Compilation Playlists
Sondheim's "Great American Songs" (Part I)
- This playlist contains the "top 22" songs that the Fall23 OLLI at Duke class selected as candidates for inclusion in "The Great American Songbook." It's in "countdown" format beginning with #22 and proceeding through #1.
- The revue Side by Side by Sondheim opened in London in 1976, presenting songs from 12 Sondheim works, several of which had not yet played in London. The revue featured singers David Kernan, Julia McKenzie, and Millicent Martin. Ned Sherrin served as narrator, and pianists Ray Cook and Stuart Pedlar provided accompaniment. Stephen Sondheim not only approved the project but stepped in to work with the singers. Cameron Mackintosh, a young producer, presented the show at the Mermaid Theatre, and it quickly sold out its eight-week run. It then moved to the West End and closed in 1978 after 806 performances. Hal Prince saw the show at the Mermaid and opened a Broadway production in 1977 with the original British cast. Many observers and critics felt that this revue was a turning point in some critics' perception of Sondheim as too intellectual, cynical or "un-hummable." Heard out of context, the songs seemed romantic, melodic, funny, and, yes, hummable. Clive Barnes, reviewing the New York production, wrote, "It is Stephen Sondheim revealed as Stephen Sondheim has never been revealed before. . . . This is a dream of a show . . . happy, funny, witty, and so compassionate. It makes you feel good."
- This compilation (available as a CD and MP3 files) contains a total of 30 tracks. I have included 23 of the songs in this YouTube playlist to fit the dates of the course: 1957-1981