37 West 56th Street. An address that in-the-know sophisticated New Yorkers knew very well in the mid-1950s – the resplendent reconverted townhouse of one John Wanamaker that served as the home to a delectably delicious series of cabaret entertainments presented at the Upstairs at the Downstairs by Julius Monk.

For Four Below Strikes Back, Monk assembled a great four-person cast, including the amazing Nancy Dussault, Jenny Lou Law, George Furth (before he turned writer with Company, Twigs, The Act, and Merrily We Roll Along), and Cy Young. The then-topical material is wonderful, as it always was, and somehow then-topical material crazily remains topical through the years. Writers include Monk regulars Ronny Graham, Tom Jones, Bud McCreery, Bruce Williamson, and others. As always, it’s a mix of fun songs along with a few well-chosen ballads, all delivered in high style by the great cast. This kind of revue has gone the way of the dodo bird and it’s a real shame. Frankly, we could use a Julius Monk today – someone sophisticated, wry, witty, urbane, and yet completely off-kilter.

Monk’s shows were completely unique, and his shows were very special and beloved by all who were lucky enough to see them. Their popularity happily produced many cast recordings of his shows so their legacy lives on and we’re pleased to give Four Below Strikes Back its first CD release. -KRITZERLAND

1 Entire Cast - Overture and Opening 5:56
2 Nancy Dussault & Cy Young - Leave Your Mind Alone 2:12
3 Jenny Lou Law & George Furth - Mr. X 4:41
4 Nancy Dussault - It's a Wonderful Day to be Seventeen 1:12
5 Jenny Lou Law & George Furth - The Castro Tango 2:03
6 Nancy Dussault - Charlie Chan 3:03
7 Jenny Lou Law/ Cy Young & George Furth - The Sitwells 2:50
8 Jenny Lou Law - Merry-Go, Merry-Go-Round 2:22
9 Nancy Dussault & Company - Jefferson Davis Tyler's General Store 4:23
10 Entire Cast - Four Seasons 4:11
11 Cy Young - Speak No Love 2:59
12 Jenny Lou Law & Nancy Dussault - The Constant Nymphet 3:26
13 Jenny Lou Law - Man Tan 2:36
14 Nancy Dussault & Cy Young - Lola Montez 2:45
15 George Furth - Family Fallout Shelter 1:54
16 Cy Young & Jenny Lou Law - Literary Time 3:54
17 Nancy Dussault - Love, Here I Am 2:26
18 Entire Cast - Payola 4:04

Total length: 56:57