Hello, Dolly! 1967 Broadway Cast

The critics agree, there really have only been two Broadway "Dolly's (Best Friends Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey). Clive Barnes of the NYT noted: "She ( Bailey) took the whole musical in her hands and swung it around her neck as easily as if it were a feather boa.” Mr. Barnes also noted the “polished” and “stylish” Mr. Calloway and that seated “center front” on opening night was Miss Channing, “a blaze of platinum hair.” (What a tribute)The CD contains the full Orchestral Overture arranged specifically for Miss Pearl (you'll not find it on any other version including 2017). The number itself is reason alone to purchase this CD. (A full Orchestra now frequently replaced with Digital "magic" in most Broadway musicals today). Listen to the title song (Hello Dolly) while you look at her cast picture (John Dominis/The LIFE Picture Collection, via Getty Images). Her smile alone tells us she enjoyed this role perhaps more than we did watching (lucky me) and listening to her perform it. Get it and enjoy it before they are all gone.

David Merrick's 1967 novel all-black revamp of Jerry Herman's musicalization of Thorton Wilder play The Matchmaker. The incandescent late Pearl Bailey(Arms and the Girl, House Of Flowers, Carmen Jones-film, etc) is a dynamo as the meddling Dolly Levi Gallagher. As with the original Dolly, Carol Channing and subsquent Dollys: Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, Martha Raye, Phyllis Diller and Ethel Merman for whom the role was intended, Bailey possesses that distinct charm which is so vital to the role. Bailey is supported by an exceptional cast which includes dear Emily Yancy who handles "Ribbons Down My Back" with perfection, Jack Crowder(aka Thalmus Rasulala), Winston DeWitt Hemsley, Roger Lawson, Chris Calloway and Cab Calloway. The chorus boasts Mabel King(tv's What's Happening, filmdom's the Wiz, etc), Clifton Davis(Two Gentlemen of Verona, tv's That's My Mama and Amen, etc) and Morgan Freeman(tv's Electric Company and of course his many film roles). Never a particular fan of Cab Calloway, I wonder how well he handled the role of the cantankerous Horace; so masterfully essayed by David Burns on Broadway and by Walter Matthau in the film version. Nevertheless, this is just as satisfying as the original. The ensemble is particularly good in "Put On Your Sunday Clothes", "Elegance" and "Dancing". If you can purchase the cd, do so!

Brings back the memory of the time I saw this on broadway over 50 years ago with Pearl Bailey! What a talent she was and this cd captures exactly her performance! After the Musical was over, she came out and talked to the audience a bit and sang the song Chicago! Don't hesitate to purchase this disc; I also saw Carol Channing in the role and her disc is just as good, different but worth the purchase. Of course Channing was the original Dolly, so her disc is a classic. I also saw Bette Midler this past Christmas. A good performance but not quite like the other two!

One of my favourite HD recordings

Saw Pearl Bailey in this production at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago...brings back great memories!!

Excelent service and item as described.

I saw Hello, Dolly! starring Ginger Rogers, Phyllis Diller and Pearl Bailey. They were all great leading ladies having their own take on how to present the character of Dolly Levi. This was a real kick to hear again. And I can't forget the great Cab Calloway. I wish they were back.

I saw Pearl Bailey in "Hello Dolly" in LA and it was a much livelier production than this so-so recording. The live production had an excitement that this recording lacks. Everyone sings well, but it is just OK in my opinion.

Very thing good The delivery and the music!