This CD is a medium favorite of mine. I'm not sure i like Julie Andrews playing the adulteress role. But it's really not that bad. It starts off with King Arthur (Richard Burton) worrying about his upcoming arranged marriage in "I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight". The next song captures Guenevere (Julie Andrews) doing the same thing in "Where Are the simple Joys of Maidenhood" my personal favorite. Guenevere wishes she could have had the normal romantic courtship as other girls. When they meet King Arthur acts as tourguide in "Camelot" while the beautiful wood nymph lures away Merlin the sorcerer into the forest "Follow Me". A beautiful song! Then comes Lancelot the handsome french knight who admits that he's altogether perfect in "C'est Mois". He instantly falls for Guenevere. Who flirts with him at the fair along with other suitors in "Then You May Take Me To the Fair". "The Lusty Month of May" is before the above song it has no real purpose. Lancelot becomes good friends with King Arthur and falls deeper in love with Guenevere, so does she. He explains his love to thin air in "If Ever I Would leave You". My other favorite! To stop himself from doing something rash Lancelot takes a trip to the middle east. Guenevere realizes her love and sings" Before I gaze at You Again". Things worsen when Arthur's illegitimate son shows up planning to take the throne. He confesses his disdain at Arthur's "Seven deadly Virtues". Arthur is depressed when Guenevere cheers him up with "What Do the Simple Folk Do?". The knights get restless with nothing to do "Fie On Goodness". And Lancelot returns. Arthur is lured away by a beautiful wood nymph. The mother of his son. Guenevere and Lancelot meet in the queen's bed chamber "I Love You in Silence". Arthur's son has planned all of this previously. Soldiers rush in and capture the queen. She is sentenced to be burned at the stake "Guenevere". Arthur here's of it and sets the time of her death to three A.M. And plans for lancelot to carry her off. They pull this off and Guenevere and Lancelot elope in France. Arthur knows he must make war against his best friend. As he prepares to attack Lancelot in the battle that will take both of their lives a small boy comes to Arthur's hiding place. The boy wishes to be knighted. Arthur knights him, but, will not let him fight. Instead he tells him to go home and tell the people of this battle and what he, the king has tried to accomplish "Camelot Reprise". This song is truly touching and for some heartbreaking.

I think that this must be one of the most underrated gems in the history of Broadway. The book might be rather corny and the characterisation rather wooden, but it features Julie Andrews at her peak, outstanding performances from Richard Burton and Robert Goulet and a lovely Lerner and Loewe score.

My highlights are 'The Simple Joys of Maidenhood' which I think has some of the funniest lyrics ever written- "Shall I not be on the pedestal, worshipped and competed for? Not be carried off or better still cause a little war?" sung to perfection by Dame Julie hitting all the hight notes perfectly and "I Loved You Once in Silence" which is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and heartrendering. While Julie Andrews is most definitely the true star, both her leading men have their moments to shine, including Goulet's highly egocentric 'C'est Moi' and the unforgettable 'If Ever I Would Leave You.' I also have to admit that Burton's rendition of the title song leaves me a little teary eyed every time!

Please don't bother with the horrible, tacky film. I think you can get so much more out of listening to the CD. It isn't a 'perfect' musical like 'My Fair Lady' but nevertheless it's undoubtedly one of Lerner and Loewe's best scores and a delight for anyone who loves musicals and Julie Andrews.

I absolutely loved this recording and would reccomend it to any potential buyer. Even though i have never seen it performed, or watched the movie, Lerner and Loewe's brilliant musical has become one of my favorites, entirely on the strength of this recording. The music is sweetly pretty, and the lirics are superb, but it is the stars that make this recording such a timeless classic. Being a confirmed Julie Andrews fan means that I invariably enjoy her singing, but in my opinion she is at her personal best in this recording. The shine and the sparkle that shines through in such songs as The Simple Joys of Maidenhood and Take Me To The Fair, is unquestionably wonderful, even to those who dislike Julie Andrews. The other stars are equally talented. Richard Burton's voice is perhaps not astonishing, but his enthusiasm and energy fully makes up for this. Robert Goulet fully deserved the fame he recieved for If Ever I Would Leave You. The company songs are equally good. Guineviere, for example, is an excellent song. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that there is not a single song on this recording that is not a classic. A must have. BUY IT!