the recognizable "There's a Small Hotel" duet performed by Jack and Portia Nelson.

1953 Anything Goes
(Studio cast recording) RCA LPM-3157
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter
A four song recording of this well-known musical that originally premiered on Nov. 21, 1934. "I Get A Kick Out Of You," "Your The Top," "Anything Goes" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" are performed by Jack Cassidy and Helen Gallagher. Recording was packaged along with a studio version of Kiss Me Kate.

1953 Jumbo
(Studio cast recording includes 10" recording of Babes In Arms) RCA LPM-3152
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Book by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
Another four song recording of a musical play that originally premiered on Nov. 16, 1935. Jack Cassidy, along with Lisa Kirk and Jordan Bently perform the songs "Over and Over Again", "Little Girl Blue", "My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Recording was packaged along with studio version of the previously released Babes In Arms.

1953 Boys from Syracuse
(studio cast recording) Columbia CL847; re-released as Columbia Masterworks OS-2580 (mono-7080); re-released (Compact Disc) Sony 53329
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Book by George Abbott; Produced for records by Goddard Leiberson
The Boys from Syracuse premiered in New York at the Alvin Theatre on Nov. 3, 1938 and is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. Another well-known score from Rodgers and Hart, this 1956 studio recording has Jack Cassidy playing the dual role of Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus. Among many great vocals, the classic "This Can't Be Love" is performed by Jack and Holly Harris.

1957 Oh Kay!
(Studio cast recorded Dec. 13-15, 1955 released Nov. 1957) Columbia CL1050; re-released in 1982 Time Life Records STL-AM09; re-released 1998 (Compact Disc) Columbia Broadway Masterworks SK60703
Music by George Gershwin, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Howard Dietz
Premiering in 1926, Oh Kay! is a lighthearted look at bootlegging during the days of prohibition. The score of the play is both lively and endearing and includes the classic and timeless "Someone to Watch Over Me" as well as a few other easily recognizable tunes "Clap Yo' Hands" and "Do, Do, Do".

1957 Speaking Of Love
(With Shirley Jones) Columbia 991
Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones perform beautiful love songs, solos and duets from Broadway shows, accompanied by Percy Faith and his Orchestra.

1957 Brigadoon
(Studio cast recording) Columbia CL1132; re-release OS-2540
Music by Frederick Lowe, Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Produced for records by Goddard Leiberson
Brigadoon opened in March of 1947 and was the first major success for the team of Lerner and Lowe. Set in a small village in the Scottish highlands, the story unfolds through the score. Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy's performances shine brightly on this recording, especially in the romantic "The Heather on the Hill" and the now classic "Almost Like Being in Love".

1958 With Love From Hollywood
Columbia CL1255; UK release PHILIPS BBC 7339
(With Shirley Jones)
All the songs on this 12-track album, conducted by Frank DeVol, were featured in movies. Jack and Shirley's duets include beautiful renditions of Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek" from the 1935 movie Top Hat), the Ted Koehler/Richard Arlen classic "Let's Fall in Love" from the 1934 movie of the same name, and the Gershwins' jaunty "Nice Work If You Can Get It" from 1937's Damsel in Distress. Jack's solos include Cole Porter's zestful "Nina" from 1948's The Pirate, and Irving Berlin's "Let's Face the Music and Dance" from the 1936 Rogers-Aistaire musical Follow the Fleet.

1958 Marriage Type Love
RCA Victor 2121
(With Shirley Jones)
Marty Gold was the conductor for this record, which was referenced in several of Jack's 1960s bios but, apparently, never commercially released. The cover art pictured here is from a printer's proof sold at an auction in 2001. The catalog number indicates the album was to have come out around 1960.

