It's amazing that Donna McKechnie sings the top line of the trio with high A's and the fairly difficult melody when she was also the lead dancer of the show and and one of the greatest dancers ever seen on Broadway! And she's so beautiful as well! God, that woman has enough talent for five Broadway performers!
I love that those girls could not even sit still while singing that song on the tenth take, that song has so much brilliant irony and fun it makes me want to get up and skip around
Sondheim is such an amazing director for those girls, I always love to see him give tips to his singers because he just knows so much. You can tell he had already thought about doing dynamics and realized you can't sing a high A softly; he's that much of a genius.
One of my friend's voice teachers worked with Sondheim in the Pacific Overtures revival and he pointed out that Sondheim never got mad or raised his voice, he's the nicest and I love him!
04:29 I like how Susan explains the process. To the casual listener/viewer you would think this is an early rehearsal, not a performance after they have been officially performing it on Broadway.
Love watching the dynamics. Steve is such a nice and charming guy, no wonder he is so well-loved. Donna, Pamela and Susan listening to the playback is a play is such a study. Their happiness and excitement was wonderful.
Fantastic! Wonderful exposition of a "live" recording session for a just opened Broadway Musical ! I just wish that we had more videos to capture these unique recoding histories, Really remarkable!
3:09 thank you Mr. Sondheim! He understands the voice so well and communicates wonderfully. Everything he did (and didn't do) here was deliberate. A true artist.
I've enjoyed watching this clip many, many times and only now just noticed that Pamela Myers' little laugh occurs twice, with different camera shots. Once at 2:12 and again at 5:19. I'm guessing Donna went a little too high on that note....and that "Donna knows."
As I said elsewhere, I recently heard that Stritch, when she isn't "on" is a normal and nice person. My husband did summer stock with her (in a former life), and because he didn't drink much, she used to call him "Cheap Date Charlie." LOL
@jerrynova14 He only wrote the lyrics for Gypsy not the music, Jule Styne wrote the score. He also wrote additional lyrics for West Side Story, so he started as a lyricist.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but Donna sings the high As and then also sings the lower harmony line when the other 2 take the melody. Aaaaand she sings the solo and belt on “all that sweet affection”. This is Donna’s song and the others are just back up Hahahaha
Most definitely Donna's song. Even looking at the show's structure as a whole, you get the feeling that this is Kathy's actress's moment to shine vocally, since Martha has Another Hundred People and April has Barcelona. Granted, Kathy's real solo number is Tick-Tock, but considering it's a dance solo and it gets nixed in multiple modern productions, I'm more than glad she gets those moments in this song.
Sometimes Susan sounds like Goldie Hawn did when she was younger. (During the interview bit.) Anyway, I love that we have this recording session on tape - so many wonderful moments. Myers at the end cracks me up.
Does anyone know if Sondheim had to pen a change to the ending of this song mid session? It ends differently in the first run through that we hear in this clip?
@KatherineXIX I think they do, but "you son of a b*tch!" is pretty common in all the times I've heard this song heard. Then again, sometimes they don't say anything.
@@vote4carp (Not) Getting Married Today! ruclips.net/video/UuQea2eVL2Y/видео.html Although the Doc Now! guys went a little easier and slower than Sondheim lol
It was Ethel Merman who quashed the idea of Sondheim writing both music and lyrics for Gypsy. She had recently been in a near-flop (Happy Hunting, I believe) in which the songs were written by a novice team. She said she was fine with Sondheim - who had not yet had a show of his own produced on Broadway - doing the lyrics, but insisted upon the experienced Jule Styne as composer. The resulting collaboration - including book writer Arthur Laurents and director/choreographer Jerome Robbins - gave us one of the greatest musicals ever written - and Styne's best score.
