Musical Highlights [Import]

Track Listings

1. Do-Re-Mi (From Sound Of Music)

2. The Phantom Of The Opera/Music Of The Night (From Phontom Of The Opera)

3. Cabaret (From Cabaret)

4. Some Of These Days (From The Bubbling Brown Sugar)

5. Memory (From Cats)

6. I Don't Know How To Love Him (From Jesus Christ Superstar)

7. Ease On Down The Road (From The Wiz)

8. Don’T Cry For Me Argentina (From Evit)

9. Mr Bojangles (From Dancin)

10. Only He (Has The Power To Ove Me) (From Starlight Express)

11. All That Jazz (Form Chicago)

12. People (From Funny Girl)

13. Any Dream Will Do (From Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)

14. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (From My Fair Lady)

15. It Ain't Necessarily So (From Porgy And Bess)

16. There's No Business Like Show Business (From Annie Get Your Gun)

17. If I Were A Rich Man (From Fiddler On The Roof)

18. Why God Why (From Miss Saigon)

19. Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (From Hair)

20. What I Did For Love ( From A Chorus Line )

See all 30 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

Overture
Think Of Me
Angel Of Music
The Mirror (Angel Of Music)
The Phantom Of The Opera
The Music Of The Night
Prima Donna
All I Ask Of You/Reprise
Entr'acte
Masquerade
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
The Point Of No Return
Down Once More.../Track Down This Murderer

Amazon.com

Highlight versions of cast recordings are by definition a compromise, and this reduction of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera is no exception. Weighing in at 59 minutes, it's over 40 minutes shorter than the two-disc version, excising many musical scenes that convey the flow and impact of the show (which include, admittedly, a lot of patter and screaming). On the other hand, all the hits are here--"Think of Me," "Angel of Music," the title tune, "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Masquerade," and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"--and Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman are still on hand to make their distinctive contributions to the original London cast. So if you're looking for a convenient, inexpensive single disc that will let you enjoy Lloyd Webber's scrumptious melodies without having to immerse yourself in the action, this just might be for you. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Music of the Night????????.......2007-02-28

I really liked the idea of a highlights cd; however, The Music of the Night is not the same one that is on the original two-disc cd. The words aren't even the same. If you enjoy Music of the Night, skip this cd. Otherwise, this cd would be 5 stars.

Great short version!.......2006-12-06

If you only want to hear the songs from this musical, this one is for you. But if you want the full version, get the 4-disc version. I listen to this version in my car when I'm on the road, but I listen to the 4-disc version at home. Both versions are worth the purchase.

A long time favorite.......2006-08-26

This is one of my most treasured CDs. The voices of the cast are incredible! "Think of Me" and "All I Ask of You" are 2 of my favorites. If you enjoy the story behind Phantom, yu will like this soundtrack.

The Best Recording of this Show Available.......2006-04-21

I think that this is the best PHANTOM soundtrack out there:

1)It has the original Broadway cast, the best.
2)It cuts out the more risqu? parts of the show (believe me, there are some), making it "appropriate for the whole family."
3)The entire CD is on one disc, so you can go through the show w/o switching discs.
4)The only song that the movie soundtrack has on it that this doesn't is "Learn to Be Lonely," which appears in the credits, and isn't really a great song anyways.

Great CD.......2006-03-14

I bought this CD as a birthday gift for my boyfriend. We had misplaced the one that we had and needed a new one. This is one of our favorite cd's. Such beautiful music.

Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER
Time well spent.
Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs
Buy the full version, please
Argh Matey!

Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Alain Boublil , Claude-Michel Schonberg , and Colm Wilkinson
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Highlights From The Phantom Of The Opera: The Original London Cast Recording (1986 London Cast)
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Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

ASIN: B000084TRM
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

Overture/Work Song
I Dreamed a Dream
Who Am I?
Castle on a Cloud
Master of the House
Stars
Do You Hear the People Sing?
A Heart Full of Love
One Day More
On My Own
A Little Fall of Rain
Drink with Me
Bring Him Home
Javert's Suicide
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
Finale

Amazon.com

While not overly generous at 55 minutes, the highlights album of the 1987 original Broadway cast recording of Les Miserables is intelligently selected and likely to prove satisfying to most fans. It includes the best-loved numbers of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score, beautiful ballads ("Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream") and rousing anthems ("One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?") alike, but eliminates some choral numbers ("Lovely Ladies"), redundancies ("Red and Black"), and connective tissue that propels the plot along ("Valjean Arrested," "Come to Me (Fantine's Death)"). Sure, a more perfect selection could have lasted longer than half of the two-disc set's 104 minutes by adding "At the End of the Day" and "In My Life," among others, but it's still a good representation on a convenient single disc. Of course, those who always want to re-create the theatrical experience will never be satisfied with a highlights album.

