Way [CD-single]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Single for their huge U.S. alternative radio hit. Features'The Way' (Radio Edit), 'Are You Ready For The Fallout?' andthe previously unreleased 'Freeloader Freddy'. Slipcasesleeve. 1997 Hollywood Records/ Polydor release.

Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Mystical
  • Wickedly disappointing
  • Defying Gravity and all expecations...
  • The Wicked Witch of the West is misunderstood.
  • A Wicked musical
 Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Stephen Schwartz , Kristin Chenoweth , and Idina Menzel
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
  2. Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. WICKED: THE GRIMMERIE, A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL
  4. Avenue Q (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Wicked - Piano/Vocal Arrangement

ASIN: B0000TB01Y
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Tracks:

  1. No One Mourns the Wicked - Cristy Candler
  2. Dear Old Shiz
  3. The Wizard and I - Idina Menzel
  4. What Is This Feeling? - Kristin Chenoweth
  5. Something Bad - William Youmans
  6. Dancing Through Life - Michelle Federer
  7. Popular - Kristin Chenoweth
  8. I'm Not That Girl - Idina Menzel
  9. One Short Day - Kristin Chenoweth
  10. A Sentimental Man - Joel Grey
  11. Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel
  12. Thank Goodness - Kristin Chenoweth
  13. Wonderful - Idina Menzel
  14. I'm Not That Girl (Reprise) - Kristin Chenoweth
  15. As Long as You're Mine - Norbert Leo Butz
  16. No Good Deed - Idina Menzel
  17. March of the Witch Hunters
  18. For Good - Kristin Chenoweth
  19. Finale - Kristin Chenoweth

Amazon.com

One of the most common complaints about musicals is that the books are flimsy pretexts from which to hang numbers. Wicked runs into the opposite problem: it has a great plot, but too often the songs just get in the way. Based on Gregory Maguire's novel of the same name, Wicked tells us what happened between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, before Dorothy showed up in Oz. And the show is lucky to boast a pair of ace leading women in the main roles. As Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth delivers a sensational star turn, displaying a crystal-pure voice and sharp comic timing; Idina Menzel lends her powerful pipes to the tricky role of Elphaba. Unfortunately, you wish they had better material to work with. Stephen Schwartz's pop score is often dragged down by overly synthetic orchestrations and sentimental lyrics (think Chicken Soup for the Witch). Still, at its best Wicked is a seductive slice of popular entertainment that could well give a younger audience a lasting taste for musical theater. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Mystical.......2007-07-23

Like the book and the play, the Wicked soundtrack is mystical and magical. The cast is amazing and Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are enchanting. I recommend the soundtrack to anyone and everyone who loves a great musical fantasy. This is one soundtrack that truly sends you back to OZ. I never liked a whole album of music before Wicked. It is one CD I completely love.

1 out of 5 stars Wickedly disappointing.......2007-07-20

Actually, I'd give it no stars. But Amazon is too charitable. Couldn't the house have fallen on the Wicked Witch in the first scene. "Wicked" is disappointing. It's as if the pyrotechnics, a la "Starlight Express," can make up for the lack of songwriting and original score. It's derivative. It's laughable in non-comedic sense. Its an incredible money machine for some reason. At least I feel for the actors who deserve the continuing paychecks. But I need a few magic monkies to fly in and pickup some of the teenies in the audience who always manage to use their cells they are so bored. Wave your magic wand! Make it all disappear. "Mommie, Mommie, rescue me." "Sorry, babe, Glendora told you to turn off your cells!."

5 out of 5 stars Defying Gravity and all expecations..........2007-07-16

As someone who loves Broadway musicals-- this soundtrack/songs include some of the best out there- the original cast soundtrack is amazing with songs you will eventually memorize and sing along too-
The CD comes with the lyrics as well as the other important information for each song (producer, etc). If you haven't already seen Wicked, you may have trouble following what the show is about just from listening to the soundtrack-- you will get a feel for it but reading the Grimmerie (the Wicked book- also sold on Amazon) or seeing Wicked either on or off Broadway will make you fall in love faster with this soundtrack-

5 out of 5 stars The Wicked Witch of the West is misunderstood........2007-07-14

I have tickets to see the play in Philadelphia this August. I purchased the Music CD, the original Wicked book, and the Grimmeri, a well designed book about the Broadway play, its history, costumes, and character profiles with full color pictures and stories, a great trio. The book tells a story, so unexpected, when I got to the last page, I sighed and smiled. I was totally satisfied. Even more I had already been listening to the music, which is totally fabulous, I listened again and again, some of the songs are happily stuck in my head, and then my reading the book made the music make total sense, it brought the story to life in the songs. I can't wait to see the play.
My sisters refuse to read the book they are afraid it will take away from the show. I say they are dead wrong and the book and music reviewed ahead of time will definitely enhance the theater experience. You decide, either way it's a great read, 5 stars for the generation who grew up with the Wizard of OZ classic.

4 out of 5 stars A Wicked musical.......2007-07-13

There are two, for me, outstanding pieces to this recording of the Original cast recording of the musical 'Wicked' The wizard and I and Popular. Both sung with great fun and gusto.
Over all I enjoyed the CD, being a massive wizard of Oz fan, it was interesting to listen to the story from an altogether different perspective. Enjoyable, memorable and fun- a great purchase, that comes highly recommended.
Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Light entertainment
  • Empty, Forgettable Bubblegum Pop Score With Bland Lyrics
  • Legally Blonde-So Much Fun
  • A great surprise...
  • Exceeds Expectations
 Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Ghostlight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  2. The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)
  4. 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
  5. High Fidelity (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000R7I3NW
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Tracks:

  1. Omigod You Guys
  2. Serious
  3. What You Want
  4. The Harvard Variations
  5. Blood In the Water
  6. Positive
  7. Ireland
  8. Ireland
  9. Serious
  10. Chip On My Shoulder
  11. So Much Better
  12. Whipped Into Shape
  13. Take It Like a Man
  14. Bend And Snap
  15. There! Right There!
  16. Legally Blonde
  17. Legally Blonde
  18. Medley: Find My Way/Finale

Amazon.com

Like Wicked, this show is a girl-friendly extravaganza; the main difference--and it's a big one--is that the score of Legally Blonde is better. Based on the hit Reese Witherspoon movie, the zippy, frothy show tells the story of SoCal, pink-loving sorority girl Elle Woods, who enrolls at Harvard Law and goes on to prove that appearances can be deceiving. The opening number, "Omigod You Guys," gives an idea of what the Broadway-pop score by Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy--The Musical) and Nell Benjamin is up to, embracing its over-the-top cheer with goofily infectious energy. Sure, a couple of numbers feel a bit derivative (the show with the witches has "Popular," this one has "Positive"), and the Celtic detour ("Ireland") is rather puzzling, but overall the songs are firing on all cylinders. Just check out the use of a marching band on "What You Want" for instance. Laura Bell Bundy (Amber von Tussle in Hairspray) is a charming Elle, and she delivers numbers such as "So Much Better" with the requisite elan. But this is not a one-woman show, and Bundy is surrounded by a crack team, including the endearing Christian Borle as Elle's love interest Emmett, power-piped Orfeh as hairdresser Paulette and up-and-comer Leslie Kritzer as Delta Nu's Serena. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Light entertainment.......2007-07-25

The cast recording of "Legally Blonde" more or less matches the light and amiable tone of the Reese Witherspoon movie about a perky sorority girl's success at Harvard Law School. Nobody will mistake this for great art, but the score by Laurence O'Keefe ("Bat Boy," "La Cava") and Nell Benjamin gets the job done. What's questionable is whether the job needed to be done. The movie was enjoyable, but slight and predictable; the musical doesn't aspire to much more. Still, there are a few surprises in the score that keep it interesting. First, there are really no extractable "songs" here-- most of the numbers are structured as scenes, containing a mix of music and dialogue, often while juggling location changes and multiple characters. This works pretty well-- I could easily imagine a "Legally Blonde" musical that is just a slog of pop songs; there is some clever, even ambitious, writing here. Take for instance the best track, "What You Want," which details protagonist Elle Woods's entrance into Harvard. Skillfully paced over 8 minutes, the music is stylistically all over the place-- moving from pop to disco to reggae to marching band to power balladry, all while moving the action forward and managing to be funny. It's well done. And there are other numbers like it, and even a welcome foray into the bizarre by way of an unlikely homage to all things Irish ("Ireland"). All in all, this is an entertaining enough score, given the source material. Still: enough with stage adaptations of popular movies! The trend is getting old.

2 out of 5 stars Empty, Forgettable Bubblegum Pop Score With Bland Lyrics.......2007-07-25

I'm probably not going to have a popular "helpfulness" rating for this, but I gotta be honest... this show's score is not good. The opening number starts out strong with such a catchy beat and bouncy rhymes, but it's downhill from there. Most of the songs feel empty and forgettable or else have really bland lyrics (I cringed especially during "Chip on my Shoulder"). And don't even get me started on that pointless "Ireland" song. The only song I would really recommend is "Legally Blonde" which is a nice ballad. I'm a huge fan of fun, musical comedies. My favorite musical last season was The Wedding Singer, whose score is 10x better than Legally Blonde's. But this show's music (and the show itself) just fall flat.

5 out of 5 stars Legally Blonde-So Much Fun.......2007-07-23

I have tickets to see this show on Broadway in September, so I have been anxiously awaiting for the CD to be released as I like to be familiar with the tracks before seeing it on stage. Let's just say this album lives up to the hype! Laura Bell Bundy's voice is phenomenal, especially in "So Much Better". This is a must-have to add to your Broadway collection.

5 out of 5 stars A great surprise..........2007-07-20

When I saw this show at The Palace, I wasn't expecting much, but "Legally Blonde" was my favorite show of the season. Jerry Mitchell's direction is amazing, the cast is perfect, and the music is fantastic. The CD captures the excitement of the score perfectly, and everyone sounds great. The opening number "Oh my God..." is hilarious, and I also love the end of Act One "So Much Better." The title song is sweet and smart. This is a great recording of a wonderful show.

5 out of 5 stars Exceeds Expectations.......2007-07-20

I saw the show on Broadway in May, and by the end of "Serious," I knew I would have to have the cast recording as soon as it was released. I have had this CD on repeat in my car since the day it arrived. I have never known another show's lyrics to be as clever and catchy. The writing is brilliant.

I did not expect to love this musical as much as I do, but now, I am sharing it with everyone I know.
Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • What's all the hype?????
  • Spring Awakennings? I don't think so!!!
  • One of the best musical soundtracks ever!
  • Buy it on itunes
  • Tantalizing taste
Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Duncan Sheik , Steven Sater , Skylar Astin , Lilli Cooper , John Gallagher Jr. , Gideon Glick , Jonathan Groff , Brian Johnson , Lea Michele , and Lauren Pritchard
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. A Chorus Line - The New Broadway Cast Recording (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000J3FBFC
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Tracks:

  1. Mamma Who Bore Me
  2. Mamma Who Bore Me (Reprise)
  3. All That's Known
  4. The B*tch of Living
  5. My Junk
  6. Touch Me
  7. The Word of Your Body
  8. The Dark I Know Well
  9. And Then There Were None
  10. The Mirror-Blue Night
  11. I Believe
  12. Don't Do Sadness
  13. Blue Wind
  14. The Guilty Ones
  15. Left Behind
  16. Totally F*ucked
  17. The Word of Your Body (Reprise)
  18. Whispering
  19. Those You've Known
  20. The Song of Purple Summer

Amazon.com

Who would have thought that Duncan Sheik would succeed where Paul Simon and Randy Newman failed, successfully transitioning from the pop-rock world to the Broadway stage? With Spring Awakening, Sheik and book writer/lyricist Steven Slater (who had already worked on Sheik's 2001 album Phantom Moon) have created a thoroughly exciting show that incorporates a contemporary art-indie idiom (including a small rock band instead of an orchestra) into a dramatic musical-theater context. The unlikely setting is that of a Frank Wedekind adaptation, but as it turns out, teenage angst is perennial, whether it's in contemporary America or in a 1891 German boarding school. Songs such as "The Bitch of Living" ("with nothing going on, asking just what went wrong"), "The Word of Your Body," "I Don't Do Sadness," and "Totally Fucked" ("You're fucked if you speak your mind and you know you will") resonate with the rage, frustration, confusion, excitement, joy, anger, and of course budding lust of those hormone-driven years. The show is greatly enhanced by its youthful cast members (they're all pretty close in age to their characters), who sing their hearts out. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Decca Broadway presents the cast recording for the acclaimed new Broadway production, SPRING AWAKENING. Written by pop music composer Duncan Sheik and playwright/lyricist Steven Sater, the musical explores emotional earthquakes in the lives of teenagers.

SPRING AWAKENING is based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 drama, which was scandalous in its day for addressing sex violence and suicide. The story, dialogue and costumes suggest the 19th Century, and are perfectly wedded to a beautiful alternative pop music score by Grammy® nominated singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik. The creative team also includes Tony® Award Winning director Michael Mayer (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and legendary choreographer Bill T. Jones.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars What's all the hype?????.......2007-07-23

This one totally escaped me...I can't believe it won so many Tony Awards. Most of the music sounds the same ...without a real melody to be found. A Rent wannabe that falls way short.

1 out of 5 stars Spring Awakennings? I don't think so!!!.......2007-07-23

Having seen the musical of Spring Awakennings at the beginning of this year I would strongly reconsider purchasing this broadway cast recording. I am a theatre goer (at the age of 29) and have seen the majority of the lastest musicals for example, Grey Gardens, and The Pirate Queen. Anyway I was discusted with the musical of Spring Awakennings; why is it cool to show a couple simulating sex and watching a ploke pretending to toss off? constant swearing etc... - How sick is that!!!!... and you call this a musical worthy of nominations (of the year awards)! What is the world coming to! and what drugs are these so called critics taking?

In my opinion buy something else with your money such as 'The Pirate Queen' which has no longer showing.

5 out of 5 stars One of the best musical soundtracks ever!.......2007-07-22

My favorite tracks are "Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind", "The Song of Purple Summer", "The Dark I Know Well", "My Junk" and "Totally F*ucked".

3 out of 5 stars Buy it on itunes.......2007-07-21

This is a great CD and i listen to it all the time but i would not recommend buying this on amazon cause I bought this on itunes and it was only $9.99 and you dont have to even pay for shipping so buying it here is just a waste of time and money.

-jen

4 out of 5 stars Tantalizing taste .......2007-07-20

The jacket notes explain the writing group's angle on musicals: People don't spontaneously break into song and revert to speech. New option: Rock music for internal dialogues (prevalent part of teen life). Awesome. If only it was the complete show.
Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
  • Jersey Boys
  • Like being there
  • A step back in musical time
  • Great music, but missing too much
 Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Ronald Melrose , Ken Dow , Anik Oulianine , Stephanie Cummins , Deborah Hurwitz , Kevin Dow , Joe Payne , Larry Saltzman , Dave Spier , Bill Hayes , Randall Andos , Bob Milikan , Debra Shufelt , Maxine Roach , Belinda Whitney , Cenovia Cummins , Eric de Gioia , Louise Owen , Robin Zeh , Sarah Schwartz , Shinwon Kim , Christian Hoff , Daniel Reichard , Donnie Kehr , Erica Piccininni , J. Robert Spencer , Jennifer Naimo , John Lloyd Young , Sara Schmidt , Tituss Burgess , Steve Orich , and Bob Gaudio
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000BFH2QY
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

  1. Ces Soirees la'
  2. Early Years Medley
  3. Cry For Me
  4. Backups Medley
  5. Sherry
  6. Big Girls Don't Cry
  7. Walk Like A Man
  8. December, 1963
  9. My Boyfriend's Back
  10. My Eyes Adored You
  11. Dawn (Go Away)
  12. Big Man In Town
  13. Dialog: A Little Trouble
  14. Beggin'
  15. Dialog: See How You Handle It
  16. Medley Listen Listen
  17. c'mon marianne
  18. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
  19. Working My Way Back To You
  20. Fallen Angel

Amazon.com

Although it squarely falls in the "jukebox musical" category, Jersey Boys doesn¹t try to integrate its songs in an artificial plotline. The show tells the story of the early-1960s group the Four Seasons, and the musical numbers tend to be introduced in context, as when songwriter Bob Gaudio comes up with a tune, or the quartet performs a show. This allows Jersey Boys to flow better than some of ill-fated peers, and the actors can shine without having to bend backward to accommodate an inane book. The show's most (only) daring move is to start with a hip-hop-tinged French-language version of "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," an actual hit in France in 2000. After that it's all VH1-biopic territory, but it's done with so much flair, taste and energy that the ride's a fun one. The Four Seasons had enough hits ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," etc.) to easily fill an evening at the theater, so it's left to the cast to do right by them. And it does, particularly John Lloyd Young as the band¹s star lead, Frankie Valli. Young hits all the falsetto notes and brings real freshness to the part. His "Can¹t Take My Eyes Off You," a second-act peak, is signed, sealed and delivered with a star's acumen. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Recounting the rich history and reliving the timeless sounds of the phenomenal Frankie Vallie & The 4 Seasons, the new Broadway musical Jersey Boys answers the musical-and philosophical question, "How did four would-be wise guys from Newark, NJ, become one of the greatest chart-topping successes in pop music history?" Jersey Boys celebrates legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi who, as the 4 seasons, wrote their own songs, invented their own identity, and sold 175 million records worldwide-all before they were 30.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast).......2007-07-19

Singers doesn't try to make the same sound the same original. The music sounds like the voices don't care about what they are doing. I was kinda disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Jersey Boys.......2007-07-08

Purchased CD prior to seeing the show when visiting USA in '06. A fun lively show - the CD now captivates those fond memories of not only the foot tapping music & show but also our special time in New York.

5 out of 5 stars Like being there.......2007-07-05

Have seen the play twice. This album lets me relive the experience anytime anyplace. A great piece of Rock n roll history.

5 out of 5 stars A step back in musical time.......2007-07-05

My wife and daughter didn't know about the Four Seasons but I did. When I told them I wanted to see the musical on stage, there was no interest so I bought this product and they heard it in the car. We went to the stage musical soon after and we have listened to the entire disk so many times I've lost track. I created a Four Seasons monster in my daughter. She's fifteen and has memorized most of the songs and sings along while we are driving somewhere.

4 out of 5 stars Great music, but missing too much.......2007-07-04

I saw this play at age 16 with no idea who the Four Seasons were, but instantly fell in love with it. The problem is, this soudntrack cuts a two hour play into less than an hour on CD. Most of the dialouge is missing, only including enough to let each member of the group at least say something. I know many play soundtracks cut out dialouge, but what confuses me is why this stretches to the music as well. What is there is amazing, but I don't understand why most of the songs are cut to half, and sometimes even a third or fourth of their original lengths. I love this CD, just be aware that you are hardly getting any story, just clips of lots of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs. So, great music and dialouge, just not enough for a musical soundtrack.
The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Score for Recent Broadway Bomb
  • Composer becomes student.
  • The Fourth Great Boublil & Schoenberg Musical
  • Something of a Disappointment
  • Delightful.
 The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Sony Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  2. Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
  4. High Fidelity (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000QTCY72
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Tracks:

  1. Prologue
  2. Pirate Queen
  3. Woman
  4. My Grace
  5. Here on This Night
  6. Waking of the Queen
  7. Rah-Rah, Tip-Top
  8. Choice Is Mine
  9. Boys'll Be Boys
  10. Wedding
  11. I'll Be There
  12. Day Beyond Belclare
  13. Sail to the Stars
  14. Entr'acte
  15. Enemy at Port Side
  16. I Dismiss You
  17. If I Said I Loved You
  18. Role of the Queen
  19. Christening
  20. Let a Father Stand by His Son
  21. Surrender
  22. She Who Has All
  23. Sea of Life
  24. Woman to Woman
  25. Finale

Amazon.com

The Pirate Queen, with a score by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon), took a critical beating when it opened on Broadway, but as this catchy cast recording demonstrates, that reception was really unnecessarily harsh. Set in the 17th century, the show (which closed after only 85 performances) tells the story of Grace O'Malley (Stephanie J. Block), an Irish ship captain and pirate who defied Queen Elizabeth I (Linda Balgord). The combination of that setting with the fact that the producers also brought us Riverdance means an overall Celtic flavor. But fans of Boublil and Schönberg should not fear. The duo delivers plenty of the over-the-top, super-emotional power ballads they're famous for--it's hard not to wonder what Celine Dion would make of songs such as "Woman" or "I'll Be There" (the latter sung by a man, but no matter!). Special kudos to Balgord, whose deliciously campy stage portrayal of Elizabeth I comes across well on "The Waking of the Queen," "The Role of the Queen," and two harpsichord-driven, vibrato-laden duets with Block, "She Who Has All" and "Woman to Woman." Also of note to fans of traditional singing is the participation of Áine Uí Cheallaigh (known from Riverdance) on several tracks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Score for Recent Broadway Bomb.......2007-07-25

I actually flew to New York this past March, where I actually paid money to see "The Pirate Queen." I was hoping for another hit from the creators, whose previous shows, "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon," I had enjoyed very much. This time, they were doing a grand new show, based on a historical person, an Irish female pirate from the period of Elizabethan England. Sounds pretty dramatic, and I had high hopes for the score.

Well, the show was kind of dull, though the audience seemed to enjoy it. And the music? Well, let's just say it's not as tuneful as either "Les Miz" or "Miss Saigon." But it's not all that bad either. Heard separately on this CD, it actually sounds better than it did during its stage incarnation, and you got to give the singers credit; they're certainly giving it their all.

The problem with bad shows is that they're not really bad, just boring. However, I personally wouldn't be surprised if this CD has a better fate than the show, which has already closed. If you like their other shows, I think you'll find this pleasant. And, I wouldn't even be surprised if it ends up becoming some kind of collector's item in future, or maybe even some kind of legendary score from one of those flop shows that collectors talk about in hushed tones years from now.

Stranger things have happened. Remember: both "Candide" and "Follies" were also flops when they were first produced.

And, this score is certainly better than a lot of other over-praised dreck out there now....

3 out of 5 stars Composer becomes student........2007-07-20

The score has genius of a student breaking into theatre.
After masterpieces of Les Miz,Martin Guerre and Miss Saigon what
happened?These are great works.
It is still worth listening to.

5 out of 5 stars The Fourth Great Boublil & Schoenberg Musical.......2007-07-18

I had the pleasure of seeing Pirate Queen both in Chicago 2006 and on Broadway in 2007. While I was disappointed that the cast album is only one CD long instead of two, I was quite surprised by the high quality of the recording and the amount of music packed onto the disc (25 tracks). This is a must-own for any fan of musical theatre, and the most exciting new musical to open in the past several years.

As a musician, I enjoy the chance to hear Schoenberg's musical style evolve through the years, starting with his solo French pop album, his first musical, La Revolution Francaise, and then the big three, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Martin Guerre. Pirate Queen is a worthy addition to that impressive body of work. As I listen to PQ, I enjoy hearing moments where a little feature of his style reminds me of one of those other pieces. But I can also hear how his writing has evolved; PQ is full of action, but it's imbued in placed with a subtle hint of melancholy that rivals the most touching moments of the other big three shows (much of this is due to the use of a flatted 6th scale degree, which is a recurring musical motif of the show). I'll mention a few key points here:

1. Overture: much as in Miss Saigon, here local color is added to the score through various Irish instruments. The overture sounds very Irish, yet still evocative of the original slow introduction of Martin Guerre (London version).

2. Entracte: it's all instrumental, and when I saw it in the theatre audience members were sometimes talking over it, but this is the most exciting music in the score. It's in 5/4 time, with plenty of 4/4 and 2/4 measures thrown in to keep it sounding on-edge. Wild, tempestuous music. The 5/4 time signature reminds me of the amazing overture to La Revolution Francaise -- although I like the PQ entracte even more.

3. Woman: this "girl-power ballad" has a unique sound compared with most of Schoenberg's other work, although the build up to the climax follows his trademark strategy of letting the orchestra play the main melody and while the singer comes in later and sings in counterpoint for a few measures. It's my favorite musical device of Miss Saigon, Les Miz, and Martin Guerre, and it shows up here too on the words "I'm meant to fly, sail unrestrained..."

4. I'll Be There: a huge bring-down-the-house torch song for a tenor. It's closest in structure to Why, God from Miss Saigon, including a rather exciting bridge section (here with a lot of electric guitar) and the 2/4 measures of descending bass notes leading into each chorus. This song is nearly perfect -- I just which it were longer (it's 3:16 but feels over far too soon). Schoenberg uses electric guitar melody rather sparingly, but it shows up in just a few key points in Les Miz, for instance, and features quite prominently in this song, sometimes in unison with the string section.

5. If I Said I Loved You: This is a gorgeous love duet in act 2, with some amazing harmony. It really builds in passion, and makes nice subtle use of that Irish sound in the orchestrations.

6. Sail to the Stars: This Act 1 finale is an exciting, intense chorus number. It doesn't compare with the end of Les Miz Act 1, both nothing really does. Instead it's a melancholy but intense funeral scene, and is surprisingly effective.

7. My Grace: This is sung by the Valjean father-figure in the show, and it sounds a lot like a song missing from Les Miz. But it has a unique PQ sound to it, with the flat 6 scale degree. It's extremely moving.

8. Here On This Night: Originally this was my favorite song in the show, although If I Said I Loved You recently stole the #1 spot. This is the main happy love duet from an early part of the show. A classic Boublil & Schoenberg love song, with a sound that makes me feel as if I'm at love on a ship under the stars. Like the best of their love songs, the melody starts on scale degree 2 over the tonic, like Sun and Moon from Miss Saigon.

9. She Who Has All: The most unique aspect of this show is the harpsichord + high operatic soprano role for the Queen. It's an amazing performance, not too much vibrato, so even non-opera fans can enjoy it. This track is a duet between the two lead women of the show, so we get a Broadway singing voice in duet with the opera soprano. Amazingly, it works very well. I can't believe Schoenberg combined these two sounds so effectively in a duet near the climax of the show. Impressive! The duet Woman to Woman also has some of this quality. And the rest of the queen songs have a great early-music harpsichord sound fused with the modern musical orchestra.

10. The Wedding: mostly orchestral (with some chorus), this is a big Irish step dance number. It has a great sound for Irish step music fans; it sounds pretty classic but more bass-heavy, like The Chieftans fused with a rock band.

11. Boys'll Be Boys: this is like Master of the House meets Gaston, only I don't like it as much. Sort of disappointing, but it's an important and funny number.

12. The Sea Of Life: a nostalgic song towards the end of the show, this sounds like what Turning in Les Miz should have been. Turning was always my least favorite part of Les Miz, but Sea of Life is incredible. In a subtle thematic move, the opening melody is the same as the solo flute in the original London opening of Martin Guerre, with a slightly different rhythm and added accompaniment. Even more surprising: probably just by coincidence, the middle of this melody includes 8 notes (with different rhythm) from the "victory" music from Pirates of the Caribbean 3.

All in all, highly recommended!! My only complaint (besides it's premature closing on Broadway for no apparent reason) is really that we can't hear all the additional material that 2 CDs would give us, such as Grania's father's death scene (a modified reprise of My Grace, sort of like the scene at the end of Les Miz), and a very pretty Lullaby Grania sings to her son in Act 2.

2 out of 5 stars Something of a Disappointment.......2007-07-17

The songs in this album were just not that great. The lyrics were not very singable (and indeed some of them didn't even scan properly.) The music also suffered quite a bit from a lack of Irish instrumntation. Most of the music seemed to be just standard, cookie cutter Broadway show tunes and not very memorable ones at that.

The cast did very well, though, considering the poor material it had to work with

All in all, it looks like this play was a lost opportunity. The story of Grace O'Malley is a compelling one and deserves to be told better than it was here.

5 out of 5 stars Delightful........2007-07-13

When I ordered this soundtrack, I completely ignored what the other reviews said (which is ironic because I expect someone to read mine: ) Thinking on my own was the right choice.

Do you like Boubil? Do you like Schonberg? If so, you will most likely like this recording. The farther I get into it, the more I love it!

The recording is powerful. The slow ballads carry its weakest attributes. There are power ballads left and right. Up beat and very cultural to the Irish heritage, this is a wonderful recording. It's not my favorite.

Personally, I would prefer "A Class Act" or "Loving repeating", two soundtracks I just bought and LOVE.

This could be be for you.

It's a good buy. 11 something for a power ballad musical. I currently have about 57 musicals, and I can honestly say this ranks in the top 15. However, that doesn't mean it's staying in my car forever. I am still waiting to receive "A View from Here". hehehe. I love musicals.
Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Curtains - Worth Hearing
  • Old fashion fun
  • Whodunit?!? Kander & Ebb, That's Who!
  • David Hyde Pierce does Sherlock Holmes in a musical.
  • A Tough Act To Follow
 Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Manhattan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
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  4. The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000PC1QKQ
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. Wide Open Spaces
  3. What Kind Of Man?
  4. Thinking Of Him
  5. The Woman's Dead
  6. Show People
  7. Coffee Shop Nights
  8. In the Same Boat
  9. I Miss the Music
  10. Thataway!
  11. The Man Is Dead
  12. He Did It
  13. In the Same Boat
  14. It's a Business
  15. Kansasland
  16. Medley: Thinking Of Him/I Miss the Music
  17. A Tough Act To Follow
  18. In the Same Boat
  19. In the Same Boat
  20. Show People
  21. Wide Open Spaces
  22. A Tough Act To Follow

Amazon.com

Sadly, Curtains is the final entry in the long and fruitful partnership of lyricist Fred Ebb (who died in September 2004) and composer John Kander. While the show doesn't reach the heights of the team's previous masterpieces, such as Cabaret and Chicago, it's certainly a lot better than, say, their middling 1997 offering Steel Pier. Deliberately old-fashioned (it even features a real overture, something that's fast becoming a rarity), Curtains is a whodunit rolled into a musical--or vice versa. Set in 1959 Boston, it takes place backstage at a singing-and-dancing Western corker titled Robbin Hood. Someone gets killed, and a show tunes-crazy homicide detective (David Hyde Pierce) is called in. The plot is just a pretext for a series of very entertaining, characteristically brass-heavy songs that may not have the bite of old Kander and Ebb but are still very catchy. Above all, Curtains is (both thematically and stylistically) a love letter to old-school showbiz, and it's delivered on a silver platter by a cast of pros that includes the aforementioned Hyde Pierce, Kander and Ebb habituée Karen Ziemba, endearing Jason Danieley and, a notch above the rest, Debra Monk. Unsurprisingly, she chews the scenery and spits it right back in a pair of rowdy numbers: "Show People" and "It's a Business." --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Curtains is an entertaining play within a play, as well as a "whodunit" new musical comedy featuring one of the last scores by legendary, Tony Award-winning songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York). Starring David Hyde Pierce (Spamalot, "Frasier") and Debra Monk, the Curtains original Broadway cast album is produced by nine-time Grammy Award-winner Jay David Saks.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Curtains - Worth Hearing.......2007-07-25

One of the last Kander and Ebb musicals, Curtains is a great addition to my collection. I saw the show in the LA tryouts and glad I have the CD to it now. While it isn't up there with Cabaret and Chicago it still has some fun tunes. The wonderful cast includes David Hyde Pierce in his Tony award winning role, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Edward Hibbert.

With a plot centering around a murder mystery against the background of a musical's out of town tryout in Boston this period piece is quite unique. I enjoyed it.

5 out of 5 stars Old fashion fun.......2007-07-23

This is a very old fashion fun Broadway score by Kander and Ebb(Cabaret, Chicago)...great arrangements, funny lyrics, good performances. Very easy listening and extremely entertaining.

5 out of 5 stars Whodunit?!? Kander & Ebb, That's Who!.......2007-07-21

What a terrific recording! Every word is crystal clear and delightful. This show and cd should rank with Chicago and Cabaret!

3 out of 5 stars David Hyde Pierce does Sherlock Holmes in a musical........2007-07-19

The show which spawned the OBC album was no "Producers", in fact it reminded me a lot of an old show "Crazy For You". The music was pleasant and one of the cast members has a wonderful tenor voice. Other than that the score is forgetable.

5 out of 5 stars A Tough Act To Follow.......2007-07-18

"curtains" is a wonderful show full of fun and laughter and fantastic music.
Isn't it great to have an other show by Kander and Ebb who have giver us such
pleasure in the past. The cast are perfect not one dud in the whole pack.
I can thoroughly recommend this show to everyone with a love of musical theatre


Taking The Long Way
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Personal, intimate, & fun
  • Taking the Long Way.....
  • Great album
  • I'd Give it 6 Stars if I could
  • Still Amazing
 Taking The Long Way
Dixie Chicks
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Home
  2. All the Roadrunning
  3. Not Too Late
  4. Wide Open Spaces
  5. Continuum

ASIN: B000F7MG4G
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

  1. The Long Way Around
  2. Easy Silence
  3. Not Ready To Make Nice
  4. Everybody Knows
  5. Bitter End
  6. Lullaby
  7. Lubbock Or Leave It
  8. Silent House
  9. Favorite Year
  10. Voice Inside My Head
  11. I Like It
  12. Baby Hold On
  13. So Hard
  14. I Hope

Amazon.com

Nothing changes folks like babies and war, and since the release of their last album, 2002's Home, the Dixie Chicks have been forever altered by both. If that album showcased the trio as precocious young adults, Taking the Long Way finds them sobered and matured, and in a grown-up state of mind. Produced by the celebrated Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers), who saw the Chicks as "a great rock act making a country album, not a country act making a rock album," their new record impresses both as beautiful sonic tapestry (peppered with myriad Beatlesque hallmarks) and forthright yet vulnerable portrait of three women shaken by the personal and political events of the past few years. As they make clear in the defiant "Not Ready to Make Nice," they still smart over the backlash from their 2003 Bushwhacking. But as they assert on the equally autobiographical "The Long Way Around," they could never "kiss all the asses that they told me to" and just follow others aimlessly--and silently--through life. This means that the Chicks are simultaneously prideful and scornful of celebrity ("Everybody Knows"), and that as new mothers they increasingly treasure the refuge they find in life with their families, out of the spotlight ("Easy Silence," "Lullaby," "Baby Hold On"). The push and pull of both passions drive this record, which also touches on the personal issues of infertility (with which sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison both dealt) and Alzheimer's (from which Natalie Maines's grandmother suffers). The trio crafted all 14 cuts with the help of such writers as Sheryl Crow, Gary Louris, Mike Campbell, and Keb' Mo', laying out their lives as honestly and intimately as they might in their diaries. For that reason, on first listen, Taking the Long Way seems too somber--in need of a bit of levity and more than a couple of uptempo songs (like the sexy, '60s-flavored "I Like It") to resonate for the long haul. It also seems to lack the writing quality that Darrell Scott, Patty Griffin, and Bruce Robison brought to Home. But on repeated plays, those concerns dissipate. By the last cut, the R&B/gospel offering "I Hope," the Chicks have chronicled their journey with as much spirituality as spunk, their pain deeply ingrained in their protests. --Alanna Nash

Description

With Taking The Long Way, one of the most anticipated albums in recent years, the Dixie Chicks are putting themselves out there like never before. For the first time, every one of the disc's fourteen songs are co-written by the Chicks themselves, exploring themes both deeply private and resoundingly political. Collaborating with legendary producer Rick Rubin (who has worked with everyone from Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, from Run DMC to Neil Diamond), the biggest-selling female band in history has truly pushed themselves to new heights both as writers and as performers.

"Everything felt more personal this time," says Maines. "I go back to songs we've done in the past and there's just more maturity, depth, intelligence on these. They just feel more grown-up." Inspired by such classic rock artists as the Eagles, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the Mamas and the Papas, Taking The Long Way adds a sweeping, Southern California vibe to the Chicks' down-home intimacy. That ambition is matched with lyrics addressing everything from small-town narrow-mindedness ("Lubbock or Leave It") to the psychology of celebrity ("Everybody Knows"). "This album was about finding a balance in the different aspects of our lives," says Emily Robison, "but there's something thematic there, too--it's really about being bold."

Dixie Pics

Dixie Discs


Home


Wide Open Spaces


Fly


Top of the World Tour (Live CD)


Top of the World Tour (DVD)


An Evening with the Dixie Chicks (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Personal, intimate, & fun.......2007-07-23

I really enjoyed this CD. I have always like the Dixie Chicks, and they didn't let me down. The melodies and harmonies are beautiful and the songs are great!

5 out of 5 stars Taking the Long Way............2007-07-19

This is by far the best collection yet from the Chicks! Powerful, touching, and fun to listen to! One of my all time favorite cds!

5 out of 5 stars Great album.......2007-07-17

I heard of the Dixie chicks when their lead singer Natalie Maines voiced her opinion against President George Bush's Iraq policy at a concert in London. I thought they were a girl Rock band because they look more like Pop/Rock artists than a Country music group. I have listened to their previous albums but I have never bought them because I am not a Country music fan. I like 'Taking the Long way' best because their new style of music is more to my taste than their 'twang' music. Although it has a 'Country' feel it sounds like 1970's classic Rock. This mix of different genres makes their music original. They said they were influenced by the Eagles and California Rock. This type of music appeals to me. It is why I bought this album. Nothing to do with their anti-Bush comment ( with which I agree ). Some people bought their cd in support for them but I don't purchase an artist's record for political reasons. The Dixie Chicks have talent and it shows in their music. I was glad to hear that they had won 5 Grammys.
My favourite songs are 'The Long way round', 'Silent House'( they co-wrote this song with Neil Finn of Crowded House. It is also on the new Crowded House album called 'Time On Earth'), 'Voice Inside My Head', 'I like it' and 'I Hope'.

5 out of 5 stars I'd Give it 6 Stars if I could.......2007-07-08

That's how much I LOVE this record! Myself like others I've read, have never purchased a Dixie Chicks record before. I have to admit I only bought it because I'm a huge Jayhawks (Gary Louris) fan, and wanted to hear his contributions. Well, even if Gary had never ever written with these women, I would give this CD my highest rating.

Best tracks are "I'm Not Ready to Make Nice". This song give me chills every time I hear it, never fails to produce that effect. "Everybody Knows" is my next favorite. I'm not going into detail on each and every one, but if you've not heard the DC before or are a long-time fan, this record is for you, trust me.

It's a record that I find fresh and exciting every time I play it, still. The Chicks are wonderful musicians, and Natalie has one of the best voices around! This was my favorite record from last year and truly deserved it's title of Best Record from the grammys.

5 out of 5 stars Still Amazing.......2007-06-26

I bought this when it was first released, and I love it just as much as the day it arrived--maybe more. I often get sick of albums that seemed great in the beginning, but I don't think that could happen with this one. It is too perfect.
Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • I CAN HEAR THE BELLS
  • My New Obsession
  • Hairspray CD
  • You Can't Stop the Beat!
  • My #1 Fave show!
 Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Marc Shaiman , Scott Wittman , Marissa Jaret Winokur , Harvey Fierstein , and Kerry Butler
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Aida (2000 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00006AALQ
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Tracks:

  1. Good Morning Baltimore
  2. The Nicest Kids In Town
  3. Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now
  4. I Can Hear The Bells
  5. (The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs
  6. It Takes Two
  7. Welcome To The 60's
  8. Run And Tell That!
  9. Big, Blonde And Beautiful
  10. The Big Dollhouse
  11. Good Morning Baltimore Reprise
  12. (You're) Timeless To Me
  13. Without Love
  14. I Know Where I've Been
  15. (It's) Hairspray
  16. Cooties
  17. You Can't Stop The Beat

Amazon.com

The cast recording for the Broadway musical of John Waters's 1988 paean to dance, music, big beautiful women, and integration is a sheer delight. It's wonderfully upbeat all the way through, with a classic feel that's in keeping with the story's setting in the early 1960s. The characters come alive in these songs, from Marissa Jaret Winokur's (Tracy Turnblad) opening lines in "Good Morning Baltimore" to the stunningly upbeat finale, "You Can't Stop the Beat." The music is by Marc Shaiman, whose recent projects include South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, as well as a number of film soundtracks, and his compositions are simultaneously solid and exuberant. Shaiman and Scott Wittman's lyrics brim over with the unreserved passions and primary-color emotions that made the film so successful. Regardless of one's familiarity with the story or the stage production, it's hard to avoid the appeal of this recording; even the less cheerful songs are awash in bright colors, without disrespect for their subjects. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I CAN HEAR THE BELLS .......2007-05-18

YOU SHOULD BUY THIS CD WHEN YOU WANT THAT LIITLE PICK ME UP. ALSO VERY GOOD THING TO LISEN TO ON THAT TRIP TO WORK OR SCHOOL OR EVEN CLASS IF YOUR IN COLLEGE.

5 out of 5 stars My New Obsession.......2007-02-07

I've been lingering over this CD for the past few weeks and finally decided to buy it and so happy I did so. This is all I've been listening to for the past few days.

From the great opener 'Good Morning Baltimore' to the best closing song I've ever heard, 'You Can't Stop the Beat', this recording is a gem.

One of my favorite songs on this soundtrack is 'The Nicest Kids in Town'. It has that kind of beat that's hard to not dance to. Another favorite is 'Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now'. It reminds me of the songs of Leslie Gore. My favorite line comes from Amber von Tussle "Once upon a time I used to dress up Ken/but now that I'm a woman I like bigger men/And I don't need a Barbie doll to show me how".

'(The Legend of)Miss Baltimore Crabs' is a glorious song for the villain. With wonderful drumming and violins in the background, Velma von Tussel has a great solo song.

'It Takes Two' is such a great slow song. I can just imagine a 1960's prom. Everyone slow dancing and the lights low. A band set up on the stage. I can't help sing along.

'Welcome to the 60's' is another wonderful song. It seems to be everyone's favorite. It's one of mine too. Harvey Fierstein is great as Edna.

'Big, Blonde, & Beautiful' is another good song. A good message to all big girls to be proud of yourself. Ignore what everyone says about you and strut. "Bring on that pecan pie/pour some sugar on it/Sugar don't be shy"

'(You're) Timeless to Me' is such a cute song between Wilbur and Edna.

