Ben Franklin in Paris (1964 Original Broadway Cast)
It's tempting to compareBen Franklin in Pariswith another  musical from the late 1960s featuring the titular character,1776. Hard to say  why, exactly: they have little in common musically, and while1776won a Tony Award and remains popular despite--or perhaps because of--its quirks,Ben Franklin in Parisis remembered chiefly for being a flop. Not  that it's unassailably bad. Robert Preston, as Franklin, does a capable  job, though he does most of the show inMusic Manmode. There are  some good songs, particularly Jerry Herman's two contributions, "Too  Charming" and "To Be Alone with You." It's arguable that this musical's  failure was due not to its own weaknesses, but to the competition. Still, despite this reissue of the 1964 Broadway cast recording, it seems  unlikely to experience a rebirth.--Genevieve Williams