Re-creating their roles from the London production, Colm Wilkinson plays the heroic Valjean and Frances Ruffelle is the despondent Eponine. Randy Graff (Fantine), Terrence Mann (Javert), David Bryant (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt (the Thénardiers) fill out the cast. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER.......2006-11-03

This is the BEST!! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of music!

Time well spent........2005-09-14

Each member of the Les Miserables cast stands to deliver this musical to its audience. Within moments we are transported to France during their Restoration. We experience sadness, laughter and, indeed, want to join in their crusade. The music and deliverance, in my opinion, is excellent.

Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs.......2005-08-05

Composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score for "Les Miserables" is simply brilliant and the spectacular Broadway cast, led by Colm Wilkinson, Randy Graff, Terrence Mann, and Frances Ruffelle, help bring this incredible music to life!

While I normally enjoy "highlight" cds, this one clocks in at a mere 55 minutes and could have easily included a couple of additional tunes (thus losing one star). Most notably missing: "At The End Of The Day", "Come To Me", "Red And Black", and "In My Life". The show's most memorable songs, however, are included.

Best tracks:

I Dreamed A Dream
Master Of The House
Stars
Do You Hear The People Sing
On My Own
A Little Fall Of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

Great cast, great score ... even a good buy. But I would suggest the full double-disc score instead.

Buy the full version, please.......2005-01-20

Highlights are never worth it. You will never get the little in-between songs which make a show complete, montages will be cut together badly instead of being full songs as they should be...so much is left out. This is a fantastic show and deserves to be heard in full.

Argh Matey!.......2004-11-22

"Highlights" albums are not the full show, blah blah blah... THIS TAKES UP ONLY ONE SPACE IN YOUR CD RACK INSTEAD OF TWO LIKE THE FULL RECORDING. I rest my case.

Average customer rating:

Fabulous
Dream Come True
IT DESERVES 6 STARS
Show Boat

Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast Highlights)
Jerome Kern , Jerry Hadley , Bruce Hubbard , Teresa Stratas , David Garrison , Frederica von Stade , John McGlinn , and London Sinfonietta
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Famous Opera Duets
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Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast): Von Stade; Hubbard; Hadley; McGlinn
Little Mary Sunshine (1959 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Brigadoon (1947 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000002RR9
Release Date: 1990-05-08

Tracks:

Show Boat: Overture
Show Boat: Cotton Blossom
Show Boat: Where's The Mate For Me?/Make Believe
Show Boat: Ol' Man River
Show Boat: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
Show Boat: Life On The Wicked Stage
Show Boat: Till Good Luck Comes My Way
Show Boat: I Might Fall Back On You
Show Boat: Queenie's Ballyhoo
Show Boat: You Are Love
Show Boat: Finale Act One
Show Boat: At The Fair
Show Boat: Why Do I Love You?
Show Boat: Bill
Show Boat: Goodbye, My Lady Love
Show Boat: After The Ball
Show Boat: Hey, Feller!
Show Boat: Finale Ultimo

Amazon.com

This one-disc reduction of John McGlinn's monumental three-CD version of Show Boat provides 75 minutes of highlights in a package dubbed the "Broadway Show Album." McGlinn reconstructs the show as it ran on opening night, November 15, 1927, including the original orchestrations, and conducts a dynamic London Sinfonietta and a strong cast including Frederica von Stade as Magnolia, Jerry Hadley as Ravenal, Teresa Stratas as the tragic Julie, Bruce Hubbard as the worldly-wise Joe, Karla Burns as Queenie, and David Garrison and Paige O'Hara as the comic couple Frank and Ellie. And of course the songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II are among the most glorious ever written: "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe," "Why Do I Love You," "Bill," "You Are Love," and "Life upon the Wicked Stage." John McGlinn's full version is a staggering achievement and a recording for the ages, but this single disc is also splendid listening. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous.......2002-10-03

Let me start off by saying that my first experiences with Show Boat came through the splendid 1951 MGM movie version. Having never seen Show Boat performed live on stage, this CD pretty much brings the live experience home (and note I said 'this' CD; the full 3-disc set would be just short of actually being front row center). The immortal Kern/Hammerstein score is one of my favorites (right up there with My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Annie Get Your Gun, and Brigadoon) and is definately one of the greatest ever written for the musical theater.

