The King and I (1960 Studio Cast Recording)

I agree with the first reviewer - the young Barbara Cook makes a divine Anna. Her "Hello Young Lovers" is the best I've ever heard - it gets at the melancholy behind the song. And "I Whistle A Happy Tune" is also marvelous. Get this to hear what may be the best recorded Anna ever. Cook did a concert version of this in London, never put on CD, but a friend of mine taped it from the radio - it's even better - the mature Barbara may not have the fullness of singing voice she had in her younger days, but her voice is mighty fine still, and the understanding of the lyrics is now incredibly profound.

The rich, beautiful tones of Barbara Cook's voice make this rendition shine, especially her gorgeous take on "Hello, Young Lovers". But purists beware, these are not the original arrangements of the score...though they are still quite nice.