| 1. Rest in Peace |
| 2. Damn Thing |
| 3. (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin' |
| 4. Chance for Our Love |
| 5. Please Love Me |
| 6. Just for Fun |
| 7. We'recalledwhistle |
| 8. Barbara's Bedroom |
Whistle,Whistle,Select / Ada,Hip-Hop,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban
Average customer rating:
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Armchair Apocrypha
Andrew Bird Manufacturer: Fat Possum Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000MV9A1C Release Date: 2007-03-20 |
Tracks:
- Fiery Crash
- Imitosis
- Plasticities
- Heretics
- Armchairs
- Darkmatter
- Simple X
- The Supine
- Cataracts
- Scythian Empires
- Spare-Ohs
- Yawn At The Apocalypse
Amazon.com
Strip away the music of an Andrew Bird song, and you're left with brilliant prose ("across the great chasms and schisms and the sudden aneurysms"), vignettes about mentally fending off plane crashes, infiltrating characters like the kings of Macedonia and Lou Dobbs, and titles such as "Yawny at the Apocalyspe." It's hard to believe that, really, his music reigns, but when Bird adds understated acoustic guitars, Wurlitzer and Rhodes, and his own mesmerizing pizzicato violin, his songs take on a progressive mood all their own. The Chicago Bird's tenth album (and his debut for extraordinary Mississippi blues label Fat Possum) is perhaps his most diverse, expansive, and resourceful yet, catering to a half-dozen genres of music while exploring storylines that are naïve ("Dark Matter"), candid ("Fiery Crash"), and blatantly comical ("Armchairs"). Making no palpable effort to crack the conventional with overflowing melodies and love songs, Bird instead latches up the intellect to create tiny packages of literature that make always leave you thinking--and snapping your fingers at the same time. --Scott HolterCustomer Reviews:
My first Andrew Bird cd but not my last........2007-07-28
polished.......2007-07-26
I wish he would learn to play the freakin' guitar!.......2007-07-20
Secondly, I refuse to join the bandwagon of Andrew Bird worship. Especially around here (the Twin Cities), he gets played very frequently on indie rock stations here (namely, The Current), and the DJs seem to adore him. While I freely admit he's incredibly gifted as a musician, most of his songs seem to boil down to about 2 quite uninteresting chords. And anybody's who's ever plugged in an electric guitar at the music store could sound like his guitar. He seems to have no idea of how to nuance a guitar and amp to really get the richness that is possible. And I'm sorry, but "Fiery Crash" is just plain boring!
He can do better than this, and I hope he does on his next album.
Not to my taste.......2007-07-14
An Antti Keisala Comment: Tales Of The Mysterious Moon.......2007-06-02
I am new to Andrew Bird. This I'm ashamed to confess, but better late than never; I only stumbled on him at the time of the release of this album a few months back, then had to get The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Weather Systems and his work with the Bowl of Fire. I came to him pretty straight through the usual companions, Sufjan Stevens and Jeffrey Foucault, and I don't know how I've managed so far without him: he's a part of the new wave of post-indie rock channeled through self-conscious resurgence of American folk music culture. But that's only part of where he's rooted: there's some of The Arcade Fire and some Jeff Buckley, and yet transcending comparison and forming a recognizable entity on his own.
Bird is a great musician and the live recordings, the three Fingerlings, should give some weight to this argument about his sense of using the instruments; he's like the young Warren Ellis of violin. He's also absolutely hilarious; his humour is witty and ironic, and his lyrics and singing completely complement the mood the song sets musically. The album opener "Fiery Crash" opens like a trashy garage rock song and evolves to an immesurably sophisticated pop song, almost echoing a Belle And Sebastian composition; but this is pop music that isn't pop music; it has twists and turns that continuously shape the direction the song and album are going to. Every time my mind grasps a hook and settles onto it for continuity, Bird changes the direction. I've scarcely had so much fun whilst listening.
A gem that's special. Have fun.
With best regards,
AK
Average customer rating:
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The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack)
Deborah Kerr , Yul Brynner , Marni Nixon , Rita Moreno , and Alfred Newman Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005A7XC Release Date: 2001-03-13 |
Tracks:
- Main Title - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
- I Whistle A Happy Tune - Marni Nixon/Rex Thompson
- My Lord And Master - Rita Moreno
- The March Of The Siamese Children - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
- Anna And The Royal Wives - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
- Hello, Young Lovers - Marni Nixon
- A Puzzlement - Yul Brynner
- Getting To Know You - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon
- Garden Rendezvous - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
- We Kiss In A Shadow - Leona Gordon/Reuben Fuentes
- I Have Dreamed - Leona Gordon/Reuben Fuentes
- Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You? - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon
- Something Wonderful - Terry Saunders
- Prayer To Buddha - Yul Brynner
- Waltz Of Anna And Sir Edward - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
- The Small House Of Uncle Thomas - Rita Moreno
- Song Of The King - Yul Brynner/Marni Nixon
- Shall We Dance? - Deborah Kerr/Marni Nixon/Yul Brynner
- The Letter - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
- Something Wonderful (Finale) - Chorus/Alfred Newman
- Overture (LP Version) - 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
Amazon.com essential recording
Compared with the Broadway cast recording, the 1956 soundtrack to the film version of The King and I wins hands down. Yul Brynner is the king (literally and figuratively) in both formats (how could anyone else own such a role?), but the movie's score has better sonics, Brynner's voice is stronger, and the tunes are more memorable (thanks to Alfred Newman's conducting and Ken Darby's scoring) than on any of the various cast recordings. Marni Nixon sings the role of Anna (played onscreen by Deborah Kerr), Brynner delivers his hallmark performance, and the best-loved tunes--"Hello, Young Lovers," "Getting to Know You," and "I Whistle a Happy Tune" are the versions we'll always remember. A classic. --James HendricksonCustomer Reviews:
brilliant. a truely timeless classic.......2007-07-29
SONGS
what's great here is that although several songs were cut for the movie, they are included on the soundtrack (my lord and master, shall i tell you what i think of you) it's a shame they were left out, but getting to hear them here is pretty great. there's a great broadway feel because of that, so i'm glad they made their way to this soundtrack
SONGS 5 out of 5
PERFORMERS
well of course there's yul brynner as the king, and no one tops him. his combination of stupborness and confusion are great and even these vocal tracks show why he won his oscar. marni nixon (who dubbed for deborah kerr) and deborah kerr perform together on several tracks, and the dubbing is perfect. you can't tell where one begins and the other ends. nixon's voice is flawless and she is great here too. sadly the supporting performers are mildly forgettable. personally i didnt care for reuben fuentes and leona gordon's dubbing for lun tha and tuptim respectively. they both do well, but aren't as moving martin vidnovic and june angela in the 1977 broadway revival. and, as well as fuentes and gordon actually do, they lack the presence and emotional level that is unsurpassed by peabo bryson and lea salonga on the 1992 studio cast album
PERFORMERS 5 out of 5
this is a great recording from a great movie that is a wonderful addition for either music lovers, musical lovers, or movie lovers. and fans of the king and i cant pass this up. marni nixon and of course yul brynner are amazing and shouldnt be forgotten.