Since Show Boat does not have an official original cast album, I suppose that this one suffices quite well. All original orchestrations are used here and the music is as it was on opening night in 1927. This is the most complete version available (whether you go with the full set or just this disc). The 1946 revival cast album is the oldest 'complete' album and is nice when paired with this disc to give one a sense of how Show Boat sounded in the early days.

I really didn't care much for this CD at first, but after listening to it a couple more times, I like it better and better each time. McGlinn certainly did right by this one! I'm not too familiar with most of the cast (save for Frederica Von Stade and Paige O'Hara), but they're all great. You'd think that this is a recording of a live performance, not just a studio album. Fantastic singing is had thoughout. McGlinn also did a great job with Brigadoon 3 years later, and did he not have a similar effort with Annie Get Your Gun as well?

I still think that the MGM movie version and its soundtrack album are the best but this rendition is definately not bad! Highly recommended. But if you can, pick up a copy of the movie soundtrack or of the 1946 revival album for comparison.

Dream Come True.......2002-08-22

First, "Showboat" is my all time favorite Musical, from the '40's and '50's when my mother took us to the movies every Sunday. I have video tapes of the 1951 MGM version with Howard Keel and Kathyrn Grayson, as well as the earlier movie version. A few years ago, I saw a TV special on the making of the three Disc complete remake of Showboat, true to the original score. I tried to get a cy of it but no local store could help me. Then through the magic of computers and AMAZON.com, I obtained the three disc set plus this single CD, which I treasure. This one is the best, without doubt. Now I have the complete version of songs and music I only vaguely remembered from the TV special. I wish someone would make a movie just like this version so I could have it on DVD. The whole cast and orchestra are awesome, especially Frederica von Stade. I have since bought other CDs of her work. Buy the three disc set if you can afford it, it has a thick booklet with the actual score and dialogue. But if you cannot, buy this CD. This is the ultimate, the prototype Broadway musical.

IT DESERVES 6 STARS.......2001-06-29

I can't thank enough all the people responsable for this terrific revival cast album.Here is a perfect example of how you should do a classic show and maintain the original intentions of the writer and the composer.If they were alive,JEROME KERN and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN would have been proud of the way their masterpiece have survived them.It is impossible to imagine a better version of the show;this is the definitive one.It's funny when you think of it,most people know the songs by heart,yet it seems that we rediscover the show with this version.Suddently ,we are in 1927 and mister ZIEGFELD is scared like hell that he will loose a lot of money with this;but that's strangely the situation in which the modern AMERICAN musical was born.

Show Boat.......2000-09-10

I really like this recording! The voices are really great. I especially liked "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." I would recommend this CD to everyone who likes the show and musical theatre.

Rent (Highlights from the Original 2005 Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Average customer rating:

Amazing CD
We're Not Gonna Pay Rent!
Amazing CD!
Good Compialition
Was very very impressed with special features

Rent (Highlights from the Original 2005 Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Jonathan Larson , Idina Menzel , and Rosario Dawson
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best Of Rent: Highlights From The Original Cast Album (1996 Original Broadway Cast)
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Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000B7HZZ0
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Tracks:

Seasons of Love
Rent
One Song Glory
Light My Candle
Today 4 U
Tango: Maureen
Out Tonight
Santa Fe
I'll Cover You
La Vie Boheme A & B
I Should Tell You
Take Me Or Leave Me
Without You
I'll Cover You Reprise
What You Own
Finale B
Love Heals

Amazon.com

Yes, it's true that 90% of the time Broadway fans will want the original Broadway cast recording over any other version, and 95% of the time the full recording will beat any set of "highlights." But this collection of songs from the Rent movie may defy both trends. Rentheads surely have the two-disc Broadway version already, and this well-selected 65 minutes may satisfy their desire to have performances from the movie as well (and the movie has less music than the show anyway). On the other end of the spectrum, people who enjoyed the movie but don't feel the compulsion to own every note of what they heard might well be pleased with a single disc of highlights. Pick it up and live La Vie Boheme all over again. --David Horiuchi

Album Description

One of the longest-running shows in the history of Broadway, and one of its most beloved, Rent was the winner of the Pulizer Price for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on Puccini's classic opera "La Boheme," Jonathan Larson's revolutionary rock opera tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic in New York's gritty East Village. Now the powerful musical marks its tenth year on stage by coming to the big screen, acompanied by RENT Highlights From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing CD.......2007-02-17

This is the perfect CD for those who love the music from the film, or even the Broadway show. I just bought this CD because I am new to "RENT". I first saw the movie 2 weeks ago and I am completely hooked!! I am also addicted to this CD, I listen to it atleast once a day (if not more)!! This is perfect for any "RENT" fans out there!!

~*LaUrA*~

We're Not Gonna Pay Rent!.......2006-06-11

I loved Rent, but I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money for the full version of the soundtrack. Highlights from Rent was PERFECT! It has all the main songs from the movie I was looking for, and that was important to me. I play this soundtrack constantly, from beginning to end, singing along the whole way. Every song on her deserves to be on here - it's amazing.

Amazing CD!.......2006-04-19

I got Rent the CD for my birthday, and I looked and I thought it did not have my favorite song on there:No Day But Today well I was exploring the Rent website, and I found out that it was NOT called No Day But Today, it was called Finale B I was so happy and I listen to it over and over and over and over again without me getting sick of it! Great CD totally recommended ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Best Songs On The CD Are:

*********Finale B*************(The Best)
Seasons Of Love
Light My Candle
Tango:Maureen
Out Tonight
One Song Glory
La Vie Boheme

Good Compialition.......2006-03-29

This is truly a highlights cd, with the only dissapointment, to me, being that the song "Another Day," is not included. But the rest of my favorites Without You, Rent, Tango Maureen, and, of course, La Vie Boheme, make this a great cd for any Broadway lover.

Was very very impressed with special features.......2006-03-24

An original "Rent Head", I saw this movie at the cinemas and was less than impressed with the finished product. I found that on watching the DVD I have since completely changed my opinion. The CD is fantabubulous - I love IT!. It is all the wonderful music from the movie and if I gush anymore it will come across as very very ridiculous! Just buy it - its great!

It is an absolute must for anybody who fell in love with the musical!

Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Jesus Christ Superstar CD's
Of all the versions, this one is the best. Sorry, purists.
The Second Recording of the Rock Opera
Not the Best
THE BEST JCSS RECORDING

Jesus Christ Superstar (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast)
Andrew Lloyd Webber , Tim Rice , Ben Vereen , Jeff Fenholt , and Yvonne Elliman
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Godspell (1971 Original Off-Off-Broadway Cast)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Special Edition)
Jesus Christ Superstar (Original London Concept Recording)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1996 London Cast)
Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album

ASIN: B00008QSBZ
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Tracks:

Heaven On Their Minds - Ben Vereen
Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman
This Jesus Must Die - Alan Braunstein
Hosanna - Jeff Fenholt
Pilate's Dream - Barry Dennen
I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Jeff Fenholt
King Herod's Song - Paul Ainsley
Could We Start Again, Please - Yvonne Elliman
Judas' Death - Ben Vereen
Trial Before Pilate - Barry Dennen
Superstar - Ben Vereen
John Nineteen: Forty One - Chorus

Amazon.com

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar is most familiar from its original concept recording or film soundtrack, so it's a long-overdue treat to have the 1971 original Broadway cast finally available on CD. It's a great listen, anchored by Ben Vereen's powerhouse performance as Judas, complemented by Jeff Fenholt as Christ and, from the original recording and the film, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen as Mary Magdalene and Pilate, respectively. The major drawback, however, is that there's only 44 minutes of highlights, or roughly half the score, so this CD should be considered a complement to the other recordings rather than the definitive version. The selections are intelligent, however, and include the ballad "Could We Start Again Please?" (which was written after the original concept recording) and a puzzling "I Don't Know How to Love Him" in which Elliman either plays with or loses track of the rhythm. The booklet includes photos and notes on the show and the Broadway production. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Jesus Christ Superstar CD's.......2006-11-10

I ordered 2 of the CD's, one for myself and one for a very close friend. They both arrived in exactly condition and in an extremely timely manner. Although this is an older released musical piece, it brought back fond memories and allowed me to recapture moments from my past that were very uplifting.

Of all the versions, this one is the best. Sorry, purists........2006-06-01

I always thought the concept album had a garage-bandy sound to it, and a thin production sound typical of the era (like "Tommy"). The Broadway album is comparatively fuller (still 70's sounding) but makes much better use of the orchestra, and better mixed as well. The string swells sweep you away, the cymbal crashes give you chills. Jeff Fenholt couldn't front Deep Purple, but he makes an excellent Jesus, earnest and conflicted. Murray Head holds nothing to the passion and soul of the great Ben Vereen. Yvonne Elliman is slightly more mature in the role of Mary Magdalene on Broadway and clearly more comfortable, and Barry Dennen seethes and conflagrates as Pilate much more than on the concept album. Overall, more emotion comes through, which figures since they actually performed it in front of live audiences. In a way, the Broadway album is the definitive version because it is from the first performing cast of JCS, not a crew hired for a one-off.
It's a shame the full song list isn't included on the Broadway album, but the highlights really are the best parts, and the song "Could We Start Again", not on the concept album, is Webber & Rice at the top of their show-ballad game.

