Show Boat

Hammerstein II, Oscar and Jerome Kern

album cover

The First Hot-Topic Hammerstein Musical

Show Boat, which premiered in 1927, is the first work by Oscar Hammerstein to directly address social issues—it features an interracial marriage, heated discourse on racism and its evils, and a tragic, alcoholic heroine in Julie, a light-skinned African American who, after "passing" as a white entertainer, is discovered and forced by police to leave the boat. It is sometimes considered the Gone with the Wind of Broadway, a tale of the passing of eras in the Deep South that touches on still-sensitive subjects. That alone made it a rare thing in 1927, in a medium then dedicated to escapism.

The score, by Jerome Kern, helped Hammerstein greatly. Carefully avoiding caricature, Kern caught the slow stateliness of Southern life—both in its blues inflections ("Ol' Man River," which became Paul Robeson's signature tune) and its romantic wistfulness ("Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"). The lyricist took full advantage of the setting—the action happens in the world of hired entertainers on a riverboat—to have characters break into song at will. (The show's most famous ballad, "Bill," blossoms during a rehearsal scene. Trivia buffs will note there are no characters named Bill; the piece was written for an earlier Kern show.)

There have been countless revivals of Show Boat, and several film versions. This three-disc studio extravaganza ranks among the most complete versions of the show—it includes the beautiful "I Have the Room Above Her," which was added to the 1936 film version, and offers the chance to hear temperamental opera star Teresa Stratas sing Julie, in what some consider her best recorded performance.

Genre: Musicals
Released: 1988, EMI/Angel
Key Tracks: "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Ol' Man River," "I Have the Room Above Her."
Catalog Choice: Hammerstein: Oklahoma!, Original 1943 Broadway Cast
Next Stop: Ella Fitzgerald: Sings the Jerome Kern Songbook
After That: Paul Robeson: Live at Carnegie Hall, May 9, 1958
Book Pages: 337–338

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#1 from Pontoon Boats, Michigan - 01/20/2010 5:40

I have this on wax somewhere, but would be interested to hear the digital version of it.  Might have to pull the trigger on that one, I wonder if it’s on itunes?

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