'Without Love' is my number one favorite on this recording. Link proclaiming his love to Tracy who's locked up in solitary confinement and Seaweed proclaiming his love to Penny who's tied up on her bed. "Darling I'll be yours forever/'cause I never wanna be/Without love/so darling throw away the key"

'I Know Where I've Been' is a glorious gospel song. Sung by Motormouth Maybelle about her experiences and having learned from them.

'Cooties' is such a childish sounding song but it's the kind of song that should have it's own dance. It's too much fun.

The little song that follows 'You Can't Stop the Beat' is so funny and dark. I don't know the name, I just refer to as 'Blood on the Pavement'. "Don't drink and drive/please keep your head/Or come graduation day/you'll be dead".

I recommend this soundtrack to everyone. It's the kind of soundtrack that doesn't sound like a musical soundtrack.

5 out of 5 stars Hairspray CD.......2007-01-14

If you loved the Broadway, you'll love this cd. A friend heard me playing the cd and asked what radio station I was listening to so he could tune in.

5 out of 5 stars You Can't Stop the Beat!.......2006-11-30

I could try to come up with a more clever title for this review, but the title of the last track says it all about the soundtrack from the Broadway show Hairspray. I went reluctantly ($110 per ticket) on my last trip to NYC, and found to my surprise that I enjoyed the show and then adored the soundtrack--every number is performed with great gusto and excitement. "Good Morning Baltimore", sung by Marissa Winokur as Tracy Turnblad, the portly dance-crazed teen from 1963 Baltimore, gets the show off to a great start. "The Nicest Kids in Town" takes you back to the days of American Bandstand and its local knockoffs. "The Bells" was one I knew before seeing the show as my daughter and her friends sang (or at least lip synched) it at a drama camp talent show. "It Takes Two", a teen idol number sung by the character Link, sounds much better to me that the real Frankie Avalon/Ricky Nelson tunes of the early '60s that are its models. Other great songs, many with a civil rights theme following from the story of the film, follow, topped off by "Cooties"--an insult song sung by Tracy's rival Amber Von Tussle, and the showstopping (literally) finale "You Can't Stop the Beat", which sounds more urgent with every listen. Along the way the songwriters include some clever and slightly subversive lyrics--Tracy sings about the "rats on the street" who "all dance round my feet"; Linc croons that "Liz, she has her Dick"; and Penny Pingleton is ready to "call the NAACP" if anyone challenges her love for her African-American boyfriend Seaweed. Some have said that Hairspray is the Grease of the 21st century, but to me it's much better-more human; and also significantly better than the '80s comedy film on which the musical was based. We await with excitement and trepidation the film musical, which could hardly improve on the stage show, but in any event we'll get to hear those great songs again.

5 out of 5 stars My #1 Fave show!.......2006-10-23

I heard this show is closing in 2007, while a movie's coming out Independence Day 2007!

My fave Hairspray songs are:

1. You Can't Stop The Beat
2. Good Morning Baltimore
3. Without Love
4. I Can Hear The Bells
5. Mama I'm a Big Girl Now
6. Run and Tell That
7. The Nicest Kids in Town
8. Big Blonde and Beautiful
9. Welcome To The 60's
10. The Big Dollhouse
110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 110 in the Shade
  • Pure pleasure
  • audra is definitive
  • 110 In The Shade Revival CD - Next Best Thing to Being at The Show
  • Wonderful Cast Album
 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)

Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  2. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
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  5. Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000PMG9GW
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Tracks:

  1. Another Hot Day
  2. Lizzie's Comin' Home
  3. Love, Don't Turn Away
  4. Poker Polka
  5. The Hungry Men
  6. The Rain Song
  7. You're Not Fooling Me
  8. Cinderella
  9. Raunchy
  10. A Man and a Woman
  11. "She Walked Out On Me..."
  12. Old Maid
  13. Evenin' Star
  14. Everything Beautiful
  15. "Stay and Talk..."
  16. Melisande
  17. Simple Little Things
  18. Little Red Hat
  19. Is It Really Me?
  20. Wonderful Music
  21. The Rain Song (reprise)

Amazon.com

More than four decades after its Broadway debut, the Roundabout Theatre's 2007 revival of 110 in the Shade is a glorious showcase for soprano Audra McDonald, and an eloquent statement for an underrated and neglected work. Based on N. Richard Nash's play The Rainmaker, 110 in the Shade tells the story of a Texas town stuck in a blistering heat wave. Lizzie (McDonald), the daughter of a local widower (Broadway veteran and TV star John Cullum), has resisted all suitors, including the sheriff (Christopher Innvar), until a potential huckster named Starbuck (Steve Kazee) arrives in town promising to bring rain ("The Rain Song"). Just like Marian the librarian, Lizzie thinks she sees right through the scam ("You're Not Fooling Me"). McDonald shines in her solos ("Love, Don't Turn Away," "Old Maid"), but Cullum, Innvar, and Kazee also get their moments either in duets with McDonald ("A Man and a Woman," "Simple Little Things," "Is It Really Me?") or by themselves. 110 in the Shade is obscure compared to Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's most famous work, The Fantasticks--none of its songs ever entered the popular culture like "Try to Remember"--but it's a beautiful, evocative score that is tailor-made for McDonald's rich voice. It's also much more sumptuous than The Fantasticks, even in Jonathan Tunick's pared-down, Tony-nominated orchestrations. (Also nominated were McDonald, Cullum, lighting designer Christopher Akerlind, and the show itself for Best Revival of a Musical.) P.S. Classics puts out its usual first-rate package, with color photos, introduction by Peter Filichia, synopsis, and libretto. --David Horiuchi

Description

Four-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald triumphantly returns to Broadway in the role she was born to play: Lizzie Curry in 110 in the Shade, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's heartrending musical adaptation of N. Richard Nash's classic play The Rainmaker. Amidst a heat wave in 1930's Texas, Lizzie - despite her wit, intelligence and homemaking skills - is on the verge of becoming an old maid, until a charismatic rainmaker named Starbuck enters town and her world is shaken. 110 in the Shade originally premiered in 1963 - Jones and Schmidt's first Broadway musical following their unprecedented off-Broadway triumph with The Fantasticks. Joining McDonald for the new Roundabout Theatre Company revival are two-time Tony Award-winner John Cullum and, fresh from Spamalot, Steve Kazee as Starbuck. PS Classics and the Roundabout previously collaborated on Grammy-nominated and top-selling recordings of Nine: The Musical and Assassins; this latest CD is sure to result in another definitive Broadway cast album, this time headed by one of Broadway's brightest crown jewels.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 110 in the Shade.......2007-07-20

This recording is superb. I recently saw the show in NYC and found that this recording does the show justice. It is a great show and recording.

5 out of 5 stars Pure pleasure.......2007-07-19

Couple of days ago, I saw "110 in the Shade" on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre revival. At intermission, in a trance of emotion, I went straight to the souvenir stand to buy the cast album (available at a non-ripoff price of $20, I'm glad to say). This is something I hardly ever do, but I had just seen and heard Audra McDonald and Christopher Innvar sing the duet "A Man and A Woman," and I had to have that music. Been playing the score ever since. It's a delight and I like the orchestrations very much. McDonald is an utter joy, but Innvar was an unexpected discovery and on the strength of his performance, should have had bigger billing.