Doo-doo-doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo-doo! Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo! You could drive a person crazy, You could drive a person mad. First you make a person hazy So a person could be had, Then you leave a person dangling sadly Outside your door, Which could only make a person gladly Want you even more. I could understand a person If it's not a person's bag. I could understand a person If he meant as a gag. But worse 'n that, A person that Titillates a person and then leaves her flat Is crazy, He's a troubled person, He's a truly crazy person himself. When a person's personality is personable, He should not sit like a lump. It's harder than a matador coercin' a bull To try to get you off of your rump. So single and attentive and attractive a man Is everything a person could wish, But turning off a person is the act of a man Who likes to pull the hooks out of fish. Knock-knock! Is anybody there? Knock-knock! It really isn't fair. Knock-knock! I'm workin' all my charms. Knock-knock! A zombie's in my arms. All that sweet affection! What is wrong? Where's the loose connection? How long, O Lord, how long? Bobby-baby-Bobby-bubbi-Bobby, You could drive a person buggy, You could blow a person's cool. Like you make a person feel all huggy While you make her feel a fool. When a person says that you upset her, That's when you're good. You impersonate a person better Than a zombie should. I could understand a person If he wasn't good in bed. I could understand a person If he actually was dead. Exclusive you! Elusive you! Will any person ever get the juice of you? You're crazy, You're a lovely person, You're a moving, Deeply maladjusted, Never to be trusted, Crazy person yourself.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
It's amazing that Donna McKechnie sings the top line of the trio with high A's and the fairly difficult melody when she was also the lead dancer of the show and and one of the greatest dancers ever seen on Broadway! And she's so beautiful as well! God, that woman has enough talent for five Broadway performers!
Richiesutherland she’s a Goddess
and a great friend too..beautiful inside and out!
"Bobby is my hobby and I'm giving it up." This really is the definitive version of this song. "Donna knows"...when he says that....
I love that those girls could not even sit still while singing that song on the tenth take, that song has so much brilliant irony and fun it makes me want to get up and skip around
Sondheim is such an amazing director for those girls, I always love to see him give tips to his singers because he just knows so much. You can tell he had already thought about doing dynamics and realized you can't sing a high A softly; he's that much of a genius.
I love that Ms. McKechnie has a full face of makeup and lashes on just for the recording! STAR!
i wonder if she's a method actor
She's absolutely gorgeous.
Literally just had that thought. 50th Anniversary of a show today!
She instinctively knew people would be watching this 50 years later.
@@NewsHistorian False eyelashes were far more commonly worn in 1970.
One of my friend's voice teachers worked with Sondheim in the Pacific Overtures revival and he pointed out that Sondheim never got mad or raised his voice, he's the nicest and I love him!
04:29 I like how Susan explains the process. To the casual listener/viewer you would think this is an early rehearsal, not a performance after they have been officially performing it on Broadway.
Love watching the dynamics. Steve is such a nice and charming guy, no wonder he is so well-loved. Donna, Pamela and Susan listening to the playback is a play is such a study. Their happiness and excitement was wonderful.
Fantastic! Wonderful exposition of a "live" recording session for a just opened Broadway Musical !
I just wish that we had more videos to capture these unique recoding histories,
Really remarkable!
Steve really was soooo gifted, lyrics and composer. God bless him❤🙏😇
1:58 such disdain from Mr. Sondheim. He knows what he wants
At 3:45 he's terrific at working with the singer.
@@presbyterosBassI This moment is echoed hilariously in *Co-op* (Documentary Now, a fake doc comedy on IFC) Co-op brought me here in fact.
3:09 thank you Mr. Sondheim! He understands the voice so well and communicates wonderfully. Everything he did (and didn't do) here was deliberate. A true artist.
@@kandyappleview *understands.... Sondheim isn't dead.
@@SPrescott2611 ah yes, sorry, typo in didn't catch
If only they did this with more broadway shows! Like for Annie, or a Chorus Line. Love this documentary so much!
There is of course also the documentary on the recording of West Side Story.
So much talent! They make it look effortless.
I wish I could go back in time and observe this!
The little interview at 4:30 is so charming.
RIP Susan_love her and she sings Barcelona like an angel.
Allan Fisch Yes! That’s my favorite song from the entire show... and I love EVERY song!
