With a Song in my Heart: The Songs of Richard Rodgers

Following on from Retrospective’s previous double CD sets of great songwriters – Hoagy Carmichael (RTS4106), George Gershwin (RTS4176) and Harold Arlen (RTS4206) – is this unique collection devoted to the wonderful songs composed by Richard Rodgers, with both of his two partners of genius, Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein.

Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) had two lives as a composer: his first, lasting until 1940, was with Lorenz Hart, a lyricist of unparalleled wit and imagination. Disc One contains arguably the 25 best songs to spring from their collaboration: Blue Moon, My Funny Valentine, My Heart Stood Still, and each is interpreted by the contemporary artist most associated with that hit – a roster that includes Jessie Matthews, Ben Selvin, Paul Whiteman, Ruth Etting, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Doris Day and so many others.

In 1943 Rodgers began his second life as a composer, teaming up with Oscar Hammerstein. Together they created a new Golden Age of musical theatre, with five undisputed masterpieces that stand among the greatest musicals of all time: Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King And I and The Sound Of Music.

The best of this extraordinary outpouring of show-songs fills Disc Two, again with many of the original performers, such as Mary Martin, Alfred Drake, John Raitt and Gertrude Lawrence, alongside stylish interpretations of the time by the likes of Perry Como, Judy Garland and Johnny Mathis.

Richard Rodgers was truly a composer with a song in his heart.

Track Listing:
CD 1 – RODGERS & HART
1. Manhattan – Ben Selvin
2. Mountain Greenery – Frank Crumit
3. The Girl Friend – George Olsen
4. The Blue Room – The Revelers
5. My Heart Stood Still – Jessie Matthews
6. Thou Swell – Ben Selvin
7. You Took Advantage Of Me –Paul Whiteman, With Bing Crosby
8. With A Song In My Heart – Hutch
9. Ten Cents A Dance – Ruth Etting
10. Isn't It Romantic? – Jeanette Macdonald
11. Lover – Paul Whiteman
12. You Are Too Beautiful – Frank Sinatra
13. Blue Moon – Glen Gray
14. It’s Easy To Remember – Bing Crosby
15. My Romance – Dinah Shore & Frank Sinatra
16. There’s A Small Hotel – Hal Kemp
17. Where Or When – Lena Horne
18. My Funny Valentine – Mary Martin
19. Johnny One Note – Wynn Murray
20. The Lady Is A Tramp – Sophie Tucker
21. Falling In Love With Love – Allan Jones
22. This Can't Be Love – Benny Goodman, With Martha Tilton
23. I Didn't Know What Time It Was – Margaret Whiting
24. I Could Write A Book – Frank Sinatra
25. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered – Doris Day

CD 2 – RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN
1. Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ – Alfred Drake
2. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top – Alfred Drake
3. People Will Say We’re In Love – Joan Roberts & Alfred Drake
4. Oklahoma! – Alfred Drake
5. If I Loved You – Perry Como
6. Soliloquy – John Raitt
7. What’s The Use Of Wond’rin’? – Jan Clayton
8. You’ll Never Walk Alone – Judy Garland
9. It Might As Well Be Spring – Dick Haymes
10. Some Enchanted Evening – Ezio Pinza
11. Bali Ha’i – Peggy Lee
12. I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair – Mary Martin
13. I’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy – Mary Martin
14. Younger Than Springtime – William Tabbert
15. Hello, Young Lovers – Gertrude Lawrence
16. Getting To Know You – Gertrude Lawrence
17. We Kiss In A Shadow – Doretta Morrow & Larry Douglas
18. Shall We Dance? – Gertrude Lawrence & Yul Brynner
19. No Other Love – Perry Como
20. You Are Beautiful – Johnny Mathis
21. The Sound Of Music – Mary Martin
22. My Favourite Things – Mary Martin & Patricia Neway
23. Edelweiss – Theodore Bikel
24. Climb Every Mountain – Shirley Bassey