Best Foot Forward (cast recording)
| Best Foot Forward | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by Various artists | ||||
| Released | 2 April 1963[1] | |||
| Genre | Show tunes | |||
| Label | Cadence Records | |||
| Liza Minnelli chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Best Foot Forward | ||||
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Best Foot Forward is the cast recording of the 1963 off-Broadway revival of the musical comedy. The album features performances by a young company, including Liza Minnelli in one of her earliest professional appearances, and captures the score by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane with primarily piano accompaniment.
The album was released by Cadence Records and became part of a rare trend at the time for independent labels to issue musical theatre recordings. It included the single "You Are for Loving"/"What Do You Think I Am", which received positive attention, and was later reissued by Stet Records and Piccadilly with new covers, and titled Best Foot Forward – The Off-Broadway Hit Revival that Introduce Liza Minnelli (1977) and Best Foot Forward – The Musical Comedy Featuring Liza Minnelli (1982), respectively.
Overview
[edit]Best Foot Forward is a musical comedy that follows a prep school student who invites a Hollywood movie star to attend his prom, with surprising results. The story centers on the humorous situations that arise from the encounter, featuring a score by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. The 1963 Off-Broadway revival at Stage 73 ran for 224 performances. It was directed and choreographed by Danny Daniels and featured newcomer Liza Minnelli.[2] According to Cash Box Minnelli's performance "got solid notices in her featured role".[3] The release of the original cast album was part of a rare trend at the time for independent labels to issue musical theatre recordings.[4]
The first single released, "You Are for Loving"/"What Do You Think I Am" (Cadence 1436) was given a B rating by Cash Box. The A-side, "You Are for Loving", was praised as a "charming" addition to the musical's score, with Liza Minnelli's vocals noted for their resemblance to her mother, Judy Garland, and complemented by an attractive orchestral backing. The B-side was described as a delightful original tune by Martin and Blane, further highlighting the appeal of the single as a whole.[5]
The cast album was one of the final releases by Cadence Records before the label ceased operations in September 1963.[6] In 1977, Stet Records re-released the album with a new cover including the subtitle The Off-Broadway Hit Revival that Introduce Liza Minnelli.[7] In 1982, the album was reissued by Piccadilly (catalog number PiC 3485), with a new cover and titled Best Foot Forward – The Musical Comedy Featuring Liza Minnelli.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Cast Album Reviews | [10] |
Billboard praised Best Foot Forward as a lively off-Broadway revival, highlighting Liza Minnelli's energetic and convincing performance and the spirited ensemble.[11] In his AllMusic review, William Ruhlmann praised Minnelli's performance and also highlighted a strong showing from Ronald Walken (later known as Christopher Walken).[9]
Richard Barrios of Cast Album Reviews described the recording as capturing an energetic young company, noting that Liza Minnelli's debut performance added youthful glow and charm, even if her secondary role slightly shifted the show's balance. Barrios highlighted Paula Wayne in "Hollywood Story" and praised ensemble numbers such as "The Three B's".[10]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wish I May (Wish I Might)" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Ensemble | 2:48 |
| 2. | "Three Men On A Date" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Glenn Walken, Ronald Walken, Edmund Gaynes | 2:48 |
| 3. | "Hollywood Story" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Paula Wayne, Grant Walden | 3:48 |
| 4. | "The Three 'B's'" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Liza Minnelli, Kay Cole, Renée Winters | 5:29 |
| 5. | "Ev'ry Time" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Karin Wolfe | 4:10 |
| 6. | "Alive and Kicking" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Paula Wayne | 2:42 |
| 7. | "The Guy Who Brought Me" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Paula Wayne, Grant Walden, Edmund Gaynes | |
| 8. | "Shady Lady Bird" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Karin Wolfe, Edmund Gaynes, Gene Castle, Don Slaton, Paul Charles | 2:53 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Buckle Down Winsocki" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Jack Irwin, Edmund Gaynes, Ensemble | 4:07 |
| 2. | "You're Lucky" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Paula Wayne | 2:50 |
| 3. | "What Do You Think I Am?" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Edmund Gaynes, Liza Minnelli, Kay Cole, Ronald Walken | 3:08 |
| 4. | "A Raving Beauty" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Ronald Walken, Kay Cole | 3:10 |
| 5. | "Just A Little Joint With A Juke Box" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Liza Minnelli | 2:55 |
| 6. | "You Are For Loving" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Liza Minnelli | 5:13 |
| 7. | "Reprise: Buckle Down Winsocki" | Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane | Paula Wayne, Ensemble | 9:33 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Best Foot Forward LP (Cadence, CLP 24012).
- Music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
- Arranged (Dance Music) and piano by William Goldenberg
- Directed and choreographed by Danny Daniels
- Engineered by Bob Arnold
- Lighting by Jules Fisher
- Music direction and piano by Buster Davis
- Produced by Archie Bleyer
- Production managed by Toni Manzi
- Assistant production managers – Anne Wallace, Patricia Stewart
- Stage management by Robert Fletcher
References
[edit]- ^ "Best Foot Forward: Original Cast Recording – Álbum de Best Foot Forward Original Ensemble Cast". Spotify. Archived from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ Best Foot Forward Archived 2015-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, Lortel Archives: The Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed February 9, 2015
- ^ "Liza Minnelli to Capitol" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XXIV, no. 41. 22 June 1963. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Roulette grabs 'Kelly' with 100G investment" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 75, no. 37. 14 September 1963. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XXIV, no. 27. 16 March 1963. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Cadence fades Sept. 25" (PDF). Cashbox. Vol. XXV, no. 52. 5 September 1964. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ Various artists: Best Foot Forward - The Off-Broadway Hit Revival that Introduce Liza Minnelli (Media notes). United States: Stet Records. 1977. DS 15003.
- ^ "New LP/Tape releases" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 44. 6 November 1982. p. 62. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Best Foot Forward [1963 Off-Broadway Revival C... | AllMusic". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Archived from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ a b Barrios, Richard (30 January 2015). "Best Foot Forward | Cast Album Reviews". Cast Album Reviews. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 75, no. 18. 4 May 1963. p. 34. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 October 2025. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