FINALLY, KEER AND NIXON BOTH SING.......2007-05-26
DEBORAH KERR BOTH SING. TRULY A COLLECTORS
ITEM WITH ALL THE NOSTALGIA, OUTSHINES ALL
OTHER ATTEMPTS TO RE-MASTER THIS MAGNIFICANT
MUSIC.
The King and I--a distinguished, beautiful score laced with tenderness and sorrow.......2007-04-08
The CD starts off with the music for the "main title" of the film; and this also serves as an appetizer to whet out appetites for what's to come. "I Whistle A Happy Tune" gives us Marni Nixon singing the vocals for Deborah Kerr; the melody is infectiously catchy; this song is one of the highlights of the CD. "My Lord And Master," performed by Leona Gordon who sang the vocals for Rita Moreno, is another masterpiece with a softness to it that belies the pain Rita's character Tuptim feels because she is separated from her one true love. "The March Of The Siamese Children" is performed by the 20th Century Fox Orchestra to perfection without a single superfluous note; the melody infuses this number with an Asian flavor as well.
Other gems on this CD--and that would, quite honestly, include every single track--include "Hello, Young Lovers" sung by Marni Nixon as Deborah Kerr's character Anna Leonowens laments a love gone awry back in England; the touching and heartrending "We Kiss In A Shadow;" Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang performing "Something Wonderful" with exceptional sensitivity and "Shall We Dance?" which is performed by Deborah Kerr, Marni Nixon and Yul Brynner. As you listen to numbers like "Shall We Dance?" that calls for Anna, played by Deborah Kerr, to speak and then sing, you will have a hard time discerning where Deborah Kerr leaves off speaking and Marni Nixon starts singing. It's THAT good.
As long as I include the words "Something Wonderful" when writing this review I must add that the extras you get are stupendous. As I stated above, the CD boasts much that the record album soundtrack never included. Indeed, we get music that didn't even make it to the final cut of the movie! I loved the beautiful and sensitive rendition of "The Small House Of Uncle Thomas" which was previously unreleased and "Shall I Tell You What I Think Of You" is a marvelous song--cut from the final edited edition of the film--that highlights Anna's contempt for the King's backward ways.
The CD package offers more still. Along with the CD comes a generous 32 page booklet with an extensive essay by Charles L. Granata that tells the history of both the stage play and the making of the stage play into a major motion picture at Fox. In addition, you get the song credits and there are rarely seen photographs as well.
The quality of the sound shines like solid gold. These performances reflect great sensitivity to the emotions each character felt. It is a special treat to listen to Yul Brynner's songs; he infuses each song and even every word with just the right emotions so that the listener experiences exactly what his character feels at every turn.
This CD is one of the very few that truly remind me of the old MGM logo which boasted of having "more stars than there are in the heavens." Indeed, five stars are nowhere near enough for this treasure. I highly recommend this CD for people who truly loved and appreciated The King And I both in its several onstage productions as well as on the big screen; and fans of show tunes will delight in this CD soundtrack with its' diamonds scattered broadly in all directions.
A fine King and I soundtrack reissue.......2007-02-10
I won't reiterate the critic-proof performances here. Other reviewers have covered them elsewhere. Nixon as a voice-dubber is in her element as Anna, and portrays her characterfully. Brynner is in his element as the King, as firm, commanding and authoritative as we've always known him to be. This performance shows him at his best, ripe, fresh and mature. Leona Gordon and Reuben Fuentes shine as the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha, bringing a melancholic quality to their brief numbers. It's really a treat to hear their renditions of the omitted songs My Lord and Master and I Have Dreamed. Rita Moreno as the real Tuptim acquits herself well when narrating the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet sequence, presented for the first time on an official soundtrack recording. It's good to also hear Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang, in a heartfelt, humane and imploring rendition of Something Wonderful, and she is the icing on the cake of this superb soundtrack recording.
This EMI-Angel R&H soundtrack offers an extra benefit in addition to the extra musical sequences. Unlike the companion CDs of Oklahoma and Carousel, it presents the extra material from the original unmixed studio vault masters, except for the Prayer to Buddha and the Uncle Tom's Cabin ballet. This means that this reissue is blessedly free of the extraneous sound effects that plague the Oklahoma and Carousel CDs. I know that the sound effects and little snippets of dialogue drown out the music, but at least these reissues are a start in presenting comprehensive R&H soundtracks worthy of their films. What a pity that none of these R&H soundtrack reissues aren't 2-CD sets, otherwise we would have been able to hear the underscore.
In short, this is a superb presentation of a fine R&H film soundtrack.
great album.......2006-07-15
Average customer rating:
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Disney's Greatest 3
Various Artists Manufacturer: Disney ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00006EXKT Release Date: 2002-08-20 |
Amazon.com
Cynical types will accuse Disney of milking the "greatest" concept until it's drier than Tinkerbell's fairy dust ("Supercalafragilisticexpealidocious," "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Da," and "Heigh Ho" were hits off of Vol. 1; "Bare Necessities," "It's a Small World," and "Some Day My Prince Will Come" stole the show on Vol. 2), but a glimpse of this installment's track listing is all it'll take to squash their suspicions. Once again running reverse-chronologically, Vol. 3 opens with Jonatha Brooke's gorgeously achy ballad "I'll Try," from 2002's arguably not-so-great Return to Neverland, and gradually reaches back through the years to re-raise the curtain on Toy Story 2 ("When She Loved Me," performed by Sarah McLachlan), The Lion King ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"), Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews's classic "A Spoonful of Sugar"), Pinocchio ("Give a Little Whistle"), and a bundle of treasured others, bottoming out at 1933's "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" from The Three Little Pigs. Vol. 3 is not without its weak moments--would a G-rated movie-goers' poll produce Beauty and the Beast's "Gaston" or The Hunchback of Notre Dame's "Topsy Turvy" on a hits list? Seems unlikely. Still, the bulk of these tracks are, as the included Little Mermaid song goes, "Part of Your World," and the spread of decades they represent proves their staying power. Don't expect Disney to latch the lid on its inexhaustible archives until a dozen or so of these records, each as strong as the next, beckon you back for more. --Tammy La GorceCustomer Reviews:
Disney's greatest hits, volum 3.......2007-05-13
above 18 but still have some kid in them
Timeless Disney Music.......2007-05-07
Disney songs are the best.......2006-03-18
Great Disney Music.......2006-02-21
Not as good as Vol 1 and Vol 2.......2005-09-11
Average customer rating:
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Restless
Sara Evans Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000AC8PE Release Date: 2003-08-19 |
Tracks:
- Rockin' Horse
- Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus
- Restless
- Niagra
- Perfect
- Need To Be Next To You
- To Be Happy
- Tonight
- Otis Redding
- Feel It Comin' On
- I Give In
- Big Cry
- Suds In The Bucket
Amazon.com
Sara Evans's 2000 effort, the platinum-selling Born to Fly, put her in the front ranks of the most promising of modern country singer-songwriters. As a woman with a strong traditional background, she found a way to marry contemporary sounds and sensibilities with her bedrock country and bluegrass history, and, with the help of producer Paul Worley, delivered a complete, believable, and very fetching record. But Restless sounds as if she and Worley just went in and cut a passel of songs. A lot of them carry a message of hope, of making "something magic out of something frightening," as she sings in "Rockin' Horse," one of five tracks she co-wrote. But most of them just sound as if she had getting on radio more in mind than anything else. It's hard to tell if the album doesn't know what it wants to be, or if it's Evans who's confused. Worley over-produced the majority of it with unnecessary layers and busy arrangements, and the repertoire ranges all over the place, from an awful attempt at swaggering R&B ("Big Cry") to the hay-bale-and-pickup milieu of "Suds in the Bucket." While the languid and affecting "Backseat of a Greyhound Bus" sticks in the memory and the sensual "Otis Redding" gets the hormones charged, too many of the songs just roll by. Evans remains a wonder of a singer, however, whether she's projecting her clearer pop voice or calling on the nasality of her Missouri barn-dance-and-bluegrass training, something in too short supply on this uneven effort. --Alanna NashCustomer Reviews:
Pick Up .......2007-07-02
Rocking Horse
Back Seat of a Greyhound Bus - giving birth while on a bus trip
Niagra Falls - good imagery in this one, about love being as unstopable as a waterfall
Perfect - very catchy tune and lyrics
To Be Happy - stirring
Otis Reading - has a nice, homey feel to it. Sweetness of lover coming over
Feel it Coming On - great energy
Suds in the Bucket - excellent spirit and good story about girl who grows up real fast one day and leaves parents shocked
SARA'S SMOOTH, SULTRY, AND SEXY VOICE!!!!!!.......2007-02-24
Awesome Album!.......2007-02-05
1. Rockin' Horse- Sara sings about a childhood experience and the life lesson she gains from it. It's a cute, upbeat song, but not one of the best on this album. It would have been great for someone else though (4/5)
2. Backseat Of A Greyhound Bus- This is probably the deepest song on the entire album. It's about a girl who gets pregnant before marriage, and gets kicked out of her hometown. Sara injects so much emotion into it and makes it a great song to listen to (5/5)
3. Restless- This is a song that most single people could be able to relate to. It's about feeling out of place in the world and not being able to find "the one." I think this is one of the easiest songs to relate to on this album (5/5)
4. Niagara- This is my favorite song on the album. It's an amazing, well-written ballad and you can just feel Sara's emotions when she sings it. It definitely is a contender for one of the best songs Sara has ever recorded (5/5)
5. Perfect- Very radio-friendly, upbeat rocker. I can definitely see why it was sent to radio. She sounds kind of quirky and cute when she sings it, and you can't help but sing along with her (5/5)
6. Need To Be Next To You- Very beautiful ballad. You can definitely tell how much Sara loved her soon-to-be-ex-husband at the time this song was recorded. This would make a very good wedding song actually (5/5)
7. To Be Happy- Probably the worst song on the album. Now don't get me wrong, it's a cute, upbeat song, and it definitely sticks to you, but it just doesn't size up to any of the other songs on this album (3/5)
8. Tonight- Beautiful, sexy song. This is another good indicator about how she felt about Craig before the whole ordeal happened, and it would also be a good wedding song (5/5)
9. Otis Redding- This song is very...unique. And that's why I love it. The song sort of starts out very mellow, kind of like something you would hear at a coffee shop, but then Sara sings her heart out on the chorus. Just a great song (5/5)
10. Feel It Comin' On- Sara could probably go up to Craig and sing this song to him right now. It's such a sassy love-gone-bad song, and it's a great one too (4.5/5)
11. I Give In- This is another great song that shows how Sara felt about Craig, and it's ANOTHER great wedding song. Most young couples will be able to relate to this song (5/5)
12. Big Cry- The most soulful song on this album. The horns accent Sara's stunning, passionate vocals amazingly, and she just sounds down-right great on it (5/5)
13. Suds In The Bucket- The fun, country tune on the album. You can definitely see why she sent it to radio, and the video is very fun to watch too! (5/5)
OVERALL GRADE: 5/5
Great cd!.......2007-01-06
Sara's best album.......2006-12-30
Choice tracks:
Niagara,
To be Happy,
Tonight,
I give In,
Suds in the Bucket.
Average customer rating:
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Celtic Spirit
Various Artists Manufacturer: Narada ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000005P62 Release Date: 1996-09-24 |
Tracks:
- Ubi Caritas - Connie Dover
- Seacht Suailci' Na Maighdine Muire - Aoife Ni Fhearraigh
- Kyrie Eleison, An Ghloir, An Phaidir - Aine Minogue
- Be Thou My Vision - The Anjali Quartet
- Salve Splendor - William Jackson
- Noelenn Brehed - Groupe Vocal Jef Le Penven
- Mo Ghra' Thu' - Aoife Ni Fhearraigh
- Bi, A Losa, Im Chroi-se - William Coulter
- Our Father, God Celestial - The Baltimore Consort
- Puer Natus - Aine Minogue
- The Christ Child's Lullaby - Sheena Wellington
- Rosa Mystica - Therese Schroeder-Sheker
Customer Reviews:
Sound as if I am in church........2007-06-07
Compensating . . ........2007-01-24
No info.......2007-01-21
Best Celtic CD Ever.......2007-01-18
Beautiful; peaceful; classic Celtic.......2006-11-28
Average customer rating:
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Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00064ADMK Release Date: 2004-10-19 |
Tracks:
- Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
- Swanee- Al Jolson
- When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
- A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
- My Man- Fanny Brice
- Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
- If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
- Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
- Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
- Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
- Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
- Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
- Body And Soul- Libby Holman
- Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
- Night And Day- Fred Astaire
- Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
- You're The Top- Ethel Merman
- Summertime- Anne Brown
- September Song- Walter Huston
- My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
- It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
- Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
- Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
- Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake
Tracks:
- New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
- If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
- Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
- There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
- How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
- Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
- Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
- Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
- Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
- Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
- Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
- Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
- Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
- Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
- Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
- Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
- Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
- I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
- Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
- The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
- Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
- Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence
Tracks:
- Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
- I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
- Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
- My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
- Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
- Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
- Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
- Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
- I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
- The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
- Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
- What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
- As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
- Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
- People- Barbra Streisand
- Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
- If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
- Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
- The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
- If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
- Open a New Window- from Mame Voice
Tracks:
- Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
- Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
- I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
- The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
- Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
- I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
- I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
- We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
- Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
- Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
- Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
- One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
- All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
- Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
- Come Follow The Band
- Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
- And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
- The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia
Tracks:
- Memory- Betty Buckley
- I Am What I Am- George Hearn
- Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
- Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
- The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
- You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
- The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
- Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
- With One Look- Glenn Close
- On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
- Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
- Seasons Of Love-
- Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
- I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
- Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
- Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
- Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
- I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
- Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30
Top Shelf.......2007-01-04
TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23
Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14
Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17
Average customer rating:
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Whistle Bait: 25 Rockabilly Rave-Ups
Various Artists Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004W59Z Release Date: 2000-08-08 |
Tracks:
- Whistle Bait - Larry Collins
- You're Humbuggin' Me - Lefty Frizzell
- Snatch It And Grab It - Freddie Hart
- Rawhide - Link Wray & The Wraymen
- Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor - Johnny Horton
- Wild Wild Young Men - Rose Maddox
- Bop-A-Lena - Ronnie Self
- Ugly And Slouchy - Maddox Brothers
- Everybody's Rockin' - Werly Fairburn
- Jive After Five - Carl Perkins
- Bo Bo Ska Diddle Daddle - Wayne Walker
- Ah. Poor Little Baby - Billy 'Crash' Craddock
- Hoy Hoy - The Collins Kids
- Dig Boy Dig - Freddie Hart
- Guitar Rock And Roll - Joe Maphis
- I Got A Hole In My Pocket - 'Little' Jimmy Dickens
- Big Fool - Ronnie Self
- All Over Again - Johnny Cash
- Romp Stompin' Boogie - Jaycee Hill
- Baboon Boogie - Jimmy Murphy
- Good Rockin' Baby - Sid King & The Five Strings
- Rocky Road Blues - Ronnie Self
- Pink Pedal Pushers - Carl Perkins
- I'm Coming Home - Johnny Horton
- Mean Mama Blues - Marty Robbins
Customer Reviews:
Rock-A-Billy Review.......2007-02-07
The Mean Eyed Cat
KNON Radio 89.3
Dallas, Texas
OK I Guess.......2006-05-02
Whistle Bait.......2006-03-13
GREAT COMPANION TO THE "AIN'T I'M A DOG" CD.......2006-01-22
Like drinking good Scotch on the rocks.......2006-01-21
Average customer rating:
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Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
Andrew Lloyd Webber Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000657XY Release Date: 2002-05-07 |
Tracks:
- Superstar - Murray Head w/ the Trinidad Singers (Jesus Christ Superstar)
- As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand (Sunset Boulevard)
- The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman & Michael Crawford (The Phantom Of The Opera)
- You Must Love Me - Madonna (Evita)
- Any Dream Will Do-Donny Osmond (Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
- Memory - Betty Buckley (Cats)
- Pie Jesus - Charlotte Church (Requiem)
- The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford (The Phantom Of The Opera)
- I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman (Jesus Christ Superstar)
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina -Patti Lupone (Evita)
- Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball (Aspects Of Love)
- All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman (The Phantom Of The Opera)
- The Perfect Year - Glenn Close & Alan Campbell (Sunset Boulevard)
- The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones & Sounds Of Blackness (Whistle Down The Wind)
- No Matter What - Boyzone (Whistle Down The Wind)
- Oh What A Circus - Mandy Patinkin (Evita)
- Whistle Down The Wind - Sarah Brightman (Whistle Down The Wind)
- Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman & Jose Carrerras (1992 Olympics Theme)
Amazon.com
The critical debate over Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical legacy will no doubt rage for decades. Is he the shrewd populist composer who almost single-handedly revived the moribund stage musical--or a crass, Barnum-esque showman (who almost single-handedly revived the moribund stage musical)? This 18-track anthology chronicles the high points of Sir Andrew's enduring songcraft and the irrefutable impact it's made across a remarkably disparate swath of tastes and genres, from Broadway to Top 40 radio and even the classical repertoire.If some have accused Lloyd Webber's songs--like "The Music of the Night" (from Phantom of the Opera) and the title tune from Whistle Down the Wind, included here--of having all the melodic and lyrical sophistication of a children's lullaby, that's likely the very element that's made them so appealing to a mass audience. If nothing else, it's a compelling argument for that old notion about it being "the singer, not the song." Indeed, there are few contemporary composers whose music could entice divas from Streisand ("As If We'd Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Blvd.) to Madonna (Evita's "You Must Love Me") and Charlotte Church ("Pie Jesu" from Requiem) to cover it, let alone forge the very careers of artists like Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. And if there's any substance to that other criticism of Lloyd Webber lifting the melodic ideas of composers from Verdi to John Williams (we swear that's the theme to Jurassic Park bubbling up in Tom Jones's camped-up take on Whistle's "The Vaults of Heaven"), at least, like virtually every major composer, he's stolen--er, borrowed--from the best. --Jerry McCulley
Customer Reviews:
Andrew LLoyd Webber - Gold Hits.......2007-07-13
The Gold By Andrew.......2007-04-23
But besides that this cd is very good. With manye nice and difficult songs (I've sung some of the myself in siningclass).
So if you like Andrew's music this most sertanly is a most have.
The best of Webber.......2005-09-12
Some examples: this version contains Memory sung by Betty Buckley while the Elaine Page version is light years better. Then it contains Patti Lupone's version of Don't Cry For Me Argentina. Even though Madonna wasn't the best Evita, she definitely sung Argentina in a way no-one could before or will ever. Whistle Down The Wind is represented with 3 songs - the place of the Tom Jones song is not here (the same could be said of Tina Arena's song o the European edition). Instead of the TJ song they could have included Take That Look Off Your Face by Marti Webb - one of the best songs by Webber. Pie Jesu from the Requiem is much better sung by Sarah Brightman. These are the faults.
What about the rest? Pure joy and material worth of 6 stars. Superstar, Phantom Of The Opera, Music Of The Night, I Don't Know How To Love Him, All I Ask Of You, No Matter What, Oh What A Circus - wonderful songs and wonderful performers. My all-time favorite from Webber will always be Music Of The Night and the version included here is the mesmerizing adaptation of Michael Crawford.
I don't advise anyone not to buy this album - it's good material, however it's far from being perfect.
THE BEST OF LLOYD WEBBER MADE FOR THE AMERICAN AUDIENCES.......2005-01-31
So here are my thoughts about the tracks in this one:
1. "Superstar" and "I don't know how to love him" are both from the concept album of "Jesus Christ Superstar". They sound wonderful as ever, although the orchestrations may seem a bit dated by now.
2. "Sunset Boulevard" is marked here with two songs. Barbra Streisand's powerful voice shines all the way through in "As if we never said goodbye"; it's a shame she never played Norma Desmond on Broadway, since Patti LuPone wasn't allowed to take her Norma to New York, and Glenn Close butchered the role. Her limited vocal abilities were hardly suited for the material, as it is shown by the second Sunset song, "The perfect year", performed by Close and Alan Campbell. They both lack a decent singing voice, so this is the one song I skip regularly. The song itself sounds much better in its single version with pops orchestration, as can be heard on the European version of this compilation, where it is performed by Dina Carroll. This version here can hardly be considered a gold one.
3. "The Phantom of the Opera" is represented by three songs. Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman performance in the song of the same title is amazing. They were both born to play their roles in this show and their voices fit together perfectly. Sarah can hit the high notes in the end like no other Christine. Cliff Richard and Sarah sing the lovely ballad "All I ask of you" with passion, and Cliff has a wonderful warmth in his voice. Finally, Michael Crawford gives his unique and mesmerising interpretation in "The music of the night".
4. The 1996 movie version of "Evita" is Madonna's best role to date and it brought an Academy Award for Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who wrote "You must love me" especially for the big screen. This is another wonderful ballad with the haunting cello and piano solo. It just proves that Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice were the best collaborators. They really should do another musical together.
5. "The Joseph and his amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was Webber's first musical and the signature song "Any dream will do" is performed here by Donny Osmond, who also appeared in the video version. I find his rendition even better than London's Jason Donovan, since Donny isn't strictly bound by the notes and so sings it more casually. A wonderful pop piece.
6."Memory" from "Cats" is probably the most famous of all Webber's songs, recorded by numerous artists. This version is sung by Betty Buckley, who was Broadway's Grizabella. Although Betty's performance can't be considered bad, I prefer Elaine Paige, who sung the song first, in the London production. Elaine has a note of sorrow in her at times husky voice, which I found very intriguing. Her performance can be considered definite, as heard on "Cats" DVD or in her latest two-disc compilation, "Centre stage: The very best of Elaine Paige", issued in May 2004. Still, those who prefer Ms. Buckley or who saw her on stage in this role won't be disappointed.
7. "Pie Jesu" is the best known song from Webber's "Requiem", written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. I'm not too keen on the version included here, performed by Charlotte Church, because her voice isn't as pretty as Sarah Brightman's on the original recording and the tempo is somewhat faster here.
8. "Don't cry for me Argentina" is among my all-time Lloyd Webber's favourites. I like all the ladies who performed "Evita" on the stage and on the screen (Julie Covington, Elaine Paige, Patti LuPone and Madonna), but on this disc is the version I am most satisfied with, since it is sung by Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone has a very powerful voice with an amazing range and she deserved her Tony Award for this role. She was able to sound both vulnerable and decisive while singing this, whereas the other leading ladies emphasized one or the other in their interpretation. Mandy Patinkin's "Oh what a circus" is not the best, the orchestration is a little bit weak and his voice sounds thin to me. David Essex on the London cast recording is more suitable.
9. "Aspects of love" boast here with its top song, "Love changes everything", performed wonderfully by Michael Ball. It was his #1 hit and is probably one of the most beautiful love anthems ever written.
10. Three songs come from "Whistle down the wind". The studio release of the same title is one of the reasons I bought this compilation, although I already have the European one. It is performed by Sarah Brightman with Lloyd Webber playing the piano and a symphonic orchestra who nicely takes the lead of the main melody. Sarah voice is angelic; she sings it like a little bird. Very charming. Boyzone's "No matter what" was a huge pop hit in the charts. Again, we have a song with the suitable orchestrations and vocals. And lastly, Tom Jones' deep voice in combination with the back vocals of "The Sounds of Blackness" gives a rocking rendition of the church hymn "The vaults of heaven". It can't be found on the European version and Tom's voice shows it hasn't aged. Way to go.
11. For the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Webber wrote, together with his long-time lyricist Don Black, this last song, "Amigos para siempre or Friends for life". It's a nice duet between Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras, their voices sore when bound together. The melody itself is neat, especially when the orchestra takes the lead.
Besides the fact that some of the performers here were not the best for my taste, there is also the fact that some of Lloyd Webber's shows are omitted in this version, most notably, "Tell me on a Sunday". Also, unlike its European counterpart, this compilation isn't aligned chronologically, so we have 1970 Superstar being the first song, 1993 Sunset Blvd comes the second, followed by The Phantom from 1986 and so on. None the less, this CD is excellent as an introduction to Lloyd Webber's music and one can continue with his cast recordings from there. It's also very handy as a single disc compilation for the American fans.
Super good CD.......2004-12-31
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Further Down the Old Plank Road
The Chieftains Manufacturer: RCA Victor ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000ABGD3 Release Date: 2003-09-09 |
Tracks:
- The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
- Jordan Is A Hard Road To Travel
- Hick's Farewell
- Shady Grove
- The Girl I Left Behind
- Rosc Catha Na Nuimhain/Arkansas Traveller/The Wild Irishman
- Lambs In The Greenfield
- The Moonshiner/I'm A Gambler I'm a Rambler
- Wild Mountain Thyme
- Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe
- Bandit Of Love/The Cheatin' Waltz
- The Squid Jiggin' Ground/Larry O'Gaff
- Three Little Babies
- Fisherman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream
- Talk About Suffering/Man Of The House
- The Lily Of The West
Amazon.com
As on Another Country (1992) and The Old Plank Road (2002), the venerable Irish acoustic band celebrates the shared sources of Celtic music and America's Appalachian folk/old-timey/bluegrass canon. That several of the guest players are veterans of all three sets lends a note of continuity to the palpable joy of discovery that fairly leaps from every track. Highlights are non-stop, but Allison Moorer's doom-laden vocal on "Hick's Farewell" raises goose-flesh, as does Emmylou Harris' "Lambs In The Greenfield," while Don Williams' treatment of an old Scottish ballad, "Wild Mountain Thyme," reveals a sturdy, unsentimental masculinity. The Chieftains are generous hosts throughout, often taking a back seat so their collaborators may shine. A poignant note: harpist and multi-instrumentalist Derek Bell, a longtime Chieftains member, died just after the Plank Road sessions were completed. That these were destined to be among his final recordings makes them all the more worthy of treasuring. --Christina RodenCustomer Reviews:
Great second set of roots music from "The Plank Road Sessions".......2006-04-17
Chieftains Merge Irish & Bluegrass Influences.......2005-03-22
Highlights include Tim O'Brien's foot-stomping rendition of "Shady Grove, John Prine's plaintive "The Girl I Left Behind," Ricky Skaggs' "Talk About Suffering/Man of the House" and Nickel Creek's performance of the centuries' old "Raggle Taggle Gypsy."
Several of these songs were not originally recorded for this album. "Fishmerman's Hornpipe/The Devil's Dream," which features the lightning fingers of Doc Watson, was recorded in 1980-81. Four other tracks (9-12) were recorded in 1992, presumably during the sessions for the 1992 release ANOTHER COUNTRY.
Overall, this is a thoroughly satisfying album from Ireland's best ambassadors of Irish music. [Running time 55:06] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Way Down The Old Plank Road.......2003-12-09
Highlights on this one, for me, include John Hiatt's version of the Uncle Dave Macon song Jordan is a Hard Road, and Doc Watson with the Chieftains.
The Nickle Creek version of Raggle Tagle Gypsy doesn't do it for me -- I've been spoiled by listening to the Planxty version for years.
All in all a great listen, with an interesting historical connection.
further is better.......2003-10-01
I was surprised that there was no mention of the passing of Derek Bell in the liner notes of the cd. Perhaps a tribute to him will be made in an upcoming cd.
The Chieftains turn out another winner.......2003-09-21
This album has a wide variety of both Irish and American pieces on it, opening with the old standard "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy", performed with Nickel Creek to stunning results. Next comes the American folk song "Jordan is a Hard Road to Travel" with John Hiatt, and if it weren't for Hiatt's superbly raspy old-time voice this would pass as a traditional dance from back over on the Emerald Isle. Following this upbeat tune comes a mournful Southern song with Allison Moorer, the solemn "Hick's Farewell", her voice backed quietly by Paddy and his boys and attended to by the sorrowful wailing of Matt Molloy's flute. "Shady Grove" with Tim O'Brien has lyrics that are very American in nature but a tune that, like much of the material on this album, could have come right out of Ireland itself.
The incomparable John Prine accompanies The Chieftains on "The Girl I Left Behind", employing his once-twangy but now warmer and deeper voice to a song that sounds like a lot of his other work - not a bad thing, mind you. The following set with Jerry Douglas contains the Irish tunes "Rosc Catha Na Mumhain" and "The Wild Irishman", both played superbly, as well as an unexpected treat - "The Arkansas Traveler", undoubtedly one of the best-known old-time folk songs that transforms the track from a set of Celtic tunes to a sort of Irish hoedown, as the liner notes put it. After that comes a superbly sad/sweet Irish song, "Lambs in the Greenfield", played with a past Chieftains collaborator Emmylou Harris, to lovely results. In the space of Band 8 Joe Ely shows up with his roguishly rambling voice, singing two tunes that suit his demeanor well - "The Moonshiner" and "I'm a Rambler".
