A Live recording of I Met a Man, made during the 1971 Boston tryouts of Bob Merrill and Jule Styne’s PrettyBelle. Angela Lansbury’s huge Broadway “belt” is vividly captured here. I love her and i love this song.
One of my favorite songs of all time. Definitely top 10
You Never Looked Better, Angela Lansbury, Prettybelle (1971)
One of my favourite songs from Prettybelle, I wish they’d left it in the show! A lovely song about how her dead husband looks the best he ever has, in his coffin bed, ahaha. Get a load of that final belt though!
it’s in MY version of the show!
“Prettybelle” from Prettybelle (1971 Demo)
music Jule Styne lyric Bob Merrill
performance Peter Allen
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I haven’t posted an MP3 in a few days because I felt like I kept posting beautiful lush ballads by middle-aged ladies. And though there’s nothing wrong with that (and, in fact, everything right with that), I think it’s good to mix things up every now and then. So I’ll try to do a week’s worth of somewhat uptempo song sung by fellas! This particular track was inspired by the jaunty Peter Allen cover of “Losing My Mind” that crossed our dashes recently. And because I haven’t posted a Prettybelle anything in waaaaaaay too long.
“To a Small Degree” from Prettybelle (1971 Demo)
music Jule Styne lyric Bob Merrill
performance Peter Allen
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Watching this INCREDIBLE rehearsal footage of Angie before the Prettybelle recording reminded me of how lovely this song is. I like the spin Peter Allen puts on this pop demo (if it just doesn’t compare to what Ms Lansbury does with the piece).
i live and die 4 it
Prettybelle rehearsal for the recording with Angela Lansbury et al.
Guys. GUISE. this is so much more exciting than anything.
Ange’s take of “To a Small Degree”, starting at 11m40s is particularly affecting.
And it ends with her sitting and belting out “I Met a Man” like it’s no big whoopie-pie. But it is a big whoopie pie, Angela. It is.
“How Could I Know” from Prettybelle (1971 Demo)
music Jule Styne lyric Bob Merrill
performance Peter Allen
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It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged about Prettybelle. But the miraculous Kevin shared with me this comercially recorded 1971 demo of the score, featuring vocals by Peter Allen and a slew of wild and wonderful arrangements. I particularly enjoy this Nilsson inspired take on “How Could I Know”.
Director-choreographer Gower Champion and star Angela Lansbury during rehearsals for Prettybelle in Boston (December 1970).
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“I Met a Man” from Prettybelle
music Jule Style Styne lyric Bob Merrill
performed by Angela Lansbury
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I am so thoroughly obsessed with this song. I’ve shared it several times here, but the file has always gone to “error message” purgatory. But this is Gay Pride to me, so Imma try again.
Of course he’s heavily suspected
If his behavior is detected
And if the man is not arrested
I may see the man again
To a Small Degree, Angela Lansbury, Prettybelle (1971)
So far I’ve posted some of the “larger” songs from Prettybelle, but the show has some lovely songs, such as To a Small Degree, where upon Leroy’s passing, Prettybelle Sweet reflections upon their marriage.
How Could I Know? by Angela Lansbury in Prettybelle, 1971
I honestly think Prettybelle sounds like a really interesting musical.
“Prettybelle Sweet is the alcoholic wife of a bigoted southern sheriff. After his death, she learns that he and his friends have been unjust to the local minority people. However, as Prettybelle attempts to make amends, she discovers that the people of the small town do not approve. She permits the minority men to rape her and she becomes involved with Mason, a liberal lawyer. As the townspeople riot, Mason betrays her and she retreats to an asylum.”
The show never made it past try outs in Boston, and so never made it to Broadway. For the time, it was too dark, and the subject matter was too controversial. Audiences booed after each number and walked out during intermission. I think it’s a shame because the score is so fantastic, and Angela Lansbury was so brilliant in the title role. I wish they’d revive it, because I think that it may do better now, even though the subject matter is still controversial, I think that it’s interesting in that it shows the lengths Prettybelle would go to to get the approval of the townspeople, which was letting them have sex with her.
There are bootlegs of the original show, but I haven’t been able to find one. I wish I could find one.
To a Small Degree, Angela Lansbury, Prettybelle (1971)
So far I’ve posted some of the “larger” songs from Prettybelle, but the show has some lovely songs, such as To a Small Degree, where upon Leroy’s passing, Prettybelle Sweet reflections upon their marriage.
this is one of the most beautiful melodies Jule Style ever wrote.
(ps: how have i not been tracking Bob Merrill and Prettybelle tags until now!?!?!)
Prettybelle | When I’m Drunk I’m Beautiful
Angela Lansbury on the 1982 cast recording
Music: Jule Styne
Lyrics & Book: Bob Merrill
Note: It needs to be said — I am cheating a bit with this post as the show never made it to Broadway. Given the fact that it would have under different circumstances, the great score, and the Broadway legends involved with the show, I feel it is a necessary share.
(obvious reblog)
“Overture” from PRETTYBELLE
I have no idea if this was even used during the show’s out of town tryout. It’s not on the soundboard recording I have (though that doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t in the show), and director Gower Champion was one of the pioneers of Overture Cutting (even HELLO DOLLY has a brief “prologue” instead). Regardless, I don’t know if an overture has ever made me more excited/intrigued to hear the rest of the score.
