Talk Show

USA Today
When Jones sings about love on her saucy debut, it's the kind that is more likely to end with a smack to, rather than on, the lips.

Talk Show,Shae Jones,Universal,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

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Average customer rating: Music Man One of This Country's Finest Musicals Beautifully Re-Mastered We need a new remaster, nonetheless Accept no substitutes! Preston and Cook are the best ever

The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast) [Angel Reissue] Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast) South Pacific (Original 1949 Broadway Cast) Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast) West Side Story (1957 Original Broadway Cast) Guys & Dolls: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1950 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B000002SNL Release Date: 1992-11-17

Tracks:

1. Act I. Overture/Rock Island - Vern Reed
2. Act I. Iowa Stubborn - Ensamble
3. Act I. Ya Got Trouble - Robert Preston/Ensemble
4. Act I. Piano Lesson - Barbara Cook/Pert Kelton
5. Act I. Goodnight My Someone - Barbara Cook
6. Act I. Seventy-Six Trombones - Robert Preston
7. Act I. Sincere - Buffalo Bills
8. Act I. The Sadder But Wiser Girl For Me - Robert Preston
9. Act I. Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little - Asnia Rice, Peggy Mondo, Elain Swann, Helen Raymond, Martha Flynn, Robert Preston
10. Act I. Goodnight Ladies/Marian The Librarian - Robert Preston, Buffalo Bills
11. Act I. My White Knight - Barbara Cook
12. Act I. Wells Fargo Wagon - Eddie Hodges, Ensemble
13. Act II. It's You - Buffalo Bills
14. Act II. Shipoopi - Iggie Wolfington, Ensemble
15. Act II. Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You? - Buffalo Bills, Barbara Cook
16. Act II. Gary, Indiana - Eddie Hodges
17. Act II. Till There Was You - Barbara Cook, Robert Preston
18. Act II. Finale - Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, Ensemble

Amazon.com

Although Robert Preston and Barbara Cook put in stellar performances, it's the music that's the star of this hugely successful document of the 1958 Broadway smash. Written entirely by Meredith Willson, it drew from memories of his childhood in a small Midwestern town. Preston plays a traveling salesman/con artist, while Cook is the dull spinster "Marian the Librarian," whose love for Preston's character makes her come alive. "Seventy-Six Trombones" has become a marching band standard, while "Ya Got Trouble" (featuring dizzying fast-talk from Preston) and "'Til There Was You" (with a gorgeous vocal from Cook) remain well known even among those who have never seen the show. The latter was also a favorite of the Beatles, who covered it on their first album. --Dawn Eden

Customer Reviews:

Music Man.......2007-02-09

The original cast recording brings back the memory of the live production I saw which will always be superior, in my opinion, to the movie version. However, the movie was one of the better "reproductions" of this genre.

One of This Country's Finest Musicals Beautifully Re-Mastered.......2006-11-23

THE MUSIC MAN opened on Broadway on December 19, 1957 to rave reviews from the critics, adulations from the captivated audiences, and the beginning of a long run. This wondrous musical is an 'opera' of sorts in that the piece is not a series of songs connected by the usual musical comedy spoken dialogue. Meredith Willson wrote the music and lyrics in such a way that there is not an extraneous note or word that doesn't contribute to the totality of the work.

Despite the multiple reincarnations of this brilliant show both on film and recording, none of them compares to this original cast. Imagine Barbara Cook (lithe, and new) as Marian the Librarian: Cook still reigns as one of our finest voices on the stage and cabaret rooms today. Robert Preston is not only rich in personality he also delivers the immensely complex patter songs with deft authority. And the Buffalo Bills add the multiple barbershop quartet numbers with authentic sound and professionalism.

This musical holds all of the joys and imaginations and longings that we all hold so dear in our memories of how things used to be - and it is so terrific to return to that stage of ecstasy again. This is a must own CD. Grady Harp, November 06

We need a new remaster, nonetheless.......2006-10-22

A very interesting photo on the liner booklet's back cover demonstrates the one real flaw in this otherwise classic recording: it shows Robert Preston at the album sessions singing at two mikes, a fat Neumann with a Capitol flag and a skinny one, probably an AKG. This can only mean Capitol recorded this in simultaneous mono and stereo takes. With all that knob twiddling the balance had to go off, a problem not entirely corrected by the reissue engineer Bob Norberg, whose remasterings of Ol' Blue's Capitol mono output have earned scorn from some Sinatraphiles for their slight fake echo and stereo effects. (He remastered just about every album in the Broadway Angel series; the monos all appear to have the echo and stereo.) I guess we should be happy to have this in any form at all given how the other majors turned it down. Capitol was late and indifferent to the cast album trade, and it only had three hits before making its monumental closing botch of "Follies." However the label approached it it's still a great and exciting score perfectly performed. Who could have imagined a hit musical with a barbershop quartet? And if only all women could sing like Barbara Cook! Who says you can have too much of a good thing?

With the show's fiftieth anniversary coming up (!) now would be a good time for a remaster. (I know, I know, I'm tired of paying repeatedly for the same product too, but this deserves it.) It should include a second disc with the 1959 Capitol documentary LP "And Then I Wrote 'The Music Man'", where Meredith Willson and his wife Rini detail the eight years of trials and rewrites behind the show. Nor would it hurt to have bonuses like Willson's original take on "Till There Was You" (called "Till I Met You," which Fran Warren evidently first sang on "The Big Show") or a few licensed pop balladeers of the day -- and maybe examples like the 70s jingle for the late lamented Oldsmobile ("Oh ho the new Oldsmobile is a -- comin' down the line...."). It must also include Willson's contentious JFK physical fitness tune "Chicken Fat", recorded about the time "The Music Man" was filmed and available only on oddball Web music sites, where Preston yells and grunts himself into an athletic -- passion. (I keep thinking Allan Sherman recorded a full version of his notorious parody "76 Sol Cohens", but I guess he didn't.) The whole thing should end with a live public-radio performance from 1980 or 1981 where Willson led the superb Detroit Concert Band in "76 Trombones" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever" -- an apt and brilliant finish.

No, I have not forgotten the Beatles, but I fear neither have their lawyers.

Accept no substitutes!.......2006-08-22

This the best version of "The Music Man" available, especially if you're looking for the Broadway cast. The performances here are all terrific, the recording and mastering are great, and the liner notes are informative and thorough. "The Music Man" is available in several other versions and forms, including other releases of the same original cast recording, but without the good mastering or liner notes found here. My wife and I, hoping to listen to this great show with our kids, first purchased other versions that were easier to find (e.g., on iTunes) and those were major disappointments. Buy this CD (Broadway Classics from Angel) and accept no substitutes.

Preston and Cook are the best ever.......2006-07-15

Yes, the film is a delight, and Shirley Jones is certainly good as Marian. But the original cast album of this wonderful musical remains the best version ever, mostly thanks to Barbara Cook, whose voice was and remains a miracle of rare device to listen to.

For years I thought I was the only person who was in love with her voice, wearing out vinyl LPs of this musical with replaying. Then, in the early 80s I saw Cook in a one woman show in London, and discovered I was part of a fanatical following! The other reviews here on Amazon confirm the truth: there is only one truly great Marian, Madam Librarian.

