theatreaficionado:

Significant changes were made to She Loves Me for the original London production in 1964, most notably replacing Ilona’s “I Resolve” with this song, “Heads I Win,” for Rita Moreno. (Other changes include changing “Three Letters” into the company number “Letters,” candy became chocolates, optometrist became optician, etc.)

Moreno sang “I Resolve” in the 1977 Town Hall concert of She Loves Me starring Madeline Kahn and Barry Bostwick.

oh man, I would be PISSED if I went to see a production of She Loves Me and THIS replaced “I Resolve”.  It’s just…not as good.  Sometimes revision is a terrible, terrible thing.

theatreaficionado:

“Letters” from the original London cast recording of She Loves Me.

I wonder why on earth they thought they needed to make this a production number with a lot of ensemble singing.  I mean, the ensemble IS around all night pretending to be shoppers here and there.

me2ism:

yourdailybway:

The Rothschilds | Pleasure and Privilege
the original Broadway cast recording

Music: Jerry Bock
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
Book: Sherman Yellen

This is the source of my twitter tagline

mrtylermartins:

This is a cut song that was recorded in the demo of She Loves Me, sung and played by Bock and Harnick in 1963. There are so many gems in this demo, from cut songs to “A Trip to the Library.” It’s pretty surreal to listen to the authors sing songs from their own scores. 

lushupork:

This song is brilliant, so stfu.

me2ism:

This is “Now I Have Everything” from the 2007 London revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.  The production, starring Henry Goodman, utilizes a reduced, “klezmer” band, and some pronounced dialects, both of which I find interesting.  This number is also taken up A LOT (like, maybe a third) from it’s original key, which adds an extra challenge to Hodel (a challenge aptly met by the lovely Alexandra Silber, currently stealing Act I of MASTER CLASS w/Tyne Daly), but makes the final “I know what everything’s fooooooooooor” particularly thrilling.  

I’m sure many of you (if there are, in fact, many of you to begin with) would prefer a Henry Goodman track,  and perhaps I’ll give you one tomorrow.  But I am a champion of this song, much in the same way I was always the only kid who did NOT want to fast-forward through “Cheer Up Charlie” and refuse to hear a bad word said about “Little Lamb”.

itsdlevy:

Since all my younger Tumblr friends are discovering Tumblr this week, it’s time to introduce them to Julie Andrews’s recording of “Dear Friend” and the sad tale of the proposed film version starring Julie that wasn’t to be.

(h/t John Ellis  / Tormented Artist Ink Studio.) 

itsdlevy:

Of all the various things about the various versions of She Loves Me, Sally Mayes as Ilona is my favorite.

yourdailybway:

The Rothschilds | Pleasure and Privilege
the original Broadway cast recording

Music: Jerry Bock
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
Book: Sherman Yellen

This is the source of my twitter tagline

whatiloveaboutbroadway:

What I Love About Broadway… Bock and Harnick

submitted by anonymous

paved-with-stars:

“Little Tin Box” from the 1959 Broadway musical, Fiorello!

This is another little gem of a song. One of my favourites from the show.

Mr. X, may we ask you a question?
It’s amazing, is it not,
That the city pays you slightly less than fifty bucks a week,
Yet you’ve purchased a private yacht?

I am positive your Honor must be joking!
Any working man can do what I have done.
For a month or two I simply gave up smoking,
And I put my extra pennies one by one

Into a little tin box,
A little tin box
That a little tin key unlocks.
There is nothing unorthodox
About a little tin box.
In a little tin box.
A little tin box
That a little tin key unlocks.
There is honor and purity,
Lots of security,
In a little tin box.

Mr. Y, we’ve been told you don’t feel well,
And we know you’ve lost your voice,
But we wonder how you managed on the salary you make
To acquire a new Rolls-Royce.

You’re implyin’ I’m a crook and I say no, sir!
There is nothin’ in my past I care to hide.
I been takin’ emply bottles to the grocer
And each nickel that I got was put aside
(That he got was put aside)

Into a little tin box,
A little tin box
That a little tin key unlocks.
There is nothing unorthodox
About a little tin box.
In a little tin box,
A little tin box
There’s a cushion for life’s rude shocks.
There is faith, hope and charity,
Hard-won prosperity,
In a little tin box.

Mr. Z, you’re a junior official
And your income’s rather low,
Yet you’ve kept a dozen women in the very best hotels,
Would you kindly explain how so?

I can see your Honor doesn’t pull his punches,
And it looks a trifle fishy, I’ll admit.
But for one whole week I went without my lunches,
And it mounted up, your Honor, bit by bit.
(Up your Honor, bit by bit.)

