Ethel Merman Disco Album CD release now available

[Bernie]

Ethel Merman - Ethel Merman Disco Album
Fynsworth Alley - Universal Music
Available in stores Jan 28, 2003

A few years before her death, legendary Broadway vocalist Ethel Merman released an album of Disco-ized Broadway classics on the A & M label in 1979. Either one loved or hated it, but it became an instant cult classic. After more than 20 years the album has been reissued on CD with a bonus track for all the lovers of camp. Go to...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...rniesdiscomusi
order your copy.

Track Listing:

01 There's No Business Like Show Business
02 Everything's Coming Up Roses
03 I Get A Kick Out of You
04 Something For the Boys
05 Some People
06 Alexander's Ragtime Band
07 I Got Rhythm
08 They Say It's Wonderful (Bonus Track - Previously Unreleased)

Fynsorth Alley Presents
the Legendary Cult Recording “The Ethel Merman Disco Album”

ON CD FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER FEATURING A PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BONUS TRACK

IN STORES JANUARY 28, 2003
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...rniesdiscomusi

FYNSWORTH ALLEY will release the notorious cult classic THE ETHEL MERMAN DISCO ALBUM for the first time ever on CD. The disc will be available in stores January 28. The original recording was produced, arranged and conducted by Peter Matz. The reissue was produced by Bill Meade.

THE ETHEL MERMAN DISCO ALBUM, complete with a festive disco beat and a cooing back-up chorus, was an instant camp classic when it was released by A & M Records in 1979. Looking to capitalize on the decade’s explosive dance craze, the label had Miss Ethel Merman, the reigning queen of Broadway, rerecord the showtunes she made famous – including “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” A & M’s staff was so excited about the recording that when MissMerman entered the studio, the personnel reportedly wore t-shirts emblazoned with “Ethel Boogies.” Donna Summer, the label’s reigning star, told Ethel, “if I’m the ‘Queen of Disco’, you’re the ‘Disco Diva’.” The album was released to much controversy and fanfare, including Ethel shaking her stuff on late night TV. Unfortunately, it coincided with the end of the Disco era and quickly went out of print, immediately achieving cult status. Now, Fynsworth Alley has finally dug out the infamous recording for us to experience once again, to take its rightful place in dance clubs and stereo systems throughout the world. The CD includes a previously unreleased bonus track, “They Say It’s Wonderful.”

ETHEL MERMAN, considered “First Lady” of American musical theatre, once said “Broadway has been very good to me. But I’ve been very good to Broadway, too.” Indeed, MissMerman created roles in many of the most celebrated musicals of all time, including Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy and Anything Goes. Ms.Merman (1908-1984) made her Broadway debut in George and Ira Gershwin’s Girl Crazy, in which she introduced “I Got Rhythm,” and appeared in 13 more hits such as Call Me Madam, Panama Hattie and Red, Hot & Blue. She was the last in a long line of famous actresses to play the title role in Hello Dolly!on Broadway, a show written with her in mind. On the silver screen, she starred in the film versions of Anything Goes and Call Me Madam, along with Alexander’s Ragtime Band, There’s No Business Like Show Business and a non-singing role in It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. During her later years, Miss Merman appeared with orchestras across the country. Her concerts, according to her official bio, “invariably start with a standing ovation and end in pandemonium.” When she passed away of natural causes in 1984, the marquees of all 36 Broadway theaters were darkened for one minute.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...rniesdiscomusi

[BrunoRepublic]

Sorry Bernie, but I just have to throw in my 2¢ here!

Originally Posted by Bernie

THE ETHEL MERMAN DISCO ALBUM, complete with a festive disco beat and a cooing back-up chorus, was an instant camp classic when it was released by A & M Records in 1979.

There's a typo in that press release -- it should read "crap classic".

A & M’s staff was so excited about the recording that when MissMerman entered the studio, the personnel reportedly wore t-shirts emblazoned with “Ethel Boogies.”

What they don't mention is that A&M's staff were so horrified by the results that hired a remixer to create mostly-instrumental versions in a failed effort to salvage the album. :lol:

The album was released to much controversy and fanfare, including Ethel shaking her stuff on late night TV. Unfortunately, it coincided with the end of the Disco era and quickly went out of print, immediately achieving cult status.

I would argue that it's partly because of albums like TEMDA that the disco era came to such an abrupt end!

Now, Fynsworth Alley has finally dug out the infamous recording for us to experience once again, to take its rightful place in dance clubs and stereo systems throughout the world.

"RIGHTFUL PLACE?!!?" :roll: Oh, come on! Who are they kidding? No dance club -- not even the gayest drag-queen asylum -- would play this dreck!! As for its "rightful place" in a stereo -- well, if you need something to rest your stereo stand on to keep it from wobbling, this might just do the trick.

The CD includes a previously unreleased bonus track, “They Say It’s Wonderful.”

I can't fathom how any track could've been considered "not good enough" to have been left of the original LP.

Anyway, there are two good things that I can say about the reissue of this sonic holocaust:

(1) People will stop paying $100+ for the album on eBay
(2) All the folks who haven't heard it and love the idea of it can now buy it, listen to it, throw it away in horror, and the album can once again be forgotten.

[Bernie]

Graham,

Have to agree with your points. I had a nice chuckle as I read the press release for the first time. What a spin! Still can't figure out why some have paid good money for this, but I'm sure there will be enough takers on this CD.

[NickNack]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Oh, Graham, thank you so much. I have tears in my eyes, I can't stop :lol: :lol: :lol: . If this CD sells well, it's only because of the name value, not the quality of the music. I'm sure many will be dumbfounded after hearing and reading all they hype. Once was more than enough for me :x .

[QUINNY]

Well guys this makes me feel 100 times better, 'cos my ears have never fallen victim to this gem. :lol:
I can't imagine whatever made you put a record on your turntable that had the words 'Ethel Merman' and 'Disco' on it. Ain't curiosity a bummer sometimes? :oops: