Teenybopper Lament
The song "Frank Mills," a purposely
teenybopper lament that doesn't rhyme, is
done horrendously straight by London's
Sonja Kristina, while Shelley Plimpton's
rendition on the original highlights the
album (and the live show, according to Clive
Barnes of the New York Times). Valiant
attempts at American accents by the
Londoners range from good to forced, often
hampering some of the American satire. For
example, the hilarious "Abie Baby" (a
Negro's "Gettysburg Address") seems to
lose its bite in the London cast recording.
Changes from the original abound - and
some are necessary. "Don't Put it Down,"
which takes good-natured swipes at the
American flag ("Crazy for the blue, white
and red"), is missing, apparently in deference
to the English audiences, as are
"Manchester England," "Initials," and "I'm
Black." Missing with these songs is the spirit
with which they are done on the Broadway
album. And the absence of the chant
"Be-In" ("Hare Krishna") is totally perplexing.
