The Most Happy Fella – LONDON CAST***

Overture/Ooh My Feet/Somebody Somewhere/The Most Happy Fella/Standing On The Corner/Joey Joey Joey/ Rosabella/Abbondanza/Sposalizio/Don’t Cry/Happy To Make Your Acquaintance/Big D/How Beautiful The Days/ Warm All Over/I Like Everybody/My Heart Is So Full Of You/Mama Mama/Song Of A Summer Night/I Made A Fist/Finale

The London cast musical The Most Happy Fella starred Inia Wiata and Helen Scott. It opened at the London Coliseum in April 1960 and ran for 288 performances. Story is about an affair between an older man and a younger woman. Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. (UK:19)

“This London cast recording was always conceived as excerpts only, unlike the Broadway version which was originally issued on three LPs. Fortunately, the selection was extremely well chosen, considering it had to fit on one LP.”

“The London cast perform extremely well and, in the case of the main roles, I prefer their performances to those of the excellent Broadway cast. Which is better is a close run thing.”

“It was considered that a London cast recording would always be somewhat muted compared to its Broadway counterpart, but this is definitely not the case here. All the performers seem to be freer and less inhibited and all are singing beautifully.”

“If you are not familiar with the show, this is an excellent introduction. The songs are all wonderful.”

“Inia Wiata is a wonderful Tony and comes the closest to equalling the brilliant Robert Weede. If the London cast had been given the three record treatment the Broadway cast got, I'd probably be hard pressed to name my favourite, as each has their strengths. If you're getting more than one 'Fella' this is your second one, after the original.”

“Unlike many British versions of musicals set in America, it is not plagued by bad American accents, and its performers are assured and comfortable in their portrayals.”

“The listener does not get the full sense of the show that the Broadway album provides, but all the big songs are here, including Standing On The Corner, Joey Joey Joey and Big D, and all are performed well.”