Watch the movie, which is a terrific adaptation of the stage show, go to professional and amateur revivals of the musical, but buy this recording of the score for repeated listening. There is nothing better.

Average customer rating: Fun Show, Average Score Cleverness personified Fantastic Jazz Musical That's FUN!!! Great Jazz-Oriented Score I love it!

City of Angels (1990 Original Broadway Cast) Cy Coleman , David Zippel , James Naughton , and Randy Graff Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: City of Angels (Applause Musical Library) On The Twentieth Century (1978 Original Broadway Cast) Seesaw (1973 Original Broadway Cast) Grand Hotel: The Musical - Broadway Cast Recording The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B00000272K Release Date: 1990-02-09

Tracks:

1. Prologue-Theme From City Of Angels
2. Double Talk
3. What You Don't Know About Women
4. You Gotta Look Out For Yourself
5. The Buddy System
6. With Every Breath I Take
7. The Tennis Song
8. Ev'rybody's Gotta Be Somewhere
9. Lost And Found
10. All You Have To Do Is Wait
11. You're Nothing Without Me
12. Stay With Me
13. You Can Always Count On Me
14. Alaura's Theme
15. It Needs Work
16. L.A. Blues
17. With Every Breath I Take-Duet
18. Funny
19. I'm Nothing Without You
20. Epilogue-Theme From City Of Angels
21. Double Talk Walk

Amazon.com

Cy Coleman and David Zippel's City of Angels is a seductive depiction of 1940s Los Angeles, capturing swinging jazz, torchy ballads, witty lyrics, and even a Manhattan Transfer-like Greek chorus (arranged by ManTran guru Yaron Gershovsky). James Naughton and Gregg Edelman star as Stone and Stine, respectively a tough Raymond Chandleresque PI and the writer who dreams up his adventures. Randy Graff plays Stone's long-suffering secretary and Dee Hoty the requisite femme fatale. Loads of atmosphere and tasty songs such as "What You Don't Know About Women," "With Every Breath I Take," "You're Nothing Without Me," and "You Can Always Count on Me" make City of Angels a modern classic. It won 1990 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Leading Actor (Naughton), Featured Actress (Graff), Best Book (Larry Gelbart), and Best Original Score. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Fun Show, Average Score.......2007-02-21

Fun show, ingenuos concept, so-so score, with one exception. The ballad With Every Breath I Take is brilliant. One of Coleman's best pieces.

Cleverness personified.......2006-10-16

A duet between an author and the character he created, each claiming "you're nothing without me," is just one example of how sharp, witty and clever show is, with an unusual score, jazzy and bluesy and very 1940s, and some of the best lyrics I know.

Fantastic Jazz Musical That's FUN!!!.......2006-04-14

City of Angels is an incredibly fun, classy, and jazzy musical that delivers. Stellar vocal performances are provided by the entire cast, particularly the female end. The fact that Randy Graff was the only female from this cast nominated at the Tony Awards that year floors me. Kay McClelland and Rachel York deserved nods for their powerful solos, With Every Breath I Take and Lost Found, alone. These two songs are also the type of sultry, jazz solos that one would expect in the 40's, which is why the show works. The music is completely period with when the show takes place, and that's why I love it. The best tracks are:

3) What You Don't Know About Women
6) With Every Breath I Take (destined to be a classic)
9) Lost and Found (wonderful solo)
10) All You Have To Do Is Wait (FUN! FUN! FUN SONG!!! Hilarious as well)
11) You're Nothing Without Me
13) You Can Always Count On Me (Randy Graff's Tony!)

Great Jazz-Oriented Score.......2005-06-25

1990 Tony winner for Best Musical, "City Of Angels" contains a great score, filled with jazz-oriented melodies & torch songs. Not all the songs are terrific, but most of the score lends itself to repeat listenings. Best tracks include:

Double Talk
What You Don't Know About Women
With Every Breath I Take [beautiful song!]
Lost And Found
You're Nothing Without Me [the show's hit]
You Can Always Count On Me
Funny

Great cast ... great buy!

I love it!.......2005-02-22

This is one of my favorite soundtracks ever! Since I'm going to be working on music for the show, I'm happy that this is the case. It has been in my CD player for a few weeks now, and there's enough variety for it not to get old. But having read through the script makes the lyrics infinitely wittier. Musicals are supposed to rely partially on the lyrics and partially on the script. This show does that perfectly. Without the script, the lyrics are (apparently) lacking. But without the lyrics, the script is missing something. When you put the two pieces together, however, it's really easy to see why this show won a Tony.

Average customer rating: this has the depth you need... Oddly Boring a bit disappointing Cocktail Party Radiohead Good effort

Hold Me to This: Christopher O'Riley Plays Radiohead Manufacturer: World Village ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD O'Riley, Christopher | ( O ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music O'Riley, Christopher | ( O ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: True Love Waits: O'Riley Plays Radiohead Home to Oblivion: Elliott Smith Tribute Second Grace: Music of Nick Drake Christopher O'Riley At The Break Strung Out On OK Computer: The String Quartet Tribute To Radiohead ASIN: B0007TFI4W Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

1. There There
2. (Nice Dream)
3. No Surprises
4. Polyethylene Part II
5. How I Made My Millions
6. Like Spinning Plates
7. Sail To The Moon
8. The Tourist
9. Cuttooth
10. 2+2=5
11. Talk Show Host
12. Gagging Order
13. Paranoid Android
14. Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Amazon.com

Tribute albums are always suspect; classical interpretations of rock even more so--and follow-ups to the same are fraught with mediocrity. Just witness the inexplicable glut of String Quartet Tribute discs to Tool, Bruce Springsteen, and many other top-selling and cult artists. On Hold Me to This, his second run at the music of art-rock group Radiohead, classical pianist Christopher O'Riley avoids all these pitfalls. These aren't easy-listening piano renditions of Radiohead tunes, but deeply inspired, often challenging and dissonant re-imaginings. O'Riley succeeds by taking the music on its own terms. He doesn't try to make it "classical" but lets the classical nature of the music ring out. From the storming chordal overtone clusters of "There There" to the Chopinesque refrain of "The Spinning Plates," O'Riley makes you forget these songs were originally played by a raging rock band. Instead, they seem born on the keys of his piano. His "Paranoid Android" is like Conlon Nancarrow going boogie-woogie one moment and painfully, sweetly rhapsodic the next. I'm not sure how Radiohead fans will respond to this, but piano and classical listeners should rejoice. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

this has the depth you need..........2007-02-17

I don't believe you need to be ga-ga over Radiohead to enjoy this CD. This CD, it's all piano (w/o vocals) if you didn't already know that going in, will provide an even deeper appreciation of the textures & depth of the Radiohead catalog. Mr. O'Riley does takes some artistic liberties with the songs, albeit minor, but in so doing he unleashes the potential they all have. And this potential is truly staggering---some selections are nothing short of gorgeous.
Hold me to this: you WILL be floored by this CD. it's well worth the purchase.

Oddly Boring.......2006-07-16

I adore Radiohead, and really enjoy solo piano. I should love this disc, but I don't. Even though the wonderful creepiness of Radiohead is completely absent, I would be willing to chalk that up to artistic interpretation. But that's not what bugs me about this disc. What really bugs me is his style of playing. He relies on resonance and the transcript is completely devoid of silence. The result is a droning wall of notes, and all the pieces sound the same. It reminds me of Windham Hill recordings, but without the expression. Get Yorke's new album, Eraser, if you need a Radiohead fix, or get George Winston if you want solo Piano. I really wish I could recommend this, but I just can't.

a bit disappointing.......2006-07-11

O'Riley takes some liberties here, and that's fine. I'm a bit disappointed by his dynamic range, which is a bit predictable from song to song, and also with his tendency to overload the songs with schizophrenic ramblings. The craziness works well at times -- see "There There" for a time when it works well -- and other times it is overwhelming (see: "Nice Dream").

Despite a sometimes overloaded sound, the song list is so attractive and O'riley hits so many high notes (if you will..) that the CD is well worth owning. I prefer the "True Love Waits" album.

Cocktail Party Radiohead.......2006-03-21

I own the first Christopher O'Reily Radiohead Tribute - True Love Waits. If you love his stunning piano in that, or if you love stunning piano altogether, you will love Hold Me To This. I am an avid lover of all things Radiohead turned into wordless music lullabyes and this one does not dissapoint.

Good effort.......2006-03-02

Sound all the same...listen to the samples before you buy it. If your a fan of radiohead you wont like it...if your a fan of the piano you wont like it. But I give my respect to the musician for making the effort to replicate already beutiful music.

Average customer rating: Don't Be Fooled by its Obscurity. Talk Show Packs a Punch! Terrific CD Another option for S.T.P. fans A little more pop sensiblity Talk Show - The highly-underrated Stone Temple Pilots side project

Talk Show Talk Show Manufacturer: Wea International ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: 12 Bar Blues Army of Anyone Shangri-La Dee Da No. 4 Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop ASIN: B000002JDX Release Date: 1997-09-02

Tracks:

1. Ring Twice
2. Hello Hello
3. Everybody Loves My Car
4. Peeling An Orange
5. So Long
6. Wash Me Down
7. End Of The World
8. John
9. Behind
10. Morning Girl
11. Hide
12. Fill The Fields

Amazon.com

The first post-Stone Temple Pilots record from the De Leo brothers plays like old fashioned 70s rock. While STP's sound bore more than a passing resemblance to Zeppelin, their forays into other areas of musical expression weren't always that successful. With Talk Show, the boys get down to business, complete with a new singer, and the results are, well, promising. "Hello Hello" has a monster of a riff that would make even Jimmy Page proud and "Ring Twice" courts the moody minors rather successfully. "Morning Girl," for all its roughness, is a great pop song, and "John" shows the band has some sonic tricks up its sleeve. "End of the World" and "So Long" are also worthy of merit. --Steve Gdula

Album Description

1997 album featuring 3/4 of Stone Temple Pilots + Ten Inch Man's vocalist, Dave Goutts. 12 tracks. Atlantic.

Customer Reviews:

Don't Be Fooled by its Obscurity. Talk Show Packs a Punch!.......2006-11-30

While STP was on their first hiatus, fans were able to disect them through their solo projects and see the diversity of the musicians backing Scott Weiland. The Deleo brothers and Eric Kretz picked up a relatively unknown frontman from a band called the Ten Inch Men and rocked hard, focusing more than ever on their mighty, hard-hitting rock and roll sound.

Fortunately for STP fans, neither side projects of the band's members really took off. Scott Weiland was struggling to get clean of his drug problems, but simultaneously recording a wonderful solo debut, "12 Bar Blues." Weiland's album was an artsy and ultra-modern, but catchy and cool. It didn't sell a whole lot of records, though- making 1997 a pivotal year for the band.

Talk Show's self-titled album definitely deserved recognition, though. It opens up with "Ring Twice": a blasting, heavy rocker that begs to be sung, well, screamed along to. The album moves briskly along with the wailing "Hello Hello" and the ultra-accessible, top 40-seeking pop extravaganza "Everybody Wants My Car." The album's first slower number is the catchy "Peeling An Orange," which reflects hippy supermarket musings in the 90's.

The album entertains well through the second half of the album, but not as solidly as the first. Songs like "End of the World" and the forgettable "Morning Girl" sound nice, but fail to be remarkable. Other songs, like "John," which sounds like a throw back to "Purple" songs like "Army Ants," continue to show the promise of the first half. Another song worth mentioning is "Behind," where lead singer Dave Coutts morphs his voice into a pitch-perfect Freddy Mercury impression.

The album is filled with terrific noise, but the bland lyrics create a lack of solid material that keeps it from transcending its status as a fun summer album. The 90's were an era of sarcasm, and Coutts has a sense of humor could only come out of mid-90's modern rock. Take "Peeling an Orange," for example. "Peeling an orange I am expecting/Great sweetness/Peeling an orange-yes I am very optimistic/Sometimes the acid stings my eyes." The song is about the decay of all that is natural, but it is defeated by its clumsy humor. Coutts is backed by some powerful performances, but his material is very standard.

Coutts is also quite lacking as a replacement for Weiland. He seems comfortable blending in, never writing or singing in a way that is original or captivating. He's got a good voice, but the Deleos were at their best when collaborating with the dynamic rock god Weiland was and still is. Weiland's solo disc outshines "Talk Show," because he musically isn't missing much from the Deleo's presence. It's a shame that they couldn't prove the same, but also a blessing that STP regrouped and made the terrific "No. 4."

The Deleo's are back with the wonderful "Army of Anyone." By now, "Talk Show" has been forgotten and locked away. It's a shame noone knows about this band...they are a great listen, even if they failed to be anything more than a nice sound. Then again, maybe that's why they are forgotten.

Terrific CD.......2006-02-23

If you're a fan of the Stone Temple Pilots' pop side, you may well find Talk Show the great album that band never quite made. Here the Beatlesque hard-pop that increasingly distinguished STP's work from Tiny Music onward is in the ascendant--most notably on Everybody Loves My Car and Hide. At the same time, there's a lot of variety. Leadoff track Ring Twice gets your attention straight away; along with So Long, it has all the hallmarks of a great STP rocker, and singer Dave Coutts sounds most like Weiland here. (He's a fine vocalist; listen to Hello Hello and Behind to get a good sense of his range.) Everybody's the would-be single. Peeling an Orange, Wash Me Down, Filling the Fields and especially Behind show off the band's softer side to excellent effect.


Granted, Talk Show doesn't have STP's sense of presence. It's just a rock 'n' roll CD. But there's not a bad track here.

Another option for S.T.P. fans.......2005-08-13

If you like S.T.P. you will find this one very pleasent, in my opinion, it sounds more like Core, which I like it a lot, if you do to, buy it.

A little more pop sensiblity.......2005-06-13

I bought this album because I'm a die-hard STP fan. After buying all the STP albums (sans Thank You, because who needs a best of when you own all the albums?) and Scott Weiland's solo album, I finally decided it was time to get a better taste of what the DeLeo brothers were all about. I really liked this album, but it's one of those ones that you have to listen to a few times and absorb rather than the type of album that hits you over the head (if you want one of those, buy the Posies album, Frosting on the Beater). Dave Coutts is not a bad lead singer. As everyone will say, Coutts is not Scott Weiland. He is, however, a pretty acceptable mix between David Bowie and the guy who sang on the Hedwig and the Angry Inch soundtrack. I still haven't decided if there's any Freddie Mercury in there or not-- one of my friends is convinced there is.

Anyway, this album is much poppier than a lot of STPs stuff. I'd say it's about on par with Tiny Music and a little better than Shangri La Di Da. Yeah, it's pretty rather than angry, and yes, it may be a tad overproduced, but if you're a die hard STP fan or a pop rock fan, it's an album worth getting.

Talk Show - The highly-underrated Stone Temple Pilots side project.......2005-04-27

Talk Show (1997.) The first and only Talk Show studio album.

INTRODUCTION:
By the middle of the nineties, Stone Temple Pilots has become one of the most popular rock and roll bands in America. Scott Weiland, Robert De Leo, Dean De Leo, and Eric Kretz were on top of the world... or so it would appear from the outside. In actuality, Scott Weiland was in bad shape. He had been unable to kick the drug habit that recently earned him probation, and was ordered to undergo a rehabilitation program. And thus, the alternative rock giants entered a state of hiatus. After Scott Weiland had completed the rehabilitation program, he released his first and only solo album, Twelve Bar Blues. At the same time, his bandmates joined forces with the former Ten Inch Men vocalist Dave Coutts. Since it wouldn't be right to record under the Stone Temple Pilots moniker without Scott Weiland present, the Coutts-fronted incarnation of the band used the name Talk Show. This version of the band recorded only a single album, and much like Scott Weiland's solo album recorded in the same era, it flopped commercially. So, did it flop because it was a weak album, or is it actually a underrated masterpiece? Read on, and find out!

OVERVIEW:
The Talk Show version of Stone Temple Pilots released their lone, eponymous album on September 2, 1997. The band consisted of vocalist Dave Coutts, guitarist Dean De Leo, bassist Robert De Leo, and drummer Eric Kretz. This was the only album released by these musicians under the Talk Show moniker, and the group returned to being the Scott Weiland-fronted Stone Temple Pilots not long after. Tracklist consists of Ring Twice, Hello Hello, Everybody Loves My Car, Peeling An Orange, So Long, Wash Me Down, End Of The World, John, Behind, Morning Girl, Hide, and Fill The Fields.

REVIEW:
This is one of those albums that gets mixed reviews amongst its listeners. Obviously, most of the people who check out this album are Stone Temple Pilots fans. This is the problem. So many fans are expecting something so in the style of the classic Stone Temple Pilots albums that, when they discover the more pop-oriented sound, they reject the album. The album is a great album on its own merits, and sadly, listeners usually don't judge it on such a basis. The sound on this album is excellent, and Dave Coutts is an excellent vocalist, too. He's got a wide range - one that sounds like a dead-on Scott Weiland impersonation on some tracks, and one that sounds like someone entirely differently on others. Despite being more styled after the more pop-friendly, commercial sound that Stone Temple Pilots only occasionally implemented, the album remains a diverse one. Let's take a look at the tracks that comprise this forgotten gem of an album!

-Ring Twice: The band kicks off the album with an excellent track, which is also one of the more guitar-driven and intensive pieces on the album. It has a sound that partially echoes that of some Stone Temple Pilots tunes, but at the same time sounds like something totally unique, and of its own merits. A solid, strong way to kick things off.

-Hello Hello: This was the band's only big hit, and the only song from the album that was released as a single A-Side. With its perfect blend of rock and pop sounds, it isn't at all surprising that this is the only song from the album that got any major airplay. The fusion of a straightforward rock sound with a melodic pop one makes this a very memorable piece - and it deserves its status as the band's best-known songs. The whole band shines on this one.

-Everybody Loves My Car: Here we have another one of those tunes on which the band takes the best elements of pop and rock alike, and combines them into a universally-listenable song. Although not released as a single or even a big hit in its own right, many fans of the short-lived group hold this one in high regard.

-Peeling An Orange: How many bands can take a concept as weak as removing the outer skin from a fruit, and make it into a fun, catchy pop tune? Not many, but Talk Show sure does it well! With an acoustic guitar sound and a nice, catchy poppy tune, you'll forget the awkward subject matter, and just be drawn in by the instrumentation. One of many excellent tunes to be found here.

-So Long: This song is one of the most interesting on the album. While the instrumentation from Kretz and the De Leo brothers is vintage, Stone Temple Pilots-style instrumentation, Dave Coutts sings in a totally different, non-Stone Temple Pilots way. What results is a song that takes two unlike extremes, and manages to fuse them in a way that is not only listenable, but quite excellent. Another fine song.

-Wash Me Down: If it's the slow and acoustic poppy tunes you like, this one will be for you. The song is, obviously, slow and acoustic, but it's not so slow or so acoustic to the point that it's a ballad. It's a pop-rocker all the way, and a damn good one too. One of the more melodic tunes to be found here - and it benefits from being of this nature. It goes to show you don't always have to be rocking out to create a good song.

-End Of The World: This is the only other single track from the album, being that it was released as the B-Side on the Hello Hello single. It usually seems like B-Sides are throwaway tracks that live in the shadow of their A-Side counterparts. While it is true that this song has always had to live in the shadow of the better-known Hello Hello, this song is certainly no throwaway! Dean De Leo's electric guitar playing on this song is some of his finest work. It's not too hard or heavy, but it's certainly far from being soft. Likewise, it's mid-paced - not too fast or too slow. This is a B-Side that stands as a huge exception to the old "B-Sides are throwaways" rule.

-John: On this album, straightforward rockers are minimal, and it seems like Dean De Leo tends to stick to the slower, often acoustic stuff. This song is an exception, being a guitar-driven rocker. It's also one of those songs that takes elements of the classic Stone Temple Pilots song, but combines them with something totally new and unfamiliar. What results is the best of the old and the new alike. Solid stuff from start to finish.

-Behind: After a rocker, the band slows things down again. This is one of the slowest songs on the album, and the fairly-minimal instrumentation is all very slow and melodic. It has its louder moments, but not many of them. The soft and loud moments combined make for some nice contrasts between the two sound. One of many great songs to be found here.

-Morning Girl: And here we're back to the "happy medium" sound this band perfected. The guitar-driven rock elements are combined with melodic, more poppy elements once again. The earlier songs on the album that the band did in this style prove that it works, and this one is certainly no exception to that rule.

-Hide: One thing I like about this album is that, while all of the songs do have a similarity about them, all of them are unique in their own rights. This one's a slow-mid pace rocker. It's definitely one of my favorite songs on the album, because it's one of the true rockers. All of the songs on here are excellent, but this one is definitely a stand-out piece.

-Feel The Fields: And now, it's time for the band to close out the album. In keeping with the "each song doesn't sound like the last one" tradition the rest of the album follows, this one goes back to slow and acoustic stuff. The melodic stuff is something this band does excellently, as they have demonstrated time and time again. Closing out the album with a piece in that style, of a quality of this level, makes for an excellent move that leaves a lasting impression on the listener. Damn good closer.

