Saratoga

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Over 15 years and as many releases, Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Paul K has ploughed his own defiantly unflinching furrow. Saratoga resonates with the deep Americana folk-blues of fellow wayward spirits Mark Eitzel, Townes Van Zandt, and Wilco: more tales of travel, moral decay, and spiritual restlessness. "Nothing here is built to last," he wails on the deadpan, bluesy, and boozy "The Truth Ain't on the Sign." The next song is even called "They Just Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To"! A fairground organ sweetens the mix, even as Paul K sings with his trademark melancholy, world-weary sigh. Echoes of early Johnny Thunders can be heard throughout songs such as the gospelesque "It's Gonna Rain on You." All copies of Saratoga come with a bonus live CD. --Everett True

Album Details
Includes a Free Bonus CD of Live Recordings.

Saratoga (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating:

Flawed Maybe but Still a Beaut

DISAPPOINTING, BUT WORTHY OF A LISTEN . . . .

A few attractive numbers in this Broadway failure.

what went wrong?

Saratoga

Saratoga (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
Harold Arlen , and Johnny Mercer
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

One Step, Two Step
I'll Be Respectable
Gettin' a Man
Why Fight This?
Petticoat High
A Game of Poker
Love Held Lightly / A Game of Poker reprise
Saratoga: Duet
Countin' Our Chickens
You or No One
The Cure
The Man in My Life
The Men Who Run the Country
Goose Never Be a Peacock
Dog Eat Dog
The Railroad Fight
Finale

Amazon.com

Saratoga seemed to have everything in its favor when it opened on Broadway in December 1959: a story by Edna Ferber (Show Boat), a score by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, and a cast featuring MGM musical star Howard Keel, as well as Carol Lawrence, fresh from her triumph in West Side Story. Yet the show closed after a mere 10 weeks, a victim of a cumbersome book, unwieldy locale shifts between Saratoga and New Orleans, and a score that had to be revised during tryouts by Mercer alone after Arlen fell ill. While there are no classic tunes here, it's an enjoyable 40 minutes, with Lawrence and Keel shining on numerous duets, including the love songs "Why Fight This?" and "A Game of Poker," along with some of Arlen's trademark bluesy accents, peppy ensembles, and a female duet, "Gettin' a Man," that recalls Frank Loesser's "Marry the Man Today." --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Flawed Maybe but Still a Beaut.......2007-06-09

I've seen the reviews that don't seem to like this as much as some of Arlen's other shows, and frankly I think they're too critical for their own good. This may not be Arlen and Mercer at their best, but it's still pretty wonderful (really, the only Arlen score that strikes me as a turkey is Jamaica - aside from Push de Button and Lena Horne, that one has nothing). There are some so-so numbers. Petticoat High is bouncy and melodic, but it seems to strain. Love is a Game of Poker has a lyric that just comes off as a little silly. On the other hand, there's an awful lot to like here.

Goose Never Be a Peacock is a bluesy art song and self-affirmation that is up there with Arlen's best music, and Carol Brice does it justice. Love Held Lightly is just gorgeous. The Men Who Run the Country and The Cure are tuneful and hilarious commentaries on the gilded classes of the gilded age. It never before hit me that the rhumba, You or No One, is out of period for the show, but I guess I'd have to agree that the reviewer who wrote that comment is right. That said, I love Porter's latin mode, and this is every bit as good as something he would have done. It's lush, rhythmic, melodic, and terifficly sung by Howard Keel.

All in all, this is well worth the price and a must have if you appreciate Harold Arlen's work.

DISAPPOINTING, BUT WORTHY OF A LISTEN . . . . .......2006-06-27

A. Anderson, in a May 9, 2001 amazon.com review sums it up in one word: dull. And it's not just the music that's dull: dullness hangs like a veil over the whole CD. It's as if everyone involved was aware that they had "a turkey that they knew would close" and are merely going through the motions, with the exception, perhaps of Carol Brice and the Robber Barons ("The Men Who Run the Country"). Even the orchestra seems to be doing nothing more than playing notes. And RCA, who gave us some of the worst-sounding cast albums in history, appears to go overboard this time with thin, tinny, edgy, unexceptional sound. As much as I admire Howard Keel and Carol Lawrence, they both seem to be holding back and looking forward to their next projects, no matter how far off they might be. Lawrence went on to SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING (1961) & Keel replaced Richard Kiley in NO STRINGS, which I saw in Los Angeles. Although Keel was rather wooden on stage, boy, could he sing!

I also find it curious that RCA would keep SARATOGA in its catalogue while deleting a score of much worthier shows: 110 IN THE SHADE, NEW GIRL IN TOWN, FANNY, TAKE ME ALONG, etc. (See my "So You'd Like To Know Where RCA's Cast Albums Have Gone?, parts 1 & 2). Not that I wish them to drop SARATOGA; I just would like RCA to preserve those shows that are part of the musical theatre's history. And although this is a disappointing work by some of America's greatest musical talents, it belongs in any serious collector's library.

A few attractive numbers in this Broadway failure........2004-05-24

SARATOGA was flop, no question, and a deserved one too. It was ineptly put together and based on a novel that does not really lend itself to a musical comedy treatment.

This would be Harold Arlen's final Broadway score and a sad farewell. Arlen reportedly became so depressed during the try-outs that he went home to New York leaving Johnny Mercer to write three songs on his own.

