GLORIA SWANSON in BOULEVARD 50's Musical Version of Sunset Boulevard OC LP

$

20

ORIGINAL 1955 CAST RECORDING REHEARSAL LP

BOULEVARD

LABEL = BLD/GS STEREO

Year of Release: 1984

 Country of Release: USA

Show:  Boulevard!
Music:  Dickson Hughes
Lyrics:  Richard Stapley
Premiere:  1955

Recording Details 
Date: 1955

Type: Studio Cast
Language: English

Tracks: 

SCENE 01.  HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD ~ MAPS! MAPS! – The Map Sellers
SCENE 02.  SHELDRAKE’S OFFICE ~ THE DOORS ARE CLOSED – Joe 

SCENE 03.  MAPS! MAPS! (Reprise)
SCENE 04.  NORMA DESMOND’S LIVING ROOM ~ THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE – Norma and Max
SCENE 05.  LATER THAT DAY ~ THERE’S AN ANGLE HERE – Joe
SCENE 05.  LATER THAT DAY ~  WHAT’S THE ANSWER – Norma 

SCENE 06.  THE FOLLWING DAY ~ TALK! TALK! TALK! – Norma and Joe
SCENE 07.  SCHWAB'S DRUGSTORE ~ I’M A NATIVE – Betty
SCENE 07.  SCHWAB'S DRUGSTORE ~ I’M A NATIVE (Reprise)
SCENE 08.  NORMA DESMOND’S LIVING ROOM ~ STAY CLOSE – Joe and Norma 

SCENE 09.  SCHWAB'S DRUGSTORE ~ HAND IT TO THE GLANDS – The Cronies
SCENE 10.  NEW YEARS EVE: NORMA’S HOUSE
SCENE 11a. HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD ~
SCENE 11b. ARTIE'S APARTMENT ~ OFF WITH THE OLD – Betty
SCENE 11b. ARTIE'S APARTMENT ~ STAY CLOSE - Joe 

SCENE 11b. ARTIE'S APARTMENT ~ YOU MUST HAVE LOVE - Norma
SCENE 11b. ARTIE'S APARTMENT ~  OFF WITH THE OLD – Joe
SCENE 12. NORMA’S BEDROOM: LATER THAT NIGHT & THE FOLLOWING DAY ~           WHAT'S THE ANSWER - Norma

 VINYL = MINT-

COVER =  EXCELLENT WITH SLIGHT WEAR, HAS A COUPLE OF CRINKLES ON THE UPPER LEFT CORNER. NO SEAM SPLIT, TAGS, WRITING OR CUT-OUT MARKS.

Boulevard! is the original concept musical based on the 1950 Billy Wilder film 'Sunset Boulevard'. With music and lyrics by Dickson Hughes and Richard Stapley under the direction of Gloria Swanson, this musical never made it to the stage. Swanson recreates her iconic role as the faded silent screen star Norma Desmond. Throughout the fifties Swanson and her writing team (as well as a host of singers) recorded a number of demo recordings that Swanson would play to prospective producers as well as guests at her private cocktail parties. In a cruel blow to Swanson's confidence, Paramount refused permission for the production to be staged. However this collection of demo recordings demonstrate that 'Sunset Boulevard' was first interpreted as a musical some forty years before Andrew Lloyd Webber's version took to the stage. At IMDB, there's a cryptic note under Dickson Hughes' listing that says the show never happened because of "Swanson's relationship with Stapley," whatever that means. Did the relationship break up, causing one of them to walk off in a huff? Did the studio disapprove of the affair? Was Hughes jealous of the relationship, desiring Swanson for his own?  In his book Closeup on Sunset Boulevard, author Sam Staggs paints a picture that's less prurient in saying that Swanson was difficult to deal with, and Paramount wasn't comfortable with her ideas about the show. There's an irresistible appeal to the notion of Gloria Swanson singing as Norma Desmond. There's a clip on YouTube of her performing one of the show's songs on "The Steve Allen Show." The title is "Those Wonderful People out There in the Dark," and it's a fascinating precursor to "As if We Never Said Goodbye."

From around 1952 to 1956, Gloria Swanson herself worked with actor Richard Stapley (aka Richard Wyler) and cabaret singer/pianist Dickson Hughes on an adaptation titled Boulevard! (at first Starring Norma Desmond). Stapley and Hughes first approached Swanson about appearing in a musical revue they had written, About Time (based on Time). Swanson stated that she would return to the stage only in a musical version of her comeback film. Within a week, Stapley and Dickson had written three songs which Swanson approved.  In this version, the romance between Gillis and Schaefer was allowed to blossom, and rather than shoot Gillis at the end, Norma gave the couple her blessing, sending them on their way to live "happily ever after." Although Paramount gave verbal permission to proceed with the musical, there was no formal legal option. In the late 1950s, Paramount withdrew its consent, leading to the demise of the project. In 1994, Dickson Hughes incorporated material from Boulevard! into a musical Swanson on Sunset, based on his and Stapley's experiences in writing Boulevard!.

CHECK OUT MY OTHER GLORIA SWANSON, WILLIAM HOLDEN AND SUNSET BOULEVARD ITEMS IN MY EBAY STORE.

MINT .. Literally Perfect Record, Shiny Gloss, No Marks, Beautiful Condition.

MINT- .. Very Clean, Light Paper Marks... A Great Record for Most Any Collector.

VG++ (EX) ... Very Clean, Light Paper Marks... Plays Well with Seldom, but Occasional and Minimal Surface Noise

VG+ .. Light Scratches Only, Should Play Well with Only Occasional and Minimal Surface Noise at Times.

VG .. A Nice Record, Looks Used with Some Scratches. Plays with Some Surface Noise.

VG- .. Rough with Scratches and has Some Surface Noise , but Will Play without skips.

G .. Plays Quite Rough, Has Multiple Scratches, Very Noisy.

P .. Poor Condition. Good only for those who will accept any copy to fill in their collection.

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