Up In Central Park/Arms And The Girl: Various

The first show, Up in Central Park, had a bewitching score by Fields and Romberg offering a rich mixture of romantic ballads and amusing character songs. Only eight of the numbers have ever been recorded. These eight are on this CD and are sung by Wilbur Evans and Betty Bruce from the original cast, along with Eileen Farrell and Celeste Holm who were brought in just for the recording. Highlights are the charm song When You Walk in The Room, the jolly music hall number The Fireman's Bride and the exquisite April Snow.

Arms and the Girl is a different type of score and doesn't have as much to recommend it. However it's worth having for the two Pearl Bailey songs, and some spirited numbers for heroine Nanette Fabray, such as A Girl With A Flame and That's My Fella.

This recording was originally only from the Decca Broadway website for a limited period. From September 2004 it has been generally available from retailers.

Fields tracks: Carousel In The Park, It Doesn't Cost You Anything To Dream, When You Walk In The Room, Currier And Ives, Close As Pages In A Book, The Fireman's Bride, The Big Back Yard, April Snow, A Girl With A Flame, That's What I Told Him Last Night, I Like It Here, That's My Fella, A Cow And A Plough And A Frau, Nothin' For Nothin', He Will Tonight, You Kissed Me, There's Gotta Be Something Better Than Love