Country legend Don Williams turns up on this album to sing that beautiful old Irish ballad, "Wild Mountain Thyme" with his virtually-trademark deep country voice that gives the classic air a new dimension. Chet Atkins plays on "Chief O'Neill's Hornpipe", which if memory serves was actually recorded back on The Chieftains' first bluegrass/country endeavor, "Another Country", and could be considered the single cheap shot on the album, even though the collaboration is still very high quality. Band 11 contains Carlene Carter's "Bandit of Love" from 1980, sung by the composer and The Chieftains' own "The Cheatin' Waltz", the former taking up a much longer time slot than the latter. The famous Nitty Gritty Dirt Band gives a spirited performance of "The Squid-Jiggin' Ground", a lively little song rather peculiar in subject but catchy in tune, its words having been set to the Irish Larry O'Gaff's Jig by immigrants to Newfoundland, Canada.
Patty Loveless delivers a wailing rendition of "Three Little Babes", an anguish-filled variant of an old English air sung in the Appalachian Mountains. On track 14 Doc Watson plays a sprightly hornpipe popular on both sides of the Atlantic, "The Fisherman's Hornpipe", followed by another famous tune, "Devil's Dream." Long-time friend of The Chieftains Ricky Skaggs lays down another soulful Southern song, "Talk About Sufferin'", written in the gospel singing tradition of the American southeast. The final tune, "The Lily of the West", has been sung by The Chieftains on a past album, "The Long Black Veil", in collaboration with Mark Knopfler. But sung here to a different tune with somewhat altered lyrics by Rosanne Cash, Johnny "The Man in Black" Cash's daughter, the song takes on an entirely different feel, to my ears less appealing than Knopfler's rendition but still enjoyable.
All in all, "Further Down the Old Plank Road" is anything but an attempt to administer one last whack to a long-dead horse, to paraphrase the liner notes of "Water from the Well" (also a great album). Even though American music is the predominate style on the album, it's still a real treat for Chieftains fans and a great listen for any fan of traditional Irish, bluegrass, or country music, or any of the performers above for that matter. Highly recommended!
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Anyone Can Whistle (1964 Original Broadway Cast)
Stephen Sondheim , Angela Lansbury , and Lee Remick Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000996G0 Release Date: 2003-05-13 |
Tracks:
- Prelude
- Me and My Town - Angela Lansbury
- Miracle Song - Angela Lansbury
- There Won't Be Trumpets - Lee Remick
- Simple - Angela Lansbury
- Come Play Wiz Me - Lee Remick & Harry Guardino
- Anyone Can Whistle - Lee Remick
- A Parade in Town - Angela Lansbury & ensemble
- Everybody Says Don't - Harry Guardino
- I've Got You To Lean On - Angela Lansbury
- See What It Gets You - Lee Remick
- The Cookie Chase
- With So Little to Be Sure Of - Lee Remick & Harry Guardino
- I'm Like the Bluebird (bonus) - Stephen Sondheim, piano & vocals (previously unreleased demo)
- The Lame, the Halt, and the Blind (bonus) - Stephen Sondheim, piano & vocals (previously unreleased demo)
- Come Play Wiz Me (bonus) - Stephen Sondheim, piano & vocals (previously unreleased demo)
- Anyone Can Whistle (bonus) - Stephen Sondheim, piano & vocals (previously unreleased demo)
- With So Little to Be Sure Of (bonus) - Stephen Sondheim, piano & vocals (previously unreleased demo)
Amazon.com
Give credit (and thanks) to Goddard Lieberson and Columbia Records for preserving the original cast recording of Anyone Can Whistle despite a blink-and-you-missed-it run of nine performances in 1964. That's often blamed on the challenging and confusing book, which features a Mayoress (Angela Lansbury) whose town is economically depressed until the fortuitous arrival of an apparent miracle. Unfortunately, the resulting influx of tourists clashes with 49 patients (known as "cookies") from a local mental hospital led by nurse Fay Apple (Lee Remick) when a traveling physician named Hapgood (Harry Guardino) arrives to sort things out. The score is fascinating early Stephen Sondheim and includes numerous songs that have become staples of Sondheim song collections: "There Won't Be Trumpets," the gentle title tune, "A Parade in Town," "Everybody Says Don't," and "With So Little to Be Sure Of." Almost exactly 31 years later, Anyone Can Whistle was recorded as a gala benefit concert, with 20 additional minutes of music and dialogue, an all-star cast including Lansbury and Bernadette Peters, and the excitement of a live performance. For heart, though, it still doesn't measure up to the original cast recording. --David HoriuchiCustomer Reviews:
COOKIE JAR.......2007-02-01
Arthur Laurence (a McCarthy witch-hunt-victim) must have been embittered, eager to retaliate with a vengeance here; and his sophisticated, ever willing to innovate and experiment, young collaborator Stephen Sondheim backed him up with a (some of them, indeed bizarre!) mixed bag of musical numbers. The impetus ranges from Brecht, Offenbach, Viennese Operetta through the likes of Ionesco, Pinter to the more conventional (Me and My Town recalls the Marilyn & Boys "Heat Wave"; "Come Play Wiz Me", the saucy Sellers/Loren doctor song). All told, a Broadway musical imposing such adamant, incisive, lunatic angle on US executive corruption was then, indeed, audacious at all risks.
The core of this (then doomed) effort is the number called "Simple"... and simple it is not at all: an extended, frantic, absurd, sardonic ensemble-scene leading to the end-of-Act-One "you are all mad" idea where the audience were impelled to see themselves as reflected on a mirror, lights on the house, the actors on stage facing and applauding them. What would today audiences see? Do they acceed to (and welcome) experiment and innovation so much more nowadays, as Sondheim's later (comparable) opus, ASSASSINS finally and successfully evolved from 'Off' to 'On' Broadway stage?
Recording sessions must have been sweaty for Lieberson, for Sondheim, not the least for musical director Herbert Greene, as principal love couple struggled to comply with their pitch range, syncopations, machine-gun lyrics and proper voice technique as well as the required emotion. Lots of the latter abounds though, not unlike every original cast album recorded days after its premiere, this one recorded the day after the show folded! And quite a cookie chase it had been: sundry internal squabbles during previews; director Laurents' continual --desperate, stubborn-- re-stagings and cuts (like the marvelous "There's Always A Woman" which Kaye Ballard and Sally Mayes recently recorded beautifully in the album "Unsung Sondheim"); the quarrels between producers and creators (a fist-fight is legendary); an actor's death of heart attack during rehearsals... Whatever, the Sondheim Cult has proclaimed this album 'a must' and so it must be.
