Carole King - Really Rosie (1975)

“Really Rosie” is a musical with a book and lyrics by Maurice Sendak and music by Carole King. The musical is based on Sendak's books Chicken Soup with Rice, Pierre, One was Johnny, Alligators All Around (which compose 1962's The Nutshell Library), and The Sign on Rosie's Door (1960). Sendak based the story on a demonstrative little girl who used to sing and dance on the stoop of her building, whom he observed while he was a little boy growing up in Brooklyn.
The musical has become a mainstay of children's theater groups. It follows a typical summer day in the life of the Nutshell Kids, a group of several neighborhood friends, including Pierre, Alligator, Johnny, and Chef Jeff from the Nutshell Library books, and Rosie and Kathy from The Sign on Rosie's Door. Rosie, the self-proclaimed sassiest kid on her block of Brooklyn's Avenue P, entertains everyone by directing and starring in an Oscar-winning movie based on the exciting, dramatic, funny (and slightly exaggerated) story of her life.
During its off-Broadway run, the lead role of Rosie was first played by a-then 12-year-old Tisha Campbell-Martin. Midway through the run, Tisha left the cast and was replaced by cast member and "Rosie" understudy, 10-year old Angela Coin. Angela also sang the role of "Rosie" on the cast recording.
A half-hour animated television special aired on CBS TV in February 1975. It was directed by Maurice Sendak, with Carole King voicing the title character. An album based on the songs by King and lyrics by Sendak is available on Ode/Epic/SME Records. In the animated special, only the first seven songs and Really Rosie (Reprise) were showcased.

Track listing

01. "Really Rosie"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 1:51
02. "One Was Johnny"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 2:08
03. "Alligators All Around"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 1:54
04. "Pierre"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 5:38
05. "Screaming and Yelling"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 1:16
06. "The Ballad of Chicken Soup"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 2:15
07. "Chicken Soup with Rice"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 4:20
08. "Avenue P"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 3:03
09. "My Simple Humble Neighborhood"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 3:07
10. "The Awful Truth"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 3:11
11. "Such Sufferin'"  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 2:55
12. "Really Rosie" (Reprise)  (Maurice Sendak, Carole King)  - 1:40

Credits
Music By, Piano, Guitar, Synthesizer – Carole King
Backing Vocals – Louise Goffin, Sherry Goffin
Bass – Charles Larkey
Drums – Andy Newmark
Engineer – Hank Cicalo, Milt Calice
Remastered By – Bob Irwin
Mastered By – Vic Anesini
Producer – Lou Adler, Sheldon Riss

Notes
Genre: Soft Rock
Length: 33:24
Label: Ode / Epic Records

© 1975