The LP version of this album has long been a treasure in my collection. With fine refurbished sound and now with bonus tracks and with great informative booklet notes by Gershwin expert, Edward Jablonski plus Broadway cast illustrations, it is an essential part of my Gershwin CD shelf. Although no film (as far as I can discern) was ever made of Oh Kay, the songs featured in the show were used in may others (‘Clap Yo’ Hands’, for instance, was used in that wonderful Fred Astaire/Audrey Hepburn Gershwin musical, Funny Face). Barbara Ruick will be remembered for her role as Shirley Jones’s friend who serenaded Mr Snow (‘When I Marry Mr Snow’) in Carousel. Here she distinguishes herself with her expressive romantic and ironic-comic singing.

Oh, Kay! opened on November 8^th 1926 and ran for more than 250 performances (excellent for those days and the longest run for a Gershwin musical up to that date. Wonderful, classic Gershwin hit tunes follow each other in profusion: ‘Don’t Ask’; the witty and ironic‘Dear Little Girl’ in which the hero salutes not one but all his dear little girls; ‘Maybe’; ‘Clap Yo’ Hands’; ‘Do, Do Do’; ‘Fidgety Feet’ and, of course ‘Somebody to Watch Over Me’

For Gershwin enthusiasts this album is a must, must, must!

Reviewer

Ian Lace

Reviewer

Ian Lace