Ethel Merman "World Take Me Back" Live "Hello, Dolly" Jerry Herman Remaster

[jjarndyce]

Sorry if this is mentioned elsewhere, but: isn't this song redundant, with 'Parade Passes By'? It's the same sentiment, and I know Herman write 'Parade' out of town, after this song had been dropped. So...seriously, no one saw the redundancy? That said - Ethel is impervious to any jibes, ever. Hater her, love her: she ruled B'way whenever she appeared.

[GothamFlack]

@paulswans: It's pretty clear that you don't much care for Merman the singer, actress, performer, person, human being, but that Betty Hutton story is one of Miss Hutton's delusional fictions, debunked by other cast members and pretty inconsistent with other performers' experience working with her (for examples, Betty Garrett's, Jack Klugman's). Too bad Elsa Maxwell's not around, hosting a party for you to grind your ax well.

[ajsafran]

I was lucky enough to see the Merm in Hello Dolly at the show in which it became the longest running show at the time. I also saw the closing performance. What makes this song so amazing is that it was performed from the front of the thrust stage of the St James Theater. It was well publicized and the audience knew that all amplification would be shut off when the two restored songs were sung . Merman was practically standing in the audience. Needless to say the audience went wild.

[Gaygarious]

Musical attendees today have no clue... they are there for the spectacle.... very few b'way stars anymore simply miked imitators of a world past!!!!!

[paulswans]

But the wobble in her voice - the long notes have no pitch control....

[hushpuppy212]

Thanks for making this available!

C'mon now, a Merman show needs a Merman roof-raiser early in the first act (think 'Some People'). It's a chance for the audience not only to bask in the glow of a great star, but also (not that anyone much cared at this point in the show's run) to give the audience a reason to root for Dolly (think 'Wouldn't it be Loverly'). I never saw Merman in DOLLY, but I did see Pearl Bailey and, IMHO, she would've done a great job with 'Love, look in My Window'.

[paulswans]

there's a documentary where Merm tells that she often was thinking of grocery shopping lists while she sang on stage

gargoyle

Channing, Ann Miller - all gargoyles. Only Mary Martin was a human being

[timwil09]

Thanks for this posting. It's the first time I've heard it since 1970. I saw Merman do this when I was in college. I had seen other Dollys in the role and Merman seemed to walk through the performance. She was older then and after so many ladies had done it, it was very anti-climactic. She seemed to be doing Jerry Herman and David Merrick a favor. The whole tone of her performance was "Okay, here I am doing this role you've wanted me for at the end of its long run. Are you happy now?"

[filmmekker]

@timwil09 You'd never guess she walked through the show from this recording!

[timwil09]

@filmmekker No slam intended at the Merm. She was arguably the greatest Broadway star of the 20th century. And let me say that I was thrilled to have the chance to see her in the structure of a B'way musical. But it was an old show when she entered it and the book scenes were tired . The new songs were enticements for her to do the show - both sung on the ramp with no staging. With the new songs, however, she stopped the show and rightfully so. No one could sing a show tume like Merman!

[showtunestarpower]

@timwil09 I saw Merman on a Saturday night in this show when the audience was only 2/3 full. However, Merman was magnificen! Funny!!! Heartfelt! And when the music started, the show went to the stars. I saw Dorothy Lamour before her - and Dorothy was really wonderful - but Merman was a burning comet. Since then I've had the privilege to see Channing in Dolly 5 times. But I'll never ever forget Ethel. I don't know where the "walking through" myth began.

[filmmekker]

Thanks for posting this. You should put together a Merman/Dolly cast album from the available sources!

I wonder why they never did a Merman version of Hello Dolly? Instead of a third Annie Get Your Gun, which she did in London in the 70's, they should have done a Hello Dolly! well, I guess it's up t0 you.

[olbrych82]

I remember sitting in the front row for this song hearing for the first time as a young boy and captivated my mother thought maybe we should change our seats because it might be to loud that close.

[olbrych82]

@olbrych82 i wanted to add that she did this show with only the footmics which was also thrilling.

[GoodbyeToBlueberyPie]

Thank you so much for this! I only wish they recorded a cast album for Merman's run...the role was written for her afterall...

[paulswans]

In Panama Hattie, a then unknown Betty Hutton had one song that brought the house down during rehearsals. Two weeks before the Broadway opening, Merman had the producers cut the song. She said, "There's only one star in a Merman show." I wonder if in the program for Merman as Dolly, she insisted stating that she was the original choice for the part.

[jonthesYT]

You're welcome. I don't think the piano version gives you the same impact as this.

[penti77]

Thanks for this gem!

[jonthesYT]

Had she taken the part originally, with these songs in it as originally planned, I suspect the book would have been somewhat different.

[jonthesYT]

Well, I've always thought "The Matchmaker" was much better drama. "Dolly" you know she's going to get what she wants. The way the song is written I don't think anyone could make it plead, much as I like it. I think it's more of a declaration that "I'm going after him", that's she's not an agent anymore. The other Merman song, "Love Look in My Window", sung just before "Parade" is REALLY redundant and I don't think should be in the score. This should be an option in the licensed version, I think.

[veggiet2009]

@jonthesYT Yeah, the two ethel merman only songs are really redundant, I don't like either of them

[paulswans]

It would have been great if she could have interpreted the song as if she were pleading the world to take her back - now there's no question that it will work out for her. There's no vulnerability here - no hoping - no anxiety on Dolly's part. As a result she has no place to go and it makes Before the Parade redundant.

[Dirkdebruyne]

@paulswans all you say is true...but...as the song was specifically written for merman's "style" one can only suppose that this is the way jerry herman wanted this song to be interpreted..he surely didn't expect a forlorn songbird pleading a torch song...even in what are considered merman's more gentle love songs she still proceeds with all the subtelty of a russian tank..I guess you have to take it or leave it and a lot of people took it , in live theatre she must have given a "high" ...

[showtunestarpower]

Thank you for taking the time to give us the best recording possible of this song. Your work is VERY appreciated!