It is frequently cited as one of the weirdest decisions in Tony Award history that "The Music Man" won best musical over "West Side Story". I suppose it is a valid show - after all, "West Side Story" is more ambitious than "The Music Man"; it certainly is the more important show. But I myself have never been too much of a "West Side Story" fan - "The Music Man", on the other hand, is so joyful! It might not be the most ambitious show ever, but just listen to "Rock Island" directly after the overture - it is rhythmic salesmen's babble and unlike anything up to that point in Broadway musical history (at least as far as I know). Also "Piano Lesson" is innovative. Other songs are closer to plain nice - "Till there was you" stands out that way. But it's the restless songs are the highlights - especially "Ya Got Trouble" and "Pick-a-Little, Take-a-Little". Barbara Cook's performance as Marian is among her best appearances on CD but Robert Preston owns the recording as Harold Hill - pulling off the slick salesman but managing the actual singing just as well. So let "West Side Story" be the legendary show - "The Music Man" is amazing in its own right.