Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?

Subject: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: Peter T.
Date: 25 Feb 03 - 07:49 PM

Does anyone know of an album of the music of "Pal Joey" -- a Broadway album or the like, NOT the official soundtrack of the crummy movie (though it did have the extraordinarily beautiful if somewhat weird Kim Novak in it)?
yours, Peter T. (e.g. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, My Funny Valentine, etc.)

Subject: ADDPOP: Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 01:59 AM

Hi, Peter. The first Broadway performance of "Pal Joey" was December 25, 1940, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. There were 374 performances in that run, which starred Vivienne Segal, Gene Kelly, June Havoc, and Jack Durant. I couldn't find an original cast recording, but Sony has a CD of the 1952 revival (which had 542 performances), starring Vivienne Segal and Harold Lang. Seems a shame there's no recording of Kelly's stage performance. There's also a CD of a 1995 revival, starring Patti Lupone and Peter Gallagher. There's also a reissue of a 1940 London performance, so maybe that would be a good one to get.

I have the DVD of the 1957 movie, starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth, and Kim Novak. I really like it, but I gather the original Broadway show had a lot more bite to it. Take a look at the review at http://www.allmovie.com. the review says the original lyrics of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" aren't heard in most recordings.

BEWITCHED, BOTHERED, AND BEWILDERED
(Rodgers & Hart, 1940/41)

VERSE
After one whole quart of brandy,*
Like a daisy I awake.
With no Bromo Seltzer handy,
I don't even shake.
Men are not a new sensation;
I've done pretty well, I think.
But this half-pint imitation
Put me on the blink.

REFRAIN 1
I'm wild again,
Beguiled again,
A simpering, whimpering child again—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

Couldn't sleep
And wouldn't sleep
Until I could sleep where I shouldn't sleep—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
Lost my heart, but what of it?
My mistake, I agree.
He's a laugh, but I love it
Because the laugh's on me.
A pill he is,
But still he is
All mine and I'll keep him until he is
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered
Like me.

REFRAIN 2
Seen a lot— I mean a lot—
But now I'm like sweet seventeen a lot—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

I'll sing to him,
Each spring to him,
And worship the trousers that cling to him—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
When he talks, he is seeking
Words to get off his chest.
Horizontally speaking,
He's at his very best.
Vexed again,
Perplexed again,
Thank God I can be oversexed again—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

REFRAIN 3
Sweet again,
Petite again,
And on my proverbial seat again—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

What am I?
Half shot am I.
To think that he loves me
So hot am I—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

Though at first we said, "No, sir,"
Now we're two little dears.
You might say we are closer
Than Roebuck is to Sears.
I'm dumb again
And numb again,
A rich, ready, ripe little plum again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

ENCORE
You know,
It is really quite funny
Just how quickly he learns
How to spend all the money
That Mr. Simpson earns.
He's kept enough,
He's slept enough,
And yet where it counts
He's adept enough—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.


REPRISE (at end of show)
Wise at last,
My eyes at last
Are cutting you down to your size at last—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered no more.

Burned a lot,
But learned a lot,
And now you are broke, though you earned a lot—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered no more.

Couldn't eat— Was dyspeptic,
Life was so hard to bear;
Now my heart's antiseptic,
Since you moved out of there.
Romance—finis;
Your chance—finis;
Those ants that invaded my pants—finis--
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered no more.

*In the published script the first four lines are:
He's a fool, and don't I know it—
But a fool can have his charms;
I'm in love and don't I show it,
Like a babe in arms.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 03:56 AM

There are several recordings shown at Pal Joey (film, original, 1980 London, 1995 NY). (A web search for "Pal Joey"+broadway+CD turns up a lot).