Just in case anyone else was confused - the "Donna knows" reaction at 5:15 was their reaction to what happened at 2:08
Omg Donna McKechnie...pure perfection
This is my first time hearing the 1970 version of this song and the slur caught me so off guard! Wow! And from Sondheim? 🤣
Pamela used to do a version of this number where she sang all the parts, quite hilarious.
Those three ladies are just crazy talented. Wow!
I've enjoyed watching this clip many, many times and only now just noticed that Pamela Myers' little laugh occurs twice, with different camera shots. Once at 2:12 and again at 5:19. I'm guessing Donna went a little too high on that note....and that "Donna knows."
Actually it's that Donna went a little lower on the A5
As I said elsewhere, I recently heard that Stritch, when she isn't "on" is a normal and nice person. My husband did summer stock with her (in a former life), and because he didn't drink much, she used to call him "Cheap Date Charlie." LOL
I'm so excited! I'm playing the role of Marta in June and I'm so pumped!
T4Tyson CONGRATS!! I hope it was an awesome experience for ya! sounds fun!
Hope you had fun! Which part is MARTA? The blonde or Donna
Marta sings 'Another Hundred People'. She's the short haired red head. It was great fun playing her. Would love to do it again!!!!
"There's a question of delicacy about it because you can't get Donna to sing that... soft." Hahahah
You can’t silence a queen.
@@ashleyregina Amen to that!
1:58 Right after Sondheim took notes on "Booby Booby", the guy over there behind looked like "hmmm, some shit happened" hahaha
Sondheim teaching the correct pronunciation of "bubbe."
Unsuccessfully: if you listen to the finished product on the album, she still sings "Booby".
@jerrynova14 He only wrote the lyrics for Gypsy not the music, Jule Styne wrote the score. He also wrote additional lyrics for West Side Story, so he started as a lyricist.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but Donna sings the high As and then also sings the lower harmony line when the other 2 take the melody. Aaaaand she sings the solo and belt on “all that sweet affection”. This is Donna’s song and the others are just back up Hahahaha
Most definitely Donna's song. Even looking at the show's structure as a whole, you get the feeling that this is Kathy's actress's moment to shine vocally, since Martha has Another Hundred People and April has Barcelona. Granted, Kathy's real solo number is Tick-Tock, but considering it's a dance solo and it gets nixed in multiple modern productions, I'm more than glad she gets those moments in this song.
@goodlevy Thats really wonderful!! Congratulations on his accomplishment! Yall should be proud!
This is phenomenal footage!
Thank you so much for posting. :D
Amazing
Donna McKechnie!!!! :D
The dude directing the sound in the studio looks like and sounds an 80's Jimmy Fallon
awesome!
Donna knows!
Great comment - thanks!
0:35 that sound engineer looks so done with their shit lmaoooo
Marriage Story is a triumph.
@Richiesutherland Just met her at BTP 2011 and had the honor of a master class with the woman. She is truly incredible.
Sometimes Susan sounds like Goldie Hawn did when she was younger. (During the interview bit.) Anyway, I love that we have this recording session on tape - so many wonderful moments. Myers at the end cracks me up.
YAY! Real singing! no belting and actual technique!! LOVE IT!
Does anyone know if Sondheim had to pen a change to the ending of this song mid session?
It ends differently in the first run through that we hear in this clip?
@KatherineXIX I think they do, but "you son of a b*tch!" is pretty common in all the times I've heard this song heard. Then again, sometimes they don't say anything.
@aspaul21 LOL. It's all worth it to see Pamela's smile when she nails it.
I want someone to tell me the effects of constant smoke on all that recording equipment. Has anyone done studies on it? :)
Who’s here because they watched “Documentary Now!”? 🤣🤣🤣
harpooned
I had no idea this existed until after I saw DocNow. Amazing. Where's the cocaine song? 🤣
I find you very intimidating.
@@vote4carp (Not) Getting Married Today! ruclips.net/video/UuQea2eVL2Y/видео.html Although the Doc Now! guys went a little easier and slower than Sondheim lol
Can you imagine is Sondheim actually composed the music to Gypsy? I don't think I can even wrap my mind around that.
