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Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers

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The Music of Richard Rodgers
Studio album by
Julie Andrews
Released1994
GenreShow tune
LabelPhilips
Julie Andrews chronology
Putting It Together
(1993) 		The Music of Richard Rodgers
(1994) 		Victor/Victoria
(1995)

The Music of Richard Rodgers (official title including the series name: Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers) is the eleventh studio album by English singer Julie Andrews. It was released in 1994 by Philips Records. The album was the first in a series of Broadway-themed records that Philips proposed for the singer. It began with a tribute to Richard Rodgers, whom Andrews admires.[1] It was released on both CD and tape cassette.[2]

Julie Andrews expressed deep appreciation for Richard Rodgers, with whom she shared a generous and supportive relationship, and highlighted the range of his collaborations on her album. The recording process was documented in a 1994 video that showcased her emotional connection to the material and her long-standing collaboration with conductor Ian Fraser.

Critics offered favorable reviews, some of them praised the album's polish and Andrews’ mature interpretations, while others gave it a moderate rating, noting fine orchestration and appeal for light music fans. The album had a short chart presence in Belgium and, though it didn’t chart in the U.S., it achieved strong sales according to RPM magazine. In 1996, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.[3]

Background and production

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The relationship between Rodgers and Andrews was marked by generosity. When she auditioned for him, he advised her to accept My Fair Lady if offered but asked to be informed if she wasn't chosen, as he wanted to work with her. Andrews deeply appreciated his support. Regarding the song selection of the album, Andrews revealed in an interview: "The miracle is that this album was written- it's Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers and Sondheim, and Rodgers and Rodgers. He actually wrote one of the songs, the lyrics himself. But that one man wrote all those melodies is amazing to me".[4]

The making of the album was documented in a video titled Julie Andrews: The Making of Broadway - The Music of Richard Rodgers, capturing a 1994 London recording session. The film showcases Andrews' heartfelt interpretations of Rodgers' compositions, reflecting her deep connection to Broadway classics. It also highlights her remarkable 22-year collaboration with conductor Ian Fraser, as they meticulously refine each performance with shared artistry and insight. The video shows Andrews' joy and passion for the project, culminating in her lighthearted quip, "Not bad for an old mum!" after a playback.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
AmazonFavorable[7]
New Straits TimesPerformance: [8]
Sound: [8]

The editors from AllMusic rated the album three stars out of five but provided no written commentary.[6]

Writing for Amazon, journalist Piers Ford highlighted Julie Andrews' 1995 album as a polished collection of Richard Rodgers classics, including "The Sound of Music" and "My Funny Valentine". According to the critic, while her voice had darkened in places, her control and phrasing remained sharp, and her mature interpretation brought new depth to the material. He praised the album for its class and refinement, noting that it showcased her enduring talent as one of the 20th century's greatest musical stars.[7]

The music critic of New Straits Times, R. S. Murthy, described Andrews' performance as persuasive and highlighted the marvelous accompaniment by the London Musicians Orchestra under Ian Fraser. The review suggested that the album is strictly for lovers of light music. The performance received a rating of two and a half stars, which typically indicates a moderately good performance but with some noticeable flaws or areas for improvement. The sound quality was rated four stars, indicating high-quality audio production.[8]

Accolades

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The Music of Richard Rodgers was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in 1996. The nomination placed Andrews alongside renowned artists such as Rosemary Clooney (Demi-Centennial), Eartha Kitt (Back in Business), and John Raitt (Broadway Legend). The award ultimately went to Frank Sinatra for his album Duets II.[9]

Awards and nominations for The Music of Richard Rodgers
Year Award Category Result Ref.
1996 38th Grammy Awards Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Nominated
[10]

Commercial performance

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Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers had a brief but notable run on the charts in Flanders, Belgium. According to Ultratop, it entered the chart at its peak position of 32 during the week of March 16, 1996, showcasing a modest reception in the region.[11] The following week, on March 23, 1996, it slipped slightly to position 34, marking its second and final week on the chart before dropping off entirely.[12]

