Leonard Warren sings "On The Road To Mandalay" (1952)

[freebeerfordworkers]

Remarkable! I had never heard of Leonard Warren until I stumbled on this when I was looking for Peter Dawson singing.

[rialtobaby]

WONDERFUL ! ! !

[alexwareham]

People make a mistake when they assume that the British soldier in On the Road to Mandalay refers to ALL British soldiers. It simply refers to the particular unnamed British soldier in the poem who feels his Burmese girl friend calling him back.

[legatofancier]

He sounds so much better on this recording than he did on his RCA commercial recordings. The voice is more forward and much more unified bottom to top than on the RCA's. It makes me wonder if RCA's recording technique did a diservice to him.

[federricoilgrande]

La voce di Warren è molto piu' bella di quella di Tibbett ::))

[Agorante]

There is another version of this song on YouTube with Lawrence Tibbet. There is a back story here.

Tibbet became famous over night at the Met when he sang Ford (the second baritone part) to Antonio Scotti's Falstaff (the lead baritone). Scotti was old and Tibbet was young.

Many years later Tibbet was cast in the lead role of Falstaff. A new young baritone - Leonard Warren - was to be his Ford. Tibbet "protested" saying he didn't want Warren doing to him what he had done to Scotti.

[badehotellet]

I wonder why one can never be allowed hearingr all the verses

[hashatz]

Warren's voice speaks for itself. He was also a wonderful performer.

[JoeWPratt]

My old Dad's Burma Star is hanging in the hall and this song makes me think of him and all the others who survived being trapped in the 'Admin Box.

[guylikesclassics]

What an inspiring performance by Mr Warren who passed away doing what he loved to do and that is to sing. Disappointing to see comments critical of any professional artist such as this.

[99Gambo]

I am a Robert Merrill fan, but wow, the power of this baritone is quite shocking! What a singer!

[stevevandien]

I sang this piece during my performing days. Did it fairly well and always received a favorable response from my audiences. But Warren, Lord have mercy. The voice's size, power, beauty, easy production and high notes from the outer limits are so far above the rest of us baritones that we might as well shut up or relegate ourselves to community theater:) --

[stupat3]

I have the original Lawrence Tibbett recording, and it has a bit more character

than this one, although I have always liked the song.

[meltzerboy]

And the Fraser Gange recording on YT has even more character.

[paulostroff99]

Gorgeous! Bravo! TY

[geegeo31]

This great, a wonderful old ballad sung by one of the great baritones. Thanks for this, brought back many happy memories.

[sverigregrabb]

I'm strangely fond of this song, but I far prefer Lawrence Tibbett's version. Much more nuanced than Warren's, which is all spit and polish. Tibbet was more than a voice--he was a great singing actor--and a good one! A rare mixture, that.

[GrenvilleT]

More than just enjoyable. It's one of the greatest songs of the magnificent British Empire. It has the marvellous timbre of the patriotism that made Britain great. What do you think?

[AlanDHarvey]

Couldn't agree more Grenville, couldn't agree more!

[gerardm]

Bravo that was enjoyable