All this might lead one to believe the score is a washout. It isn't, even though itr is nowhere near as good as HOUSE OF FLOWERS or ST. LOUIS WOMAN. "Gettin' a man" is a great comedy song ("they understand the promised land, but buying the property ...NO!") but this is followed by "Petticoat High" which has the carefully controlled Clio kicking up her heels with the peasants.

Howard Keel sings so well that you imagine if SARATOGA had succeeded he would have made a career of musicals in the 1960s: He would have been far better than Sydney Chaplin in FUNNY GIRL!
Carol Lawrence is quite wonderful, but nothing in the score really shows off her voice. The most interesting voice belongs to Carol Brice who shows up in two cuts.

SARATOGA is for collectors of Broadway flops and Harold Arlen fans only.

what went wrong?.......2003-03-11

SARATOGA is one of those musicals that would be a perfect candidate for revival by Encores! or Reprise; a musical that has a gorgeous score but a dead-weight book.

It starred MGM veteran Howard Keel, and Carol Lawrence - fresh from originating the role of Maria in WEST SIDE STORY - as the love leads. The impressive supporting cast was headed by veterans Carol Brice, Odette Myrtil and Truman Gaige. The score was written by Howard Arlen and Johnny Mercer with accomplished direction from Morton DaCosta (AUNTIE MAME, THE MUSIC MAN), and lavish in design by Cecil Beaton. It was in expert hands. What went wrong? Most of the praise went to Cecil Beaton's extravagent sets, but you can't hum those, can you?

Howard Keel and Carol Lawrence sing some gorgeous stuff, including "A Game of Poker" and "Why Fight This?". Just try not to get your feet tapping to the infectious "Petticoat High", or get choked up with emotion in "Goose Never Be a Peacock".

I love this score, and it is rarely out of my CD player. Snap it up before it disappears...again.

Saratoga.......2001-10-18

Great score by great performers, but the most melodious song are far too short.

Average customer rating:

Agotaras - SARATOGA

Agotaras
Saratoga
Manufacturer: Locomotive Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AY9OS0
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91101
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Customer Reviews:

Agotaras - SARATOGA.......2005-10-11

This band is one of the greatest bands from Spain. Leo Jimenez has the most beautiful voice i've heard. Great drums, guitar,bass...everything. They deserve to be heard and even though this is only cd i found here, they are really good. Great Metal Band!!!

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Lino Borges Con El Conj. Saratoga
Lino Borges
Manufacturer: Teca Music, Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FUU1O0
Release Date: 2006-05-25

Tracks:

Vida Consentida
Ebrio De Enga
Si Me Pudieras Querer
Corazon en Cristal
La Vida Es Un Sue
Psicologia
Este Amor Salvaje
Sombra Que Besa
Raro Presagio
Cual Fue el Motivo
Este Amor Profundo
Morir Soo
Canto a Mi Propia Vida
Volcde Ilusiones
Morire Amor
Ahora Estamos En Paz
Y Me Haces Pensar
Tu Me Hiciste Creer
Que Ganas Con Herirme
Un Amor de Espuma

Product Description

This CD Includes Lino Borges 20 Greatest Hits!!

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Autumn In Saratoga, Vol. 3
Cole Broderick Quartet
Manufacturer: Cole Broderick
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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October
Bobby Barker Blues
Soul Mate

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Cole Broderick
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Release Date: 1998-09-08

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Winter in Saratoga
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Saratoga
Paul K. & the Prayers
Manufacturer: Alias Records
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ASIN: B00000I9VR
Release Date: 1999-04-06

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They Don't Meke 'Em Like They Used To
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The Judge [On Judgement Day]
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Once It Happens
1992/Snakes Live in the Desert
You Took It to Far
Harms Swift Way
That Perfect Spot

Amazon.com

Over 15 years and as many releases, Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Paul K has ploughed his own defiantly unflinching furrow. Saratoga resonates with the deep Americana folk-blues of fellow wayward spirits Mark Eitzel, Townes Van Zandt, and Wilco: more tales of travel, moral decay, and spiritual restlessness. "Nothing here is built to last," he wails on the deadpan, bluesy, and boozy "The Truth Ain't on the Sign." The next song is even called "They Just Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To"! A fairground organ sweetens the mix, even as Paul K sings with his trademark melancholy, world-weary sigh. Echoes of early Johnny Thunders can be heard throughout songs such as the gospelesque "It's Gonna Rain on You." All copies of Saratoga come with a bonus live CD. --Everett True

Album Details

Includes a Free Bonus CD of Live Recordings.

Average customer rating:

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SARATOGA
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ASIN: B000RL9VL6

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THE FIGHTING CLAN
SARATOGA
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ASIN: B000RLES1O

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Marvelous Collection of 19th Century Music
Great "gowith" for the late 19th Century!
She captures the life and times of Mark Twain

Mark Twain's America: Portrait in Music

Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005Q6JS
Release Date: 2001-10-30

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Medley: Love's Old Sweet Song (Just A Song At Twilight)/Sweet Genevieve
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'Tis The Last Rose Of Sumer
The Good Old Way
Beautiful Dreamer
Tenting On The Old Camp Ground
Little Carrie's Favorite Gallop
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Gentle Annie
La Gitana
John Anderson, My Jo
The Schottische From The Ameer
Medley: Oft In The Stilly Night/Flow Gently, Sweet Afton
The Fascinator
A Psalm Of Life
Our Meeting Is Over
Medley: Beautiful River/Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Waltz Medley: The Flying Trapeze/A Bicycle Built For Two/After The Ball