The Pajama Game (1996 London Studio Cast)

This recording is very good, with a more modern sound and the complete score (something the other albums do not have) but there are some shortcomings.

Ron Raines as Sid - Raines, I feel, does a fantastic job, sings all his numbers beautifully, and is just as good as John Raitt, but has his charms in other areas. The finaletto is great.

Judy Kaye as Babe - Kaye gives only recording we have of this role that isn't flat(Janis Paige) or somewhat dull(Doris Day). Not the best performance of the role I've heard but her belt voice and range suit the role pretty well. A little too much vibrato and less focus on the character bring down some numbers, especially "There Once Was A Man"(Janis actually beats her here)but otherwise, fantastic.

Avery Saltzman as Hines - As I write this, I am starring as Hines in a production of the Pajama Game, so I know the role well. Saltzman gives a funny and cute performance, with more youthful vitality than Eddie Foy Jr. My tastes lean towards Foy, but Saltzman is just as good, just different.

Kim Criswell as Gladys - She can't compare with cooky Carol Haney, but she performes very well and has a great belt voice. "Steam Heat" is taken too slow(not her fault) but "Hernando's Hideaway" is wonderful and fun. A good performance.

David Green as Prez - No color to the role, and "Her Is" is very slow and disapointing.

Brookes Almy as Mabel - Singing voice is good, but speaking voice is ANNOYING. What happened to the sweet old lady?

One final minor cons is that some of the music drags on and on, namely the dances in "I'll Never Be Jealous Again" and "Once a Year Day" but this is a minor complaint.

All in all, a solid recording.


A generally strong rendition of this score   December 8, 2003
Alan (New York, NY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This first complete recording of the score for "The Pajama Game" is generally good, even if not quite inspired.

I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. In the leads, Ron Raines and Judy Kaye are very good. Both of them sing well and offer strongly characterized performances.

John Owen Edwards has gotten a mostly idiomatic and beautifully shaped performance from the orchestra, which plays with exceptional tenderness in the ballads. Occasionally, though, the dance music lacks a certain punch and clarity, and some of it is taken a bit too slowly. Perhaps a little more rehearsal was needed.

The supporting cast here is solid but a little pallid in comparison with the strong personalities that can be heard on the original Broadway cast recording.

Still, even if this recording falls a bit short of brilliance in all departments, it's more than solid.


Stick with the remastered Broadway Cast   June 12, 2000
Michael Del Rossi (Monroeville, NJ United States)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful

I have been a huge fan of the Pajama Game since I first saw it two years ago in a summer theather. As soon as I saw the show I ran out and bought the original cast recording with John Raitt. Who I must say is the best Sid to date. When I saw that Sony just released a new remastered version of the show I was tempted to buy it, when I came across this version on Amazon. Ok, now back to this CD.

The highlight of this version of the Pajama Game is the National Symphony Orchestra and conduction by John Owen Edwards. The music is peppy when it needs to be and soft when it needs to be soft. The voices leave something to be desired though. I am sorry to say I am big fan of Judy Kaye and Ron Raines, but they destroy this score. Even the supporting cast of this show is awful. I really can't say they are terrible, it is just that sometimes they sound really off and just grate on my eardrums.

It is nice that this is first complete recording and I think that is the reason I bought it. It does have somethings that you cannot even get on the new Sony remastered version. Which is nice, but overall the voices on these CDs really take the quality of it down. If they were up to par I would have no problem with giving this CD five stars but there is not a chance with these voices.