I was born with the show tune gene. As a sixteen year old in 1971, I got involved in my high school musicals and was lucky enough to land leading roles in two different shows. One day, the director of these shows lent me his vinyl LP set (back then we just called them records) of "The Most Happy Fella". I was amazed that this was a recording of the entire musical. I made a reel to reel tape of these records and played it over and over. From that point on, I felt that THIS was the gold standard for how a Broadway musical should sound. I love this score, the orchestrations and all of the performances. I completely agree with Seth that Susan Johnston's voice is AMAZING!
Always been one of my favorite OBC recordings - I "accidentally" ordered the complete recording through the Columbia Record Club as a teenager - I had never seen a "complete" cast recording before - since this song is at the beginning, it caught my ear immediately as did Susan Johnson's stunning voice
Great fun! Good taste from young Seth, & loved hearing the 3- & 12-yr.-old versions. I feel sorry f. the kids who didn't grow up w. parents who blasted Broadway scores throughout the house (well, and all the other great stuff my mom & dad loved). MOST HAPPY FELLA is one we didn't have, so I didn't fall in love w. it till yrs later. Then, just recently, Lyric Stage produced it, & it was one of the greatest things I've ever seen/heard anywhere in the world. Bill Nolte, Amber Nicole Guest, et al!!
OMG SETH! I never saw this one before! AMAZING! First of all your deconstruction of what Susan Johnson is doing is dead on… and YOUR versions are both ADORABLE and AMAZING TOO! There is no one like you in the entire Universe! BRAVO!
Susan Johnson... along with Carol Haney... one of a small band of people who never sought a career beyond Broadway, but whose appearance in a cast always signaled something special. Truly treasured performers. (Add your own names to this club.)
Well done. I've always loved this show. Hard to believe it's not more popular. The music is among Broadway's best, a great combination of varied theater music and emotional expression.
It's an eccentric show, mostly sung, with an improbable combination of standard Broadway numbers, including a comic song like this, operatic arias, and even pure pop music styles. The atory is also an oddity in some ways reminiscent of operas or operettas. Broadway audiences found the show hard to classify, at a time when Rodgers and Hammerstein's "realism" ruled musicals.
Like you, Seth, I grew up listening to parents record of MHF on lazy Sunday afternoons. Best show ever! Finally got to see it on stage at Goodspeed. I want you to deconstruct the rest of the songs - fascinating!! Thank you!
Susan Johnson buoys every album in which she appears. I was particularly obsessed with her on the BRIGADOON studio cast album. Even without a Scottish accent, she's the Meg I always enjoy listening to the most.
Please check out the wonderful version of this on the cast recording of the London production--it's sung by my aunt, Libi Staiger, and it too is amazing!
One wonders If, subtly, Frank Loesser is the most brilliant songwriter of all for originality. He is truly brilliant lyrically and musically. All the great songwriters are equally great from Berlin to Paul Simon, thank The Lord forthem all...but Loesser has a most unique genius for lyrics and music that surprises and moves one.
I love the deconstructs but this one really hit home as the first show my parents took me to see was The Most Happy Fella! I didn't see it on Broadway but instead in my home town of Sacramento. Years later, I found out after the fact, Susan Johnson resided here and would occasionally perform in local theater! I, sadly, didn't see any of her performances.
The recordings of Lil' Seth at the end are priceless. Are there more?
Totally 100% Take the kids to a regular broadway show!!! I too am OBSESSED with her amazing voice!!!! :)
I grew up in Coney Island, and at 4 years old I cut a record on the boardwalk. I sang "A Bushel and a Peck."
Seth Rudetsky Deconstructs deserve more popularity
I was born with the show tune gene. As a sixteen year old in 1971, I got involved in my high school musicals and was lucky enough to land leading roles in two different shows. One day, the director of these shows lent me his vinyl LP set (back then we just called them records) of "The Most Happy Fella". I was amazed that this was a recording of the entire musical. I made a reel to reel tape of these records and played it over and over. From that point on, I felt that THIS was the gold standard for how a Broadway musical should sound. I love this score, the orchestrations and all of the performances. I completely agree with Seth that Susan Johnston's voice is AMAZING!
Always been one of my favorite OBC recordings - I "accidentally" ordered the complete recording through the Columbia Record Club as a teenager - I had never seen a "complete" cast recording before - since this song is at the beginning, it caught my ear immediately as did Susan Johnson's stunning voice
Great fun! Good taste from young Seth, & loved hearing the 3- & 12-yr.-old versions. I feel sorry f. the kids who didn't grow up w. parents who blasted Broadway scores throughout the house (well, and all the other great stuff my mom & dad loved). MOST HAPPY FELLA is one we didn't have, so I didn't fall in love w. it till yrs later. Then, just recently, Lyric Stage produced it, & it was one of the greatest things I've ever seen/heard anywhere in the world. Bill Nolte, Amber Nicole Guest, et al!!
I love listening to Seth R. on my XM radio.
and being a Mom, I am OBSESSED with the recordings you made as a child.. So freakin adorable!
OMG SETH! I never saw this one before! AMAZING! First of all your deconstruction of what Susan Johnson is doing is dead on… and YOUR versions are both ADORABLE and AMAZING TOO! There is no one like you in the entire Universe! BRAVO!
Susan Johnson... along with Carol Haney... one of a small band of people who never sought a career beyond Broadway, but whose appearance in a cast always signaled something special. Truly treasured performers. (Add your own names to this club.)
Well done. I've always loved this show. Hard to believe it's not more popular. The music is among Broadway's best, a great combination of varied theater music and emotional expression.
It's an eccentric show, mostly sung, with an improbable combination of standard Broadway numbers, including a comic song like this, operatic arias, and even pure pop music styles. The atory is also an oddity in some ways reminiscent of operas or operettas. Broadway audiences found the show hard to classify, at a time when Rodgers and Hammerstein's "realism" ruled musicals.
Like you, Seth, I grew up listening to parents record of MHF on lazy Sunday afternoons. Best show ever! Finally got to see it on stage at Goodspeed. I want you to deconstruct the rest of the songs - fascinating!! Thank you!
AWWWWWWWWWWWW BABY SETH XXXXXXXXXXX SOOOOOOOO CUTE LOVE IT :D
My first college show, I played Ciccio. That was the moment I knew this was the biz for me
Did you see the City Center production? Heidi Blickenstaff was tremendous at this song!
Susan Johnson buoys every album in which she appears. I was particularly obsessed with her on the BRIGADOON studio cast album. Even without a Scottish accent, she's the Meg I always enjoy listening to the most.
I fucking love his rant at the very beginning. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Please check out the wonderful version of this on the cast recording of the London production--it's sung by my aunt, Libi Staiger, and it too is amazing!
Excellent!
aw this reminded me just how I sounded as a little boy on recordings :)
One wonders If, subtly, Frank Loesser is the most brilliant songwriter of all for originality. He is truly brilliant lyrically and musically. All the great songwriters are equally great from Berlin to Paul Simon, thank The Lord forthem all...but Loesser has a most unique genius for lyrics and music that surprises and moves one.
I love the deconstructs but this one really hit home as the first show my parents took me to see was The Most Happy Fella! I didn't see it on Broadway but instead in my home town of Sacramento. Years later, I found out after the fact, Susan Johnson resided here and would occasionally perform in local theater! I, sadly, didn't see any of her performances.
Seth is so fun to watch lmao
If only I could catch what he's gabbling!
Another Hundred People - Sondheim, not Schwartz! (Obviously a slip.)
My Aunt Libi's version is better.