In my estimation, anyway. This is mostly because of her triumph in the TV production of PETER PAN. But I also think her work on the recordings of South Pacific and The Sound of Music boost her up. But like many I grew up watching her Peter Pan on tv and on video, several times a year for a decade probably. I knew it inside and out. As did my siblings. And then I was in the show twice on stage as a kid. So even without knowing she was Maria or Nellie, many people had her as Peter. There's nothing like that for Merman.
I am a huge musical theater lover, and I only have 1 album that Merman is on - Gypsy. And to be honest, I listen to the Lansbury version much more (and we also have the Tyne, Bernadette and Patti albums to choose from). I've never had much special love for AGYG so I don't own it, never been very interested in Call Me Madam, and I vastly prefer the Lupone revival recording of Anything Goes (and many now would be choosing the Sutton revival to listen to).
I'd say for people who weren't old enough to see Merman live, and who don't specifically adore her sound and seek it out, she is mostly known just for that Mermany voice people imitate and joke about re: broadway singing (that common joke about "bway voices" is a big pet peeve of mine actually - though I do enjoy Merman's voice sometimes). |
