Charlotte Rae's Rare 1955 Solo Album, "Songs I Taught My Mother," Gets a CD Life - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James"Thunder"Early · 07-28-2006, 12:52 PM

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101114.html

Charlotte Rae's Rare 1955 Solo Album, "Songs I Taught My Mother," Gets a CD Life
By Kenneth Jones
27 Jul 2006

Charlotte Rae

The golden age of American nightclubs and revues will be revisited with the CD release of Charlotte Rae's 1955 solo album, "Songs I Taught My Mother."
PS Classics, the label dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, is releasing the much-loved disc. This marks the album's CD debut. The label will be releasing the disc through its nonprofit branch, PS Classics Inc. (www.psclassics.org), and expects an early fall release.
Tony and Emmy nominee Rae, known for her late-career work as Mrs. Garrett on TV's "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life," was a nightclub attraction in the 1950s and starred as Mrs. Peachum in the famed 1954 Off-Broadway production of Threepenny Opera, as Mammy Yokum in Li'l Abner on Broadway. She was Tony Award nominated as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Pickwick (1965) and as Best Actress in a Play for Morning, Noon and Night (1968) and was Obie Award nominated for Terrence McNally's Whiskey (1973). Her most recent New York appearance was in the 2006 Encores! production of 70, Girls, 70.
Her Broadway credits also include Boom Boom Room, The Chinese, Dr. Fish, The Golden Apple and the comedy The Beauty Part.
Originally issued on the Vanguard label, "Songs I Taught My Mother" was co-conceived by Rae's ex-husband, composer John Strauss, who provided all the musical settings.
"A classic of its time, it showcased the singer-actress-comedienne in a delightful and novel album composed almost entirely of specialty material," according to PS Classics.
In addition to selections written especially for Rae (including Sheldon Harnick's "Backer's Audition" and "Gabor the Merrier" and Marc Blitzstein's "Modest Maid"), it features songs by Cole Porter ("When I Was a Little Cuckoo"), Vernon Duke ("Summer Is a-Comin' In" and "The Sea-Gull and the Ea-Gull"), and John Latouche ("A Nail in the Horseshoe"), as well as the more familiar "Why Can't I?" by Rodgers and Hart.

88survivor · 07-28-2006, 01:28 PM

I wonder what the CD cover would like.

JO jr · 08-02-2006, 11:59 AM

COOL! I'LL BE ORDERING THAT WHEN I CAN. WE ALL KNOW WHAT SHE SOUNDED LIKE & LOOKED LIKE LATER IN LIFE, BUT YEAH, I WANT TO HEAR & SEE HER IN HER YOUNGER YEARS. MAYBE WE'LL REALLY SEE WHAT COLOR HER HAIR WAS! HAHA

(RIGHT NOW I'M ON THE ROAD IN AZ, ON MY WAY TO THE GRAND CANYON FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHOULD BE THERE IN ABOUT 3 HOURS. JUST HAD TO CHECK OUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENIN ON MY FAV SITE & TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO KELL, MIKE & RAYA

-MISS YA GUYS & HOPE YOU'RE DOIN WELL, JINNYGIRL!)

MrsGarrettRocksMySocks · 08-02-2006, 11:35 PM

She was a brunette in the 50's.

I finally managed to snap the LP SEVERAL years ago on ebay, for probably more money than the CD will cost me.

07-28-2006, 12:52 PM	#1
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	Charlotte Rae's Rare 1955 Solo Album, "Songs I Taught My Mother," Gets a CD Life http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101114.html Charlotte Rae's Rare 1955 Solo Album, "Songs I Taught My Mother," Gets a CD Life By Kenneth Jones 27 Jul 2006 Charlotte Rae The golden age of American nightclubs and revues will be revisited with the CD release of Charlotte Rae's 1955 solo album, "Songs I Taught My Mother." PS Classics, the label dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, is releasing the much-loved disc. This marks the album's CD debut. The label will be releasing the disc through its nonprofit branch, PS Classics Inc. (www.psclassics.org), and expects an early fall release. Tony and Emmy nominee Rae, known for her late-career work as Mrs. Garrett on TV's "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life," was a nightclub attraction in the 1950s and starred as Mrs. Peachum in the famed 1954 Off-Broadway production of Threepenny Opera, as Mammy Yokum in Li'l Abner on Broadway. She was Tony Award nominated as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Pickwick (1965) and as Best Actress in a Play for Morning, Noon and Night (1968) and was Obie Award nominated for Terrence McNally's Whiskey (1973). Her most recent New York appearance was in the 2006 Encores! production of 70, Girls, 70. Her Broadway credits also include Boom Boom Room, The Chinese, Dr. Fish, The Golden Apple and the comedy The Beauty Part. Originally issued on the Vanguard label, "Songs I Taught My Mother" was co-conceived by Rae's ex-husband, composer John Strauss, who provided all the musical settings. "A classic of its time, it showcased the singer-actress-comedienne in a delightful and novel album composed almost entirely of specialty material," according to PS Classics. In addition to selections written especially for Rae (including Sheldon Harnick's "Backer's Audition" and "Gabor the Merrier" and Marc Blitzstein's "Modest Maid"), it features songs by Cole Porter ("When I Was a Little Cuckoo"), Vernon Duke ("Summer Is a-Comin' In" and "The Sea-Gull and the Ea-Gull"), and John Latouche ("A Nail in the Horseshoe"), as well as the more familiar "Why Can't I?" by Rodgers and Hart.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.

08-02-2006, 11:59 AM	#3
JO jr Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 05, 2005 Posts: 1,249	COOL! I'LL BE ORDERING THAT WHEN I CAN. WE ALL KNOW WHAT SHE SOUNDED LIKE & LOOKED LIKE LATER IN LIFE, BUT YEAH, I WANT TO HEAR & SEE HER IN HER YOUNGER YEARS. MAYBE WE'LL REALLY SEE WHAT COLOR HER HAIR WAS! HAHA (RIGHT NOW I'M ON THE ROAD IN AZ, ON MY WAY TO THE GRAND CANYON FOR THE FIRST TIME. SHOULD BE THERE IN ABOUT 3 HOURS. JUST HAD TO CHECK OUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENIN ON MY FAV SITE & TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO KELL, MIKE & RAYA-MISS YA GUYS & HOPE YOU'RE DOIN WELL, JINNYGIRL!)

08-02-2006, 11:35 PM	#4
MrsGarrettRocksMySocks Actors over 60 Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: The cookie jar--Any "Anyone Can Whistle" fans out there? Posts: 4,077	She was a brunette in the 50's. I finally managed to snap the LP SEVERAL years ago on ebay, for probably more money than the CD will cost me.
	__________________ ~Lizzie~ ********** Love actors over 60? Join the club.

07-28-2006, 01:28 PM	#2
88survivor Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2006 Location: NY Posts: 1,849	I wonder what the CD cover would like.