Once Upon A Mattress (Original London Cast) / Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves 40 (Studio Cast)

Description

Although better known as the daughter of Broadway legend Richard Rodgers, Mary Rodgers is an accomplished composer in her own right. Here we present the CD debut of the underrated Original London Cast album of her most enduring work, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Although it failed to emulate the success of the Broadway version, the London cast contained many distinguished names, including Max Wall and Thelma Ruby, as well as American comedienne Jane Connell, who went on to star as Agnes Gooch in MAME.

Alongside MATTRESS  whose tracks are presented in show order for the first time we are proud to release the concept album ALI BABA AND THE 40 THIEVES 40. Narrated and sung by Bing Crosby and with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, this rich score acknowledges Rodgers’s lifelong accomplishment as a writer for children. Together, these tracks serve as a reminder of the composer’s unique talents as she approaches her eightieth birthday in January 2011

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS (Original London Cast)
1. OVERTURE / MANY MOONS AGO Peter Grant
2. AN OPENING FOR A PRINCESS Patricia Lambert, Robin Hunter
3. IN A LITTLE WHILE Patricia Lambert, Bill Newman
4. SHY Jane Connell
5. SENSITIVITY Thelma Ruby, Bill Kerr
6. THE SWAMPS OF HOME Jane Connell
7. NORMANDY Patricia Lambert, Peter Grant, Max Wall
8. SPANISH PANIC Thelma Ruby
9. SONG OF LOVE Jane Connell, Robin Hunter
10. HAPPILY EVER AFTER Jane Connell
11. MAN TO MAN TALK Max Wall, Robin Hunter
12. VERY SOFT SHOES Max Wall
13. YESTERDAY I LOVED YOU Patricia Lambert, Bill Newman
14. FINALE Company

ALI BABA AND THE 40 THIEVES 40 (Bing Crosby)

15. A long time ago in Persia (narration)
16. YEAR IN, YEAR OUT
17. Ali Baba always hoped (narration) / MY OWN INDIVIDUAL STAR
18. 40 THIEVES 40 (Chorus)
19. OPEN SESAME
20. MY OWN INDIVIDUAL STAR
21. Well now, Ali Baba’s brother, Kassim (narration)
22. ONE RICH BROTHER
23. Open Sesame! Kassim was trapped! (narration)
24. ONE OF US IS A THIEF (Chorus)
25. I LOVE YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE
26. ONE RICH BROTHER
27. THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER