Charles Strouse
Charles Strouse (born June 7, 1928) is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing the music in the musical Annie.
Life and career
Strouse was born in New York City, to Jewish parents, Ethel (née Newman) and Ira Strouse, who worked in the tobacco business. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he studied under Arthur Berger, David Diamond, Aaron Copland and Nadia Boulanger.
Strouse's first Broadway musical was the 1960 hit Bye Bye Birdie, with lyrics by Lee Adams, who would become his long-time collaborator. For this show, Strouse won his first Tony Award in the category of best musical, and Bye Bye Birdie is considered the precursor of the rock musical. Strouse's next show, All American, with a book by Mel Brooks and lyrics by Adams, came in 1962; it was not a success but it produced the standard “Once Upon a Time” (recorded by Eddie Fisher, Al Martino, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Bobby Darin, among others). Following this were Golden Boy (1964, also with Adams), starring Sammy Davis, Jr. and It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966, based on the popular comic strip) which was modestly successful; it introduced the song "You've Got Possibilities" sung by Linda Lavin.
Podcasts:
Charles Strouse
ALBUMS
- Gaily, Gaily / The Night They Raided Minsky's released: 2009
- The 16th Annual S.T.A.G.E. Benefit Concert released: 2006
- Annie (2001 Madrid cast) released: 2002
- Bye Bye Birdie (1960 original Broadway cast) released: 2000
- Applause (1970 original Broadway cast) released: 2000
- Annie: Top Songs and Hits You Can Sing Too! released: 2000
- Annie (1999 television film) released: 1999
- All American (1962 original Broadway cast) released: 1992
- Rags (1986 original Broadway cast) released: 1991
- Rags: The New American Musical (1991 original Broadway cast) released: 1991
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963 film cast) released: 1990
- Annie released: 1977
- It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (2007-06-17 York Theatre Company cast) released:
- Bonnie and Clyde released:
- Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film cast) released:
- Golden Boy (1964 original Broadway cast) released:
- Flowers for Algernon (original Broadway cast) released:
- Annie (1979 Australian cast) released:
- Dance a Little Closer (original Broadway cast) released:
- Bye Bye Birdie (1961 London cast) released:
- Annie (1982 film cast) released:
Gaily, Gaily / The Night They Raided Minsky's
Released 2009- Tomorrow Is My Friend
- Good Morning, Mr. Ranserhoff
- Sentimental Dream
- Christmas Eve on Skid Row
- There’s Enough to Go Around
- Tomorrow Is My Friend
- There’s Enough to Go Around (chorus version)
- Sentimental Dream
- Gaily, Gaily
- The Tango I Saved for You
- Tomorrow Is My Friend (chorus version)
- Overture and Introduction
- Take 10 Terrific Girls (But Only 9 Costumes)
- The Night They Raided Minsky’s
- Love Theme from The Night They Raided Minsky’s (Wait for Me)
- You Rat You
- How I Loved Her
- Medley: Perfect Gentleman / Take 10 Terrific Girls (But Only 9 Costumes)
- The Night They Raided Minsky’s
- Take 10 Terrific Girls (But Only 9 Costumes)
- Perfect Gentleman
- Penny Arcade
- The Night They Raided Minsky’s
Annie (2001 Madrid cast)
Released 2002- Obertura
- Tal vez
- Esto no es vivir
- Manana
- Vivimos en chabolas
- Huerfanas
- Me gustara vivir aqui
- Nueva york
- Crème de la crème
- No seras huerfana nunca jamas
- Entreacto
- No vestiras del todo bien sin sonreir
- Manana de la casa blanca
- Algo faltaba
- Te necesito solo a ti annie
- Feliz navidad
- Saludos
- Esto no es Vivir / Rap
Bye Bye Birdie (1960 original Broadway cast)
Released 2000- Overture
- An English Teacher
- The Telephone Hour
- How Lovely to Be a Woman
- Put On a Happy Face
- A Healthy, Normal, American Boy
- One Boy
- Honestly Sincere
- Hymn for a Sunday Evening
- One Last Kiss
- What Did I Ever See in Him?
- A Lot of Livin' to Do
- Kids
- Baby, Talk to Me
- Kids (reprise)
- Spanish Rose
- Rosie
- Put On a Happy Face (Charles Strouse at the Smithsonian in 1978)
Applause (1970 original Broadway cast)
Released 2000- Overture
- Backstage Babble
- Think How It's Gonna Be
- But Alive
- The Best Night of My Life
- Who's That Girl?
- Applause
- Hurry Back
- Fasten Your Seat Belts
- Welcome to the Theatre
- Good Friends
- She's No Longer a Gypsy
- One of a King
- One Hallowe'en
- Something Greater
- Finale
- Applause
- The Loneliest Man in Town
- Smashing N.Y. Times
- God Bless
Annie: Top Songs and Hits You Can Sing Too!
Released 2000- Overture
- Maybe
- It's the Hard Knock Life
- Tomorrow
- Hooverville
- Little Girls
- I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
- NYC
- Easy Street
- Fully Dressed (Children)
- Something Was Missing
- I Don't Need Anything but You
- Maybe 2
- It's the Hard Knock Life 2
- Tomorrow 2
- Hooverville 2
- Little Girls 2
- I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here 2
- NYC 2
- Easy Street 2
- Fully Dressed (Children) 2
- Something Was Missing 2
- I Don't Need Anything but You 2
Annie (1999 television film)
Released 1999- Overture
- Maybe
- The Hard-Knock Life
- The Hard-Knock Life (reprise)
- Tomorrow
- Little Girls
- I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
- NYC
- NYC (reprise) / Lullaby
- Easy Street
- You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (radio version)
- You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (cast version)
- Something Was Missing
- I Don't Need Anything but You
- Maybe / Tomorrow (reprise)
- Little Girls (reprise)
- Finale / I Don't Need Anything but You
Rags (1986 original Broadway cast)
Released 1991- Overture
- Greenhorns
- Brand New World
- Children of the Wind
- Penny a Tune
- Easy for You
- Hard to Be a Prince
- Blame It on the Summer Night
- For My Mary
- Rags
- What's Wrong With That?
- Nothing Will Hurt Us Again
- Entr'acte
- Cherry Street Cafe
- Yankee Boy
- Uptown
- Wanting
- Three Sunny Rooms
- The Sound of Love
- Kaddish
- Bread and Freedom / Dancing With the Fools
- Finale
Rags: The New American Musical (1991 original Broadway cast)
Released 1991- Overture
- Greenhorns
- Brand New World
- Children of the Wind
- Penny a Tune
- Easy for You
- Hard to Be a Prince
- Blame It on the Summer Night
- For My Mary
- Rags
- What's Wrong With That?
- Nothing Will Hurt Us Again
- Entr'acte
- Cherry Street Cafe
- Yankee Boy
- Uptown
- Wanting
- Three Sunny Rooms
- The Sound of Love
- Kaddish
- Bread and Freedom / Dancing With the Fools
- Finale
Annie
Released 1977- Overture
- Maybe
- It's the Hard-Knock Life
- Tomorrow
- We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover
- Little Girls
- I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
- N.Y.C.
- Easy Street
- You Won't Be an Orphan for Long
- You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile
- Tomorrow (reprise)
- Something Was Missing
- I Don't Need Anything but You
- Annie
- A New Deal for Christmas
It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (2007-06-17 York Theatre Company cast)
- [announcements]
- Overture
- [opening]
- We Need Him
- Doing Good
- [dialogue]
- Superman
- [dialogue]
- We Don't Matter At All
- [dialogue]
- Revenge
- [dialogue]
- Woman for the Man
- [dialogue]
- You've Got Possibilities
- [dialogue]
- What I've Always Wanted
- [dialogue]
- Newsreel
- [dialogue]
- Revenge (reprise)
- [dialogue]
- Thanks To You
- [act one finale]
Bonnie and Clyde
- Deep Night
- Foggy Mountain Breakdown (instrumental)
- Sometimes I'm Happy
- Bouquet in Heaven
- Cora Is Gone
- I Ain't Much of a Lover Boy
- Doin' My Time
- The Gold Diggers Song (We're in the Money)
- I'll Be Going to Heaven Some Time
- Can't We Be Friends
- I Ain't No Rich Man
- Pike County Breakdown (instrumental)
- [unknown]
- Captain Hamer Spits at Bonnie
- Family Reunion
- Bonnie and Clyde
- Buck Falls
- Bonnies' Poem
- My Cabin in Caroline
- My Little Girl in Tennessee
- No Mother or Dad
- Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
- Take Me in the Lifeboat
- Why Don't You Tell Me So
- Bonnie Wounded
- The Okies
- Finale
- The End Title
- The Story of Bonnie and Clyde
- The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
- The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film cast)
- Main Title (Bye Bye Birdie)
- An English Teacher
- The Telephone Hour
- How Lovely to Be a Woman
- Put On A Happy Face
- A Healthy, Normal, American Boy
- One Boy
- Let's Settle Down
- Honestly Sincere
- Hymn for a Sunday Evening (Ed Sullivan)
- One Last Kiss
- What Did I Ever See In Him?
