There's one thing for certain. I get to see (or rather, hear) a variety of recordings whilst reviewing the new releases from Broadway Masterworks. The latest one to land on my desk is somewhat curiouser than many. Before the days of digital downloads, there were (and still are) CDs and LPs that were 'valuable' in monetary terms, not just in musical content or importance. One of the most valuable over the past few decades was the original 'cast' recording of Clownaround. Why so valuable?

A couple of reasons. Firstly, it was a flop. It lasted 14 performances, in the San Francisco bay area, then ran out of money, so never actually made it to Broadway. As for the actual LP, it was on sale only in the lobby of the two venues in which the show played its 14 performances. The unsold majority were melted down when the producers ran out of money and closed the show in 1971. Thus, it was never actually released.

So here we have it, finally, released to the masses. Billed as “A Funny Kind of Musical for the Entire Family,” Clownaround was conceived by Alvin Cooperman, a successful television executive and producer (The Untouchables) and all-around entrepreneur who also wrote the book and lyrics. According to a souvenir program, he was fascinated by fools, jesters and clowns, and Clownaround was the result that fascination. The music is by Mark “Moose” Charlap, known to Broadway audiences for his contribution to the score of Peter Pan and to jazz fans as the father of Bill Charlap, the acclaimed jazz pianist.

You will see I referred to the 'cast' recording above. The recording isn't actually the cast, or if it is, they are unnamed in the credits of the album. Film legend Gene Kelly directed the original production, with a cast that included Ruth Buzzi, but there's little evidence that they are on this recording.

This one surprised me, and gave me a great deal of pleasure. It's so typically late '60s / early '70s wide stereo, brassy full on orchestral that you can't help but like it. There are lots of notable tracks on the recording - the music being stronger than the lyrics throughout. The orchestrations that create this 1970's sound are by Jack Elliott and Allyn Ferguson - Elliot worked on The Andy Williams Show, and Ferguson wrote the Charlie's Angels theme, so you know the territory we are in.

The opening 'Clowns' is a great opener, and I also loved 'Sunny Day' with it's big brass sound, and 'Clowns Say Goodnight'. None of these are noteworthy for their vocals - as I said, we don't know who they are, but they handle the numbers well. The vocals are skillfully arranged in the same way as the music, and there really is no doubting what era we are listening to. It's so deep and sweet that you could get a sugar rush by just listening.

It's great that this 40 year old recording is now available to us - if you want to be reminded of what the '70s sounded like, then I can think of no better way than to get hold of this little masterpiece.

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Ian Gude