Sondheim wrote the lyrics.
It was Ethel Merman who quashed the idea of Sondheim writing both music and lyrics for Gypsy. She had recently been in a near-flop (Happy Hunting, I believe) in which the songs were written by a novice team. She said she was fine with Sondheim - who had not yet had a show of his own produced on Broadway - doing the lyrics, but insisted upon the experienced Jule Styne as composer. The resulting collaboration - including book writer Arthur Laurents and director/choreographer Jerome Robbins - gave us one of the greatest musicals ever written - and Styne's best score.
If there's ever a donna mckechnie biopic mandy Moore needs to play her
I've watched this documentary many times, but was completely ignorant of Donna McKechnie until more recently.
What is the name of the “organ” type keyboard instrument used as a piano in this early version of the show?
Is Tom Shepard smooth or what?
What is that harpsichord / organ prototype instrument in this show called?
"That was the best?"
2:56 Somebody said something in Yiddish or German.
Sondheim is awesome ! ! !
My mother went to PSU with Susan Browning.
"Donna knows'" 😊
Donna is beautiful here, and, for some reason, she reminds me a little bit of Catherine Deneuve.
Those were the days!!! ...
@Marktheho I know. That's what I was saying. What *if* he wrote the music to Gypsy.
@astoria25 Agreed, but how did she end up with caterpillars on her eyelids?
@goodlevy -Phil can beat them skins, he can! Kudos to Phil.
3:25: ROTFLMAO! (also 1:56)
Who's here after watching Marriage Story ?
Doo-doo-doo-doo!
Doo-doo-doo-doo!
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo!
You could drive a person crazy,
You could drive a person mad.
First you make a person hazy
So a person could be had,
Then you leave a person dangling sadly
Outside your door,
Which could only make a person gladly
Want you even more.
I could understand a person
If it's not a person's bag.
I could understand a person
If he meant as a gag.
But worse 'n that,
A person that
Titillates a person and then leaves her flat
Is crazy,
He's a troubled person,
He's a truly crazy person himself.
When a person's personality is personable,
He should not sit like a lump.
It's harder than a matador coercin' a bull
To try to get you off of your rump.
So single and attentive and attractive a man
Is everything a person could wish,
But turning off a person is the act of a man
Who likes to pull the hooks out of fish.
Knock-knock! Is anybody there?
Knock-knock! It really isn't fair.
Knock-knock! I'm workin' all my charms.
Knock-knock! A zombie's in my arms.
All that sweet affection!
What is wrong?
Where's the loose connection?
How long, O Lord, how long?
Bobby-baby-Bobby-bubbi-Bobby,
You could drive a person buggy,
You could blow a person's cool.
Like you make a person feel all huggy
While you make her feel a fool.
When a person says that you upset her,
That's when you're good.
You impersonate a person better
Than a zombie should.
I could understand a person
If he wasn't good in bed.
I could understand a person
If he actually was dead.
Exclusive you!
Elusive you!
Will any person ever get the juice of you?
You're crazy,
You're a lovely person,
You're a moving,
Deeply maladjusted,
Never to be trusted,
Crazy person yourself.
Thank you
Who's here after Marriage Story?
Me
That guy coaching the singers acts so bossy. As though he wrote the song.
She just danced cassie
Marriage story fans are scarce here
she looks like amy adams
The blond girl looks just like Lena Dunham!
It's sad to see such a vicious parody of that nice musical, "Co-Op". Okay, so "Co-Op" wasn't that great, but it wasn't THIS bad. This is just mean.
My god, It is Jimmy Fallon 🙄. Time travel is real.
the girl on the right looks just like kristen wiig :') ha
Imagine calling Donna McKechnie “The Girl on the Right.”
Why do Broadway singers always sing under the pitch?
Do they?
Y’all are commenting on the session like it was yesterday. It was over 50 years ago. They’re probably all dead.
The guys in london performance so much better