1776

Just recently I saw a very well-done local production of "1776." I must say that what most impressed me about the show, while I was watching it,was its superbly written libretto: the scenes in which the members of the Congress debate are filled with dramatic tension. But listening to the original Broadway cast recording has made me appreciate the score, the high quality of which I failed to fully recognize on first hearing. The score of "1776" includes such fine songs as "The Lees of Old Virginia," "But Mr. Adams," "Yours, Yours, Yours," "He Plays the Violin," "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men," "Momma, Look Sharp," and "Molasses to Rum" (and these are merely my own favorites). I've also come to realize that the songs in this show aren't meant to advance the plot, but instead serve as respites from the fraught-with-tension debate scenes; "Molasses to Rum" is the only song that is sung during an actual debate.
The performances on the original cast recording are highly enjoyable. William Daniels as an urbane and witty John Adams is clearly in the Rex Harrison - Robert Preston tradition of Broadway "speak-singers." Occasionally when he has to really "sing" (as in "Is Anybody There?"), Daniels' voice does become harsh sounding; however, his love duet with Abigail ("Yours, Yours, Yours") is sung very nicely. Ron Holgate as Gen. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia is delightful in his comic song. Scott Jarvis as a young courier is touching in his song about a dying boy soldier. Clifford David as Sen. Rutledge of South Carolina sings and acts powerfully in "Molasses to Rum," in which he reveals mixed feelings about the slave trade. A particular highlight is the number "Cool, Cool Considerate Men," sung with sly wit by Paul Hecht as the Tory John Dickinson. But the women -- Virgina Vestoff as Abigail Adams and Betty Buckley as Martha Jefferson -- are the vocal stars of the recording and provide a nice respite from all the male voices. The sound is incredibly life-like for a recording made more than thirty years ago. Mark Kirkeby's CD booklet notes (which explain, among other things, the very effective "doubling" of instruments in the recordings of "Molasses to Rum" and the "Roll Call") are excellent. "1776" is a strong musical that should be heard and -- better yet -- seen.

I almost wholly disagree with Amazon's review of this CD. In the Broadway version, William Daniels (John Adams) is more frantic, almost screaming at moments. By the time he made the movie, his portrayal of Adams was vastly better-- more passionate, more directed, less hollering. Regrettably, it's hard (impossible?) to find the soundtrack version on CD.

What a fun soundtrack! If you like the movie you will love the soundtrack as well. Though some complain about William Daniel's voice, I can't imagine anyone else singing it. He inflects such personality and character into his singing that it is the voice I will always associate with John Adams. I love all the songs but my favorites are BUT, MR. ADAMS and HE PLAYS THE VIOLIN, and THE LEES OF VIRGINIA is quite fun too. Heck the whole soundtrack is great. Even parts of the movie I didn't like as well (the triangle trade section of MOLASSES TO RUM) come out better on the soundtrack.

All I can say is, go on and buy it and have a ball learning your American history.

Oh...my...God. In my social studies class we were studying the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and my Social Studies teacher thought it would be a good idea to have us watch this musical. Being the enormous fan of Broadway that I am, I was psyched. What a let-down. I mean, really. The concept that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence because he could have sex with his wife is insulting to anyone with the least bit of patriotism. And not only that, the music was lame. It lacked variety (except for "Mama look sharp," the one decent song in the show, that didn't include Jefferson's violin screeching into uncomfortable silence).

I had an opportunity to see the stage version of "1776" and said I was not interested because making a musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence struck me as ridiculous. Then one day I was flipping around channels and stumbled on the Continental Congress arguing about something and then suddenly breaking into song. Sherman Edwards' songs range from the cute "The Egg," where the Founding Father argue over which bird should be the symbol of the new nation, to the poignant "Momma Look Sharp," as a young soldier tells of his best friend being killed in a battle, to the dramatic "Molasses to Rum," as a Southerner signs about the Triangle Trade. I find "The Lees of Old Virginia" where every word ends with "LY" to be obnoxious, but that is just me. "Sit Down, John" perfectly sets the town for this mix of history and song, while "But, Mr. Adams" will ensure that you will always remember who was on the Declaration Committee and which states they all came from.! The book by Peter Stone is fairly faithful to what really happened (John Dickinson and his supporters were absent on purpose the day of the crucial vote so that the Declaration would be adopted), but none of that matters all that much when all you are doing is listening to the songs.

This Original Broadway Cast recording offers William Daniels in the role of a lifetime as John Adams, Rex Everhart as Benjamin Franklin and Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson. Virginia Vestoff plays Abigail Adams and young Betty Buckley is Martha Jefferson. Many of the cast made it to the film version as well. The best testimony I can give for "1776" is that there are precious few moments when I can get teary-eyed listening to a musical on CD. When Adams sings "Is Anybody There?" is one of those moments. The idea of Adams, all alone in the dark chamber, seeing a vision of America's future, still strikes me as a powerful one. Besides, every time John and Abigail say goodbye to each other at th!e end of their "letters" I get choked up as well. No wonder I got my first degree in History. At least I got to finally see "1776" on stage when a touring company came to town last year.