Even though the album failed to chart in the U.S., RPM magazine reported that the album had "excelent sales" to Phillips Classic label.[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Sound of Music"Oscar Hammerstein II5:07
2."I Have Dreamed"O. Hammerstein II4:34
3."I Wish I Were in Love Again"Lorenz Hart3:31
4."Where or When"L. Hart5:05
5."A Waltz Carousel: The Carousel Waltz / Do I Hear a Waltz? / It's A Grand Night For Singing / A Wonderful Guy / Out of My Dreams / Oh What A Beautiful Morning / This Nearly Was Mine"O. Hammerstein II / Stephen Sondheim / O. Hammerstein II / O. Hammerstein II / O. Hammerstein II / O. Hammerstein II / O. Hammerstein II14:57
6."Nobody Told Me"Richard Rodgers4:08
7."This Can't Be Love/Thou Swell"L. Hart2:30
8."My Funny Valentine"L. Hart3:32
9."It Never Entered My Mind/Spring Is Here"L. Hart4:36
10."Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"L. Hart4:45
11."If I Loved You"O. Hammerstein II3:59
12."Edelweiss"O. Hammerstein II3:51
13."A Cockeyed Optimist"O. Hammerstein II4:24

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Music of Richard Rodgers record.[14]

Musical Production
  • A&R (Artist & Repertoire Production) – Costa Pilavachi, Hermine Sterringa
  • Arranged by, conductor, and album conceived by – Ian Fraser
  • Music by – Richard Rodgers
  • Orchestrated by – Angela Morley (tracks: 1, 11, 12), Bill Byers* (tracks: 3 to 5g, 9, 13), Eddie Karam (tracks: 2, 6, 10)
  • Orchestra – London Musicians Orchestra
  • Music preparation copyist – Bill Hughes
Technical and Audio Engineering
  • Producer and recording producer – Jay David Saks
  • Edited and mixed by – Jay David Saks, Ken Hahn
  • Recording engineer at CTS – Dick Lewzey
  • Recording engineer at Group IV – Rick Winquest
  • Assistant engineer at CTS – Toby Wood
  • Assistant engineer at Group IV – Dan Thompson
Visual and Graphic Design
  • Art direction – Margery Greenspan
  • Design – Isabelle Wong
  • Front cover photo – John Swannell
  • Photos – Catherine Ashmore
Styling
  • Hair – Michaeljohn
  • Make-up – Louise Constad

Charts

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Chart (1994) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 32

References

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  1. ^ Conn, Earl L (May 1996). "Julie Andrews: Kicking up her heels". The Saturday Evening Post. 268 (3): 36. 207634290. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  2. ^ Arntz & Wilson 1995, p. 233
  3. ^ "List of Grammy nominees". CNN. January 4, 1996. Archived from the original on December 7, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  4. ^ Simon, Scott (October 29, 1994). "Rodgers featured in new Julie Andrews CD". Weekend All Things Considered. 190177895. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  5. ^ Zad, Martie (10 January 1996). "Julie Andrews sings Broadway hits". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Broadway: The Music of Richard Rodgers - Julie..." AllMusic. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Julie Andrews: Broadway, the music of Richard Rogers - Lyrics by Lorenz Hart". www.lorenzhart.org. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Murthy, R. S. (8 February 1995). "Track". New Straits Times. New Straits Times: 28. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  9. ^ "List of Grammy nominees". CNN. January 4, 1996. Archived from the original on December 7, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  10. ^ Flick, Larry (17 January 1998). "40th annual Grammy Awards: Final nominations". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 3. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 78. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  11. ^ "Ultratop Albums Top 200 - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  12. ^ "Ultratop Albums Top 200 - ultratop.be". www.ultratop.be. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  13. ^ "PolyGram achieves growth in all areas in '94" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 67, no. 7. 20 March 1995. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  14. ^ Julie Andrews (1994). The Music of Richard Rodgers (liner notes). Philips Records. 442 603-2.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Julie Andrews – Broadway • The Music Of Richard Rodgers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Arntz, James; Wilson, Thomas S. (1995). Julie Andrews. Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago. Illinois: Contemporary Books, Inc. ISBN 0-8092-3267-7.
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