OVERALL:
Overall, I feel this is an excellent album, and I can't believe the mixed reputation it has amongst its listeners. How anyone can call it uncomplex or say that Dave Coutts is a weak replacement for Scott Weiland is beyond me. In many ways, I'm disappointed the band fired Coutts after the hiatus! People need to stop comparing this album to Stone Temple Pilots, and start evaluating it on its own merits! I won't deny that the album is an acquired taste, though, and not everyone is going to like it. Just the same though, I do recommend giving the album a listen at least once. Final verdict? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but have an open mind!

EDITION NOTES:
This album is long out of print in America, and is becoming increasingly difficult to find with every day that passes. If you're going to buy it, you're probably going to have to order it - it's no longer being produced, and as such, you're not going to find it in any store, at least not new. So don't bother looking for it in stores - just go ahead and order it - if you can find a retailer that carries it.

Average customer rating: Doris Day - Perfect Casting! Pajama Game Movie Soundtrack Energy To Burn Doris Day leads cast in lively film verson of Broadway hit I'm only 16 and I love the movie and soundtrack..

Pajama Game Manufacturer: Collectables ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Pajama Game The Pajama Game (1954 Original Broadway Cast) Carousel (1956 Film Soundtrack) Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack) The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack) ASIN: B00005LN0M Release Date: 2001-07-10

Tracks:

1. The Pajama Game (Opening)/Racing With The Clock - Eddie Foy, Jr./Ensemble
2. I'm Not At All In Love - Doris Day/Girls
3. I'll Never Be Jealous Again - Eddie Foy, Jr./Reta Shaw
4. Hey There - John Raitt
5. Once-A-Year Day - Doris Day/John Raitt/Ensemble
6. Small Talk - Doris Day/John Raitt
7. There Once Was A Man - Doris Day/John Raitt
8. Steam Heat - Carol Haney/Kenneth LeRoy/Buzz Miller
9. Hernando's Hideaway - Carol Haney/Ensemble
10. 7 And A Half Cents - Doris Day/Jack Straw/Ensemble
11. Finale - The Pajama Game ST
12. The Man Who Invented Love - Doris Day

Album Description

Doris Day takes the Tony award-winning Broadway smash The Pajama Game and transforms it into one of her most memorable screen hits. This original Columbia recording captures the spirit and playfulness of the stage version with John Raitt, Eddie Foy Jr., and Carol Haney recreating their Broadway roles. Steam Heat, Hey There and Hernando's Hideaway are but a few of the show-stopping songs featured on this historic soundtrack. 11 tracks are included on this lovingly remastered edition with a bonus track, Man Who Invented Love by Doris Day with Frank DeVol and His Orchestra. 2001 reissue.

Customer Reviews:

Doris Day - Perfect Casting!.......2007-05-09

For once they got it right. Doris Day being cast as Babe Williams was the smartest thing Warner Brothers ever did. Of course, the original idea was to have Frank Sinatra to take over the male lead in the movie version. Sinatra couldn't accept, but if he had, Janis Paige would have played Babe. With no Sinatra as a boxoffice draw, Jack Warner needed a star. Doris Day was promised sole star billing above the title if she accepted the picture. Janis was out and John Raitt (top-billed on Broadway) was in, but would be billed below the title in the movie version.

Usually, Hollywood gets it wrong. They denied Ethel Merman for "Gypsy" and hired Rosalind Russell, who could not sing; they bypassed Julie Andrews for "My Fair Lady" and hired movie star, Audrey Hepburn, who also couldn't sing and Carol Lawrence was told "you're out and Natalie Wood is in" when "West Side Story" came to the screen. Natalie couldn't sing either. Marnie Nixon's voice was used for both Wood and Hepburn and Lisa Kirk's voice subbed for Russell.

With Doris Day, they got everything: a top movie star, an expert singer , a trained dancer and skilled actress. Plus, she was beautiful and took full command of the role of Babe. I just wish they had kept "The Man Who Invented Love" in the picture. I've never seen a Day musical in which she didn't have a couple of ballads of her own. In this film, they attempted to right that wrong with "Invented Love" but dropped it so that Doris could reprise "Hey There" for historical purposes. They wanted Day on film singing that legendary song.

Overall, a wonderful transition from stage to screen.

Pajama Game Movie Soundtrack.......2007-03-16

Love love love this CD. I am so glad the movie version of Pajama Game with Doris Day came out. I have been a fan of this movie since we did the musical when I was in high school in 1980. The movie soundtrack is so much better than the Broadway Recording. Janis Paige just doesn't sing as well as Doris Day. I highly recommend this CD if you are a fan of musicals and Doris Day.

Energy To Burn.......2006-07-31

I know that the revival of "The Pajama Game" is a hit-of-the-moment on Broadway, but I still recommend that fans of the revival check out the soundtrack to the 1957 film version of the show. Warner Brothers treated the property in a more respectful manner than was the norm and even imported most of the New York to Hollywood to recreate their roles "in perpetuity." The new addition was box office magnet Doris Day who had already proven in "Calamity Jane" that she could bring rambunctuous charm to the musical. Hearing Day and John Raitt putting "There Once Was A Man" through its paces can still send a shiver down my aging spine.

Doris Day leads cast in lively film verson of Broadway hit.......2004-02-08

Your choice between the original Broadway cast and the movie soundtrack depends largely on your preference for either Janis Paige on the former and Doris Day on the latter.

Day sings it better, however the Broadway cast album has better sound as well as an overture and three songs, "A New Town is a Blue Town", "Her Is" and "Think of the Time I save" were dropped from the movie.

The soundtrack album, however, includes extended dance music from "I'll Never Be Jealous again" and "Once-a-year-day" and despite the boxy Warner Bros soundtage sound, the music is given a lively performance.

I'm only 16 and I love the movie and soundtrack.........2003-12-08

This is an exellent soundtrack baby. Doris Day has the purrfect vocie, full righ and clear. I'm only 16 and realize taht Doris posseses the finest vocie of any female on the planet. If you like the mvoe or Doris' singing you will LOVE this cd.