1963 She Loves Me
(Original Broadway cast) MGM mono E41180C-2; re-released Decca Broadway 4228319682; re-released 1988 (Compact Disc) by Polydor Records 831968)
Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, Book by Joe Masteroff
Production directed by Harold Prince
She Loves Me premiered at the Eugene O' Neill Theatre on Apr. 21, 1963. The story of falling in love with an anonymous pen pal, someone you already know and dislike, has been told many times since (most recently in the film You've Got Mail). Jack Cassidy won a Tony Award "Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical" for his portrayal of resident ladies' man Steven Kodaly. Amongst many delightful songs in the score, Jack's performances on "Ilona" and "Grand Knowing You" are classic.

1964 Fade Out, Fade In
(Original Broadway cast) ABC ABCS-OC-3
Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Music by Julie Styne
Carol Burnett plays the role of a plain girl who stumbles into film stardom by mistake in this extravagant musical that debuted at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on May 26, 1964. Jack Cassidy, as film star and leading man Byron Prong, sweeps her off her feet. In a score containing many fun and attractive tunes, "I'm With You" sung by Jack and Carol Burnett is a stand out. But without a doubt the musical's true showstopper was Jack's over-the-top, ego-injected performance of "My Fortune is My Face".
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1966 It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman
(Original Broadway cast) KOL 6570; re-released Nov. 24, 1992 (Compact Disc) Sony SK48207
Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Lee Adams
Book by David Newman and Robert Benton
Produced for records by Goddard Lieberson
Superman landed at the Alvin Theatre on Mar. 29, 1966. This lighthearted look at the classic comic strip hero and other assorted characters sports a score that is not only fun but funny as well. As columnist Max Mencken, Jack has several show-stopping performances including "The Woman For the Man" and "So Long, Big Guy". Of special note is the performance by relative newcomer Linda Lavin, who stops the show herself with two numbers, "You've Got Possibilities" and "Ooh Do You Love You!"

1968 Maggie Flynn
(Original Broadway cast) RCA 2009
Book, music and lyrics by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and George D. Weiss
Although it was a short run, "Maggie Flynn", which premiered at the ANTA Theatre on October 23, 1968, contains beautiful vocal performances by Jack and co-star Shirley Jones. Jack's performance, as the Clown, of "Learn How To Laugh" is a timeless reminder to make the most of every moment.

1972 Free To Be...You and Me
(Television cast) Arista AL-4003; re-released Oct. 25, 1990 (Compact Disc)
"Girl Land" is sung by Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones.

1973 Sondheim: A Musical Tribute
(Original Broadway cast) RCA 60515; re-released Dec. 13, 1990 (Compact Disc) RCA
"So Many People" from the unproduced 1955 Stephen Sondheim musical Saturday Night, is sung by Susan Browning and Jack Cassidy.

1993 Embraceable You: Broadway in Love
(Various artists) Sony SK53542
"Almost Like Being In Love" from Brigadoon is sung by Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones. "This Can't Be Love" from The Boys From Syracuse is sung by Jack Cassidy and Holly Harris. "There's A Small Hotel" from On Your Toes is sung by Portia Nelson and Jack Cassidy.

1993 American Songbook Series: Jerome Kern
(various artists) Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
"I Won't Dance" from Roberta is performed by Jack Cassidy and Kaye Ballard.

1995 Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy Show Tunes
Sony Music Special Projects A26113 (Compact Disc, released Sept. 8)
CD compilation of the Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones albums Speaking of Love, With Love From Hollywood and Brigadoon.

2000 Broadway's Greatest Leading Men
Decca Broadway 3145416342 (Compact Disc, released May 23)
"Grand Knowing You" from She Loves Me is sung by Jack Cassidy.

2002 Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy
DRG Records 91476
Available for the first time in their entirety on CD, the vocal albums of Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones, Speaking of Love and With Love From Hollywood, have been released by NYC based DRG Records. The 1959 album With Love From Hollywood was recorded in stereo but never released as such. Digitally Remastered from the original source tapes, it is being offered in beautiful stereo sound for the very first time. This single CD compilation includes the original liner notes from both albums.

Related links: Columbia Broadway Masterworks | DRG Records