Mick

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: Peter T.
Date: 26 Feb 03 - 10:52 AM

They certainly bowdlerized that song for the film, though it was pretty clear where Rita Hayworth was coming from. Probably it is time for a good film -- given Chicago, maybe.

yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 03:02 AM

Here's the movie version. A lot was cut from the original, and the parts in italics are unique to the movie version. Still, it's a great performance. Hayworth didn't sing it, but she sure looked good going into that shower. She was past her prime...but then, so am I.
-Joe Offer-

---

BEWITCHED, BOTHERED, AND BEWILDERED
(Rodgers & Hart, 1940/41)
(Movie version, sung by Rita Hayworth's voice double)

He's a fool, and don't I know it—
But a fool can have his charms;
I'm in love and don't I show it,
Like a babe in arms.

Men are not a new sensation;
I've done pretty well, I think.
But this half-pint imitation
Put me on the blink.

REFRAIN 1
I'm wild again,
Beguiled again,
A simpering, whimpering child again—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

Couldn't sleep
And wouldn't sleep
And what would I do if I shouldn't sleep—
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.
Lost my heart, but what of it?
My mistake, I agree.
He's a laugh, but I love it
Because the laugh's on me.
A pill he is,
But still he is
All mine and I'll keep him until he is
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered
Like me.

[la, la, la...] I guess the laugh's on me

[starts undressing & enters shower]
I've slipped again, I've tripped again
The way to my heart is unzipped again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: harvey andrews
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 05:12 AM

Ah...when lyrics were lyrics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: JJ
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 08:36 AM

Rita Hayworth's vocals were dubbed by Jo Ann Greer.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: GUEST,D_Hand
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 08:49 AM

Ella Fitzgerald does a fantastic version on her Rodgers & Hart Songbook Album - & She includes almost all versions of the lyrics - But then again anything Ella does is fantastic.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: Peter T.
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 10:54 AM

Rita Hayworth was not past her prime. She was wallowing in the middle of it. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 11:35 AM

The story I've heard, though never verified (it's too good to check) is that ..


I've slipped again, I've tripped again
The way to my heart is unzipped again

was originally

I've slipped again, I've tripped again
MY CHASTITY BELT is unzipped again

That's a lyric you don't forget.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 03:04 PM

I dunno, Cool Beans - I think you're getting it mixed up with another song from this show, ZIP (click).
I've always been partial to Schopenhauer....
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: MW (music)
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 03:46 PM

Great song! 1 of Richard Rodger's best, IMHO.

What is the name of the technique - commonly referred to as 'sing-speak'(!) - that is used in this song? I was once told by a singing tutor but have since forgotten. It's driving me bonkers! :-/

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: JJ
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 09:07 AM

The technique is called "sprechstimme," loosely defined as a sort of talking on pitch. The musical theatre example usually given is Rex Harrison in MY FAIR LADY.

However, I wouldn't say that "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" was written to be performed utilizing sprechstimme. Also, neither of my two editions of the script contains the chastity belt lyrics. Must be the folk process...

The original Joey was Gene Kelly.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: alanabit
Date: 17 Oct 10 - 09:12 AM

Thumbs up to the Ella Fitzgerald version of "Bewitched" from me too. That is one raunchy song.

Subject: RE: Soundtrack to 'Pal Joey'?
From: MW (music)
Date: 18 Oct 10 - 05:35 PM

Great! Thanks JJ re "sprechstimme". It had been driving me crazy. Now I can sleep, at last! ,-)

And Rex Harrison's 'sprechstimme' is of course the famous example, yes. But - a lesser-known fact, perhaps! - he does a not-too-bad-at-all rendition of a few songs in an old wartime movie called 'Night Train to Munich' (1940). It's worthwhile getting hold of just to hear him sing just those few ditties!! He really can hold a tune fairly well; certainly more 'tunefully' than he did in 'My Fair Lady'. Apparently, though, he felt he didn't have the voice/ confidence to do more than 'sprechstimme' in 'MFL'. Shame...

BTW, it's only the first few lines in 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' that are sung 'sprechstimme', from the first line "After one whole quart of brandy" to "Put me on the blink" It kind of works as a segue from the script to the lyrics, an introduction to the song, while the singer is gathering their thoughts. Then the song loses the speech-sing & launches into into the true melody at "I'm wild again!"At least, that's the way I was taught it by a jazz singing tutor. Maybe that was just his style!

Thanks again

M.W.