Cinderella (Original television cast recording)

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Cinderella
Cast recording by
Julie Andrews
Released1 April 1957
GenreShow tune
LabelColumbia Masterworks
Julie Andrews chronology
My Fair Lady
(1956) 		Cinderella
(1957) 		Songs of Sense & Nonsense – Tell It Again
(1957)

Cinderella is the original cast recording of the television musical composed by Richard Rodgers with a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, which premiered in 1957.[1] The album features performances of the original cast, including Julie Andrews in the title role, and was recorded in March 1957, just weeks before the live television broadcast on CBS. Produced by Goddard Lieberson for Columbia Records, the album was released on April 1, 1957, the day after the broadcast. The recording captures the score of the musical, which includes songs such as "In My Own Little Corner", "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful", and "A Lovely Night".[2]

The recording was part of a broader promotional effort by Rodgers and Hammerstein to ensure the success of the musical's songs. In early March 1957, Julie Andrews recorded six songs from Cinderella for a special promotional disc sent to TV news editors and radio disc jockeys. Additionally, an album featuring covers of four songs from the score by artists like Vic Damone and Peggy King was released four weeks before the broadcast.[2]

The 1999 compact disc (CD) reissue of the soundtrack added bonus tracks, including Richard Rodgers playing piano versions of "Mother and Daughter March" and "Waltz for a Ball", as well as orchestral versions of "In My Own Little Corner" and "A Lovely Night" featuring Julie Andrews.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
BillboardMixed[4]
Cash BoxFavorable[5]

The original cast recording of Cinderella received generally positive reviews from critics, though opinions varied on its place within Rodgers and Hammerstein's body of work. Billboard wrote that while Cinderella is not Rodgers and Hammerstein at their best, it still offers good entertainment value. The review highlighted a perceived lack of warmth and charm compared to their earlier collaborations like Oklahoma! and South Pacific. However, the musical's TV exposure, plans for a Broadway run, and the top-notch cast were seen as factors that would contribute to the album's sales potential. The review concluded by acknowledging the attractive cover art, suggesting that the visual appeal might also attract buyers.[4]

AllMusic's review by William Ruhlmann rated the album four and a half out of five stars and emphasized the historical significance of the 1957 broadcast, which attracted the largest TV audience at the time. Ruhlmann praised the typically lovely music and affecting lyrics, which he felt softened some of the harder aspects of the fairy tale. He particularly enjoyed Julie Andrews' performance, describing it as "wonderful", and opined that subsequent versions of Cinderella in 1965 and 1997 did not surpass her portrayal. The review also mentioned the 1999 CD reissue, which included bonus tracks that added value to the recording.[3] Cash Box magazine echoed the sentiment that Cinderella was a charming production. The review praised the original cast's skillful and polished performance displayed on the TV broadcast. It also predicted that the show's vast video audience would make the album a top-selling item in a short time. The review named "Lovely Night", "In My Own Little Corner", and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" as standout tracks.[5]

Commercial performance

The album charted for one week on Billboard magazine's Best Selling Pop Albums chart, reaching number 15.[6] The album debuted at the top of Billboard's Pop Albums Coming Up Strong chart on April 27, 1957. This chart, compiled through a survey of major markets, highlighted newer pop albums showing strong trade activity and potential to enter the national best-selling pop albums chart. The album's early success indicated significant commercial interest and strong sales momentum.[7]

By May 27, 1957, the album had also appeared on The Billboard's Monthly Recap of Best Selling Classical and Jazz Packaged Records, specifically in the "Show" category. It secured the 6th position on this chart, reflecting its excellent sales performance and solidifying its status as a successful release in the market.[8]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer (s)Length
1."Overture"Rodgers, HammersteinOrchestra2:55
2."In My Own Little Corner"Rodgers, HammersteinJulie Andrews3:43
3."The Prince Is Giving A Ball"Rodgers, HammersteinRobert Penn, Townspeople2:34
4."Royal Dressing Room Scene"Rodgers, HammersteinDorothy Stickney, Howard Lindsay, Iggie Wolfington, George Hall (8)1:43
5."In My Own Little Corner (Reprise)"Rodgers, HammersteinJulie Andrews2:34
6."Impossible; It's Possible"Rodgers, HammersteinJulie Andrews, Edith Adams4:15
7."Gavotte"Rodgers, HammersteinOrchestra3:03
8."Ten Minutes Ago"Rodgers, HammersteinJulie Andrews, Jon Cypher2:33
9."Stepsister's Lament"Rodgers, HammersteinKaye Ballard, Alice Ghostley1:22
10."Waltz For A Ball"Rodgers, HammersteinOrchestra, Ensemble3:44
11."Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful"Rodgers, HammersteinJulie Andrews, Jon Cypher2:50
12."When You're Driving Through The Moonlight; A Lovely Night"Rodgers, HammersteinJulie Andrews, Ilka Chase, Kaye Ballard, Alice Ghostley5:29
13."The Search"Rodgers, HammersteinOrchestra1:18
14."The Wedding"Rodgers, HammersteinOrchestra, Ensemble3:50

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Cinderella (Original Television Cast) record.[9]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Cinderella
Chart (1957) Peak
position
US (Billboard Best Selling Pop Albums)[10] 15

References

  1. ^ Arntz & Wilson 1995, p. 228
  2. ^ a b "History: Background on Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella". Rodgers & Hammerstein. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Cinderella [Rodgers and Hammerstein's] [1957 TV Soundtrack] Original Television Soundtrack". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Review spotlights on..." (PDF). Billboard. 13 April 1957. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 13 April 1957. p. 34. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  6. ^ Whitburn 2001, p. 1067
  7. ^ "Pop Albums Coming up Strong" (PDF). Billboard. 27 April 1957. p. 29. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Show" (PDF). Billboard. 27 May 1957. p. 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  9. ^ Julie Andrews (1957). Cinderella (Original Television Cast) (liner notes). Columbia Masterworks. OL 5190.
  10. ^ "Best selling pop albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 29 April 1957. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 22 March 2025.

Bibliography

  • Arntz, James; Wilson, Thomas S. (1995). Julie Andrews. Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago. Illinois: Contemporary Books, Inc. ISBN 0-8092-3267-7.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2001). Joel's Whitburns's Top Pop Albums 1955-2001. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-89820-147-0.