The Second Recording of the Rock Opera.......2006-03-31

All was not well in 1969 when two baby-boomers decided to write a rock opera based on the last days of Jesus of Nazareth. The analogy held a startling, brilliant poignancy at that time. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber no doubt were seeing what had happened to the youth of the modern age. Having become disillusioned with the hypocrisy and emptiness of their parents’ establishment, the younger generation experienced a void in their psyche that formerly religion, fortune, and family had filled for their parents. These kids wanted something more substantial, more meaningful, and as a result they through themselves headfirst into the new age – distancing themselves as much as humanly possible from their parents’ in clothing, in speech, in attitude, and of course, in music.

Yet, no one could foresee the force with which that void would compel these kids to attach themselves with their musical idols. If these kids were turning away from organized religion for the answers, they found it in their rock stars. Rock stars became the Gods of their generation – spreading a gospel of subversion, peace, understanding, and individualism. These kids had found the answer they were looking for. Somehow, identifying with an Elvis, or a Hendrix, or a Lennon offered the sense of validation we were looking for. Much the same way in which the early Christians were looking for a sense of validation when they turned to their own superstar – the meager son of a carpenter, born in Bethlehem around the year 4 BCE.

Objectively speaking, this recording is just slightly below the quality of the Original 1970 Concept Recording. About half the music is present (and that which is here is either subjected to truncation or sped-up tempo-wise), but considering how soon after the release of the Concept Recording this was recorded, it probably made more financial sense.

Ben Vereen as Judas is in less flexible voice than Carl Anderson (who later understudied the role) had been when he appeared in the film. There is a slight edge to the sound which is at times soulful and captivating. His "Heaven on Their Minds" is filled with musically interesting moments where he takes the vocal line and creates swells and curlicues. Jeff Fenholt is in very good form as Jesus. He had a strikingly clean baritone voice with a very effective extension (which we get to hear in his excellent, though unfortunately rushed, "Gethsemane").

The unfortunate case with both the leads, however, is that they seem to miss a certain weight to their portrayals that Murray Head and Ian Gillan (on the Concept Recording) understood full out. Part of the issue was poor direction on the part of Tom O'Horgan (who just previously had brought "Hair" to Broadway), whose production concept was based on pure, unabashed spectacle at the expense of a deeper pathos. This can be seen in the production photographs, one of which appears on the cover. (It's Fenholt in an enormous fabric "caccoon" which, in the production, he would lift up to form even more enormous "wings.") Offshoots of this: "This Jesus Must Die" is reduced to pure camp and "Superstar" gets a boost of adrenaline. The former is unfortunate, the latter actually works quite well.

Elliman and Dennon sound more or less the same here than on their subsequent recordings. (Elliman's voice, though, seems to have mellowed nicely.) A pleasant surprise, however is Paul Ainsley as King Herod. His "King Herod's Song" is probably the most musically and vocally satisfying performance of that song I've heard to date. The orchestrations are pretty much kicked-up versions of those used for the Concept Recording, and add a dynamic level to the show.

This will never replace the Concept Recording (or perhaps the 1970 Film Soundtrack), and certainly should not be anyone's introduction to the work. It certainly would make an excellent companion to either of those two, however.

Not the Best.......2005-07-10

I love this musical, and any soundtrack from it is amazing. however, if you're having difficulty picking which version, i would suggest the movie soundtrack before this one. Judus is no where near as good, which was a dissapointment. however, the songs were still very good. What else can Andrew LLoyd Webber be?

THE BEST JCSS RECORDING.......2004-05-20

THIS CD IS THE BEST JCSS RECORDINGS...IT JUST DOSN'T HAVE THE WHOLE "THIS JESUS MUST DIE" SONG. IT DOSN'T PLAY THE WHOLE THING! THE COVER DOSN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. [I'M STILL WANDERING WHAT IT IS] BEN VEREEN IS A GREAT JUDAS...PROBOBLY THE BEST ONE. BARY DENEN IS NOT GOOD IN THIS PRODUCTION. HE SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS GONNA THROW UP OR HAD A DRY TROUGHT. HE IS BETTER IN THE ORGINAL CONCEPT CD. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN THIS CD IS IT WASN'T COMPLETE. REALLY, I HAVN'T SEEN A COMPLETE JCSS CD THAT I DON'T HAVE IN 5 MONTHS! THEY ONLY GIVE OUT THE HIGHLIGHTS CDS. WHO WOULD WANT TO LISTEN TO 13 OK SONGS IN A GREAT MUSICAL? NO ONE. THE PICTURES IN THE CD LOOKED CRAZY. I NEVER WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE OF THAT KING HEROD AGAIN. YOU SHOULD BUY THIS CD IF REALLY LIKE THE MUSICAL.