- A Lot Of Livin' To Do
- Kids
- Spanish Rose
- Talk To Me
- A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore
- A Giant Step
- Rosie
- End Credits
Annie (1979 Australian cast)
- Overture
- Maybe
- It's a Hard Knock Life
- Tomorrow
- We'd Like to Thank You
- Little Girls
- I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
- N.Y.C.
- Easy Street
- You Won't Be an Orphan for Long
- You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile
- Tomorrow (reprise)
- Something Was Missing
- Medley: I Don't Need Anything but You / Annie
- A New Deal for Christmas
Dance a Little Closer (original Broadway cast)
- Overture
- It Never Would've Worked
- Happy, Happy New Year
- No Man Is Worth It
- What Are You Going to Do About It?
- A Woman Who Thinks I'm Wonderful
- Pas De Deux / There's Never Been Anything Like Us
- Another Life
- Why Can't the World Go and Leave Us Alone?
- He Always Comes Home to Me
- I Got a New Girl
- Dance a Little Closer
- There's Always One You Can't Forget
- Entr'acte / Homesick
- Mad
- I Don't Know / Anyone Who Loves
- Auf Wiederseh'n
- I Never Want to See You Again
- On Top of the World
- Dance a Little Closer (Finale)
Annie (1982 film cast)
- Tomorrow
- It's the Hard-Knock Life
- Maybe
- Dumb Dog
- Sandy
- I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
- Little Girls
- We Got Annie
- Let's Go to the Movies
- Sign
- You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile
- Easy Street
- Tomorrow (White House Version)
- Maybe (Reprise)
- Finale: I Don't Need Anything but You / We Got Annie / Tomorrow
-
by Ragtime Soundtrack
Our Children
by: Ragtime Soundtrack[Mother]
How they play,
Finding treasure in the sand.
They're forever hand in hand,
Our children.
[Tateh]
How they laugh.
She has never laughed like this.
[Mother]
Every waking moment, bliss.
[Both]
Our children.
[Tateh]
See them running down the beach.
Children run so fast...
[Mother]
Toward the future...
[Tateh]
From the past.
[Mother]
How they dance,
Unembarrassed and alone.
[Both]
Hearing music of their own, Our children.
[Tateh]
One so fair,
[Mother]
And the other, lithe and dark.
[Both]
Solemn joy and sudden spark,
Our children.
See them running down the beach.
Children run so fast
Toward the future
From the past.
There they stand,
Making footprints in teh sand,
And forever, hand in hand,
Our childrn.
Two small lives,
Silhouetted by the blue,
One like me
And one like you.
Our children.
Our children.
{speaking}
[Mother]
Well.
[Tateh]
you say that often. 'Well'.
[Mother]
It's because I don't know what to say, Baron.
[Tateh]
I'm not a Baron, of course. I'm a poor immigrant, a Jew, who points a camera so that his child can dress as beautifully as a princess. I want to drive from her memory every tenement stench and filthy immigrant street. I will buy her light and sun and clean wind of the ocean for the rest of her life. Now you know me. Now you understand. I am not Baron. I am Tateh.
[Mother]
Now I know even less what to say.
[Tateh]
Now it's my turn: Well.
[Mother]
Thank you for your confidence. I shall keep it here.
(mother puts her hand to her heart.)