Jerry Herman: The Lyrics | 
 enlarge | Author: Jerry Herman
Publisher: Routledge
Category: Book
List Price: $42.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 1040324
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 7.7 x 0.8
ISBN: 0415967686
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.140268
EAN: 9780415967686
ASIN: 0415967686
Publication Date: September 10, 2003
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Product Description
Jerry Herman is one of Broadway's most celebrated composers and lyricists. He is the author of two of the biggest successes in musical theater history: Hello, Dolly! and Mame . Herman is also responsible for Mack and Mabel, Milk and Honey , and the musical version of the film La Cage Aux Folles. All of these have been produced many times, in both professional and amateur productions around the world. He is currently writing a new musical, Miss Spectacular , commissioned by Steve Wynn to be produced in a new theater at his Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. This book offers all of the lyrics to Herman's well-loved songs along with rare production photographs from all of his shows. It includes early lyrics from Herman's first Broadway revues and shows, songs cut from his best-loved shows, and new lyrics. Herman's songs have been sung by all the masters of American pop song but have never been collected before. In addition to the lyrics, Herman offers his personal reminiscences and comments on the lyrics and the shows. For the fan of Broadway theater and of Jerry Herman's works, this book will be a treasure.
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 Lavish and Well-Deserved Tribute to Jerry Herman February 7, 2005
He wrote the songs that made theater-goers feet tap all across the world. Without the melodies that go with them, the lyrics aren't as interesting or memorable as say, Frank Loesser's would be, for they lack a certain verbal sophistication. You'll see how few of them have extended lyrics, and often as not the lyrics repeat and repeat in a way which works well on stage but on the page, well, your eyes get tired. (Like "Shalom" from MILK AND HONEY, how many times do we need to hear that "Shalom" means twice as much as "hello"?) But nitpicking aside the book is great, not only for itss lavish and rare photographs, but for Herman's personal asides--saying for example that the title song of DEAR WORLD is one song he regrets having written. And some of the songs are indeed poetry, like the anxious lilt of "I Won't Send Flowers" from MACK AND MABEL or "We Need a Little Christmas" from MAME--"I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder," etc. A lyric that works not only in the theater but as a poem too. The book also includes the two numbers Herman "ghost-wrote" for the 1960s David Merrick production of BEN FRANKLIN IN PARIS, as well as some miscellaneous lyrics for revues, etc.
That "Jerry's Girls" song is pretty lame though. Just skip that page if you are allergic to name-dropping and self-congratulation on a Herculean scale.
Funny how he manages in two different songs to rhyme "Zsa Zsa" with "maharajah." That's a sign of repeating oneself, a danger in a career as long and productive as Herman's. The CD is good too although I would have liked to hear Michael Feinstein interpret some of the rarer or even the "trunk" numbers.
 A lively discourse December 8, 2003
This celebration of Jerry Herman's works gathers all the famous lyrics by the composer of Hello Dolly, La Cage Aux Folles, and joins them with his memories and comments. The result is a lively discourse blending previously unpublished lyrics with production photos and a special cd of Michael Feinstein performing Herman's favorite songs. Fans of Broadway shows in general and Herman in particular will relish this memoir and songbook.
Great book. Highly recommended. October 18, 2003
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
The lyrics and notes from Mr. Herman, and terrific photos-- especially of Angela Lansbury-- make this a great addition to the library of anyone with an interest in musical theatre.
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