An original Broadway cast recording of the 1958 musical Flower Drum Song was made in the same year for Columbia. Released on an LP credited to "Rodgers & Hammerstein in association with Joseph Fields" and "Rodgers & Hammerstein Records, Inc.", it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Best Selling LPs chart.
Recording A week after the musical opened at the St. James Theatre, the Broadway cast recorded it for Columbia in its 30th Street Studio. The cast included Miyoshi Umeki, Pat Suzuki, Keye Luke, and Arabella Hong. The musical direction was handled by Salvatore Dell'Isola, a long-standing Rodgers and Hammerstein collaborator.
Release The album was originally issued on LP (cat. no. OL 5350).
Reception
Billboard reviewed the album in the issue dated December 15, 1958, writing: "The bright and attractive score is given first-rate performances by principals. [...] The set should prove a healthy item saleswise."
The album reached No. 1 on the Billboards Best Selling LPs chart.
Track listing 12-inch LP (Columbia Masterworks OL 5350)
Charts Chart (1959) Peakposition US Billboard Best Selling LPs 1
Awards Year Award type Categories Results 1959 Grammy Awards Best Original Cast Album (Broadway or TV)
See also List of Billboard number-one albums of 1959
References