Cabaret (soundtrack)

Cabaret is the soundtrack album to the 1972 film of the same name. Released by ABC Records in 1972, the album features music by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb, performed by Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey, and the film’s cast, with arrangements and musical supervision by Ralph Burns. The film, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, adapts the 1966 stage musical based on Christopher Isherwood’s writings and is set in Berlin during the final years of the Weimar Republic.

The soundtrack includes songs presented primarily as performances at the Kit Kat Klub, alongside numbers such as “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” that are staged outside the nightclub. Upon release, the album received significant attention as part of the film’s critical and commercial success, achieving notable chart performance in the United States and internationally.

The 1972 film Cabaret, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, is an adaptation of the 1966 stage musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb (itself derived from Christopher Isherwood's writings). Set in Berlin during the last years of the Weimar Republic, the film contrasts the bohemian world of the Kit Kat Klub with the rise of Nazism; Fosse relocated most musical numbers into the diegetic space of the nightclub, using them as ironic or distancing commentary on the narrative action.^[1] Cabaret opened in February 1972 to strong critical attention and box-office performance, and it was a major presence during the awards season, receiving ten Academy Award nominations and winning eight, including Best Director, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor.^[2]

The soundtrack production brought together the work of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, with Minnelli reflecting that the combined talent of the team, including Fosse and Grey, contributed significantly to the project. The recording took place in Munich, Germany, in 1971, concurrently with the filming. The process was overseen by director Bob Fosse.^[3]

For Minnelli, a highlight in the soundtrack was the inclusion of "Maybe This Time", a song she had previously recorded on her first album, which Fosse decided to incorporate into the film. She said: "Another thing that worked well for me musically on Cabaret was that I had recorded a song on my first album [1964's [Liza! Liza!], when I was a kid, called "Maybe This Time". Fosse finally put it in the movie, and I got to sing that. So it worked out nicely, except for the giggling. I also remember that it was very efficient, the recording. And we did everything properly because Fosse was like that — he wanted everything done right and precisely. He was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Still, I was stunned that it became such a huge hit. Because you can never really know".^[3]

Billboard highlighted the soundtrack as a standout adaptation of the forthcoming film musical, emphasizing the shared spotlight of Minnelli and Grey.^[5] Cash Box also praised Cabaret for successfully adapting the stage play into a film with music rather than a conventional musical comedy, noting that the adjustments to the plot and songs enhanced the story’s realism. The review highlighted Liza Minnelli as potentially the first major superstar in years not coming from the rock scene, while Joel Grey was commended for reprising his masterful role as the Kit Kat Club emcee.^[6]

Record World praised the soundtrack, noting that with the newly released film receiving widespread acclaim, the success of the album was all but guaranteed.^[7] The Sarasota Herald-Tribune pointed out that live Broadway performances are generally more exciting than filmed versions, but this film adaptation is an exception due to its superior score. The review highlighted standout numbers such as "Wilkommen", "Two Ladies", and "Maybe This Time", and commended Joel Grey's and Liza Minnelli's performances.^[8]

Luís Carlos Braga, writing for the Brazilian newspaper A Tribuna, emphasized the high expectations surrounding Cabaret, noting the responsibility placed on Liza Minnelli to live up to the legacy of her mother, Judy Garland. He described the soundtrack as a remarkable production that allowed audiences to relive some of the film’s most joyful and thrilling moments.^[9] Luiz Eduardo Vian, writing for Jornal dos Sports, described the soundtrack as cheerful and pleasant, highlighting how it showcased the phenomenon of Liza Minnelli. He praised the careful production of the album, pointing out standout songs such as “Two Ladies,” “Money, Money,” and “Cabaret,” and concluded that Odeon had released a record that matched the film’s brilliance.^[10]

In a contemporary review AllMusic critic William Ruhlmann praised the performances on the soundtrack, highlighting Liza Minnelli's definitive renditions, especially the title song, and Joel Grey's work on "Wilkommen" and "If You Could See Her", but noted that the album as a whole felt somewhat skimpy and did not present the complete score.^[4]

The Cabaret original soundtrack album entered the Billboard 200 on March 18, 1972, at the #129 position,^[11] reaching its peak position at number 25 on June 9, 1973,^[12] and remaining on the chart for a total of 72 weeks.^[13] The album stayed on the Cash Box chart for 38 consecutive weeks, peaking at number 40, and later returned for an additional 27 weeks, reaching up to number 31.^[14]

According to a Billboard magazine report from August 24, 1974, the Cabaret soundtrack, appeared at a transitional moment in the music industry, when public interest was shifting from traditional show tunes toward rock and pop. The article noted that had the album been released a few years earlier, Cabaret might have reached sales of around one million copies. However, the soundtrack sold between 250,000 and 300,000 units by that date.^[15] The magazine reported on October 6, 1973, that the album had been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA ) for 500,000 copies shipped.^[16]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Cabaret LP (ABC Records, catalog no. ABCD 752).

• Directed and orchestrated by Ralph Burns
• Lyrics by Fred Ebb
• Music by John Kander