Katharine Hepburn COCO 1969 Chappell Broadway Demo LP Lerner Previn Vinyl Record

$

145

DIRECT FROM THE BERGMAN ESTATE LIBRARY
Acquired directly from the Alan and Marilyn Bergman Estate in Los Angeles. This historical archival disc was preserved inside the personal library of the Oscar-winning lyricists. VERIFICATION & PROVENANCE DOCUMENTATION
To ensure complete transparency and verify the historical origin of this artifact, this listing includes a high-resolution, redacted copy of the original estate acquisition receipt. We have also included an in situ photograph showing the disc exactly as it was discovered within the private library of the Bergman home. AUDIO PREVIEW: PLAYBACK VERIFICATION
Included in this listing gallery is a brief video sound check recorded directly from this actual reference pressing. This sample verifies the specific audio mix, track configuration, and the excellent condition of the vinyl. Please click the video file within the images to evaluate the audio clarity. THE RARITY: A PRE-RELEASE CHAPPELL PUBLISHING ADVANCE
While a commercial cast album was eventually recorded at Webster Hall and issued by Paramount Records in January 1970, this Chappell Music demonstration recording (Matrix DC 11169) represents a scarce, pre-release corporate library asset. These discs were tracked in a studio right around opening week as business-to-business tools for the publisher to handle copyright logging, pitch individual songs to recording stars for lucrative cover versions, and market international licensing rights. Because these corporate library assets were typically destroyed after a production run, surviving copies from a creator's private library are exceptionally rare. THE INSIDER LORE & PRODUCTION HISTORY
Coco holds a unique place in history as the singular musical theater performance of Hollywood icon Katharine Hepburn, featuring a brilliant score by Alan Jay Lerner and André Previn. At 62 years old, following the passing of Spencer Tracy, Hepburn was relentlessly pursued by Lerner for the role. When she resisted because she could not sing, Lerner convinced her that the real Coco Chanel was a forceful talking personality rather than a vocalist. Hepburn underwent an intense eight-month vocal training regimen across Manhattan, London, Hollywood, and Connecticut to expand her range. Hepburn herself delivers the sharp, rhythmic lead vocals captured on this disc for "The Money Rings Out" and the iconic title song "Coco."  The production was a massive $900,000 Broadway event backed by Paramount Pictures for future film rights. Behind the scenes, British director Michael Benthall proved out of his depth with a massive musical, leading a 26-year-old choreographer named Michael Bennett to quietly step in and uncreditably fix the broken staging, five years before he revolutionized Broadway with A Chorus Line. The production also marked a major cultural milestone when René Auberjonois won a Tony Award for playing an explicitly gay character—a first for a prominent role in a Broadway musical. Despite selling out its run purely on Hepburn's star power, the writing received mediocre reviews, leading Paramount to completely abandon the film adaptation and write off their investment. This reference LP captures five pivotal tracks: "The Money Rings Out," "Coco," "That's The Way You Are," "Let's Go Home," and "Someone On Your Side."  WHY THE BERGMANS OWNED THIS RECORD
In 1969, Alan Jay Lerner was the pinnacle of Broadway lyricism, and the Bergmans were establishing themselves as Hollywood's premier dramatic songwriters. In this tight-knit entertainment community, sharing advance studio masters was a common way to exchange creative ideas. The Bergmans likely kept this copy to track shifting trends in theatrical arrangements and to analyze how Lerner structured conversational lyrics tailored specifically for actors who talk-sang their numbers rather than traditional vocalists. CROSS-PROMOTION & UPCOMING LISTINGS
This is a continuing series of listings from the Bergman Estate archive. Please see our other Idlemynd2 items for more unique finds from this historic collection, including:

• The Norman Lear Production Archive (MAUDE Theme Reference Tape & Insider Book Lot)
• The Michel Legrand Legacy Archive (Handwritten Correspondence & Unreleased Audio Demos)
• The Grady Tate "Windmills of My Mind" Collection (White-Label Advance 45 & Promo Vinyl)
• The Yentl "Creator’s Copy" Master Acetates (The Holy Grail of Streisand collectibles)
• Dave Grusin Advance Studio Cassettes