'Whistle' producers' later comments that neither Guardino or Remick could sing are exaggerated; flaws included, they could deliver a song with plenty of charisma. And a little less Sondheim tough, convoluted writing might have eased it all. Exquisite blue-eyed Lee Remick, whose acting talents rendered every word she sang so clearly defined and felt, couldn't cope with the syncopated vocal line in most of "There Won't Be Trumpets" but we can forgive her, after all, the song was cut for the premiere and, although recorded, also from the 1964 released vynil album. (Had they computer mixing and Pro-Tools facilities then, some of Remick's voice track could have easily been shifted to fit the orchestra; also some pitching repair would have delivered them all flawless.) Whatever, I never heard a more moving rendition of "Anyone Can Whistle" than Remick's (or Sondheim's own voice & piano bonus track demo). That Guardino couldn't utter "Everybody Says Don't" very fast was not such a sin then, as the world hadn't as yet experienced Sondheim's virtuoso speedy lyrics ("Getting Married Today" or the Seurat-inspired numbers for Patinkin were still in God's mind... let alone the Ballad of Czgolgosz.....) still, Guardino's singing is ripe, heavy-cigaretted and seducingly charming... The renderings of his songs in the 1995 Carnegie Hall Concert Revival sound epicene in comparison.
Last but not least, Angela Lansbury's debut in music theatre whose casting alone is worth cherishing this recording, where she coped bravely and astoundingly with the whole bravura, dazzling span of her material, introducing her distinct, bewitching, everlasting performance magic.
A Sondheim/Laurents flop well worth cherishing.
Not Sondheim's Best Work... or even close.......2006-12-08
I also have the concert version of the show, which was done as benefit for GMHC (why I have two versions of a show I don't like is beyond me), and even with the best stars, there's just no there there. Perhaps if I had seen the show and could appreciate the songs in context... or perhaps not.
I love Sondheim, really I do. It's just some of his music that bores and/or annoys me. And certain songs in Anyone Can Whistle are a perfect example. It's like getting the Complete Symphonic Recording of a show and realizing there was a reason that only certain songs were included in the Original Cast Recording, except that this IS the original cast recording, and there just aren't enough good songs to make an album of it.
If I were to do it again, I'd just download a few songs from iTunes or one of those sites (assuming they have showtunes on those sites) rather than buying the album. Or both versions. That was really dumb.
Okay, so it's not a perfect musical..........2006-11-29
Angela Landsbury plays a corrupt mayoress who, in order to restore her town to economic prosperity, creates a fake "miracle"- water pouring from a rock. Pilgrims come to the miracle but unfortunately become mixed up with visiting resedences, "cookies", of a sanitorium. The cookies are accompanied by their nurse, Lee Remick, who sees through the mayoresses plot and refuses to identify her patients. The mayoress calls in Doctor Hapgood (Harry Gaurdino), who will separate the mass of tourists into who is sane and who is not. Then, all hell breaks loose. Some may say the plot is needlessly confusing, but the plot comes second the Sondheims magnificent score.
The best songs are ME AND MY TOWN, where we meet the mayoress and her crooked assistants, and they bemoan their failing town. In THERE WON'T BE TRUMPETS, which was originally cut from the show but included in this recording, Lee Remic denounces the mayoress' evil doings, and prophesizes a hero coming to save the town. SIMPLE has Doctor Hapgood winning the town's trust by dividing them into Group 1 and Group A- one group is sane, the other is not. Its a smart and funny song about the fine line between sanity and brilliance. In A PARADE IN TOWN, the mayoress watches her once loyal population be won over by the Doctor and his non-regime leadership. EVERYONE SAYS DON'T, possibly one of the most musically difficult songs in the show, has the Doctor teaching the nurse about his free lifestyle. I'VE GOT YOU TO LEAN ON is a song of extreem divotion between the mayoress and her lackees. WITH SO LITTLE TO BE SURE OF is a tragic love duet about the realities of love, and about the uncertanties we all feel about the future.
Anyone Can Whistle is pure genius and a must have for every Sondhiem collector.
A Cult Musical .......2006-07-20
Simply delightful!.......2006-05-29
Originally having opened on Broadway on April 4, 1964, the show quickly folded, closing on April 11, 1964 after only nine short performances. Why this happened is a mystery to me, but some attribute it to the time in which the show was extant, the perhaps confusing book by Laurents, and other factors. The key here is that each of these factors were less related to the show itself and more to the unchangeable things of the day. In the end, it's a great shame that ANYONE... closed; just have a listen to this CD and see for yourself.
Angela Lansbury, marvelous as ever, stars as Cora Hoover Hooper, the mayoress of a small town facing one problem after another. She laments how her "peasants" detest her in "Me and My Town." Along with her town council, she hatches a not-so-brilliant but strikingly humorous plan to revive the town's economy in "Miracle Song." In an effort to prove this "miracle" a farce, Nurse Fay Apple (played by Lee Remick) gathers her patients from the local sanitarium, in an effort to confront the Mayoress and out her scheme. J. Bowden Hapgood, a sham psychoanalyst, arrives on the scene and separates the town into groups, claiming that he can tell who is sane and who is crazy -- the only problem is, he refuses to tell anyone!
While a bit complex at times, and often goofy, ANYONE... has become a cult classic in spite of (and perhaps in part due to) it being a financial flop. Ahead of its time in many ways, it's a shame that even now, some forty years later, there has yet to be a true revival.
All-in-all, the vocal performances here are superb. Lansbury is deliciously devious as the Mayoress, Remick is strong and powerful as Nurse Fay Apple, and Harry Guardino is hilarious as the misguided Hapgood.
It's a shame that they don't make them like this anymore -- in spite of it not being a success in 1964, this is truly one of the most fascinating and funny scores that classic Broadway has to offer. Very highly recommended.
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