Hugh Martin: Hidden Treasures – Songs for Stage and Screen, 1941–2010

This composer-lyricist, singer and vocal arranger may not be well-known by name (the original title for his memoirs was Hugh Who?), but he belongs in the Alec Wilder pantheon with such artists as Rodgers (his mentor), Gershwin, Porter and Arlen. He is best known, of course, for his songs for Judy Garland in MGM’s Meet Me in St. Louis.

That’s just for starters, though, in a career spanning the years 1937 until his death in 2011, just before this album, for which he was the guiding star, was released by Harbinger’s Bill Rudman and Ken Bloom. Martin influenced countless artists and musicologists: Among those who contributed liner notes were Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick, Ted Chapin, Michael Feinstein and Mark Eden Horowitz from the Library of Congress.

As Sondheim wrote at the time, “Hugh was the quintessence of 1940s and 50s musical comedy; his songs define what is known as ‘show tunes’ or ‘pizazz.’”

The collection includes 29 tracks (many of them the original demos) and a 96-page booklet with dozens of photos, plus notes by eight writers.

Track List 

1    The Three BS - the Martins (2:32)
2    Evry Time - Loulie Jean Norman (2:45)
3    Wish I May - Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane (2:50)
4    Gotta Dance Hugh Martin (1:55)
5    The Ptisserie/When Does This Feeling Go Away? - Timothy Gray (3:13)
6    Suits Me Fine - Dean Campbell, Marilyn Maxwell (3:32)
7    I Can't Get Used to These Clothes - Hugh Martin (1:59)
8    Imagine - Hugh Martin (2:50)
9    I Take a Dim View of the West - Ralph Blane (3:28)
10    I Like the Feeling - Hugh Martin (2:10)
11    I Happen to Love You - Hugh Martin (3:26)
12    Who Is Sylvia? - Ralph Blane, Timothy Gray (2:20)
13    Here Come the Dreamers - Corinna Manetto (1:47)
14    On Such a Night As This - Marshall Barer, Corinna Manetto (2:19)
15    Did I Just Fall in Love? - John Davidson, Corinna Manetto (2:52)
16    A Little Night Music - Corinna Manetto (2:07)
17    I Know Your Heart - Timothy Gray (3:29)
18    A Manifestation - Timothy Gray (2:49)
19    If I Gave You - Timothy Gray (2:47)
20    New Yorks Good Morning Song - Ralph Blane, Timothy Gray (1:16)
21    Heigh-Ho for a Mother - Ralph Blane (2:17)
22    How Did I Feel? - Ralph Blane (2:12)
23    Two Is Company - Ralph Blane (3:20)
24    Salute to New York - Ellen Johnson (2:56)
25    I Hate This Old Town - Nicole Werner (1:25)
26    When I Join the Circus - Ralph Blane, Del Hanley (3:33)
27    Me An Ludie - Sylvia Lange (2:19)
28    I Have Something to Say to You - Ruth Robertson (3:59)
29    Don't Know What I Want Gloria Makino Accompanied By Keith Ingham (0:00)