CALL ME MADAM AND A SUPERSTAR PREMIERES

Well, today came the premiere of two great but amzingly different Broadway musicals. The first was Irving Berlin's "Call Me Madam" and the other was Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ, Superstar" which of course originated the phrase "What's the buzz?" "Superstar" got its backing by releasing a phonograph album of its soundtrack on RCA records prior to its Broadway production-- this was what obtained the financing to put on the show on Broadway in the first place! Ethel Merman played the lead in Madam and simply wowed the critics. One of them suggested that that the show actually be renamed "Call Me Merman". Ethel Merman was one amzing lady. The funny story was that RC Victor had the rights to record the original Broadway soundtrack, but Ethel was under contract to Decca Records who refused to allow her to participate in the Original cast recording. They Threatened a big law suit if she did. So Etherl (believe it or not) was replaced in the soundtrack recording by Dinah Shore and Etherl Merman released a one artist cast recoirding of Call Me Madam" on Decca Records in which she sang ALL of the score-- even those songs she never sang in the Broadway show! Wow! And you though legal issues were only interesting today! Of course those songs were:

Act I
Mrs. Sally Adams
The Hostess With the Mostes' on the Ball
Washington Square Dance
Lichtenburg
Can You Use Any Money Today?
Marrying For Love
The Ocarina
It's a Lovely Day Today
The Best Thing For You (Would Be Me)
Act II
Lichtenburg (Reprise)
Something To Dance About
Once Upon a Time Today
They Like Ike
You're Just in Love
The Best Thing For You (Would Be Me) (Reprise)
It's a Lovely Day Today (Reprise)
Mrs. Sally Adams (Reprise)
Finale