Songs from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Songs from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
EP by Nick Jonas
Released	May 8, 2012 (2012-05-08)
Recorded	February 19, 2012 (2012-02-19)
Venue	Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Manhattan Center, New York City, New York
Genre	Jazz stage
Length	20:16
Label	Broadway
Producer	Robert Sher Ken Mahoney (exec.) Van Dean (exec.) Kenny Howard (exec.)
Nick Jonas chronology
Nicholas Jonas (2005) Songs from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012) Nick Jonas (2014)

Songs from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is the first extended play (EP) by Nick Jonas, released on May 8, 2012, through Broadway Records. It was produced by Robert Sher and features guest appearance by Rob Bartlett, Rose Hemingway and Ellen Harvey. All tracks were written by American songwriter Frank Loesser, who wrote several Broadway musicals.

The EP was recorded on February 19, 2012, and consists of five songs that Jonas performs on stage during the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Upon release, the record peaked at number three on the US Cast Albums chart on Billboard, where it charted for two weeks.

To promote the record, as well as the musical itself, Jonas appeared on some talk shows and public events, giving interviews and performing songs featured on the musical.

On September 7, 2011, Nick Jonas was announced to be replacing Daniel Radcliffe^[2] as the main protagonist, J. Pierrepont Finch, on the Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.^[3][4] The singer was set to star in the production starting January 24 until July 1, 2012,^[5][6] right after Darren Criss' three-week debut as the character.^[7][8] The musical was performed at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, in New York City,^[9] with a total runtime of two hours and forty minutes, including one intermission.^[10] The show ran from March 27, 2011 to May 20, 2012, for a total of 30 previews^[11] and 473 regular performances.^[12][13]

Before he took the role, Jonas and Radcliffe met and discussed the role, with Jonas going backstage to congratulate Radcliffe after his final performance. Radcliffe returned the favor by attending one of Jonas’ first performances in the musical.^[14]

On February 19, 2012, Jonas recorded five songs featured on the musical for a cast soundtrack.^[15][16] The EP was produced by six-time Grammy nominee Robert Sher, who also produced the revival’s cast album, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: Soundtrack from the Musical Comedy (2011), with Radcliffe as the lead vocalist.^[17] Executive production on the record was handled by Van Dean, Kenny Howard, and Ken Mahoney.^[18][19]

On April 17, 2012, the 5-song track list was announced, along with the EP's release date, set for May 8, 2012, through Broadway Records.^[20] It was also revealed that Rose Hemingway, Rob Bartlett and Ellen Harvey, who also starred alongside Jonas on the musical, would be featured in some of the tracks.^[21] Prior to the EP's release, the song "I Believe in You" was released online, on April 30, 2012.^[22]

On January 26, 2012, Jonas appeared on the morning talk show Live! with Kelly to talk about his role as J. Pierrepont Finch in the revival of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.^[23] There he performed the song "I Believe In You".^[24] On February 14, the singer performed the song again for the Soundcheck live chat show.^[25][26]

Jonas performed on the first night of the annual Broadway Week on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, on February 20, 2012.^[27] He closed the show by singing a jazz rendition of “I Believe in You,” a signature song from the classic Frank Loesser musical.^[28] On March 31, 2012, the singer performed songs from the musical alongside cast members during The Inner Circles Talent Show.^[29][30] The performance was part of a charity gala promoted by the then-Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg.^[31][32]

For his performance as the protagonist of the musical, J. Pierrepont Finch, Jonas was honored during the 2012 Broadway Beacon Awards, which was held by Inside Broadway on June 4, 2012.^[33][34]

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying debuted at number three on the Billboard US Cast Albums chart.^[35] On its second week, the EP dropped to number nine, before departing the chart.^[36]

The EP received positive reviews from critics. Andy Propst of Theater Mania was impressed by Jonas voice on the recording, writing that the singer was able to bring elements to the character that perfectly complemented the song's production as well as the guest vocalists, the narrator—Anderson Cooper, and Rob Bartlett. Propst also positively noted that the EP physical release comes with a "first-class package with a full color booklet, chock-full of photographs that’s worthy of a full-length cast recording".^[37]

Writing for Review Graveyard, Ian Gude gave the EP a 10 grade, stating that he enjoyed the listening experience of the record, which made him want to hear more from Jonas. He complimented the production and vocal performances, and felt that it "would be great to hear [Nick Jonas] do a Broadway album, or songs from the Great American Songbook", as the singer "has the voice, and the intelligence, to give them the treatments they deserve". On the EP's design and package production, the critic was very pleased and stated that it was "top notch", comparing it to a quality level that even full recordings sometimes lack.^[38]

Credits are adapted from the EP's liner notes.^[39]

• Nick Jonas – lead vocals
• Rob Bartlett – guest vocals
• Rose Hemingway – guest vocals
• Ellen Harvey – guest vocals
• Anderson Cooper – narrator

• Songs from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at Discogs