• Artist: Ethel Merman
• Flags: Compilation (best of)
• Type: Compilation
• Rating:
• Styles: Nostalgia, Vaudeville, Traditional Pop
• Track Picks: "I Got Rhythm," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "You're the Top"
• Similar Albums: The Popular Frank Sinatra, Vol. 1, Portrait of Sinatra: Columbia Classics, Swing and Dance with Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne at M-G-M: Ain't It the Truth, The Best of the Columbia Years: 1943-1952, The Columbia Years (1943-1952): The Complete Recordings, Lush Life, The Legend and the Legacy, Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 40's, Vol. 1, The Voice: The Columbia Years (1943-1952), The Frank Sinatra Story in Music, The Best of the Big Bands

Review

Ethel Merman was about halfway through her 30-year career of creating roles on Broadway when the record companies finally started recording original cast albums on a regular basis in the mid-'40s. Nevertheless, Merman had preserved contemporary performances of some of her best-known songs from her shows of the '30s for such labels as RCA Victor, Brunswick (now controlled by Sony), and Decca. Decca recorded Merman's 1946 hit musical Annie Get Your Gun, and in 1947 she re-recorded her early hits for the Decca album Songs She Made Famous. She also made a non-cast album of songs from her 1950 show Call Me Madam for Decca and cut some non-show recordings for the label as well. Along with three tracks licensed from Sony's cast album for the 1959 musical Gypsy, it is the Decca material that makes up There's No Business Like Show Business: The Collection. Short of more extensive licensing, it may be the most comprehensive Merman compilation one can hope for. The obvious weak spots are the seven re-recordings of songs like "I Got Rhythm," "You're the Top," and "I Get a Kick Out of You," but Merman had lost none of her '30s vocal power by the '40s, so the performances are strong. Most of the classic songs associated with Merman are included, and the sound quality is excellent. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
I Got Rhythm		George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin	Ethel Merman	(3:00)
Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries	...	Lew Brown, Ray Henderson	Ethel Merman	(2:59)
Eadie Was a Lady, Pts. 1 & 2	...	Nacio Herb Brown, Richard Whiting	Ethel Merman	(6:05)
You're the Top		Cole Porter	Ethel Merman	(2:14)
I Get a Kick Out of You		Cole Porter	Ethel Merman	(3:18)
Blow, Gabriel, Blow	...	Cole Porter	Ethel Merman	(2:27)
It's De-Lovely	...	Cole Porter	Ethel Merman	(2:53)
Make It Another Old-Fashioned, Please	...	Cole Porter	Ethel Merman, Harry Sosnik	(2:59)
I've Still Got My Health	...	Cole Porter	Ethel Merman, Harry Sosnik	(2:33)
Doin' What Comes Natur'lly		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman	(3:25)
I Got the Sun in the Morning		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman	(2:54)
Anything You Can Do		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman, Ray Middleton	(3:08)
You Can't Get a Man with a Gun		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman	(3:10)
Dearie		Bob Hilliard, Dave Mann	Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger	(3:23)
If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake	...	Bob Merrill, Al Hoffman, Clem Watts	Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger	(2:45)
The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman, Gordon Jenkins	(3:28)
You're Just in Love		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman, Gordon Jenkins, Dick Haymes	(3:08)
There's No Business Like Show Business		Irving Berlin	Ethel Merman, Johnnie Ray, Mitzi Gaynor, Donald O'Connor, Dan Dailey	(2:22)
Some People		Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne	Ethel Merman	(3:40)
Everything's Coming Up Roses		Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne	Ethel Merman	(3:07)
Rose's Turn		Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne	Ethel Merman	(4:23)

Credits

Ethel Merman (Vocals), Ethel Merman (Main Performer), Johnnie Ray (Performer), Gordon Jenkins (Performer), Sy Oliver (Orchestra Director), Dick Haymes (Performer), Mitzi Gaynor (Performer), Ray Bolger (Performer), Elliott Federman (Mastering), Will Friedwald (Producer), Will Friedwald (Liner Notes), Will Friedwald (Compilation), Will Friedwald (Compilation Producer), Harry Sosnik (Performer), Fred Sherman, Fred Sherman (Coordination), Mike Ragogna (Producer), Jay Blackton (Orchestra Director), David Richman (Art Direction), Ray Middleton (Performer), Dan Dailey (Performer)