It’s just a little tin box,
A little tin box
That a little tin key unlocks.
There is nothing unorthodox
About a little tin box.
In a little tin box,
A little tin box
All a-glitter with blue-chip stocks.
There is something delectable,
Almost respectable,
In a little tin box,
In a little tin box.

paved-with-stars:

Politics and Poker from Fiorello!

This is probably one of my favourite songs from a musical ever. The lyrics are clever, witty and oh so relevant even today.

Whaddya say, Ben? Want a hand?
Nah, you guys go ahead. I got too much on my mind to play poker.

King bets.
Cost you five.
Tony, up to you.
I’m in.
So am I.
Likewise.
Me, too.

Gentlemen, here we are, and one thing is clear:
We gotta pick a candidate for Congress this year.

Chorus members:
Big ace.
Ace bets.
You’ll pay… through the nose.
I’m in. 
So am I.
Likewise.
Here goes.
Possible straight…Possible flush…nothin’

Gentlemen, how about some names we can use?
Some qualified Republican who’s willing to lose.

How’s about we should make Jack Riley the guy?

Which Riley are you thinking of, Jack P. or Jack Y.?

I say, neither one. I never even met ‘em.

I say, when you got a pair o’ jacks, bet ‘em!

Politics and Poker, Politics and Poker
shuffle up the cards and find the joker
Neither game’s for children
Either game is rough
Decisions, decisions, like:
who to pick 
how to play
what to bet
when to call a bluff!

All right, now, fellas, politics or poker: which is more important?

Pair of treys…
Bet ‘em!
Little treys…good as gold.
I’ll stay.
Raise you five.
I’ll call.
I’ll fold.
Raise you back…
I think you’re bluffing.
Put your money where your mouth is.

Gentlemen, knock it off, and let’s get this done.

Try Michael Einyuszinkewich, I’m certain he’d run.

Mike is out, I’m afraid he just wouldn’t sell.
Nobody likes a candidate who’s name they can’t spell!

How about Dave Zimmerman?

Dave, he’s too bright.

What a bout Walt Gustafson?

Walt died last night.

How about Frank Monaghan? What about George Gale?

Frank ain’t a citizen and George is in jail.

We could run Al Wallenstein…

He’s only twenty-three.

What about Ed Peterson?

You idiot, that’s me!

Politics and Poker, Politics and Poker
Playing for a pot that’s mediocre
Politics and Poker
Running neck and neck
If politics seems more predictable
That’s because usually
You can stack the deck!

Politics and Poker, Politics and Poker
Makes the average guy a heavy smoker
Bless the nominee, and give him our regards
And watch while he learns that in

Poker and politics
Brother, 
You’ve gotta have that slippery,
Hap-hazardous commodity
You’ve gotta have the cards!

“The Bum Won” from Fiorello!

music, Jerry Bock.  lyric, Sheldon Harnick.

performed by Howard Da Silva and friends

I love this twisted little cannon, which I imagine must have sounded quite bold at the time.    And I do not have nearly enough Bock and Harnick on here.  

Also, according to the wikipedia page, prior to doing Fiorello!, Howard Da Silva was doing work in Hollywood until he was questioned by the House of Un-American Activities Committee  and subsequently blacklisted in Tinsel Town (for being a pinko commie tool).  That brought him to the musical stage with Fiorello, for which he won a Tony Award.  To repeat and clarify: Hollywood blacklisted him, Broadway gave him a Tony.  

“Little Old New York” from Tenderloin

music by Jerry Bock lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

performed by Debbie Shaprio Gravitte and friends

Tenderloin is basically the exact same story as Best Little Whorehouse in Texas:  Minister riles up the public to shut down a whorehouse—possibly for personal gain—people have conflicted feelings about everything.  The big difference is that Whorehouse was set in the 70s and told from the hookers’ point of view.  Tenderloin, on the other hand, was described by Walter Kerr as, “The most serious musical comedy I ever saw…Maurice Evans plays a crusading minister who wants to eliminate the production numbers.”  The curtain rises on a hymn but soon gives way to a trio of prostitutes who sing this delightful Bock & Harnick gem (led here, of course, by the estimable Ms. Shaprio Gravitte).  This is the New York song you DON’T hear at benefits.

“My Gentle Young Johnny” from Tenderloin

music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

performed by Debbie Shapiro Gravitte

I love this sultry, haunting song.  

If this were interpolated into the 90s FIDDLER revival, it would be “My Gentile Young Johnny”.  ::rim shot::