The Phantom of the Opera (Highlights from the 1989 Original Canadian Cast)

Average customer rating:

Iffy
Rebecca Caine is what made me buy this album.
Very Nice!!!!
NOT AS GOOD AS THE LONDON CAST RECORDING
I liked Colm Wilkinson better in Les Miz

The Phantom of the Opera (Highlights from the 1989 Original Canadian Cast)

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stage Heroes
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The Phantom of the Opera (Original German Cast)
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The Phantom Of The Opera (1999 Japanese Cast)

ASIN: B0000072VS
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Tracks:

Prologue-The Stage Of The Paris Opera House, 1911
Overture
The Dress Rehearsal Of Hannibal
Think Of Me
The Mirror... (Angel Of Music)
The Phantom Of The Opera
The Music Of The Night
Notes/Prima Donna
All I Ask Of You
I Gave You My Music...
Entr'acte
Masquerade
The Graveyard
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
Wandering Child.../Bravo Monsieur...
The Point Of No Return/Down Once More
The Phantom's Lair

Amazon.com

A few years after The Phantom of the Opera debuted in London, Harold Prince unveiled Andrew Lloyd Webber's gothic musical in Canada, in 1989. It was so good that this recording of highlights from the Canadian cast is--dare we say it?--more enjoyable than the equivalent London cast highlights album. No, it doesn't have the authenticity of London principals Sarah Brightman (for whom then-husband Lloyd Webber wrote the role of Christine) and Michael Crawford, but it doesn't have their idiosyncrasies, either, and it does have the richer voices of Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Caine (who played Jean Valjean and older Cosette, respectively, in the 1985 London cast of Les Misérables). At 69 minutes, the Canadian album is also 10 minutes longer than the London, allowing inclusion of the prologue and dress rehearsal for Hannibal. Of course, Lloyd Webber's melodies--"Angel of Music," "The Music of the Night," "All I Ask of You," "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"--are scrumptious on any continent. --David Horiuchi

Album Description

1990 Polydor release featuring highlights from Andrew Lloyd Webber's epic musical by the Original Canadian Cast, including Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Caine. Directed by Harold Prince, it features 17 tracks, including 'Think Of Me', 'Notes/ Prima Donna', 'Masquerade' and 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again'.

Album Details

Contains highlights from the Andrew Lloyd Webber brainchild performed in Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal & Calgary during April, 1991 through September, 1992. Stars Colm Wilkinson & Rebecca Caine in leading roles.

Customer Reviews:

Iffy.......2007-01-22

I've only listened to clips here and online, but I personally would not buy this entire album. Why? Well, I would LOVE to have Rebecca Caine's "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" - she has a beautiful voice, much stronger than either Sarah Brightman or Emmy Rossum, and much better trained. But what I have heard of the Raoul annoys me. He's supposed to be the good guy, not a dork!

And Colm Wilkinson as the Phantom? Whose idea was that??? I really do not like his voice, even as Valjean in Les Miz. I highly doubt he's a strong enough singer to pull of "Music of the Night" the way Michael Crawford or Hugh Panaro (best Phantom EVER) can.

If, however, this was on iTunes, I'd jump at the chance to get Rebecca's songs!

Rebecca Caine is what made me buy this album........2006-12-04

Rebecca Caine is my favorite Christine. I think that she has one of the most amazing voices, and I loved her in the title song.

As for everything else...
Honestly, Colm Wilkinson cannot sing. His voice is just too weak for the role. Like one of the reviewers before me said, he's no Michael Crawford, not even Gerard Butler. Maybe I should hear him sing in Les Miserables to appreciate his voice.
As for Byron Nease, he's okay, but I've easily heard better.

In all, the album's okay, but there are many better recordings.

Very Nice!!!!.......2006-08-25

Although this is a specatcular Disc, I find it very hard to appreciate fully Colm Wilkinson's voice in the role of the Phantom after being so used to Michael Crawford's for that role (and being used to mr. Wilkinson's as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables). Don't get me wrong I very much like Colm wilkinson, but not so much as the phantom.
Apart from that Rebecca Caine is a stunning Christine!!!! And at times seems to me to be...dare I say.... better than (my personal favourite singer) sarah brightman, Ms. Caine's "Think Of Me" blew me away, it was very inspiring....

