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My Fair Lady (Broadway cast recording)

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"My Fair Lady (1956 album)" redirects here. For the album by Shelly Manne & His Friends, see My Fair Lady (Shelly Manne album).
My Fair Lady
Cast recording by
the original Broadway cast
ReleasedApril 2, 1956 (1956-04-02)
RecordedMarch 24, 1956 (1956-03-24)
StudioColumbia 30th Street, New York City
GenreShow tunes
Length53:44
LabelColumbia Records
Julie Andrews chronology
High Tor
(1956) 		My Fair Lady
(1956) 		Cinderella
(1957)

My Fair Lady is the original studio cast recording of the 1956 Broadway musical of the same name, released by Columbia Records (catalog #OL 5090). Based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner, the album captures the performances of the original Broadway cast, including Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews, and Stanley Holloway. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest cast recordings of all time, both for its artistic merit and its groundbreaking commercial success. The recording became Billboard magazine's number one bestseller for fifteen weeks and a total of 480 weeks on the Billboard 200.

The album was produced by Goddard Lieberson, Columbia Records' visionary executive who pioneered the concept of original Broadway cast recordings as a commercial and artistic enterprise. Recorded in a single marathon session on March 25, 1956, at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in New York, the LP was rushed to market to capitalize on the show's immediate success. Its release marked a turning point in the recording industry, proving that Broadway music could achieve mass appeal beyond the theater.

My Fair Lady's recording was a logistical feat, involving the entire original cast, a full orchestra, and last-minute adjustments to accommodate the unique demands of translating a live performance into a studio album. The session was documented in a New York Times article, which described the chaotic yet creative atmosphere, with artists like Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison refining their performances under tight deadlines. The album’s success was unprecedented, transforming the way Broadway productions were marketed and preserved.

Beyond its commercial impact, the recording solidified the musical's legacy, introducing timeless songs like "I Could Have Danced All Night", "The Rain in Spain" and "On the Street Where You Live" to a global audience. It won critical acclaim for its vibrant performances, innovative orchestration, and Lieberson's production choices, which balanced theatrical energy with studio precision. Decades later, the album remains a definitive reference for revivals and adaptations, earning inductions into the Grammy Hall of Fame (1977) and the Library of Congress National Recording Registry (2007).

Background and production

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The original Broadway production of My Fair Lady opened on March 15, 1956, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and became an instant sensation. CBS, Columbia Records' parent company, had invested between 360,000 and 400,000 in the show in exchange for ownership stakes and the rights to produce the cast recording. This gamble paid off spectacularly, as the musical's success guaranteed high demand for the album, prompting Columbia to fast-track its production.[1]

Goddard Lieberson, president of Columbia Records and a visionary advocate for musical theatre, spearheaded the project. He saw the commercial and artistic potential of cast albums and had negotiated the recording rights even before the show premiered. His philosophy was that cast recordings should prioritize listenability over strict fidelity to the stage production. As Alan Jay Lerner noted, Lieberson omitted dialogue, believing that "a recording is a thing apart" and that spoken lines would lose their impact outside the theater. Instead, the album focused on the score, with adjustments to tempos, orchestration, and lyrics to enhance the home-listening experience. For example, the overture was reworked to highlight the orchestra, and Stanley Holloway's rendition of "Get Me to the Church on Time" was edited to avoid radio censorship.[2][3]

Recording

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The album was recorded at Columbia's famed 30th Street Studio, a deconsecrated church known for its superb acoustics. The sessions took place in late March 1956, just over a week after the Broadway premiere, and were an intense, all-day affair.[4]

The New York Times described the challenges: Franz Allers conducted while troubleshooting technical issues, and Rex Harrison—whose speak-singing required precise timing—repeated takes to sync with the orchestra. Julie Andrews, then a 20-year-old newcomer, delivered flawless performances of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "I Could Have Danced All Night" in just a few takes. Meanwhile, Stanley Holloway improvised comedic ad-libs, including his famous quip, "Be Shaw, be George Bernard Shaw".[3]

