South Pacific / The Music Man (1958) Vinyl and 44 similar items

Catalog Number: SSP-77 Condition Details: Still in ORIGINAL SHRINK-WRAP (opened). Vinyl plays with crackles and some clicks (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges, discoloration near opening (front/back); tear in shrink near top right. Inner-sleeve is generic white. Spine has no text and shows mild-wear. Minor shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.) Tracks: South Pacific Overture Some Enchanted Evening There Is Nothing Like A Dame Bali Hai I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy Younger Than Springtime This Nearly Was Mine The Music Man Seventy Six Trombones Goodnight My Someone Lida Rose Marian The Librarian 'Til There Was You Finale About The Record: South Pacific / The Music Man released in 1958 by the Somerset label (under its Stereo Fidelity imprint, catalog SF-77), features instrumental and choral arrangements performed by the Hollywood Sound Stage Chorus and Theatre Orchestra, combining selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific musical with Meredith Willson's The Music Man. This split LP reflects the Broadway-to-recording trend of the era, presenting orchestral overtures and medleys like Some Enchanted Evening, Bali Ha'i, Seventy-Six Trombones, and 'Til There Was You in early stereo format, a technological milestone for budget-friendly hi-fi releases aimed at home listeners. Historically notable as one of the first stereo compilations to pair these two landmark 1940s-1950s musicals?both recently adapted into major Hollywood films?the album underscores Somerset's approach of producing affordable, high-fidelity covers to leverage the success of original cast albums without licensing costs. No hit singles were released from this compilation, as it was a non-charting project focused on album sales, though 'Til There Was You later gained pop prominence through covers, notably by The Beatles. The album captures the post-war surge in musical theater soundtracks, making Broadway accessible to middle-class households through innovative, cost-effective recording techniques.