Sweet Charity 60 No. 3 - Recording the Cast Album

Whatever Verdon Sings…

excerpted from a New York Times article written by John S. Wilson, 1966

"The mere presence of Gwen Verdon in the original cast recording of Sweet Charity, gives this musical an advantage over most of those that have been served up to us this season. As a dance hall hostess of unquenchable romantic optimism, Miss Verdon works wonders with her oddly charming voice— a voice that is slightly nasal, slightly raspy, slightly sibilant but always touched with an essentially visceral warmth that, as part of the resolution of the book, bubbles up in a remarkably erotic little laugh.

Helen Gallagher, Gwen Verdon and Thelma Oliver recording "There's Gotta Be Something Better"

“It is not a voice that adds magnificence or soaring lyricism to a song. But she is not dealing with a score that has much to be magnificent or lyrical about. Miss Verdon's primary contributions are touches of color that illuminate what might otherwise be ordinary lines and perceptive shadings of expression that help to bring out ideas that Cy Coleman, the composer, and Dorothy Fields, the lyricist, have not made explicit in their songs."

Gwen and Bob during the recording of the cast album of Sweet Charity

(left) Record producer Goddard Lieberson, composer Cy Coleman, and Gwen Verdon

(center) in the control room, front row, Goddard Lieberson, Cy Coleman, lyricist Dorothy Fields, Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse listen to a playback; behind them, Helen Gallagher, with white hat, Thelma Oliver, with cigarette, and musical director Fred Werner.

(right) Goddard Lieberson, with composer Cy Coleman, star Gwen Verdon, and Thelma Oliver

Photos sourced from:

https://masterworksbroadway.com/photo-galleries/photos/13287/