In 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart continued their successful collaboration by staging Babes in Arms, the original; ‘hey guy’s let’s put a show on in a barn’ storyline, which ran for two hundred and eighty-nine shows.

The show had a mixed success, only really taking off when its more immediate rival shows folded. Even so, the stage version was followed by a movie version, directed by Busby Berkeley, with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney - the version which introduced most people to the story - although it only retained two of the songs.

The story involves a group of kids whose parents are down on their luck. With jobs drying up in the theatre the kids are in danger of being sent to work on a farm as the parents have to move away for work. So, the intrepid group get together to put on a show, which is initially a flop. But, with a bit of luck and a lot of pluck, they succeed in generating enough publicity to make the show a success.

One of the most impressive things about the show is the number of classic numbers which it contained, including 'My Funny Valentine', 'The Lady is a Tramp' and 'Where or When', that is not to say that the other songs show less quality either lyrically or musically.

There are no recordings of the original 1937 show; however there have been a number of revivals across the years, including this one. This 1951 version of the show stars Mary Martin (South Pacific), Jack Cassidy and the music was conducted by Lehman Engel, the full track listing is:

'Overture', 'Where or When', 'Babes in Arms', 'I Wish I Were in Love Again', 'Way Out West', 'My Funny Valentine', 'Johnny One Note', 'Imagine', 'All at Once', 'The Lady Is a Tramp', 'You Are So Fair' and 'Finale'.

Partially because the show contained so many standards and partially because this was recorded in 1951, neither the show, nor the music feels particularly dated. The recording is clear with no distortion or extra noise, a real treat for Rodgers and Hart fans.

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Charles Packer