A little more from your Pals Sinatra and Riddle…
Topped the chart:
25th January 1958 (for 7 weeks)
23rd March 1958 (for 4 weeks)
11 weeks total
That the Pal Joey soundtrack was such a success in early 1958 was a sign of the times changing. Significantly darker and more melancholic than previous Richard Rogers musicals to hit the top spot, lyrical themes of depression and regret are a world away from Oklahoma and The King and I. Audiences were clearly ready for something a bit less traditional in feel, and the the story of Sinatra’s Joey as a womanising crook certainly suits the persona the man himself had been building. Sometimes, sleaze is refreshing. Still, the fact the soundtrack was more successful than the film itself suggests it’s the songs that spoke to people rather than a story of prostitutes, madams, strippers and nightclub owners—I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet, but your kids are gonna love it.
Rahter than traditional musical theatre, Pal Joey hews closer to the jazz era in which it was written. more Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway than the swing sound that Sinatra and arranger Nelson Riddle has been working on in the late 50s. Both appear here in the roles of leading man and orchestrator respectively, and both relish their roles.
The Lady is a Tramp was the big hit from the musical at the time, and it suits the A Swingin’ Affair version of Sinatra down to a tee (the recording here was actually an outtake from those sessions). More interesting though is Sinatra’s more vulnerable side, allowing his voice greater texture and range. I Could Write A Book is soppier and more gentle than we’re used to which softens his voice, while his version of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered is a masterpiece of confusion and regret, the brashness and confidence dropping to quiet reflection.
Props also need to go to Jo Ann Greer who stands in on singing duties for Rita Hayworth. She shows real range, from the utter sexiness of Zip through to her more joyful take on Bewitched. Less effective is Trudy Stevens stepping up for Kim Novak, but she’s working with less effective material via the flat That Terrific Rainbow and forgettable My Funny Valentine.
Pal Joey is mostly forgotten these days in comparison to the more digestible musicals of the era- the fact that Joey uses the word “dame” and “broad” about a million times can’t help- but with the likes of West Side Story and Hair on the horizon, Pal Joey was proof that the musical world was ready to go dark as a new decade dawned.
Score: 6/10
How do you feel about this new side to Sinatra's music? How does Pal Joey compare to High Society? Let us know in the comments...
Tracklisting:
1. Main Title
2. That Terrific Rainbow
3. I Didn’t Know What Time it Was
4. Do it the Hard Way
5. Great Big Town
6. There’s a Small Hotel
7. Zip
8. I Could Write a Book
9. The Lady is a Tramp
10. Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered
11. Plant You Now, Dig You Later
12. My Funny Valentine
13. You Mustn’t Kick it Around
14. Striptease- I Could Write a Book
15. Finale- What Do I Care For A Dame/Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered/I Could Write a Book
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