Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, Barbra Streisand - Funny Girl (1964 Original Broadway Cast)

After countless alterations, a revolving door of writers and directors (which included Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Sidney Lumet, and Garson Kanin), crazed tryouts, and an opening night that was delayed five times, Funny Girl turned out to be an unadulterated smash--and it still sounds great this much further on. Composer Jule Styne, at the peak of his brassy powers, custom-fitted the show to its star, Barbra Streisand, and she ran away with it. Streisand's delivery of "People" still sends a chill down the spine, and she completely radiates with the life-force of someone who's a star and knows it. Funny Girl is a delirious, larger-than-life Broadway epic that projects showstopping energy but never loses track of its characters' humanity. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. --Elisabeth Vincentelli Amazon.com essential recording

THE MUSIC THAT MAKES ME SUBLIME

Now you can hear what is missing from the 1968 film version of "FUNNY GIRL"-- and that's actually quite a lot! Barbra Streisand sings a super "Coronet Man." There's a bit more for supporting players Danny Meehan and Kay Medford to do (they sing a funny "Who Taught Her Everything") because, I assume Streisand had to be off stage sometimes to change costumes. Jean Stapleton of "All In The Family" fame is distinctively heard in "If A Girl Isn't Pretty."
Broadway Cast Albums were recorded live with orchestra; just like the a live Broadway show. In later years, Barbra developed such an obsession with perfection and absolute control. She does not have that luxury here. She just has to do it big time, and boy, does Barbra deliver the goods!! I like the more intimate sound throughout. This is the only version of "People" I like, because Barbra sings it so simply and straightforward. By 1967-1968, Barbra had sung the song so often, she became too stylized. Her version of "Don't Rain On My Parade" here is every bit as thrilling as the movie version. The arrangement in the movie is just bigger and brassiier.
It's a sin that the haunting and superb songs "Why Are You Now?" (where Fanny Brice privately expresses doubts about her relationship with beloved husband Nick Arnstein) and "Music That Makes Me Dance" were omitted from the movie version. These are two of Barbra's most sublime and classic performances. Because they were dropped from the movie, they remain lesser known. Also, Barbra's record label Columbia passed on the original Broadway Cast Album; so Capitol got it. "Music That Makes Me Dance" was dropped from the movie in favor of Fanny Brice's signature torch ballad "My Man." Barbra sings "My Man" at full dynamic, emotional throttle to give the movie a heartbreaking finale, but the movie should have included both songs.
The ending is completely different. Fanny Brice is devastated by the loss of Nick Arnstein, but she's going to survive. Barbra sings a determined, valiant reprise of "Don't Rain On My Parade", belting out, "Let's give 'em hell, Brice. We'll cry a little later. Well, Brice, that's life in the theatre. Nobody, no nobody, is gonna rain on my-- PARADE!!" You go, girl!! I love the movie, but I never listen to the movie soundtrack anymore (although I own it, too). When I want "FUNNY GIRL", I turn to this divine, sublime Broadway Cast Album. If you love Barbra at her best, you've GOT to get this original Broadway Casr Album, too!! 5 Stars. Highest Recommendation!! May 4, 2007

Broadway Funny Girl Soundtrack

Barbra at her fabulous freshman best, most of the songs are better on the movie album but there are some songs that were dropped from the broadway version that unfortunately did not make it to the movie and it would be a shame not to have them!

twinspin January 10, 2007

Classic Streisand Role!

While not her first show, "Funny Girl" proved to be Barbra Streisand's ticket to immortality. Too bad she lost that year's Best Actress Tony to the equally deserving (?) Carol Channing in "Hello Dolly" ... though she ultimately won the 1968 Oscar for the film version of the classic role.

Composer Jule Styne's terrific score was tailor-made for Ms. Streisand and contains several theatrical standards.

Best tracks include:

I'm The Greatest Star
People
Don't Rain On My Parade
Who Are You Now?
The Music That Makes Me Dance

Yes, there are a few tracks I regularly skip, but, overall the score is terrific! July 29, 2006

Early Great Barbra

The fun of this cast album is hearing young Streisand. She projected so much star quality in her voice, that the album is a gem. But compared to later years, when her voice has aged, improved and been somewhat trained, her singing pales. Yet it's fun to hear, even when she cracks, as in the end of Don't Rain On My Parade. Still a great score, but get the film soundtrack, Barbra's voice is much better on it. Even though two of the scores best songs were dropped for the film, you can almost understand why. The song Funny Girl works better than Who Are You Now? would have..and while I think The Music That Makes Me Dance is a gem, using My Man in the film worked brilliantly July 22, 2006

Blah

It was a good recording but i found the actual songs kinda Blah. They had no spice or spunk. . . Just kinda boring. February 27, 2005

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