Average customer rating: You'll be disappointed Pretty good musical mix

Greatest Songs from the Musicals Various Artists Manufacturer: Soho ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Very Best Of Broadway Musicals Ultimate Broadway Only Broadway CD You'll Ever Need Ultimate Broadway II: The Very Best of Broadway Now Greatest Hits: Broadway ASIN: B000077JS0 Release Date: 2002-10-21

Tracks:

1. Aquarius [From Hair] - Steve Brooker, NSO Ensemble, , Caroline O'Connor
2. If I Can't Love Her [From Beauty and the Beast] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
3. I Could Have Danced All Night [From My Fair Lady] - Katrina Murphy, National Symphony Orchestra
4. Can You Feel the Love Tonight? [From The Lion King] - John Barrowman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
5. What I Did for Love [from a Chorus Line] - National Symphony Orchestra, Catherine Porter, Martin Yates
6. This Is the Moment [From Jekyll and Hyde] - Gary Mauer, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
7. All That Jazz [From Chicago] - Paulette Ivory, Julian Kelly, Katrina Murphy, National Symphony Orchestra, Sally Ann Triplett
8. Impossible Dream [From Man of La Mancha] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
9. America [From West Side Story] - National Symphony Orchestra
10. Written in the Stars [From Aida] - Simon Bowman, NSO Ensemble, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates
11. Mame [From Mame] - Jerry Lanning, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
12. Some Enchanted Evening [From South Pacific] - Thomas Allen, John Owen Edwards, Philharmonic Orchestra
13. I Am What I Am [From LA Cage aux Follies] - Janet Glazener, Leslie Uggams
14. One Song Glory [From Rent] - Sean McDermott, Martin Yates

Tracks:

1. Phantom of the Opera [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Ethan Freeman, Claire Moore, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
2. I Dreamed a Dream [From Les Miserables] - National Symphony Orchestra, Jacqui Scott, Martin Yates
3. Bui Doi [From Miss Saigon] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
4. As Long as He Needs Me [From Oliver!] - National Symphony Orchestra,
5. Time Warp [From the Rocky Horror Picture Show] - Anita Dobson, NSO Ensemble, Martin Yates,
6. Memory [From Cats] - Kim Criswell, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
7. Why God Why [From Miss Saigon] - Graham Bickley, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
8. I Know Him So Well [From Chess] - Katrina Murphy, NSO Ensemble, Sally Ann Triplett, Martin Yates
9. One Day More [From Les Miserables] - National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
10. Peggy Sue [From Buddy Holly Story] - Dominic Curtis
11. Empty Charis at Empty Tables [From Les Miserables] - Graham Bickley, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
12. Dancing Queen [From Mamma Mia!] - Julian Kelly, NSO Ensemble, , Caroline O'Connor
13. All I Ask of You [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Andrew Halliday, , National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
14. We Will Rock You [From We Will Rock You] - Martin Yates

Tracks:

1. It's a Grand Night for Singing [From State Fair] - National Symphony Orchestra
2. If I Were a Rich Man [From Fiddler on the Roof] - Jerry Lanning, National Symphony Orchestra
3. I Talk to the Trees [From Paint Your Wagon] - Ethan Freeman, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
4. Over the Rainbow [From The Wizard of Oz] - Gillian Bevan, , John Owen Edwards, , Royal Shakespeare Company
5. Bless Yore Beautiful Hide [From Seven Brides for Seven Brothers] - Hal Fowler, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
6. Grease [From Grease] - John Barrowman, NSO Ensemble, Martin Yates
7. Woman in Love [From Guys and Dolls] - Gregg Edelman, , Emily Loesser, National Symphony Orchestra
8. Secret Love [From Calamity Jane] - Debbie Gravitte, National Symphony Orchestra
9. Quintet [From West Side Story] - National Symphony Orchestra
10. I Will Always Love You [From the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas] - Salena Jones, John Pearce
11. Money, Money [From "Caberet"] - Maria Friedman, National Symphony Orchestra, Jonathan Pryce
12. If My Friends Could See Me Now (Sweet Charity) - Jacqueline Dankworth, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
13. Thank Heaven for Little Girls [From Gigi] - Ron Moody, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
14. Singin' in the Rain [From Singin' in the Rain] - Craig Barna, National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Robinson

Customer Reviews:

You'll be disappointed.......2006-09-02

Not the original artists. Very weak versions of beloved songs by marginal to downright bad vocalists.

Pretty good musical mix.......2006-03-10

Lots of great and clear vocals. I was looking for a musical mix and this has a nice sampling of many major songs but also some more recent stuff. I haven't purchased an import before but I would do it again if the opportunity presented itself. It is somewhat annoying to have three cds when I think it could have fit onto two. Still, more than I have complaints, I have compliments about it.

Average customer rating: It's ok. dc Talk LIVE Fittingly great as they're amazing live Great album Something Kevin said put me on hold.

Welcome to the Freak Show: DC Talk Live in Concert dc Talk Manufacturer: Forefront ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Christian Rap | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Rock | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Alternative | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music Live Recordings | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Jesus Freak Supernatural Intermission: The Greatest Hits DC Talk Nu Thang ASIN: B000000V1I Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

1. Help
2. So Help Me God
3. Luv Is A Verb
4. Like It, Love It, Need It
5. Colored People
6. Jesus Is Just Alright
7. What If I Stumble
8. In The Light
9. Mind's Eye
10. It's The End Of The World As We Know It
11. Day By Day
12. Walls
13. Time Is
14. Alas My Love
15. The Hardway
16. Jesus Freak

Customer Reviews:

It's ok........2005-04-09

"Welcome to the Freak Show"
by DcTalk
Reviewed by Logan Clements


This CD is called "Welcome to the Freak Show." The band playing it is DcTalk. They are pretty well known. There are no special features on this CD.
This CD was very good. The date it was released on was August 26, 1997. The current value is $16.98. The rating is 4.5 out of ten as of Monday 4/4/05. The chart rating as of Monday 4/4/05 is #47,539 in music. The label is a forefront/ emd.
This CD shows that evolution is not true. When I first listened to this CD, I thought it was cool because it was fast music and I like fast music. After listening thoroughly it somehow calms me down and kind of humbles me to what I have for a while.
There are 14 good tracks on this CD. The names of them are help, so help me go, love is a verb, and like it love it need it. Some others are colored people, Jesus is still all right, and what if I stumble?. A few others are In the light, mind's eye, It's the end of the world as we know it, Day by Day, walls, time is..., and Jesus Freak. My favorite tracks are Jesus Freak, Colored people, and love is a verb. I like these because they are fast and somehow calm me down.
There are two bad tracks on this CD. One is Alas my love. Another is Hardway. These songs are slow and kind of weird after all the fast ones.
There are some unusual parts, like when they introduce the band and have them play solos. There are no hidden tracks on this CD.
My rating is 4.5 out of 5. The people that would like this CD are christens who like rock music. The type of music is christen rock. The fans will be happy because it's the best of DcTalk.
That's what I think about this CD, "Welcome to the Freak Show'.

dc Talk LIVE.......2005-03-03

This album is awesome. Welcome to the Freak Show combines a lot of dc Talk's greatest hits in a live recording. My favorite song on this album is "What if I Stumble." Most live albums crank up the volume on the crowd noises and it gets annoying after the first three songs. In this album the crowd noise adds to it. You actually get the full experience. If you enjoy this album I would check out Smalltown poets and Audio Adrenaline.

Fittingly great as they're amazing live.......2005-03-02

I've seen many concerts from many different acts in various genres but none can hold a candle to dc Talk. When you take that stage performance and great songs you come up with this cd and the live video that is also sold. The stage presence comes across on the cd the same way a smile comes across on a telephone. You can't see the smile, but you can hear it in the voice. One of my favorite songs on this cd is a 'new' version of The Hardway. It's different than you've heard on an earlier studio album and I think much better. With live albums one of the fears is usually the sound quality and the crowd noise. This particular cd has great sound quality and only has crowd noise when applicable. If you're a fan of dc Talk buy this cd and the video of them live in concert - I guarantee you'll thoroughly enjoy them both.

