Kritzerland is proud to present the latest release in the Ben Bagley Revisited series:

BEN BAGLEY’S OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN REVISITED

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein
Music by Lewis Alter, Rudolf Friml, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Sigmund Romberg, Herbert Stothart
Additional lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, Lorenz Hart

Can one even imagine where the musical theater would be without Oscar Hammerstein? Just think about that question. From the groundbreaking Show Boat to the even more groundbreaking Oklahoma!, Mr. Hammerstein truly changed the course and face of musicals. Ben Bagley’s Oscar Hammerstein Revisited was one of the most interesting albums in the series, with a superb cast, including Cab Calloway, Blossom Dearie, Alfred Drake, E.Y. Harburg, Dorothy Loudon, Patrice Munsel, Elaine Stritch, and Gloria Swanson. The album is filled with Hammerstein lyrics with any number of great composers, and not the usual hits, but the treasures Ben unearthed. The musical direction by Norman Paris is, as is always the case with his work for Ben, truly wonderful. Ben said of Mr. Paris, “The finest of all the musical arrangers I’ve worked with, Norman Paris is a non pareil and blue chip.”

We’re in the final throes of the Bagley releases, and what a treat it has been to re-release these and have them out in the world again. As we’ve done for all these releases, we’ve considerably spruced up the sound for this new release. And the cover art is, of course, by the great Harvey Schmidt.

OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN REVISITED is limited to 500 copies only and priced at $19.98, plus shipping. This is a PRE-ORDER – CDs will ship the third week of July, but we always strive to get it out earlier. Lately, however, the pressing plant has been slower than usual due to various shortages of materials and help – we do keep on them, but we’re at their mercy.

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