Gypsy Soundtrack CD

Music composed by Jule Styne. Lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim.

The 1962 movie version of the 1959 Broadway musical hit Gypsy was one of those classic Hollywood botch jobs, although not for the usual reason, a manhandled score. No, the song list was intact. The problem was casting, with Rosalind Russell replacing Ethel Merman, but unable to fill her shoes vocally, leading to extensive dubbing by Lisa Kirk, while Natalie Wood, another non-singer, was replaced vocally by Marni Nixon. The soundtrack album did not match the released film, either, with Wood restored and Kirk taking even more of Russell's parts. It turns out that Russell pre-recorded her songs, even though she didn't get to sing most of them on-screen, and this reissue belatedly adds her performances of "Some People," "Small World," and "Everything's Coming Up Roses," along with the screen version of "Rose's Turn," a mixture of Russell and Kirk. The result will be of interest to show music and film music buffs, but they are less likely to be pleased than newly outraged that Merman didn't get to play her most memorable stage role on film. If there was any doubt that the music was beyond Russell's abilities, the newly unearthed tracks remove it. Russell struggles to approximate the correct notes in tempo, and doesn't always succeed. Forget articulation or any sense of characterization. Also, her distinct New England accent comes off as too upper crust for the character she is supposed to be playing. Certainly, the decision to replace her singing voice on-screen was the correct one; but then, she never should have been cast in the film to begin with. The original soundtrack to Gypsy was a weak album when it was released in 1962; it is not strengthened by the inferior tracks added to it for this 2003 reissue, even if movie historians may take an interest. ~ William Ruhlmann

Additional Tracks

Recorded at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, California. Originally released on Warner Bros. (1480). Includes liner notes by George Feltenstein.

Principal cast includes: Rosalind Russell (Mama Rose); Natalie Wood (Gypsy Rose Lee); Karl Malden (Herbie Sommers); Paul Wallace (Tulsa); Ann Jillian.

Personnel: Lisa Kirk (vocals).

Liner Note Author: George Feltenstein.

Recording information: Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, CA.

Arranger: Frank Perkins.