Great album.......2005-01-31

Welcome to the Freak Show is an awesome album. It has a variety of styles including rap, rock, and contemporary. It includes a great remake of The Beatles 'Help'. It is a must have for any DC Talk fan. I believe that even any non fan would enjoy this album. It is really sensational.

Something Kevin said put me on hold........2004-10-04

First and foremost, I used to be totally obsessed (and yes, I say obsess with its negative connotation) with DC talks melodies. I used to listen to all the tracks on Jesus Freak not once, but 2 to 3 times a day. Not-too-surprizingly, my infatuation with DC Talk promopted me to purchase this album. I must say, it gave me a revelation. A dark one. A very, very dark one. When I heard Kevin proclaim "you only have 70 years of it anyway," referring to the span of every individual's earthly existence, I was literally quite shocked. Why, you ask? I think it would take less than common sense to agree to the fact that life should be lived to the fullest and that every second should considered a blessing. Kevin's words, I reiterate, "you only have 70 years of it anyway," blatantly implies that life is obviously ephemeral. The implication that bothers me is that these words don't sound like they came from a guy who's enjoying what he is doing in life very much. They are almost akin to saying "I'm doing it (in Kevin's case, attempting to please The Lord) because I have nothing better to do", if you will, which, I feel, is even worse than saying "do it ("serve The Almighty," or just plain "believe in Him")because you simply should". This is definitely not the attitude I wish to be preoccupied with in my life. Don't get me wrong, mind you, I still appreciate how DC Talk has profoundly influenced my life in the past, but doing life with Kevin's mindet? I must soberly decline.

Average customer rating: Lerner & Loewe Songbook Wouldn't it be lovely? A Successful Sequel Delightful Listening

Lerner & Loewe Songbook for Orchestra Frederick Loewe , and Erich Kunzel Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rodgers & Hammerstein: Songbook for Orchestra (Orchestral Suites) Rodgers & Hammerstein - The Complete Overtures ~ Opening Night / Hollywood Bowl Orchestra · Mauceri Puttin' on the Ritz: The Great Hollywood Musicals Classics of the Silver Screen Sailing ASIN: B000003D0E Release Date: 1994-01-25

Tracks:

1. I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight - The March To Welcome Guenevere - Et Al.
2. Wouldn't It Be Loverly - With A Little Bit Of Luck - Et Al.
3. The Night They Invented Champagne - Waltz At Maxim's - Et Al.
4. They Call The Wind Mariah - I Still See Elisa - Et Al.
5. Sword Dance - Down On MacConnachy Square - Et Al.

Customer Reviews:

Lerner & Loewe Songbook.......2006-02-24

If you like Percy Faith's music, you'll like this one. He quit recording and died much too young. But while he lived, he recorded some great music.

Wouldn't it be lovely?.......2005-09-26

This CD represents some of the best of Broadway done in a great pops style. There are five orchestral suites, one each for the following: 'Camelot', 'My Fair Lady', 'Gigi', 'Paint Your Wagon', and 'Bridgadoon'. They are all arranged for orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett, save that for 'Paint Your Wagon', which was arranged by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra director Erich Kunzel.

The works of Lerner and Loewe were a mainstay of Broadway for decades in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, but it was during the late 50s and early 60s that their true glory days took hold. The presidential term of John F. Kennedy gained the nickname 'Camelot' in part because of the influence of the Lerner and Loewe production going on at the start. The songs contained in these suites are instantly recognisable by many, as the Lerner and Loewe songs have become so well known that many know the songs better than the musicals or the composers from which they come. 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely' come from 'My Fair Lady', 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls' from 'Gigi' - these are but the most of famous of the familiar tunes.

There are a lot of pieces here that the listener will appreciate, both in remembering old pieces or in learning new nuances to the tunes.

This particular disc by Telarc has a feature called 'Spatializer', which gives a three-dimensional quality to the sterophonic sound, enhancing regular players and working well with surround-sound systems, too. The Cincinnati Pops are expert at this kind of music, having produced dozens of CDs of popular music and modern composers of musicals, film music, and pops-oriented major compositions.

This is a fun disc to have.

A Successful Sequel.......2005-08-03

This CD is a follow-up to the Rodgers & Hammerstein Songbook for Orchestra (1991) from the same team. It is a thoroughly successful sequel: I believe anyone who enjoyed the R&H will enjoy this one as well. If I am very slightly less enthusiastic about this one than the R&H, it's not because of any shortcoming of Kunzel, the Cincinnati Pops, or Telarc, all of whom are at the top of their form. Rather it's because Frederick Loewe, for all his undoubted expertise, is not quite in the same class as a composer with Richard Rodgers. But that's asking a lot, since Rodgers was the American musical theater's leading light. Lerner & Loewe's musicals were second only to R&H's during the golden age of the American musical, and their My Fair Lady is by any standard one of the best musicals ever staged. If Loewe did not create as many unforgettable numbers as Rodgers, he nevertheless wrote many delightful songs and much enjoyable music. This CD features five orchestral suites, ranging in length from 9 to 18 minutes (total playing time 68:06), from Brigadoon (1947), Paint Your Wagon (1951), My Fair Lady (1956), Gigi (film 1958; staged 1973), and Camelot (1960). The arrangements (all but one by Robert Russell Bennett) are expert. The performances are masterly (if perhaps lacking in just a tad of the infectious brio that the same team brought to R&H). And Telarc's robust sound (recorded 1993) would be hard to improve on. Warmly recommended.

Delightful Listening.......1998-12-05

Some of the nicest and nearly forgotten music (Paint your Wagon & Brigadoon) is nicely compiled here. It will make you want to listen to the full soundtracks again, but for a quick tour of Lerner & Lowe, it is very nice.

Average customer rating: I waited for this for five years Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT! A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans

Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever Various Artists Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Broadway & Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration Andrew Lloyd Webber - Masterpiece (Collector's Edition) (Bonus CD) Sunset Boulevard (1993 Original London Cast) ASIN: B00005R5UJ Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

1. Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
2. Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
3. Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
4. Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
5. Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
6. Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
7. Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
8. Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
9. Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
10. Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
11. Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
12. Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
13. Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
14. Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
15. Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
16. Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
17. Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
18. Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
19. Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
20. Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Tracks:

1. Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
2. Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
3. Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
4. Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
5. Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
6. Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
7. Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
8. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
9. The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
10. The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
11. The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
12. The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
13. The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
14. Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
15. Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
16. Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
17. Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
18. Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
19. Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman

Tracks:

1. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
2. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
3. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
4. By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
5. By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
6. By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
7. Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
8. Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
9. Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
10. Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
11. Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
12. Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
13. Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
14. Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
15. Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
16. The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
17. The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
18. The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
19. The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
20. The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir

Tracks:

1. Oh What A Circus - David Essex
2. Memory - Betty Buckley
3. The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
4. All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
5. Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
6. Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
7. Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
8. As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
9. The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
10. With One Look - Petula Clark
11. You Must Love Me - Madonna
12. The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
13. A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
14. Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
15. No Matter What - Boyzone
16. The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
17. Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
18. Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church

Tracks:

1. Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
2. Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
3. I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
4. Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
5. Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
6. Try It And See - Rita Pavone
7. Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
8. Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
9. John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
10. What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
11. Disillusion Me - Gary Band
12. The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
13. Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
14. It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
15. It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
16. Magdalena - Tony Christie
17. Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
18. Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
19. Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
20. I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
21. I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
22. Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers

Album Description

Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and Dance

Disc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love

Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game

CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church

Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers

Customer Reviews:

I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30

Between Amazone, Ebay and Napster, I don't usually buy CDs anymore, and I usually wait till I can buy them cheaper "new and used". When this set came out, I was excited, mainly by Disc 5, but wasn't going to spend $70 on it. I waited till it was cheap enough, and got it for Father's day this year.
It was worth the wait.

