Recorded in the summer of 1959 at the No.1 studio at Abbey Road in London, this studio recording of the Show Boat score featured Shirley Bassey performing two songs in the role of Julie LaVerne. Dora Bryan, Isabelle Lucas, Don McKay, Inia Te Wiata, Marlys Watters and Geoffrey Webb rounded out the cast. The album was originally issued in two formats: a long-playing album in both mono and stereo and a two-EP set featuring highlights from the recording.