The World Record Club Mikado (1962)

Cast The Mikado William Dickie Nanki-Poo Edward Darling Ko-Ko David Croft Pooh-Bah John Gower Pish-Tush Ian Humphries Yum-Yum Elizabeth Harwood Pitti-Sing Barbara Elsy Peep-Bo Pauline Stevens Katisha Noreen Willett The Linden Singers Westminster Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Alexander Faris

World Record Club T-119

Tring SYM072

Seth Schneider pointed out that the n----- word in the list song is replaced with "banjo," yet the word is retained in "A more humane Mikado." As Seth observed, "I can't recall any other recording to have this inconsistency."

The selections include:

World Record Club TT119

Introduction & Opening Chorus
"A wandering minstrel"
"Our great Mikado"
"Behold the Lord High Executioner"
"I've got a little list"
"Three little maids from school"
"I am so proud"
Finale Act I
"The sun whose rays"
"Brightly dawns our wedding day"
"Here's a how-de-do"
"Mi-ya sa-ma"/"From every kind of man"
"A more humane Mikado"
"The criminal cried"
"The flowers that bloom in the spring"
"On a tree by a river"
"There is beauty in the bellow of the blast"
Finale Act II

Ben Elton provided the following review:

Vox STPL 516.130

Although this recording is far from complete, being only selected highlights, that which is featured is excellent. The music is performed with real gusto, while still retaining subtlety, where it is required. In addition, it is played at a cracking pace, much faster than the Sargent recording and similar to that of the 1939 film. It is odd that this wonderful rendition was conducted by the same man who produced the music on the fairly mediocre Brent Walker videos.

David Craft is superb as Ko Ko. His diction cannot be faulted, and he puts expression into the lyrics while not going too far, as Richard Suart, for example, is sometimes prone to do. He sounds to me like a born patter baritone, and I was surprised to learn that this recording, together with similar productions of Gondoliers and Pirates, was his only connection with Gilbert and Sullivan. I would love to hear him sing the 'Nightmare Song' from Iolanthe.

All the other performers are very good, and the Mikado has a terrific chuckle in "A More Humane Mikado," although, be warned, the word "nigger" is retained in that song, although not in "List." One criticism in that the Act One finale has the middle section ripped out of it, perhaps so that when it is repeated in the act two finale, the "He's gone and married Yum Yum" song sounds fresh.

All in all, first rate, despite its very incomplete nature.