Columbia's engineering team used a three-microphone setup—one for vocals, one for the orchestra, and one for ambient tone—to balance clarity with theatrical energy. Fred Plaut, Columbia's senior engineer, oversaw the final mastering, making careful adjustments for vinyl limitations. Lieberson's team worked around the clock to edit and master the album, which shipped within days to meet 100,000 advance orders. The recording not only recouped CBS's investment but also set a new benchmark for cast albums, influencing future releases like The Sound of Music and West Side Story.[5]

Releases

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The first LP was released in April 2, 1956, in mono sound by Columbia Masterworks.[6] In 1988, it was released in compact disc (CD), coincided with the increasing popularity of the compact disc (CD) format. CDs had started replacing LP records and cassette tapes due to their improved sound quality, durability, and convenience. Record companies such as RCA and Columbia took advantage of this shift by reissuing classic Broadway and film soundtracks that had been unavailable for years.[7] In 1994, Sony Classical and Legacy released a new special edition "Gold CD" (#SK 66128) which includes a recording-studio conversation among the performers.[8]

In 2002, the album was reissued by Sony Classical/Columbia/Legacy under catalog number SK 89997. The reissue was produced by Didier C. Deutsch and Darcy M. Proper. As noted by Wayne Hoffman from Billboard magazine, the album was remastered with remarkable clarity, and is regarded as possibly the definitive edition of My Fair Lady. The liner notes were authored by Dick Scanlan, and the release also includes two brief conversations between Goddard Lieberson and the show's original creators and leading performers—additions that are more of historical interest than of critical importance, according to Hoffman.[9]

The LP was reissued in 2016 by Analog Spark in a meticulously restored edition, featuring replica Columbia and RCA labels and packaging. This newly remastered, 180-gram deluxe audiophile vinyl edition presents the original mono recording, cut directly from the original tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. The vinyl was plated and pressed at RTI and is housed in a high-quality Stoughton “tip-on” jacket, faithfully replicating the original presentation.[10]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[11]
Cast Albums Reviews[12]
Musicals101.comFavorable[13]
Deseret NewsFavorable[14]

William Rhulmann from AllMusic hailed it as "one of the great musical scores", particularly lauding Julie Andrews' "pear-shaped tones" and her ability to transition effortlessly from the "squawking guttersnipe" to the refined lady, while Rex Harrison's speak-singing portrayal of Henry Higgins was deemed "tremendously entertaining".[11] Cast Albums Reviews echoed this sentiment, calling the album the "supreme achievement of American musical theater" and emphasizing the electrifying energy of "The Rain in Spain" and the overture's pulse-racing opening. The review also highlighted Stanley Holloway's "charming rogue" performance in "With a Little Bit of Luck" and "Get Me to the Church on Time", as well as John Michael King's rich-voiced rendition of "On the Street Where You Live".[12]

Critics consistently noted the album's ability to capture the excitement of the live show while enhancing it for the recording medium. Theatre writer John Kenrick from Musicals101.com described the recording as "legendary", praising the definitive performances of the cast and the exquisite remastering of the score, though it cautioned against unnecessary "24 Karat Gold" editions.[13] Conrad B. Harrison from Deseret News declared the album "a cinch to be Broadway's No. 1 musical of the season", singling out Lerner and Loewe's brilliant music and lyrics, as well as the exceptional staging and casting that translated so powerfully to the recording.[14]

Commercial performance

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The album was a remarkable commercial success and remains one of the most significant albums in the history of the Billboard charts. It debuted on April 28, 1956, at position number 30 and reached the number one spot on July 14, 1956.[15][16] The album remained on the Billboard 200 chart for an unprecedented total of 480 weeks, making it one of the longest-charting albums in U.S. chart history.[17] By 1994, it had the best performance of a cast recording album on Billboard charts.[18]

According to Joe Whitburn's op Pop Albums 1955–2001 book, the album spent 292 weeks within the Billboard Top 40, 173 weeks in the Top 10, and a total of 15 weeks at number one. As a result of this sustained success, it was ranked as the 21st most successful album in the history of Billboard magazine.[19] On the magazine's year-end album charts, it placed second in 1956 and secured the number one position in both 1957 and 1958.[20][21][22]

