Susan Johnson

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twinbelters
#1Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/23/14 at 12:12am

Listening to her and loving her in Whoop-Up! and Most Happy Fella. Gay as a daisy patch in May. Anyone else love Ms. Johnson?


With Irma you gotta do something!

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best12bars
#2Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/23/14 at 12:48am

Absolutely love her! One of my favorite Broadway belters ever. Such a rich, beautiful, powerful voice.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

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StageDoor3
#2Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/23/14 at 1:19am

Loved Susan Johnson. We were lucky enough in LA to see her perform at the APLA STAGE events in her later years and in FOLLIES at Long Beach Civic Light Opera. Video clips of the latter are on a YouTube.

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justoldbill
#3Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/23/14 at 6:01pm

In the early 1960's, she made a novelty album with Larry Douglas called LI'L ABNER FO' CHILLUN (nothing to do with the show). Look for it- it's delightful.


Well-well-well-what-do-you-think-of-that-I-have-nothing-here-to-pay-my-train-fare-with-only-large-bills-fives-and-sevens....

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GavestonPS
#4Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/23/14 at 7:01pm

Yes. Yes. Yes.

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best12bars
#5Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/23/14 at 7:39pm

I saw her on stage when she sang "Who's That Woman" in the APLA Sondheim tribute. So many incredible performers were there that day. Even in her later years, she was still a treasure. But in her prime, that huge voice was golden. She could easily fill a theatre with it.


"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

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theeatah
#6Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 11:00am

LOVE her voice. In addition to the clips mentioned, there's also a wonderful TV performance of hers of Almost Like Being in Love on Youtube.

I remember reading on here last year how a regional "tent" theatre owner had recorded many of his shows, including at least one with Johnson (I think it was either Annie Get Your Gun or Gypsy). The shows were to become available for listening in house to library visitors in that area... I'd love to hear any reports if anyone's heard one of those recordings (with Johnson or not).

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hushpuppy
#7Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 11:12am

Add me to the list of Susan Johnson fans. THE MOST HAPPY FELLA remains one of my all-time favorite shows, and every time I see it live, as soon as Cleo opens her mouth to sing 'Ooh my feet' I expect to hear Susan Johnson's voice, and I'm invariably disappointed when I don't.

Somewhere I had a compilation CD where she sand 'Sweet Thursday' from PIPE DREAM, but after a couple of moves and an apartment remodel, I can't find it. If anybody knows which disk is was on, I'd be eternally grateful.


'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

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TheatreDiva90016
#8Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 11:53am

If she's wearing a floral kimono in the video, that was when I did her costume for the StAGE benefit.

I loved her and love seeing her face when I re watch Sister Act.


"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

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jayinchelsea
#9Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 12:49pm

She stopped performing just before I started going to the theatre, and I'll always be sorry that I missed her performing live. But we do have the recordings, all the OBCs already mentioned, plus her great OH, CAPTAIN! recording. There's also the Eddie Foy duet from DONNYBROOK! on Ed Sullivan (can't recall where I saw it) and an odd CD of abbreviated songs she sang live or on TV: http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Performers-Susan-Johnson/dp/B000065C55/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1395679387&sr=1-4&keywords=susan+johnson

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Demitri2
#10Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 2:11pm

I also had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Johnson in FOLLIES at Long Beach. She also appeared in one of David Galligan's annual S.T.A.G.E. benefits around the same time. Though she was suffering from emphysema, she was still able to display an incredible set of pipes. Only wish I had seen more of her. Her song "Men" from WHOOP-UP has always been a particular favorite of mine. I only hope she realized how much she was appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM3QEXlBT30

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South Fl Marc
#11Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 3:49pm

What a delight to find this thread. I grew up listening to her in the OBC cast of "The Most Happy Fella" but it was in the studio cast recording of "Brigadoon" with Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones" that I really fell in love with her voice. She knocked Meg Brockies two numbers out of the park.

She was one of a kind.

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South Fl Marc
#12Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/24/14 at 3:53pm

Here is My Mothers Wedding Day from Brigadoon.
Susan Johnson - Brigadoon- My Mothers Wedding Day

Pawnee Bill
#13Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/25/14 at 1:32am

Hushpuppy: The CD with Susan Johnson's "Sweet Thursday" is
You Can't Put Ketchup on the Moon: Broadway Flops and Roadkills
1925-1955. She also sings "Charm," from Maggie. The CD label
is Rialto Recordings and it's unit no. SLRR 9201.

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hushpuppy
#14Susan Johnson
Posted: 3/25/14 at 11:40am

I love you Pawnee Bill! Thanks so much.


'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'

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hushpuppy
#15Susan Johnson
Posted: 6/25/17 at 10:30pm

Dragging this thread out of mothballs to post a link to THE MOST HAPPY FELLA cast performing 'Happy to Make Your Acquaintance' and 'Big D' from the Ed Sullivan Show, 1956

The Most Happy Fella


'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'