The story of adolescent love, Booth Tarkington’s Seventeen first appeared as a series of magazine stories and, in 1916, as a successful book. In 1951 it was turned into a musical with lyrics by Kim Gannon and music by Walter Kent (perhaps best known for his contribution to the song “White Cliffs of Dover”). In spite of an interesting score Seventeen was not successful on Broadway, only achieving 180 performances. Of the cast Kenneth Nelson went on to greater recognition in such shows as The Fantasticks and the play The Boys in the Band. The cast recording of Seventeen has been unavailable for many years and makes it’s CD debut here.

We have coupled Seventeen with another Broadway show High Button Shoes starring Phil Silvers and Nanette Fabray. This was Jule Styne’s first Broadway show and the collaboration with lyricist Sammy Cahn proved to be successful. High Button Shoes ran for 727 performances and produced hit songs “I Still Get Jealous” and “Papa, Won’t You Dance With Me”.

Both the “pop” versions charted in America and are featured on this album as bonus tracks, the former performed by Gordon MacRae and the latter Doris Day.