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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Mca
Salesrank: 291038
Released: March 30, 1993 |
| Our Price: $2.82 |
| Used Price: $1.31 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The King And I (Original Broadway Cast) Track Listing:
1. Overture - The King & I Orchestra/Frederick Dvonch
2. I Whistle A Happy Tune
3. My Lord And Master
4. Hello, Young Lovers
5. March Of The Siamese Children - The King & I Orchestra/Frederick Dvonch
6. A Puzzlement
7. Getting To Know You
8. We Kiss In A Shadow
9. Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You?
10. Something Wonderful
11. I Have Dreamed
12. Shall We Dance?
Editorial Review:
Yul Brynner made a career out of playing the King of Siam. He owns it so much that it's disconcerting to see Rex Harrison play it in the film version of Anna & the King of Siam, the play Rodgers and Hammerstein adapted. Ironically, the still-unknown Brynner wasn't the star of the 1951 production; he's billed below British grande dame Gertrude Lawrence (played by Julie Andrews in the biopic Star!), who died during the play's run, and curio value is the only real reason for this recording in 1998. Sound quality is below standard, much like MCA other early Decca original cast albums, and Brynner was still too young to bring the majestic authority to the role he did in both the film and later stage versions. --Bill Holdship
The King And I (Original Broadway Cast) Reviews:
A legacy 
2007-09-11 - I have owned this recording for several years, and the vinyl lp before that.
However, I have only recently discovered Amazon's customer reviews. So I decided to read them before I listened again. I was surprised by those who disparaged Yul Brynner's understanding of the role.
Not so--according to the American Theater Wing, who awarded him a Tony.
Not so--according to his co-artist, Gertrude Lawrence, who requested that his name be moved to above the title.
Not so--according to the New York critics who reviewed the play. "His impulsive yet pathetic monarch is the most vital element of the show, which always lets down when he is not on stage." "Mr. Brynner lent such strength and realism to his role." "To an amazing extent, he gets depth, honesty, and complete credibility into an authentic characterization."
Yes, even with remastering, it is still 1951 sound. Yes, many of the songs are abridged to fit the confines of the 78 rpm recording. Yes, much of the beautiful score is not included. For those, buy the 1977 recording with Constance Towers, which is also excellent. But do not disregard this one; it is an important part of Broadway's legacy.
a classic 
2006-06-05 - A true musical theater classic. Wonderful melodies that will last for years to come.
Other classics not to forget about are:
Mary Poppins
My Fair Lady
The Wizard of Oz
Chitty Chitty Bang Band
The first Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Sound of Music
Oliver
West Side Story
Fiddler on the Roof
Singing in the Rain
The Wiz
Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast
Grease
The King and I
Oklahoma
The Music Man
South Pacific
My Voice Students are always asking me for recommendations so I though I'd post it for all! We can't forget about these great musicals!
Something Entirely Wonderful!
2004-12-04 - This was the first R+H recording i bought and i was enchanted by it from the very beginning. True, it has its limitations and it is certainly not my favorite R+H score,(one reviewer commented that this was the last of the great R+H musicals. Excuse me? Have you ever heard of The Sound of Music?) but it is undoubtedly a very necessary addition to any Broadway collection. The performances of the stars are incredable and the great collaborators are in their element, though for me this is more of a Rodgers triumph than a Hammerstein one. The soaring, romantic, exotic, colorful (etc, etc) music instantly captures each listener and is brilliantly arranged by their wonderful orchestrater Robert Russell Bennet. While the sound may not always be as good as it could be, one must take into account that the recording industry was still very much in its infant stages in 1951. Admitedly, the stars performances may not be as pleasing vocally as the could be, but they do extremely well in spite of this and are backed up by a stellar supporting cast. Doretta Morrow and Larry Dougles bring their own magic to what i consider to be one of R+H's greatest love songs, I Have Dreamed. Dorothy Sarnoff is magnificent in the soaring showstopper, Something Wonderful. Yul Brynner provides a fine rendition of A Puzzlement and joins Lawrence in that Wonderful closing number Shall We Dance, which it is impossible not to dance to. Lawrence's voice is weak but she still provides very pleasing renditions of Hello, Young Lovers and Getting To Know You. My one regret, (I can ignore the truncated numbers when the parts that ARE provided are so satisfying) is that there isn't even an incomplete rendition of the Uncle Thomas Ballet which is one of my favorite parts of the stage show. Still, that can be found on other recordings but the charm, the beauty and the freshness that can only ever be found on Original Cast Recordings, can't.
1951-not the year to capture a great musical 
2004-07-26 - One correction to a review on this page. (Sorry) Yul Brynner was in his early thirties when this recording was made. (Born 1920). The only real value in this album is Gertrude Lawrence. Her star power was incredible, although this forced album does not allow her to completely shine. The recording technique is terrible. It's flat (not referring to pitch), the instruments are muffled, and everything is cut to fit either time for the 78 RPM's or for radio broadcast. Not a true representation of the great musical. I understand that this is 1951, but Columbia was light years ahead in recording technique (South Pacific-1949) The best representation is the 1977 Braodway Cast(RCA), which showed Yul Brynner in his return to Broadway. It is also the first recording with everything (except Uncle Thomas)to be uncut. Superb sound, and even some dialouge vignettes from different scenes, including a full Shall we Dance? Buy 1977, not 1951. Not recommending this recording.
Recording not up to demands of show 
2004-01-23 - THE KING AND I has always been one of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most popular shows. It has been frequently recorded receieving 4 New York cast albums, 2 London casts and 3 studio casts as well as the film soundtrack. Normally the first original cast is to be preferred but the limitations of the day prevent this 1951 recording from being definitive.
Decca was not as advacnced in recording techniques as were some of the other labels and the sound quality of this disc is very tinny. Gertrude Lawrence's already thin voice is not helped at all. The lady has pitch problems and her celebrated stage presence just doesn't come across on the recording. Dorothy Sarnoff and Doretta Morrow at least have voices up to the demands of the music, but they too suffer from the flad sound of the Decca studio. Larry Douglas uses his voice to good effect and projects some warmth in his duets, while Yul Brynner is heard only in a heavily cut recording of "A Puzzlement" and for a few lines in "Shall We Dance." This last number, shorn of its dialogue and dramatic context is robbed of any meaning. It becomes just another number. Although this album was originally released in all 3 speeds (78, 45 and 33) the songs were heavily abridged to fit the 3 1/2 minute limitations of the 78 RPM format. All in all, it is not a satisfactory recording of the show.
Those in search of the nearly complete score would be better served by the 1977 RCA cast album of the revival with Brynner in full command of the role.