Overall the rest of the cast is very good as well and if you are a true "phan" this is a must have CD very much worth its price!!!!

NOT AS GOOD AS THE LONDON CAST RECORDING.......2006-07-02

Today, after Phantom of the opera became the longest running musical in history of Broadway, and being one of the most produced of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work around the world, we can only agree with the statement of "The Times" reviewer which appeared on October 10, 1986, a day after the premiere in London, who wrote: "One thing is clear: Gaston Leroux's famous story is God's gift to the musical theatre. It wraps up the legends of Faust, Svengali, and Beauty and the Beast into a grand final death rattle of the romantic agony. It turns a theatre--the Paris Opera--into a replica of the universe, from the Statue of Apollo above the city's rooftops down to the infernal regions with their furnaces and stygian lake. And, musically, not only does it unfold to an accompaniment of the operatic repertoire, but also features a protagonist who is himself a great composer."

Phantom, with its operatic and lush melodies, intensive story and grandiose staging, remains one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time.

The musical is based on the Gaston Leroux's novel of the same title. It is set in the second part of the 19th century Paris and its famous opera house. The young soprano, Christine, is discovered as a talented young opera singer in the opera house. She is noticed by an old childhood friend, Raoul, and they fall in love. However, we find out that a third person, the mysterious Phantom, hiding behind a mask, is a musical genius who had been giving Christine singing lessons and who has developed a mad passion for his young pupil. He hides in the catacombs of the opera house, lurking on the outside world. He is determined to keep Christine for himself and the story evolves from here.

Apart from this interesting plot, the audiences were swept away by Lloyd Webber's tremendous score, which probably remains his best work. It combines the beautiful love songs and sweeping operetta-like arias, with numerous orchestral leads and crescendos. You can't help but being charmed by this beautiful and haunting score. The large numbers, especially, the last one, will probably move you deeply. The most popular numbers are "The phantom of the opera", a vibrating duet between Christine and the Phantom; "All I ask of you", a lovely love duet between Christine and Raul; Phantom's mesmerizing voice will hold you till the end in "The music of the night", Christine in "Wishing you are somehow here again" will evoke sadness, and many more.

One of the main reasons for the early success of this show and this recording was its original London cast. All of the three principals: Sarah Brightman as Christine, Michael Crawford as The Phantom and Steve Barton as Raoul gave the performances of their lives. Michael Crawford's take on the role of The Phantom became stuff legends are made of, due to his amazing vocalisation and the powerful, almost hypnotic attraction in his voice and performance, exactly how the Phantom is supposed to sound.

The lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and Christopher Hampton are the weakest link here, but they manage to convey the basic story.

After the show's success in London and on Broadway, the Canadian production was mounted and it premiered in Toronto's Pantages Theatre in September 1989. This CD captures the highlights of that production. All the important musical numbers are here, however, the problem is the cast, that is, some of them. Colm Wilkinson is a great singer, his interpretation of Jean Valjean being the best example. Unfortunately, he doesn't have what it takes to play the Phantom. His interpretation lacks the depth of Michael Crawford and he struggles to stretch his voice, especially on the high notes. Overall, he sings too deep for the role, sounding as if he is still in Les Miserables. Still, he is much better than the mediocre performance Gerard Butler gave in the 2004 movie version. Rebecca Caine is a fine Christine, her soprano has no problem of getting into the character. Byron Nease, who plays Raoul, also fails to deliver, sounding too old and squeaky. The unwritten rule of the musical theatre, that the miscasting can affect the best of materials, is regrettably evident here. There is also a minor problem with the orchestrations, since some parts have a faster tempo than in the original. The aficionados will notice small lyrical changes in comparison with the original cast recording.

The CD comes with a synopsis (a rear treat in the Andrew Lloyd Webber's cast recordings), the lyrics and production photos.

This recording works best as an addition to the existing Phantom collection. For the first time listeners, I highly recommend the 2-disc 1986 London Cast Recording. Not only does it feature almost the entire musical, but also the cast is much, much better, as well as the orchestrations, which have a more classical touch.

I liked Colm Wilkinson better in Les Miz.......2006-05-12

Not to say that he doesn't do a good job in this role as well, but often times it just sounds like Jean Valjean singing the Phantom. He does have some great moments but I think the Christine is the best thing about this recording. I don't know why, but I find her voice incredibly sexy. It's easy to see why the Phantom would want to seduce her and foster her talent. Raoul's line (and vocal) delivery is a little too "Dudley Do Right" for my tastes. It sounds almost comical at times. I dunno, maybe that's what he was going for. The London Cast recording is probably still the gold standard simply because the actors have become so synonymous with the roles they played, but you should pick this one up if you want a more up-to-date version of the orchestrations and, subsequently, the libretto.

