Camelot (Broadway cast recording)

Camelot is the original cast recording of the musical with the same name, released in 1960 by Columbia Records. The musical, with a book by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, is based on the Arthurian legend as depicted in T.H. White's novel The Once and Future King. The original Broadway production starred Richard Burton as King Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guenevere, and Robert Goulet as Lancelot. The album features iconic songs such as "Camelot," "How to Handle a Woman," and "If Ever I Would Leave You," which have become staples in the musical theater repertoire.

The recording was produced by Goddard Lieberman, who was also responsible for other successful Lerner and Loewe productions like My Fair Lady and Gigi. The album was released in both stereo and monaural formats, and it quickly became a commercial success, with Columbia Records implementing innovative marketing strategies, such as issuing "Camelot tokens" that could be redeemed for the album. This pre-release promotion helped generate significant interest and sales even before the album hit the market. Columbia with CBS was backed entirely by record company money, the put $400,000 for the "Camelot" album.

The album's release coincided with the Broadway production's run, which began in December 1960 at the Majestic Theatre in New York. Despite mixed initial reviews for the stage production, the cast recording was well-received and contributed to the musical's enduring popularity. The album's success was further bolstered by its association with President John F. Kennedy, who was fond of the musical and its themes, often referencing the "Camelot" concept as a metaphor for his administration. In an interview with historian Theodore White, published in LIFE magazine, on November 29, 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy likened the Kennedy era to the myth of Camelot, referencing a song from the album that JFK loved. She quoted the lyrics, "Don’t let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot", and expressed that while there would be other great presidents, there would never be another Camelot.

The album received a nomination for Best Musical Show in the 3rd Annual Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006.