4 out of 5 stars audra is definitive.......2007-07-18

Though the score of 110 IN THE SHADE is modest in musical scope, Audra McDonald sings it with all the passion, conviction and care that one could hope for. The other performances on the recording are good, especially Steve Kazee, whose Starbuck feels lighter and more expressive than Douglas Horton on the original cast recording. Bobby Steggert makes the most of every one of Jimmy's lines. Christopher Innvar sounds far better on this recording than he did in the theater. There is a great deal of dialogue on the CD, which may be more enjoyable to those who have seen the production than to the casual listener. The reduced orchestrations are in many cases more imaginative and expressive than the originals, which tended toward bombast in telling this intimate story. They often are reminiscent of Copland's "Appalachian Spring", and I would imagine that's not accidental. If you are an Audra lover, buy this immediately, you'll never hear a finer version of Lizzie's numbers than are offered here.

5 out of 5 stars 110 In The Shade Revival CD - Next Best Thing to Being at The Show.......2007-07-15

Any fan of 110 In The Shade will appreciate this recording; it is very well recorded and features the stunning vocal performance of Audra McDonald. This CD more than holds its own when compared to the studio cast version of 1997 and it is head and shoulders above the original cast recording of 1963.

If you have seen the recent revival at Studio 54, or you are a fan of the show, you will definitly want to have a copy of this CD

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Cast Album.......2007-07-13

Saw a number from this show on the Tony Awards and ordered it immediately. Was not disappointed. The whole album is wonderful.
Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A laugh riot
  • Eric Idle does it again!!
  • Loved it
  • Get ready to laugh until you cry!
  • A Lot of Spam
 Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Eric Idle , John Du Prez , Tim Curry , David Hyde Pierce , and Hank Azaria
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0007OY2TE
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Tracks:

  1. Tuning
  2. Overture
  3. Historian's Introduction to Act I
  4. Finland/Fisch Schlapping Dance
  5. Monks Chant / He Is Not Dead Yet
  6. Come With Me
  7. Laker Girls Cheer
  8. The Song That Goes Like This
  9. He Is Not Dead Yet - Play Off
  10. All For One
  11. Knights of the Round Table/The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise)
  12. Find Your Grail
  13. Run Away!
  14. The Intermission
  15. Historian's Introduction to Act II
  16. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
  17. Brave Sir Robin
  18. You Won't Succeed On Broadway
  19. Diva's Lament (What Ever Happened To My Part?)
  20. Where Are You?
  21. His Name Is Lancelot
  22. I'm All Alone
  23. Twice In Every Show
  24. Act II Finale
  25. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life - Company Bow

Amazon.com

As gleefully silly yet wickedly smart as the beloved British comedy troupe and their 1975 cinematic savaging of the Arthurian legend that inspired it, this adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by MP's Eric Idle and longtime musical co-conspirator John Du Prez has much more on its feverish agenda than merely trashing King Arthur and firmly upending his Round Table. The film's plot remains largely intact, but its core songs ("Knights of the Round Table," "Brave Sir Robin") and comic thrust have been both expanded and satirically redirected, a musical comedy shotgun that takes dizzy aim at pop culture in general, and Broadway in particular. After typically Pythonesque distractions that somehow find us in "Finland..," stars David Hyde-Pierce, Tim Curry, Hank Azaria and company get busy conjuring the Lady of the Lake with the unlikely help of "Laker Girls..," while cast members Sara Ramirez and Christopher Sieber deliciously skewer contemporary Broadway cliches via the loopy showstopper "The Song That Goes Like This," a tune whose reprise also deliciously sends up every overwrought stage diva from Merman to Minelli. Idle has shrewdly ripped off--well, interpolated--Life of Brian's "Always Look On the Bright Side" for the new show, and even a snatch of "The Lumberjack Song" in "He Is Not Dead Yet." "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" reveals the frankly Semitic secret to stage success, and the French get can-canned on "Run Away!" Meanwhile, our bravest knight is de-closeted on the Manilow-mauling "His Name is Lancelot" before the familiar sound of clomping coconut shells brings down the curtain on the season's goofiest if satirically dead-on comic delight. --Jerry McCulley

Have Fun with More Irreverent Musicals


Urinetown
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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Zanna Don't
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Avenue Q

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A laugh riot.......2007-07-23

This one will keep you rolling in the isles. Sarah Ramirez's vocal acrobatics are mindnumbingly fantastic and she hits the perfect note every time lampooning all the Broadway sacred cows. The rest of the cast is very good as well.

5 out of 5 stars Eric Idle does it again!!.......2007-07-21

After watching the road performance of "Monty Python's Spamalot" I decided to purchase the C.D. with the tunes from this show. You know what,it's outrageous! Personal favorites: "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life","Find Your Grail",and "You Won't Succeed on Broadway". I wonder if Idle will bring "Life of Brian" to Broadaway and set THAT to music! We can all find out. "Spamalot" is a great show for the fans of Monty Python and those new to this type of comedy. Just enjoy!!

5 out of 5 stars Loved it.......2007-06-26

The play was great, and so is the CD. Even my partner, who's generally not a Monty Python fan, says it's "hysterical."

5 out of 5 stars Get ready to laugh until you cry!.......2007-06-25

Being in the unfortunate position of living in a country where Music Theatre is virtually dead, I thought `what the heck' I'll purchase this just to see what it's like. I've never been a huge Holy Grail fan, and have only seen the movie one or two times. This musical is the first musical cast recording that has an independent storyline that you can actually gauge from the recording. It's so refreshing to actually WANT to listen to the entire recording from start to finish more than a handful of times. Most musicals have a few awesome songs that have you keep coming back for more but this musical has so much continuity that I can't help but listen from start to finish.

Don't read what some of the other commenter's have written. This is brilliant and hilarious. And if you have a slightly warped sense of humour you'll love (and appreciate) this musical so much more.

P.S. I love the songs that reference "The song that goes like this." This is supposed to be repetitive to mock its self and Broadway. It is also more comprehensive than some may lead you to believe... however just remember its called `Spamalot' not `Holy Grail' so don't expect too many Holy Grail references.

5 out of 5 stars A Lot of Spam.......2007-05-22

Great CD if you like someone who can laugh at themselves. The play mocks the whole broadway musical experience. Listening to it can almost make sitting in traffic bearable...no I wouldn't go that far, but the songs are funny and will put you in a good mood.

Music:

  1. Who Cares a Lot? [Extra tracks]
  2. Your Funeral [CD-single]
  3. 17th Century Fuzzbox Blues
  4. 4 a.m.
  5. ABC Music: The Radio 1 Sessions
  6. Across Yer Ocean [CD-single] [Import]
  7. Afro Classics
  8. All the Way to Reno [CD-single] [Import]
  9. Almost Yesterday
  10. . . .And The Flute To Float The Soldier's Sword

Music

music

Music

Way I Am Sick [Import]

Joel Garten : Improvisations

Live in Paris at the Gibus [Live]

Peace Train [EP]

Noise Annoys: A Creation Compilation

Latin Romance

Musik a Pey La

Long Way to the Top

Paradise in Distress [Import]

Mozart: Music for Piano Duet [Import]

Jazz Music: 1947-1949

Karin's Voyage [Import]

Guerra de Cumbias

Live...He's Right on Time

Grand Slam