There's A Reason South Pacific is a Big Hit Again on Broadway!
To tell the truth, this was among the first records I ever fell in love with as a kid. The album my parents had in the early 60's was already worn, with a tattered jacket, when I happened upon it. I loved folk music and British pop at the time, but this thing won my heart, along with three other great musicals, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN with Ethel Merman, the Broadway cast recording of MY FAIR LADY with Julie Andrews, and the original cast production of GUYS & DOLLS. All of those records have held up well for me over the years, but there was a long period during which I all but forgot the Mary Martin/Ezio Pinza version of SOUTH PACIFIC. My parents had the film soundtrack, too, and although the leads pictured on the cover were prettier and handsomer, Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi (whose singing was dubbed by Giorgio Tozzi), were just not as good as Mary and Ezio, either as actors or singers, no matter their grander sound through "Living Stereo." And I thought this, having only SEEN the film version... yet I alternately played both of these records often, one for the performances, and one for its aural majesty.
I wasn't even reminded of this recording when I read everywhere that the new Broadway Show was wonderful, and would probably win some Tony's, which it did. People I work with said the current show is glorious. Still, this record did not cross my mind. Then I saw this version in a store for ten bucks, and it was a no-brainer all of a sudden. I snatched it up, thinking I would make sure it played when I got home, then save it for a rainy day.
No such thing happened. I put on the CD, noted the clean, remastered mono sound, and thought, uh-oh, I made a mistake. But less than two minutes into the overature, I was hooked. No sampling, here; I listened straight through. The memories not only flooded back, but they came unaccompanied by the crackling and hissing of the old vinyl I had finished wearing out (and still own, in storage, inherited from my folks). The remastered sound of this CD is great, save some of the orchestral passages here and there, and it's about the most I could expect from a recording this old. In fact, the voices sound better than ever ... and to make up for the slightly muddy recording of the overature (the sound clears up quickly, after it), there is another, extended version arranged for orchestra (back then, so it, too, is in mono) as one of the four lovely bonus tracks. One of the songs cut from the show, "Loneliness Of Evening" is just beautiful, as sung by Mary Martin. Ezio Pinza reprises "Bali Ha'i," and I'm glad it was included, as he sings it as well as Juanita Hall does.
There has also been some commentary recently, among Broadway critics and others who have spoken about the latest production, that SOUTH PACIFIC was kind of ahead of its time in addressing racial topics, the futility and sadness of war, and sexism. One must read between the lines to catch some of this, but "You've Got To Be Taught" has meaning that could not be clearer. Perhaps this show's revival is timely, after all, as humanity is still struggling with these issues.
Finally, some of the reviewers on Amazon still feel that his old recording is the definitive reading of SOUTH PACIFIC, and I'm inclined to agree. It will be interesting to compare the new production, whenever the copy I ordered comes. Meanwhile, I have a feeling that this version will get played over and over again. For tuneful music and enchanting singing, great songs and orchestral composition, SOUTH PACIFIC is, from the beginning, now and forever, one of the truly great stage musicals! Yes, they just don't create 'em like they used to...
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