"Bells are Ringing" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Bells Are Ringing (2001 Broadway Cast Recording)" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Is there an official album for the 2001 revival?

Yes. The 2001 Broadway Cast Recording was released on CD in June 2001 and later to digital platforms. (as noted by AllMusic)

Who stars on the 2001 cast album?

Faith Prince (Ella) and Marc Kudisch (Jeff) lead the revival company, with David Garrison (Sandor) and Beth Fowler (Sue). (per IBDB)

Who handled the revival’s musical forces?

Jule Styne’s score is newly orchestrated by Don Sebesky, with David Evans as musical director and vocal arranger. (according to IBDB)

Are “Just in Time” and “The Party’s Over” on this album?

Yes—both standards appear in the revival recording in their stage contexts. (as noted by AllMusic)

Is this the same as the 1960 film soundtrack?

No. The film album (1960) is its own release; the 2001 disc documents the Broadway revival performances. (per AllMusic)

When was the revival cast album recorded?

After opening, with the session moved to April 23, 2001 to capture the tightened show. (according to Playbill)

Additional Info

• The revival opened at the Plymouth Theatre on April 12, 2001, directed by Tina Landau and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun. (per IBDB)
• Playbill reported the cast-album session shift to April 23, 2001; a June rollout followed. (according to Playbill)
• AllMusic and CastAlbums document the CD street date as late June 2001, with a ~64-minute running time. (as noted by AllMusic)
• Apple Music credits a 2001 compilation with later digital distribution under Concord Theatricals. (per Apple Music)
• Signature numbers like “It’s a Perfect Relationship” and “I’m Going Back” are preserved with Faith Prince’s leads.
• For historical context: the 1960 film’s soundtrack is a separate Capitol release tied to the Vincente Minnelli movie. (as noted by AllMusic)

Overview

What does a telephone answering service sound like on stage? In Bells Are Ringing, it’s wit in waltz time and brass with a wink. The 2001 Broadway Cast Recording revives Jule Styne’s melodies and Comden & Green’s urbane lyrics, letting Faith Prince’s Ella beam across a crisp studio mix while the charts keep mid-century swing intact.

This album isn’t nostalgia sealed in amber. Don Sebesky’s orchestrations and David Evans’ musical direction sharpen rhythms and ensemble blend, framing the familiar standards—“Just in Time,” “The Party’s Over,” “Long Before I Knew You”—as character beats first, souvenirs second. The result: a clean, affectionate document of a short run that gave the score fresh air without sanding off its Broadway bite. (as noted by Variety’s revival coverage)

Genres & Themes

• Golden-Age Broadway swing → optimism and bustle; New York as a metronome.
• Character comedy songs → patter, phone-call banter, identity play; Ella’s “voices” become musical motifs.
• Romantic ballad craft → the show’s standards anchor vulnerability without slowing the story’s comic engine.
• Dance interludes & reprises → transitions that keep scenes moving like messages passing through a switchboard.

Key Tracks & Scenes

“It’s a Perfect Relationship” — Ella (Faith Prince)
Where it fits: Early Act 1 character statement; Ella imagines romance with a client she only knows by voice (diegetic-adjacent fantasy).
Why it matters: Sets the comic engine and Ella’s big-hearted meddling in motion. (per IBDB’s number list)

“Just in Time” — Ella & Jeff
Where it fits: Act 1 turning point duet; connection snaps into focus.
Why it matters: A standard for a reason—the tune bridges banter and sincerity without losing pace. (as noted by AllMusic)

“The Party’s Over” — Ella
Where it fits: Late Act 1/Act 2 fallout, when consequences catch up.
Why it matters: The show’s emotional fulcrum; Prince shapes the long line without melodrama.

“I’m Going Back” — Ella
Where it fits: Act 2 declaration number.
Why it matters: A comic tour-de-force that doubles as self-rescue—staged in 2001 with punch and precision (the Tony telecast excerpt made this clear).

“Drop That Name” — Ensemble & Ella
Where it fits: Satirical social whirl.
Why it matters: The revival keeps the joke machine humming while the band winks; a neat snapshot of Styne’s rhythmic finesse.

Note: song placements follow the stage sequencing (exact timings vary by edition). Sources favor number order over timestamps.

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats)

• When Ella shape-shifts through client calls, brisk patter and bright reeds mimic the jump-cut identities she tries on.
• Jeff’s creative block loosens as the harmony writing opens up; “Just in Time” reads like writer’s block resolving into melody.
• “The Party’s Over” marks the border between cheerful meddling and adult consequences—the lyric is the plot turning itself inside out.
• In “I’m Going Back,” tempo and patter density mirror Ella’s decision to own her mess instead of disguising it.

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

The revival’s pit band plays new orchestrations by Don Sebesky, with David Evans as musical director, vocal arranger, and provider of incidental music alongside Mark Hummel. Direction by Tina Landau and choreography by Jeff Calhoun kept the staging light-footed while honoring the show’s mid-century frame. Playbill’s reporting notes the cast-album session shift into late April 2001 to capture the post-opening refinements. (according to Playbill; per IBDB)

Reception & Quotes

The 2001 production drew affectionate-but-mixed notices; the album, however, became the lasting keepsake—especially for Faith Prince’s leads and the clean ensemble sound. AllMusic and retail listings place the CD release in late June 2001, with later digital availability via Concord’s pipeline. (as noted by AllMusic and Apple Music)

“Lively, competent staging of a sweet but creaky show.” — Variety on the revival

“A showcase for one of Broadway’s great character comediennes.” — critical roundups on Faith Prince’s Ella

Technical Info

• Title: Bells Are Ringing (2001 Broadway Cast Recording)
• Year: 2001
• Type: Musical
• Music & Lyrics: Jule Styne (music); Betty Comden & Adolph Green (lyrics/book)
• Principal Performers: Faith Prince (Ella), Marc Kudisch (Jeff), David Garrison (Sandor), Beth Fowler (Sue)
• Orchestrations: Don Sebesky
• Musical Direction/Vocal Arrangements: David Evans; incidental music by Evans & Mark Hummel
• Label / Release: CD issued June 26, 2001 (CastAlbums/AllMusic); digital distribution appears under Concord Theatricals in later years (Apple Music)
• Recording Session: Moved to April 23, 2001 to follow opening. (Playbill)
• Related Releases: 1956 Original Broadway Cast (Masterworks Broadway reissue, 2001); 1960 film soundtrack (Capitol)

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: AllMusic; Playbill; IBDB (Internet Broadway Database); CastAlbums.org; Apple Music; Variety; Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers (YouTube).

October, 23rd 2025