I’ve quite often found that it’s the unexpected that sometimes gives you the most listening pleasure. And it’s certainly the case in the latest offering from British label Stage Door Records. One of Rodgers and Hammerstein's best loved musicals Carousel is re-imagined in this 1962 studio recording produced by pioneering conductor Enoch Light and featuring musical direction and choral arrangements by leading Broadway orchestrator Jay Blackton.

This unique interpretation features an all star cast led by legendary Broadway performer Alfred Drake and Metropolitan Opera star Roberta Peters alongside Claramae Turner (reprising her on- screen role of Nettie Fowler), Lee Venora, Norman Treigle and Jon Crain. The Carousel recording is coupled with Alfred Drake and Roberta Peters' follow up album Sing the Popular Music of Leonard Bernstein, produced by Enoch Light and featuring songs from West Side Story, On The Town, Wonderful Town and Candide.

This is an interesting album for several reasons. Enoch Light produced this album using techniques he had previously used on his Persuasive Percussion albums. This was changed slightly for these albums however, in that he recorded audio onto Stereo 35mm film, rather than normal tape. This gave a clearer sound, less prone to distortion, which was an issue back in the LP days of the '60s, and producing a rich and fulfilling musical experiences while preserving the dynamic sense of theatrical realism and sonic intensity. Both recordings make their debut on CD and have been digitally remastered from stereo reel-to-reel tape.

The release continues Stage Door's Collector's Series, a line of limited edition CD products presented in the retro style of a miniature long-playing record. All Collector's Series titles are limited to 500 units.

So what of the material? Well, as I said this is a 2fer featuring the 1962 Studio Cast recording of the Rodgers & Hammerstein great Carousel, along with a vocal album recorded a year later, Alfred Drake & Roberta Peters Sing The Popular Music of Leonard Bernstein. This recording marks the first time that either have been available on CD, and as usual the transfer by Stage Door is excellent.

Carousel is up first on the album (indeed, I thought this would be the majority of the album, and the jewel here - see my earlier comments) and it’s a mixed bag to be honest. The performances are adequate, and the orchestra sounds excellent - probably as good as any recording. But for me, something just doesn’t click. I don’t know if it’s because it’s obviously a studio cast, and not a cast recording, so the principals haven’t had the time to gel their performances, or to have the extra dimension of performing together. Peters fairs better than Drake for me, some of Drake's numbers come across too operatic for me, although I did enjoy 'June Is Busting Out All Over' - the chorus are worthy of a mention, as they come across as first rate.

For me, the second ‘album’ on here, Alfred Drake & Roberta Peters Sing The Popular Music of Leonard Bernstein, is the real star, and worth buying this CD for alone. Again, the Enoch Light Orchestra features, along with the Ray Charles Singers. It’s great to hear a new take on some songs which we now consider standards, and to hear some interesting arrangements and orchestrations. I liked everything on here, which is a rarity, and it was nice to hear some different numbers, such as 'Lucky To Be Me' from On The Town, and 'Best of All Possible Worlds' from Candide. Most songs work with this duo really well, with perhaps the exception of 'New York, New York' - but it’s hard to beat the original for that I think.

A nice 2fer, and worth a place in anyone’s collection.

8

Ian Gude