The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.

I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.

There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."

But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.

First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.

Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?

On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?

The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).

There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.

With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?

Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.

In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.

Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10

Please beware they made a mistake on this. It's actually the shortened Ray Shell version of STARLIGHT EXPRESS from the original 1984 London cast - NOT the El Debarge single from 1987 like it says on the box. I don't know how they let that goof pass. Sorry to Ray Shell. Having said that, this is an outstanding compilation of Lloyd Webber's greatest hits.

ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21

Regardless of the fact that some of his latest efforts (most notably, The Woman in White) are disappointing, there can be little doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the greatest composers ever to work in the musical theatre. Ever since his "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the stage in the early 70-is, it was clear that the conception and perception of musicals are never going to be the same again. Many of his songs became standards not only in the theatre history, but also as tops on the charts. Even though he's British, his influence on the shape of the modern musical theatre expanded over the West End boundaries long ago and has thus made an enormous impact on Broadway. Two of his shows ("Cats" and "The phantom of the opera") hold the record as two the longest running shows in the history of Broadway. He has also been the only composer to have three of his shows running at Broadway concurrently. Some of his awards include three Grammies, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a bunch of Tony awards. But perhaps most of all, Lloyd Webber is responsible for bringing the musicals and the theatre appealing to the wide audiences, who in different circumstances would not consider seeing a musical. The secret of his success is probably the mixture of beautiful and catchy melodies, interesting subject matter (though some, like Starlight Express, are too thin) and grandiose staging.

Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.

Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:

* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.

* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.

* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.

* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.

* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.


Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.

SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19

"Evita." "Sunset Blvd." "Starlight Express." "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Requiem." "Aspects of Love." The man who is the most recognized composer in the history of the musical theatre, the man who has won more Tonys than any other composer, the man who boasts the best-selling show of all time ("The Phantom of the
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.

A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21

This five-CD collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is fantastic. It leaves virtually no stone unturned. I have no doubt that diehard Webber fans will love this, especially for the 5th disc entitled "From the Vaults." This disc alone is worth the price as it contains tunes never before heard by the typical fan. Who knew Elvis did a Lloyd Webber tune?!? I didn't! Also the tune "Benedictine" which the composer wrote for his most recent marriage is not only pretty, but it has the same medley as "The Lady's Paying" from "Sunset Blvd." which I found highly enjoyable. Another great track is the composer himself singing a cut song from "Cats" entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats" which has the same tune as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," but to hear Sir Andrew sing is a blast...he sounds a lot like Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart.
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!

Average customer rating: A Contemporary Adaptation of Carmen Now THIS is how CARMEN JONES should sound like!

Carmen Jones (1943 Original Broadway Cast) Manufacturer: Decca U.S. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Carmen Jones Carmen Jones (1962 Studio Recording) Allegro (1947 Original Broadway Cast) Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast) Pipe Dream (1955 Original Broadway Cast) ASIN: B00008BNUK Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

1. Prelude
2. Opening Scene: Lift 'Em Up And Put 'Em Down
3. Dat's Love
4. You Talk Just Like My Maw
5. Dere's A Cafe On De Corner
6. Beat Out Dat Rhythm On A Drum
7. Stan' Up And Fight
8. Whizzin' Away Along De Track
9. Dis Flower
10. De Cards Don't Lie
11. My Joe
12. Dat's Our Man
13. Finale
14. Beat Out Dat Rhythm On A Drum

Amazon.com

Carmen Jones is one of the weirdest projects to ever hit the American musical theater. In 1943, lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II adapted Georges Bizet's Carmen for Broadway. The music was pretty much left intact, but Hammerstein transferred the action to WWII America. Carmen's tobacco factory became Carmen Jones' parachute factory, bullfighter Escamillo became boxer Husky Miller, and so on. As if this weren't enough, there also was the "small" detail of casting the show only with African-Americans. All in all, this ambitious endeavor makes Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme seem timid. Hammerstein's attempt at writing "black" hasn't aged all that well, but many of the show's songs retain a surprising impact. The feverish intensity of "Beat Out dat Rhythm on a Drum," for instance, hasn't dimmed over the years, and the song's been covered by a wide variety of performers, from Pearl Bailey and Marc Almond to Mandy Patinkin. The track is reprised as a bonus track at the end of the CD in a version sung by Kitty Carlisle (who's rather stiff compared to the show's June Hawkins). --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

A Contemporary Adaptation of Carmen.......2003-12-02

You may know that the smash grunge musical RENT is based on Puccini's opera LA BOHEME. And MISS SAIGON is MADAME BUTTERFLY, and trickiest of all AIDA is AIDA, but before all of those there was CARMEN JONES.

What makes CARMEN JONES different, however, is that it uses Bizet's original music, though it changes the setting and the lyrics (they're in English, too, rather than the original French). And who would have done such a thing? Oscar Hammerstein II (as in Rodgers & Hammerstein, I know you've heard of them. If not, shame on you, go straight to OKLAHOMA, do not pass go, do not collect CD of CARMEN JONES). This is one of Hammerstein's earlier works, and it's a great show. (There's a very successful movie version available on video, if you want to see it.)

CARMEN JONES updates the story of CARMEN. The original plot took place in Spain in 1820, Carmen was a gypsy. The first performance of CARMEN was in Paris in 1875. (Wow! Over 125 years, and it still plays regularly all over the world, talk about a great run!) What Hammerstein did was akin to what our current composers are doing with shows like RENT. He updated the show for his audience. Instead of Spaniards and gypsies, he used African-American factory workers, and set the story in 1943 during the war in a Southern town.

The story makes this a darker musical than Hammerstein's later shows like OKLAHOMA, CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I and SOUTH PACIFIC, some of which had their heavier elements, but were focused more on the romance. The tone of CARMEN JONES is more akin to his first show (the first musical) SHOWBOAT. It is also unusual not just for it's time but in general that it had an entirely African-American cast. While recent shows like Disney's THE LION KING and ONCE ON THIS ISLAND have also had predominantly African/African-American casts, these shows are few and far between. Another comparable show in terms of music and style would perhaps be Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS, though it's considered an opera rather than a musical.

Now THIS is how CARMEN JONES should sound like!.......2003-02-26

Words cannot begin to sum up my joy that Decca Broadway finally deemed CARMEN JONES fit for a proper remaster. Oscar Hammerstein's lyrics set to Georges Bizet's classic score can now be heard clearly without distortion and this CD includes a complete plot synopsis and pictures. Now we no longer have to settle for that monstroscity from Pearl CD, which was an unauthorized recording, and I hope didn't take away too many sales from Decca Broadway. For musical buffs this CD is a must-have!

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