The recording also made history by becoming the first LP record to sell one million copies in the United States.[23] Its chart-topping performance was not limited to a single year, as it reached number one on the Billboard chart across multiple years—1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959—accumulating a total of 15 weeks in the top position, including a stretch of eight consecutive weeks.[24]

Internationally, the album experienced similar success. Following the London premiere of the musical in April 1958, the recording held the top spot on the UK Albums Chart for 19 consecutive weeks, making it the best-selling album in the United Kingdom for that year.[25]

Legacy and influence

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The legacy of the My Fair Lady cast recording extends beyond its commercial success. It marked a turning point in how Broadway was consumed by the public, serving as one of the earliest examples of a musical that reached a mass audience through recorded media. It also established a benchmark in production standards for cast albums, influencing countless future recordings, including West Side Story (1957), The Music Man (1958), and The Sound of Music (1959).[26]

This album was released before the Grammy Awards began in 1958, but it was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977 and added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2007. My Fair Lady won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Julie Andrews starred in the production alongside Rex Harrison, who earned a Tony for his performance.[27]

The album also played a pivotal role in the evolution of Columbia Records' catalogue strategy. Under Goddard Lieberson's direction, the label prioritized musical theatre and classical crossover recordings, which became a central pillar of its identity. The company's investment in high-quality recordings and packaging helped elevate the prestige of cast albums and turned them into collectible, standalone cultural artifacts.[28]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitlePerformed byLength
1."Overture" / "Why Can't the English?"Rex Harrison, Robert Coote and Julie Andrews3:09
2."Wouldn't It Be Loverly?"Julie Andrews and Ensemble3:55
3."With a Little Bit of Luck"Stanley Holloway, Gordon Dilworth, Rod McLennan and Chorus3:55
4."I'm an Ordinary Man"Rex Harrison4:38
5."Just You Wait"Julie Andrews2:41
6."The Rain in Spain"Rex Harrison, Julie Andrews, Robert Coote and Ensemble2:39
7."I Could Have Danced All Night"Julie Andrews, Philippa Bevans and Ensemble3:28
Side two
No.TitlePerformed byLength
1."Ascot Gavotte"Chorus3:13
2."On the Street Where You Live"John Michael King2:56
3."You Did It"Rex Harrison, Robert Coote, Philippa Bevans and Ensemble4:25
4."Show Me"Julie Andrews and John Michael King2:10
5."Get Me to the Church on Time"Stanley Holloway, Gordon Dilworth, Rod McLennan and Chorus2:42
6."A Hymn to Him"Rex Harrison3:28
7."Without You"Julie Andrews2:01
8."I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face"Rex Harrison5:14

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of My Fair Lady record.[29]

Cast
  • Julie Andrews
  • Rex Harrison
  • Gordon Dilworth
  • Michael King
  • Robert Coote
  • Rod McLennan
  • Stanley Holloway
Production
  • Arranged (dance music) by Trude Rittman
  • Choreography (& musical numbers) by Hanya Holm
  • Production staged by Moss Hart
  • Presenter: Herman Levin
  • Producer: Goddard Lieberson
Design
  • Costume designer: Cecil Beaton
  • Set designer (production design): Oliver Smith
  • Illustration: Hirschfeld
  • Liner notes: George B. Dale
Musicians
  • Music by Frederick Loewe
  • Lyrics by, adapted by (book) Alan Jay Lerner
  • Music director: Franz Allers
  • Orchestrated by Phil Lang, Robert Russell Bennett
  • Ensemble (singing):
  • Colleen O'Connor
  • David Thomas
  • Glenn Kezer
  • Gloria Van Dorpe
  • Gordon Ewing
  • Herb Surface
  • James Morris
  • Lola Fisher
  • Maribel Hammer
  • Melisande Congdon
  • Muriel Shaw
  • Patti Spangler
  • Paul Brown
  • Reid Shelton
  • Rosemary Gaines
  • William Krach

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[36] Gold 250,000[36]
Canada — 250,000[37]
Germany (BVMI)[38] Gold 125,000[38]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[36] Silver 100,000[39]
Norway — 5,000[40]
United Kingdom — 750,000[41]
United States (RIAA)[42] Gold 2,000,000[39]
Summaries
Worldwide
as of 1970 		— 8,000,000[43]

