Alan Lerner Jay - Evening

Alan Jay Lerner's turn at the Lyrics and Lyricists series at the 92nd Street y in New York in December 1971 was a musical theater insider's dream, as Lerner told stories about the development of songs that became hits ("On the Street Where You Live," which composer-partner Frederick Loewe detested) and songs that disappeared ("Come to the Ball," which everyone associated with My Fair Lady thought would be a hit, but which ultimately was cut from the show). Anyone coming to this recording without a thorough background in Lerner's work would be a little at sea, and the performance does not work as a musical biography (for example, there's nothing from Brigadoon). But as a collection of theater stories, together with the lyricist's own competent renditions of some of his songs (he does 11 while singers J.T. Cromwell, Bobbi Baird, and Barbara Williams do one each), it makes for a delightful and informative listening experience. - William Ruhlmann - Recorded Live At The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane On Sunday 7th June, 1987.