Although I didn’t actually own any showtunes during the Academy Days, the musical was a part of my life at this time. VA did a musical every year. I always seemed to be involved at some level. Being at rehearsals night after night, it was difficult to not get into the music. The big standouts of that time were Damn Yankees [which did not include Ted Nugent or Tommy Shaw] and Guys & Dolls. I’m going to includeGodspell here even though we didn’t perform it. We did do an original gospel oriented piece and I was listening to my Aunt’s Godspell record at the time.
Some of the memories of doing the musicals are so clear in my head i can smell them. Here are a few to give you the flavor. We’ll see if this unlikely influence does anything down the road.
Whatever Lola Wants
Every once in a while, usually in some swanky instrumental, this song pops up and I cannot help but think of Amy Hepburn as Lola. Stunning.
Heart
A Little Brains, a Little Talent
The Game
Andy Griswold totally made this song in the Vermt Academy version “Four minds with a single thought.”
Those Were The Good old Days
Aloha Mr. Hand.
Years later I would find a both the Broadway version and the Movie version on Compact Disc.
On To Guys & Dolls. Not quite as attached to this one but it still has a few gems
Rocking The Boat
Luck Be A Lady
Woman In Love Don’t worry, Jean Simmons doesn’t spit blood in this version.
And finally Godspell
It’s A For The Best
On Willows
Day By Day