References

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  1. ^ Anderson 2006, p. 68
  2. ^ McHugh 2012, p. 173-174
  3. ^ a b Sohumach, Murray (1 April 1956). "Musical at work: My Fair Lady". The New York Times. New York, N.Y.: 109. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 113467801. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  4. ^ Maslon 2018, p. 189
  5. ^ Anderson 2006, p. 69
  6. ^ "My Fair Lady – Original Broadway Cast Recording 1956". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  7. ^ Atkinson, Terry (28 October 1988). "A Bounty for Fans Hungry for the Sound of Musicals". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  8. ^ Arntz & Wilson 1995, p. 228
  9. ^ Hoffman, Wayne (15 June 2002). "Vital reissues". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 24. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  10. ^ Marchese, Joe (25 January 2016). "Wouldn't It Be Loverly: Analog Spark Reissues "My Fair Lady," "West Side Story," "Fiddler" On Vinyl - The Second Disc". The Second Disc. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  11. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "My Fair Lady [Original Broadway Cast Recording... | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  12. ^ a b Portantiere, Michael (30 September 2015). "My Fair Lady | Cast Album Reviews". Cast Album Reviews. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  13. ^ a b Kenrick, John. "Comparative Cast CD Reviews IV". Musicals101.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2000. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  14. ^ a b Harrison, Conrad B. (26 April 1956). "Broadway productions hits head popular record lists". Deseret News. 345 (100). Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Publishing Company: C19. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Best Selling Packaged Records-Popular Albums (Over-all)". Billboard. April 28, 1956. p. 28. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  16. ^ "Best Selling Pop Albums". Billboard. July 14, 1956. p. 22. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  17. ^ Young, Simon (2023-03-03). "Here are the 20 longest-charting albums in the history of the Billboard 200". louder. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  18. ^ Bronson, Fred (25 June 1994). "The Top 10 Broadway albums of the rock era" (PDF). Billboard. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  19. ^ Whitburn 2001, p. 1072
  20. ^ "Year End Charts – Year-end Albums – The Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  21. ^ "Year End Charts – Year-end Albums – The Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  22. ^ "Year End Charts – Year-end Albums – The Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  23. ^ "LP's 54% of Pop Sales - Lieberson". Variety. March 12, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved October 1, 2021 – via Archive.org.
  24. ^ Grein, Paul (6 May 2024). "Julie Andrews' 'Loverly' & Totally Unique Recording Legacy". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 May 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  25. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - Original Soundtrack - My Fair Lady". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  26. ^ Anderson 2006, p. 69,71
  27. ^ Grein, Paul (8 June 2022). "AFI Honoree Julie Andrews' 'Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious' History on the Billboard Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  28. ^ Anderson 2006, p. 69-71
  29. ^ Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison (1956). My Fair Lady (liner notes). Various artists. Columbia Masterworks . OL 5090.
  30. ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  31. ^ "Top 15 Best Selling Pop Albums" (PDF). Cashbox. 9 June 1956. p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  32. ^ "My Fair Lady - Charts and Awards". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  33. ^ "Year End Charts – Year-end Albums – The Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  34. ^ "Year End Charts – Year-end Albums – The Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  35. ^ "Year End Charts – Year-end Albums – The Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  36. ^ a b c "That 'Lady' Gets Two More Sales Awards" (PDF). Cashbox. 15 August 1964. p. 196. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  37. ^ "Col. Canada Started With a Man and Briefcase" (PDF). Billboard. 24 May 1969. p. C-31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  38. ^ a b "Germany" (PDF). Cashbox. 12 January 1963. p. 37. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  39. ^ a b "'Camelot' tokens spur LP sale". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 14 November 1960. p. 3, 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  40. ^ Eriksen, Espen (25 May 1963). "Norse warm up to the album product". Billboard. Vol. 75, no. 21. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 46. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 12 April 2025.
  41. ^ "Sound of the biggest selling LP ever" (PDF). Disc & Music Echo. 12 October 1968. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  42. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – My Fair Lady". Recording Industry Association of America.
  43. ^ Gross, Mike (22 August 1970). "B'way musical get early start but disk deals lag". Billboard. Vol. 82, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 1, 8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 March 2025.

Bibliography

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