Average customer rating:

Great CD
a trip one loves to take

Acoustic Journey
Al Petteway
Manufacturer: Maggie's Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Waters and the Wild
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ASIN: B0002SPS2A
Release Date: 2004-08-17

Tracks:

Desert Dance/ Mariposa
Caledon Wood
Sundog
Midnight Ride
You Make Me Smile
Red-Haired Boy
Loss
Baker's Dozen
The Celtic Wedding
Accokeek Shore
Bareback
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Album Description

Al & Amy are an award-winning performing arts duo. They create new music for a new generation - a brilliant convergence of Celtic, with hints of progressive Bluegrass, Rock, Country, Blues, Jazz and Classical idioms...This recording features a variety of instruments including Acoustic Guitar,Piano, Mandolin, Irish Bouzouki, Fretless Bass, Uillean Pipes & World Percussion and fits the genre's of New Age and CONTEMPORARY FOLK.

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2004-11-20

The previous review goes into great detail about the CD, so there is no need to duplicate that here. I do want to add that this CD like all of Al and Amy's CDs provides an enormous amount of pleasure. It is not a greatest hits CD, although it has some of their best songs. It is, instead, a compilation of new, old and remixed songs, all of which sound great. I have listened to this CD over and over again. I highly recommend it.

a trip one loves to take.......2004-08-19

This album is billed as a collection/collaboration...for a much weaker album one might be tempted to say 'greatest hits'. This set of tunes may indeed have appeared in previous work by Amy and Al, but what they have done here is make them new and exciting. If the songs were people one would say they are not 'good looking', they are 'beautiful'. To be sure the original soul and heart of these songs still beats. In this CD they have taken on a complexity or maturity that is uncommon in all but the greatest musical works. One can listen to this CD many times under many different circumstances and still have it work. It is one to treasure.

Desert Dance begins the journey of this album with a great fusion of Celtic, Central American, and Mediterranean (in an earlier time I might have called it Galician or North African). It still retains that 'silk roads' lure that would make Yo Yo Ma jealous.
Caledon Wood has been one of my favourites for many years. The version here adds levels of breadth and depth I'd not imagined. In six listenings it still comes up with new themes. The drum and percussion for example could be very early Celtic of the type around the mythic fire...it could also be East Indian or a variety of other places in the world. Makes it a whole new song.
Sundog creates the meeting of faery time and human time when the sea, the sun, the winds, and our friends gather at a miraculous moment. Red-Haired Boy is another of the tunes that has matured wonderfully and taken on a complexity that is delightful. Listening to it I'm more reminded of the line by the poet: "My Love is Wood Fire Burning". I think of friends of all types with this one. Perhaps the most surprising tune on the CD is Baker's Dozen. On the one hand very much a folk tune. On the other it is a VERY progressive up-town jazz piece that may well be a sleeper. I first heard this shortly after they wrote it. It is as exciting now as the first time with lots of new stuff in it.
Amy and Al are great musicians. They have produced excellent work on their own. Together they produce music that transcends the individual efforts. It is worth listening to anything and everything they have done. That being said, this is their best work yet.
Like those we love, each time we see them we experience both the familiar and a magic something that is new. The same can be said for this album.
For passing time, time passing, and times to remember, this is an album you should run not walk to buy. Like great art, you'll wonder how you lived without it.
Enjoy!

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1. Do-Re-Mi (From Sound Of Music)
2. The Phantom Of The Opera/Music Of The Night (From Phontom Of The Opera)
3. Cabaret (From Cabaret)
4. Some Of These Days (From The Bubbling Brown Sugar)
5. Memory (From Cats)
6. I Don't Know How To Love Him (From Jesus Christ Superstar)
7. Ease On Down The Road (From The Wiz)
8. Don’T Cry For Me Argentina (From Evit)
9. Mr Bojangles (From Dancin)
10. Only He (Has The Power To Ove Me) (From Starlight Express)
11. All That Jazz (Form Chicago)
12. People (From Funny Girl)
13. Any Dream Will Do (From Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
14. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face (From My Fair Lady)
15. It Ain't Necessarily So (From Porgy And Bess)
16. There's No Business Like Show Business (From Annie Get Your Gun)
17. If I Were A Rich Man (From Fiddler On The Roof)
18. Why God Why (From Miss Saigon)
19. Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (From Hair)
20. What I Did For Love ( From A Chorus Line )