Kiss Me Kate / Brigadoon - Original Television Soundtrack

The deep baritone of Robert Goulet was one of the most recognizable singing voices of the entertainment world during the 1960's and 1970's. From his debut as Lancelot in the 1962 Broadway production of "Camelot," Goulet established himself as a bankable commodity on both the stage and on television. From 1966 to 1968, the ABC Network produced a four show series of adaptations of Broadway musicals for television broadcast, each featuring the vocal resonance of Goulet. Two of them, Lerner and Loewe's "Brigadoon," and Cole Porter's "Kiss Me Kate," were recorded on vinyl, and are available digitally for the first time from Masterworks Broadway on one CD.

"Kiss Me Kate," containing the more familiar songs ("Another Op'nin, Another Show," "Too Darn Hot," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare"), is placed first on the recording, though it was the last of the four shows to be broadcast. Goulet plays the chauvinistic Fred / Petruchio in Porter's famous take on Shakespeare's "Taming Of The Shrew," and his wife at the time, Carol Lawrence, is featured as Kate ("I Hate Men") with Jessica Walter as Bianca. Goulet shines on the classic, "What Is The Life That Late I Led?" and Walter's take on the still familiar, "Always True To You In My Fashion," is delightful.

The disc continues with "Brigadoon," with Goulet in the lead role of Tommy Albright and Sally Ann Howes as the ingenue, Fiona, reprising the role that garnered her a Tony Award nomination in 1963. Goulet's voice is perfectly suited for the standards, "Almost Like Being In Love," and "There But For You Go I," and Howes is appealing on "Waiting For My Dearie."

Several of the "Kiss Me Kate" songs are shortened so that they would fit into the television time allotted, but this archival recording allows us to enjoy a 1960's era take on Porter's music, with several jazz-infused orchestrations, and the stylings of Goulet. The "Brigadoon" arrangements are more straight-forward, and their inclusion on this release pale with those of "Kate." But for fans of Goulet, this is a nice collection.

"The Television Soundtrack Recordings of 'Kiss Me Kate' and 'Brigadoon'"
Robert Goulet
CD and digital formats
Masterworks Broadway