Kay Medford in "Gypsy"

[MTVMANN]

So I have heard from those who own the record that this is the funniest thing in the world.

What are the thoughts and opinions of those who own it or have heard it?

Also is the audio track available anywhere on the internet?

[DAME]

You mean this? I have it somewhere. It sounds very dated and over produced. But .. I wouldn't call it funny. Just a curiosity. Love her.

[MTVMANN]

That's the one!

[PalJoey]

I love her too but she was the worst Rose ever.

[alterego]

This was a studio cast recording. It was recorded in London when she was appearing in FUNNY GIRL there. It is an interesting curiosity, the orchestra sounds wonderful but her singing is woeful.

[alxscrz2]

Was this ever released on a CD ? Also is there anywhere to listen to any of the tracks

[alterego]

I think I may have seen it on CD, but it must be about 10 years ago now.

[BDrischBDemented]

I thought it was never released on CD. There are people here who know this better than I, though.

Oh, castalbumcollector says no CD, though they could be wrong. I have one transferred from the LP, and it's uh... quite the thing to hear once, though I've no desire to hear it again.

[justoldbill]

There were some bootleg CD-R copies on ioffer-type websites at one time, but never a commercial CD release.

[CindersGolightly]

I've actually wanted a copy of this for years - I heard her Rose's Turn and thought it was interesting - not horrible, but not good either. I love Kay, though, very much. 

[gallerygirl]

I once met a guy who worked for the Music For Pleasure label in London. He said Kay asked for a copy of the master tape so she could hear it before the album was released. For some reason the tape had been run off incorrectly and it played backwards. The next day Kay returned to the studio with the tape and said "What's going on? I asked for a tape of GYPSY and you gave me some German broad singing opera!"

[ComingUpRoses2]

Some People - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSjZqf3XwPU

Everything's Coming Up Roses  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaFpD_QFo2M

Rose's Turn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl_fbJmYTTI

The last note in Rose's Turn...WHAT a doozy.

I'm still not sure how this album happened, but it's interesting to say the least. It's kinda like what would happen if someone staged a production of the show where we hear what Rose really sounds like when she's singing to everyone else as opposed to what she sounds like in her mind. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

In all honesty... I actually think she acts it pretty well, it's just the vocals that aren't up to par. Very down to earth, very brash and flashy. I wonder if Barbra is listening to this in the lead-up to her film.

[PalJoey]

 

Well, if Kay Medford wasn't the worst Rose ever, who was?

 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

"Worst" is subjective. If you think she is, I ain't takin' it away from ya.

[MrsSallyAdams]

What a delightful find! Tyne Daly's recording was pretty sad but the YouTube clips showed me why people were wowed. Medford is closer to the Rosalind Russell demo tracks that were released as a "bonus" in the remastered soundtrack.

Medford's new lyrics and ad-libs are interesting. "I'll get my kids out. O-U-T-T!"

"Curtain Up! Light THEM lights!"

[morosco]

I'm still searching for video of Andrea McArdle as Rose.  Remember?  A mess!  She had backup dancers during "Rose's Turn"!  It was on YouTube for a long time but now gone.  

[broadwayboy223]

morosco said: "I'm still searching for video of Andrea McArdle as Rose.  Remember?  A mess!  She had backup dancers during "Rose's Turn"!  It was on YouTube for a long time but now gone.  

 

"

WHAT?!?? I need to see that.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Oh my goodness, she sounds hideous...but not as hideous as Lauren Bacall in "Applause."

[ABB2357]

Does anyone remember the hilariously misguided Tovah Feldshuh as Rose? One moment flashing her underwear at the audience, the next grunting "FUHME FUHME FUHME FUHME" like she was having a stroke? Those press reels were one for the ages.

[henrikegerman]

Medford's voice has a terrific Fractured Fairy Tale quality.  It's all apricots and honey with a healthy shot of vermouth.  It's a wonderful but very particular musical comedy voice.  

I don't think it works at all for Rose with the vocals heard in isolation.  But - and Perhaps it's overly generous to say so - it's arguably impossible to imagine what she would have been like as Rose without actually SEEING her perform the role, or at the very least, the songs.  

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

MrsSallyAdams said: "Medford's new lyrics and ad-libs are interesting. "I'll get my kids out. O-U-T-T!""

See, I like that. At least she's trying to do something interesting with it.

[PalJoey]

 

And then there were these...

 

 

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

henrikegerman said: "Medford's voice has a terrific Fractured Fairy Tale quality.  It's all apricots and honey with a healthy shot of vermouth. . . . "

 

I adore that description.  Pure poetry.  I'm going to borrow it for my headstone someday.  

 

[Demitri2]

What I find hilarious is that on my LP copy there's a printed box on the back cover with the words NOT EXCHANGEABLE. And probably due to copyright laws, the album only includes twelve selections from the score. Thus Louise's strip to LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU, LITTLE LAMB and some of June's stage numbers are missing.   

[PalJoey]

 

The late Dolores Gray once said me to, as she dug her fingernails into my palm, "I was the only one who understood Rose's PSYCHOLOGY!"

Here, in an audio excerpt from a Jule Styne tribute, she diva-splains it to the rest of us: