David Alan

David Alan

ASIN: B00005NNRA

Track Listings

1. Locomotive

2. Give Me Back My Heart

3. Memorize This Moment

4. Marylou

5. Mississippi Girl

6. It Should've Been You

7. Dangerous

8. Are You Ready?

9. Further She'll Fly

10. Woman in You

Tracks:

Prologue/Chim Chim Cher-Ee
Cherry Tree Lane (Part 1)
The Perfect Nanny
Cherry Tree Lane (Part 2)
Practicially Perfect
Jolly Holiday
Cherry Tree Lane (Reprise)/Being Mrs. Banks/Jolly Holiday (Reprise)
A Spoonful Of Sugar
Feed The Birds
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Temper, Temper
Chim Chim Cher-Ee (Rooftop Duet)
Entr'acte: Run Away
Brimstone And Treacle (Part 1)
Let's Go Fly A Kite
Good For Nothing/Being Mrs. Banks (Reprise)
Brimstone And Treacle (Part 2)
Step In Time
A Man Has Dreams/A Spoonful Of Sugar (Reprise)
Anything Can Happen
A Spoonful Of Sugar (Reprise)/A Shooting Star

Amazon.com

Mary Poppins may be one of the most beloved film musicals of all time, but it took 30 long years for it to transfer to the stage. This recording of the original London cast shows the wait was worthwhile though. The new version mixes in elements from both the original books by P.L. Travers (which she started publishing in 1934) and the Disney movie starring Julie Andrews, from 1964. (Mary seems to take 30 years to do anything.) Most of the original songs by brothers Richard and Robert Sherman (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) are present--Mary Poppins is so associated with "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "A Spoonful of Sugar," and "Chim Chim Cher-ee," her Oscar-winning duet with Bert, that starting from scratch would have been unthinkable. But then George Stiles and Anthony Drewe came in and dusted off some of these songs, and wrote entirely new numbers as well. Miraculous, these are wonderful and blend in seamlessly with the 1960s tunes, thanks in no small to William David Brohn's lovely orchestrations. As the titular super-nanny, Laura Michelle Kelly is so warm and scrumptious that she might as well be referring to herself when she sings "I'm practically perfect in every way." The rest of the cast is equally adept, making this Mary Poppins sweet but not treacly, and the rare show to upstage its source. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Horrible show!.......2007-06-17

I saw it in London, and there are literally only 2 good things about it: Burt walking upside down, and a few new (darker) additions from the original book.

Nearly all the original charm and SONGS from the Walt Disney film are missing. The new additional songs are DREADFUL and were not written by the Sherman Brothers (They weren't allowed to write new songs for this due to the miserable old broad author hating the film and having on her deathbed the proviso that Shermans were not to have anything to do with a stage version)

What a waste.

The return of Mary Poppins.......2007-04-12

Different from the movie, this version develops the characters somewhat more deeply. I especially like the depth of personality shown in Mrs. Banks.

Loved it, loved it........2007-03-09

Like just about every other little girl who was alive in the sixties, Mary Poppins was a favorite. I had heard about the new play from a friend in New York who had just seen it and loved it, and so I got this sound track. I have it on my Ipod and listen to it all the time. My grown daughters love it also. It is a great addition to my CD collection.

Great Music!.......2007-02-14

The Broadway version is even better than the movie version! Definitely buy this CD.

Broadway Poppins Is A Breath of Fresh Air.......2007-01-09

If you are a lover of the 1964 version of Disney's Mary Poppins then you will LOVE their broadway attempt at the story. New and old music are combined to tell the story of everyone's favorite, but mysterious Nanny, Mary Poppins.
Disney has also added some fresh new arrangements to some of the old favorites like Supercal.., Feed The Birds, and Step In Time.
This recording is a must for all Musical Theatre and Disney fans!
My only disapointment in the recording is that they decided to omit the song and scene "I Love to Laugh."

My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Sound Track
Great gift!
Good, but not for the Family
fantastic......
"A" for Andrews

My Fair Lady (1956 Original Broadway Cast)
Alan Jay Lerner
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast)
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West Side Story (1957 Original Broadway Cast)
The Music Man (1957 Original Broadway Cast)
Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0000024PL
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Overture; Why Can't The English?
Wouldn't It Be Loverly?
With A Little Bit Of Luck
I'm An Ordinary Man
Just You Wait
The Rain in Spain
I Could Have Danced All Night
Ascot Gavotte
On The Street Where You Live
You Did it
Show Me
Get Me To The Church On Time
A Hymn to Him
Without You
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face

Amazon.com

This recording was produced more than 40 years ago, only in mono, but from the day it was released it was a deserved phenomenon. It out-grossed the mega-hit show for months, and it still holds the record for the most weeks as a Billboard Top 40 album: 292. The reasons are many. Start with the 20-year-old Julie Andrews in peak voice, singing no fewer than eight sensational Lerner and Loewe songs, soaring most memorably to high C in "I Could Have Danced All Night." Rex Harrison perfected the art of talk-singing in a clutch of equally captivating numbers written especially for his voice, of which the most indelibly delivered is "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." And Stanley Holloway brought the best English music-hall style to an eager American audience with "A Little Bit of Luck" and "Get Me to the Church on Time." There were no scene-changers in Frederick Loewe's best score, and Alan Jay Lerner managed to fashion his libretto and lyrics so close to the language of George Bernard Shaw (on whose play Pygmalion the musical was based) that experts couldn't tell where Shaw left off and Lerner took over. Every song created character and advanced the plot. My Fair Lady was a show you "got"--and still get--on first listening--without having seen it. The London cast album (with the same leads) can give you stereo; the movie version, a fuller orchestra, Harrison and Holloway in full sail, and Marni Nixon dubbing Audrey Hepburn. But the Broadway cast album is still the one to have, and the one absolute must in any musical collector's CD library. --Robert Windeler

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Sound Track.......2007-06-27

I found My Fair Lady full of beautiful arrangements and excellent vocals. Can't get better then the sound of Julie Andrews!!!! Although Julie did not get the movie roll this makes me appreciate the movie even more.

Great gift!.......2007-06-01

Bought this as a gift for a friend.Received it quickly and she was delighted.

Good, but not for the Family.......2007-05-29

I initially really enjoyed the movie my fair lady and wanted a sound track so I could continue to enjoy the music. However, upon recieving the cd, I was especially disappointed with one aspect - the language. I knew Professor Higgins and others had used profanity on the film, and was ok with it. You hear it once and move on. However, I don't want a cd playing around my family that my kids are learning to dance, sing, and act out a song that has rather obvious swear words. After 1 listen I picked out at least three instances of swearing, the worst being I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face (my otherwise favorite song!) The song starts out d--n, d--n, d--n! It's shouted.

fantastic.............2007-05-16

MY FAIR LADY, one of the most well-loved and beautifully made musicals, was a definitive vehicle for the career of (then) twenty year old Julie Andrews, as the "loverly" Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle. Between Andrews' soaring soprano (which is especially poignant to hear, today, considering that she can no longer sing as she once did) and the great supporting cast, lead by Rex Harrison, as Dr. Henry Higgins, the bored professor who takes her under his wing as a special project to mold into a dignified lady, this is a five star show!

The story was actually based on PYGMALION, by the late, great playwright, George Bernard Shaw, inspired by Greek mythology. In the original Greek play, Pygmalion is the sculptor who creates a depiction of a woman, out of ivory, and falls in love with it. He prays to Venus, and then his sculpture is brought to life, as Galatea. In the musical, the gist is similar but the journey and characters veer from this concept considerably. For starters, no one starts out as a piece of stone--especially not Eliza Doolittle. She has definite opinions and a distinctive personality (saucy language and all), that Dr. Doolittle is very keen on shaping up for society. The music is perfectly in synch with the mood of this great play, which is in some ways a true parable about human behavior and the treatment of women in society. Some of the most beautiful music by Lerner and Loewe is featured here. The songs include "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face," and "Get Me to the Church On Time." This is brilliant. Buy this today! I am not sure how great the sound quality is on audio cassette, in comparison to the original recording on vinyl that I heard, as a little girl. I have a feeling it's pretty spectacular though!

"A" for Andrews.......2007-04-15

For years I had only the movie soundtrack and I was perfectly content with it, it was after all one of the best shows ever to hit the boards and I think Marie Nixon did a wonderful in the role of Liza Doolittle - she matched Hepburns voice closely plus she's a professional singer who soars with good material.

It's amazing listening to Ms. Nixon in The King & I; she is much closer to Deborah Kerr's voice and they sounded more natural between speaking and singing but that was the clinker for me. I realized the distance between Ms. Hepburn and Ms. Nixon in the movie version - so I went back to square one and GOT THE ORIGINAL.

You have to hand it to Goddard Leiberman (head of Columbia years ago and protege of Fanny Brice) for starting the tradition of recording Original Broadway Cast 'albums' at the time they opened.

Finally listening to Julie Andrews sing the most popular songs from one of the best shows ever penned almost made me cry. You can tell she's riding the crest of the wave - she literally soars, defying gravity. Her diction, as always, is perfect but she's perfect as the brash cockney flower girl, a young girl on an adventure and a refinded lady. I will always be grateful to Marnie Nixon for the work she did for the film but once you listen to original Eliza Doolittle you will realize there is only ONE and that ONE is JULIE ANDREWS.

Yes, her leading man is also good. One surprise however was Stanley Holloway - it was a shock to realizae that it was about ten years between the show and the film and he does sound ten years younger. The man is a delight at any age, it's not important, it just adds to the fun.

If you really like the show, and the songs, treat yourself and get the Original Broadway Cast - the cast hit the studio at the peak of their form with a solid hit under their belt and that confidence sets this recording light years ahead of any other recording.

Now if it were in stero that would make it a 5 star review.

Average customer rating:

The best one I've heard
Great musical! Best singers!
if you like les miz you can't go wrong
My 1st "Les Mis"
Best Les Miz Recording Out There

Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Red Ink
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert
Les Miserables Original London Cast
Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)
Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0002E5O9G
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables
Miserables

Amazon.com

To celebrate 10 years as the world's most popular musical, the cast of Les Misérables threw a phenomenal birthday party at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1995. A decade after Trevor Nunn directed its premiere at the Barbican Centre, and the subsequent move into what became a permanent home at the West End Palace Theatre, producer Cameron Macintosh felt the time had come for a little outing for "the miserables." Conductor David Charles Abell, having climbed out of the cluttered Palace pit, for one glorious night has the entire Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at his disposal and there are appearances from over 150 singers--birthday celebs from Les Mis stagings worldwide--who flocked to the grandiose venue. Hosts for the night are the 1995 London cast: Colm Wilkinson's Valjean has power and beauty in "Who Am I?" and "Bring Him Home," and Michael Ball is a charming Marius. Miss Saigon herself, Lea Salonga, gets the crowd-pleasing favorite "On My Own." The Albert Hall sounds filled to the brim with an appreciative audience that contributes to the festive atmosphere. The result is a real treat for fans and lovers of Boubil and Schönberg's greatest musical--this double CD is an obligatory item in every collection of Les Mis memorabilia. --Yngvil V.G.

Customer Reviews:

The best one I've heard.......2007-04-10

The first time I ever heard Les Miserables, it was on the Original Broadway cast CD. That CD had great vocals, but I didn't realize how much I was missing until I saw the show in NYC. What sets this recording apart from many others, including the OBC version, is the fact that, like the musical, it is through-sung. The complete symphonic recording is also this way, and has all of the music. Although this CD is lacking a few parts, most noticibly a shortend Lovely Ladies, missing a section with Javert, and Gavroche's death, when looked at in terms of the completeness and vocal abilities, this is the best.

Regarding the cast, Colm Wilkinson is THE Valjean. I love his vocals and the expression he puts into the character. Armstrong, as Therniere, is great, as is Jenny Galloway (Mme Therniere). They are both great actors and convey the comedic nature of the parts well. Hannah Chick, as young Cosette is splendid, especially in the fact that she sings right through the accidental gun shot noise in the middle of her song. Gavroche is priceless. The best I've ever heard. Ruthie Henshall does an absolutely brilliant Fantine, incredibly moving. Michael Ball (Marius) also has the supberb vocal ability and expression so prevolent in this cast.

Now, my two favorite characters, Javert and Eponine...Phillip Quast (Javert) is practically flawless. I personally don't like his interpretation of the prologue, but that's just me. Other than that, perfect. He more than makes up for that with his rendition of Stars, and his soliliquy in which he dies. You can visualize him going mad and jumping from the bridge just from his voice...amazing. Lea Salonga's vocal ability is unmatched. Her rendition of A Little Fall of Rain is tearjerking, and you can fell Eponine's pain and anguish throughout the entire CD. Anything with her in it is worth buying.

Finally, this CD has a recording of One Day More sung by the Valjeans from all over the world...amazing to hear.

To conclude, this is the best recording of Les Miserables you can buy.

Great musical! Best singers!.......2007-03-13

This is my favorite collection because the performers are amazing. I don't like the exploding balloon during little Cosette's song, but the lead singers in this CD couldn't be any better.

if you like les miz you can't go wrong.......2007-03-09

personally I am a sucker for a good musical...and music in general...This however is exceptional. I love it, it is one of my favorite versions of the musical, and I have been eyeing this cd for sometime now, i am so happy to finally have it in my collection. the quality is good, the music great, and the voices are fantastic!

My 1st "Les Mis".......2006-10-27

It took some time for this musical to sink in for me but when I sat down to watch this broadcast the characters, plot, motivation(s) and all the nuances of minor characters fell into place -- it was exquisite. Granted some of the voices might not be up to par for more experienced ears and there are technical glitches here and there but this is my favorite. I still admire Hannah Chick for continuing with Castle on a Cloud in spite of the distraction -- that's an actor. I also find the extended applause at the end of some songs annoying but that doesn't negate the 99.99% pure magic previous.

My main beef is that discography is NOT IN ORDER on the second disc, and that works my nerves. I hate having to go in and edit the list.

What worries me NOW is that when it comes to the time to making a film of the musical it might suffer the same fate that Sweeny Todd seems to have looming in the wings. The Broadway musical (ST) was cast with actors, some happened to be stars. I hate it when something as fine as Sweeny Todd, or Les Miserables, would be filmed with stars (OK, JD is both but the director and leading lady have to go) and not actors.

Filming of Les Miserables -- in my life time please. Would it be asking to much to have someone do a remake of 'The Wiz' with spending a zillion dollars on junk? Ok, ok, ok, I'm going to go listen to Philip Quast who is simply amazing and blows my socks off.

Best Les Miz Recording Out There.......2006-09-23

Now don't you disregard this because it says I'm a kid. I am very experienced in theatre and know exactly what I am talking about.
Colm Wilkinson(Jean Valjean): His enunciation is annoying and he tends to rasp and whispers. Great false but not my favorite Valjean.
Phillip Quast(Javert): Brilliant performance. This Aussie is the perfect Javert, his voice is clear and strong, wrapped in emotion.
Ruthie Henshall(Fantine): In my opinion, the best in the entire cast. Her throaty, crystal voice is absolutely exquisite. My favorite singer. That reviewer who said she has an awful voice seriously needs help! She is breathtaking!
Michael Ball(Marius): What can I say? Wonderful as always. Fantastic actor and very powerful singer. I get chills hearing "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables".
Judy Kuhn(Cosette): Nice voice, I do like her better as Pocahontas or Florence (Chess) though. Her accent is extremely blatant. All in all, Rebecca Caine should have been cast but Judy Kuhn is still very good.
Lea Salonga(Eponine): Wow. That's all I can say. She took my breath away as Kim in Miss Saigon and now in Les Miz, she impresses me once again. A magical rendition of "On My Own" and moves me to tears everytime I listen to her death scene with Michael Ball, "A Little Fall of Rain".
Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway(M. and Mme. Thenardier): Hysterical performances by both! Such talents! Jenny Galloway is returning for the Broadway revival in November, too.
Michael Maguire(Enjolras): Annoying accent again. Can't they all just sound English? Still, wonderful voice and great delivery. Very satisfying.
Over all, I highly recommend this recording. It is the best I have heard so far. The Original Broadway one was horrid and the London was okay. But this one is thrilling and moving. Les Miz at its best.

Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 60; Guitar Concerto; Khrimian Hairig

Average customer rating:

Superb Introduction to Hovhaness
Hovhaness on Naxos

Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 60; Guitar Concerto; Khrimian Hairig

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Howard Hanson: Organ Concerto; Fantasy Variations; Nymphs and Satyr; Summer Seascape; Pastorale; Serenade
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Rorem: Flute Concerto; Violin Concerto
Glass: Heroes Symphony; The Light
Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 22 ("City of Light"); Cello Concerto

ASIN: B000JVSVDI
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Tracks:

Khirimian Hairig, Op.49
Largo
Andante Espressivo
Allegro Moderato
Adagio Doloroso
Allegro
Senza Misura: Adagio
Finale: Andante - Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Superb Introduction to Hovhaness.......2007-05-24

This is a superb introduction to the works of Alan Hovhaness, a long-neglected 20th Century American Composer. The Trumpet Concerto (Khrimian Hairig) is well-played and has a serious thoughtful quality to it. This work should be performed more often by orchestras. The Guitar Concerto is also entertaining and well-played and deserves more playing time with larger orchestras. The Symphony No. 60 (!) is a work more typically associated with Hovhaness - upbeat positive music with no ties to the modern school of classical music. The conductor Gerard Schwartz has spent much of his career championing the works of lesser known American composers and does a great job here. The recording is excellent as well.

Hovhaness on Naxos.......2007-03-07

The reputation of the American composer Alan Hovhaness (1911 -- 2000) continues to grow. Hovhaness was a prolific composer of 67 symphonies and about 400 other works. He wrote in a highly personal, mystical style that emphasized his Armenian roots, his devotion to nature, and his interest in Eastern thought and music. His music is accessible and enjoyed substantial popular appeal during the later years of the composer's life. But it was not always well-received by critics.

This CD is the third that Naxos has devoted to the music of Hovhaness in its "American classics" series. It offers two world-premiere recordings. These releases offer an outstanding opportunity at a budget price to get to know Hovhaness' music. The first two CDs featured Hovhaness early cello concerto and symphony no. 22, the "City of Light" and a collection of three of Hovhaness' six symphonies for wind band. The most recent, CD offers three works in differing forms from relatively early in Hovhaness' career to near the end. Gerard Schwarz, music director of the Seattle Symphony (Hovhaness spent the final years of his life in Seattle) and long a champion of the composer conducts the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. It is good to see a European orchestra offer sympathetic performances of Hovhaness in a short early work, and in the first recordings of a guitar concerto, and a late symphony. The composer's widow, Hinako Fujihara Hovhaness, has written excellent notes for the CD.

The CD opens with a work called "Khrimian Harig", opus 49, composed during the mid-40s. This is a work of about 8 minutes for orchestra and solo trumpet, played here by the orchestra's first trumpet, Lars Ranch. This is a highly lyrical, mystical work in which the trumpet represents an ancient Armenian prophet leading his people through persecutions to the path of faith. Much of the work is call-and-response between trumpet and orchestra. Hovhaness later adopted this work into a composition titled "Return and Rebuild the Desolate Places" opus 213 which appears on the earlier Naxos CD of Hovhaness' music for wind band.

Hovhaness' guitar concerto opus 325 was composed in 1979 and it is performed here by the American guitarist and composer David Leisner. This three movement work is highly idiomatic for the guitar and balances the voice of the instrument well against the larger forces of the orchestra. In the opening movement, slow, ominous statements of a theme for orchestra and bells alternate with long, guitar solos of a reflectively Spanish cast. The middle movement is in a concertante style as the guitar part alternates with a variety of solo passages for bassoon, cello, wind choir, and violin. The finale begins dramatically in a statement for the full orchestra. The stern orchestral writing alternates througout with softer, lyrical sections for the soloist. This is an intriguing, successful work in a difficult genre.

The final work on the CD is the Symphony no. 60 "To the Appalachian Mountains" opus 396 which also receives its first recorded performance. Hovhaness wrote this work in 1985 under a commission to celebrate the cultural heritage of the State of Tenessee. Apparently, the work was not well received in its opening performances, and that is unfortunate. This is one of Hovhaness' longer symphonies, over one-half hour in length, and it is lovely. Hovhaness combines his love for eastern music and nature with passages of distinctively American folk themes, virtually in the manner of Aaron Copland's popular works. With good reason, the composer referred to this work as his "Americana" symphony.

The work opens with a slow passage for flute and harp followed by a long flowing melody for strings. Near the end of the movement, the melody turns into a fugue, backed by pulsating drums and chimes. The second movement is an allegro which opens with a folklike mountain theme in the strings. This is followed by a melancholy English horn solo soon joined by the flute. After an outburst by the full orchestra, the folk theme returns to close the movement. The brief third movement opens with the harp and is based upon an old mountain tune called "Parting Friends." The finale opens with a large, slowly rocking theme in the strings followed by sections reminiscent of mountain dances before the opening material returns with brass and bells to close the work. I loved this symphony, particularly in its use of folk-sounding material (all of which were originally composed, with the exception of the tune in the third movement) and in its imaginative orchestration.

Listeners wanting to get to know Hovhaness and his distinctive style will enjoy this CD and its companions on Naxos. I am looking forward to further releases of Hovhaness' music in the "American classics" series.

Robin Friedman

Way Out West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Not My Style
Rockin' Western Collection
Hard to Find Great Western Themes
Western Music
A great follow-up

Way Out West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000060PBU
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

The Hallejuah Trail-Overture
The Alamo-The Green Leaves Of Summer
The Alamo-Davy Crocket
The Big Country-The Welcoming/Finale
The Big Valley-Main Theme
Blazing Saddles-Blazing Saddles
Bonaza-Main Theme
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid-raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
The Comancheros-McBain/Main Title
Duel In The Sun-Main Title/The Legend/Orizaba
A Fistfull Of Dynamite-Duck You Sucker
For A Few Dollars More-Main Theme
Friendly Persuasion-Thee I Love
Giant-Main Theme
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly-Main Theme
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly-The Ecstasy Of Gold
Gunfight At The O.K. Corral-Suite
Hang 'Em High-Main Theme
The Hanging Tree-Main Title

Tracks:

High Caparral-Main Theme
How The West Was Won-Prelude/The Land
High Noon-Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin'
The Jayhawkers-The Lynching/Two Brothers/The Hayhawkers
The Lone Ranger-William Tell Overture: Finale
Nevada Smith-Main Title
Old Gringo-Main Themes
Once Upon A Time In The West-Man With The Harmonica
One Eyed Jacks-Main Title
The Proud Rebel-Main Titles
The Quick And The Dead-End Titles
Quigley Down Under-End Titles
Rio Bravo-Rio Bravo/De Guella
The Scalphunters-Main Title
Shane-Main Theme: The Call Of The Farwaway Hills
The Shootist-Main Title
The Unforgiven-The Need For Love
Viva Zapata-Gathering Forces
The Virginian-Main Theme

Customer Reviews:

Not My Style.......2007-05-11

This CD has a lot of good songs on it, but it just too bland for our taste. We prefer Western music to sound as though genuine cowboys are singing it - not a fancy chorus!

Rockin' Western Collection.......2006-08-28

For anyone who likes movie/tv music from westerns should purchase this CD. What a wonderful collection of both film and tv with great renditions of each piece. I'm about to purchase Vol. 1 to complete my collection.

Hard to Find Great Western Themes .......2006-03-16

This CD has a number of great western themes that are not in some of the standard lists. For example it includes "The Hallejuah Trail", "Blazing Saddles", and "Giant". This CD also has what I consider the true theme of "The Comancheros". I have been disappointed with some other CDs I have purchased listing "The Comancheros" which had a song rather than this theme. Many of the tracks on this two disk CD go beyond the main theme music and are actually suites. The "Big Country" and "How the West Was Won" are just a couple of examples. It may be a little more expense than some CDs, but not bad for a two disk set. I am really happy with my purchase.

Western Music.......2005-07-29

I enjoy this CD. It has many familiar melodies. Good background for reading, nice to listen while driving. It is also the only CD I've ever found that has the great theme from the movie "Giant."

A great follow-up.......2003-08-29

This is the second collection by SilvaScreen, who are also responsible for "The Wild West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection" (see my review). And it's just as good as the first. There are themes in here that everyone will recognize ("Bonanza," "A Fistful of Dollars"), themes that may not be so familiar ("Duel in the Sun," "The Hanging Tree," the lively "Blazing Saddles"), and even themes you may not associate with Westerns at all ("The Friendly Persuasion"). And no duplication either: when this disc includes a piece from one of the same sources covered in its predecessor, it's a different piece. One great treat: the full lyrics to "Gunfight at OK Corral," which I've never heard outside the soundtrack of the movie itself. The arrangement from "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid" includes not only the familiar song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" but an overview of the music--seguing almost seamlessly into Bernstein's magnificent "The Comancheros," a rare find indeed. An expensive item, but if you love Western film music, well worth it.

Beauty and the Beast - Special Edition Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

a true masterpiece in every sense of the word
Great Disney CD: For Children of all ages
got this as a present for someone else
The Story Captured Through Song.
My children listen to this CD over and over

Beauty and the Beast - Special Edition Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Aladdin: Special Edition Soundtrack
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Little Mermaid
Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack

ASIN: B00005TQ5A
Release Date: 2001-12-18

Tracks:

Prologue - Paige O'Hara
Belle - Paige O'Hara
Belle (Reprise) - Richard White
Gaston - Richard White
Gaston (Reprise) - Richard White
Be Our Guest
Something There - Paige O'Hara
Human Again - Angela Lansbury
The Mob Song - Richard White
Beauty And The Beast
To The Fair
West Wing
The Beast Lets Belle Go
Battle On The Tower
Transformation
Be Our Guest (Demo)
Beauty And The Beast (Work Tape And Demo)
Beauty And The Beast - Celine Dion
Death Of The Beast (Original Early Version)

Amazon.com essential recording

After the success of their score for The Little Mermaid, the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken returned to Disney for their second fairy-tale adaptation. Sadly, it was the duo's last completed score before Ashman's untimely death at age 41. This soundtrack contains more-conventional show music than The Little Mermaid, owing in large part to Broadway stalwart Angela Lansbury and to Jerry Orbach's Yves Montand impersonation. Most of the songs here were included in the subsequent Broadway adaptation and its cast album, but this disc is superior in its studio polish and cast, which is better suited to the score. --John Sanchez

Customer Reviews:

a true masterpiece in every sense of the word.......2007-05-10

when alan menken and howard ashman put together their second disney feature i dont think that anyone could have known what a masterpiece beauty and the beast would become. the film itself was praised for its maturity and remains the only animated film in history to every be nominated for a best motion picture academy award (it deserved it instead of silence of the lambs) musically the film was magnificient as well. it was adapted into a full length broadway musical three years later. but this original piece will forever remain the benchmark for all other animated works and their music.

alan menken's hauntingly beautiful score is a true masterpiece. the musical scores for the west wing and the beast lets belle go are moving and powerful. the emotional level that every piece reaches is amazing and menken absolutely deserved this oscar for best score. this is not only his best score, but quite possibly one of the greatest musical scores in history.

SCORE 5 out of 5

the songs are all quite powerfull and fun with a definate broadway, its no wonder that it was so seamlessly turned into a broadway musical.

BELLE - this is the strongest opening to ever appear in a disney film. the broadway feel makes it a great way to kick off the film it is both fun and quirky but definately contains a more serous undertone. this was originally suppossed to be shortened down, but luckilly it was left intact. paige o'hara as belle is nothing short of amazing.
5 out of 5

BELLE (REPRISE) - this is short but is very strong due again to o'hara's vocals. her vocals paired with ashman's stirring lyrics of longing make this short but definately a winner.
5 out of 5

GASTON - this is a fun song that is both witty and darkly clever. ashman's lyrics and richard white's performance as gaston carry this song. it may be the weakest of the piece, but it's still fun and catchy and shouldn't be missed
3 out of 5

GASTON (REPRISE) - this is really just an extention of the song listed above, but this one is much more twistidly clever and is actually stronger that the first song.
3 out of 5

BE OUR GUEST - this is one of the most famous songs from the soundtrack and its obveous why after just one listen. jerry orbach and angela landsburry both give great performances that along with menken's french-influenced score and ashman's fun clever lyrics make this song sound fun and fresh. its a great song that really does epitimize the fun of the piece and of ashman's lyrics.
5 out of 5

SOMETHING THERE - this is a short little song but it is the first hint at belle and the beast as lovers. o'hara and robby benson both give great but short performances. orbach, lansbury and david ogden stiers also give fun performances as the objects. this is beautiful and romanticly sweet little song.
5 out of 5

HUMAN AGAIN - this wasn't included in the original theatrical film (why i dont know) this is a great song that is fun and brilliant. ashman yet again outdoes himself with great lyrics and again the household objects give dynamic performances. im so glad that this is back for the special edition since its a real gem that shouldn't be missed.
5 out of 5

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - this is the most famous song from the movie and it won the oscar for best original song. just one listen shows why. lansbury gives a beautifully moving performance as mrs potts singing this. this is of course the song that shows the beast and belle as lovers and it does so perfectly. this song never dumbs things down it goes for the full romantic punch. well done
5 out of 5

THE MOB SONG - this is possibly the cleverest piece. the use of shakespearean lyrics make this a twisted and dark piece that effectively shows human nature that still rings true today. this is an overlooked but strong song that again is lifted by white's performance as the now sinister gaston.
5 out of 5

the best part of all these songs is how none of them dumb down the romance or more "adult" themes for the kiddies. this film allows itself to be fully romantic and that's why it has been so praised and lived on in such a flattering light. the near-perfect music not only aided this, but were a crucial part of this maturity.

SONGS OVERALL 5 out of 5

as i said earlier, this is one the greatest film scores of all times. it may not be as recognizable or memorable as say star wars or gone with the wind, but the emotional punch that it makes elevates it far past these other two scores. menken truly outdid himself and ashman's lyrics work perfectly. the performances from all the performers are dynamic, fun, powerful, and intense. everythign works perfectly here and truly makes for an experience that is truly magical.

Great Disney CD: For Children of all ages.......2007-02-19

I really enjoyed this CD. IT is the soundtrack for Beauty and the Beast.
I especially enjoyed " BE our Guest". This is an all around excellent Disney CD with lots of vocals,and intrigue. The singers are very talented, and well re-hearsed. I love this CD. It's worth the money. Go and buy it!!!

got this as a present for someone else.......2007-01-04

This was a present to a friend. She liked it. I love soundtracks and Disney music, so it's pretty good.

The Story Captured Through Song........2006-09-29

Disney's revival as a major animation studio began in 1989 with the release of THE LITTLE MERMAID and reached its pinnacle with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (the only animated film ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar). As much as the film is a visual delight, its also a musical feast for the ears. People had said for over a decade that the musical movie was dead, but BEAUTY AND THE BEAST proved otherwise and paved the way for later big-screen adaptations of famous stage musicals. Some of my favorite songs on the album include:
"Be Our Guest"--this song revived the huge dance numbers that were once commonplace in movie musicals.

"Something There"--BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is a love story and though that love is often brought to mind by the title song, it is this number that truly captures the essence of what happens between Belle and Beast.

"The Mob Song"--out of all the songs on the album, this is the one with the most masculine appeal. It's a song about burning down castles and killing an unfamiliar creature that poses no threat. There's nothing like a dash of good old violence to get the blood flowing.

This is a great soundtrack for any Disney fan, any patron of musicals, and people who love the film.

My children listen to this CD over and over.......2006-08-25

My kids (5 year old boy and 2 year old girl) LOVE this soundtrack. They make me play it repeatedly in the car, EVERYTIME we go anywhere. It is word-for-word an exact replication of the movie. I highly recommend it for any Beauty and the Beast fan.

Beauty And The Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

a true masterpiece in every sense of the word
Great Disney CD: For Children of all ages
got this as a present for someone else
The Story Captured Through Song.
My children listen to this CD over and over

Beauty And The Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Aladdin: Special Edition Soundtrack
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Little Mermaid
Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack

ASIN: B000001M13
Release Date: 1991-11-01

Tracks:

Prologue
Belle
Belle (Reprise)
Gaston
Gaston (Reprise)
Be Our Guest
Something There
The Mob Song
Beauty And The Beast
To The Fair
West Wing
The Beast Lets Belle Go
Battle On The Tower
Transformation
Beauty And The Beast (Duet)

Amazon.com essential recording

Customer Reviews:

a true masterpiece in every sense of the word.......2007-05-10

Great Disney CD: For Children of all ages.......2007-02-19

got this as a present for someone else.......2007-01-04

This was a present to a friend. She liked it. I love soundtracks and Disney music, so it's pretty good.

The Story Captured Through Song........2006-09-29

My children listen to this CD over and over.......2006-08-25

Average customer rating:

Superb Saigon
1989 London Cast is much better that this CD
A must for any Miss Saigon fan!!
Superb
Fantastic

Miss Saigon (1995 Studio Cast)
Alain Boublil
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Making of "Miss Saigon"
Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast)
Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000002SM0
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Overture: Back Stage Dreamland - The Orch/Kevin Gray/Sonya Swaby/Emy Baysic/Sylvia Dohi/Rona Figueroa/Lydia Gaston/Margaret Gates...
The Heat Is On In Saigon - Kevin Gray/Emy Baysic/Sylvia Dohi/Rona Figueroa/Lydia Gaston/Margaret Gates/Zoie Lam...
The Movie In My Mind - Sonya Swaby/Joanna Ampil/Emy Baysic/Sylvia Dohi/Rona Rigueroa/Lydia Gaston/Margaret Gates...
The Transaction - Hinton Battle/Kevin Gray/Peter Cousens/Joanna Ampil/Company
The Dance - Peter Cousens/Joanna Ampil/Kevin Gray
Why God Why? - Peter Cousens
This Money's Yours - Peter Cousens/Joanna Ampil
Sun And Moon - Joanna Ampil/Peter Cousens
The Telephone Song - Peter Cousens/Hinton Battle
The Deal - Peter Cousens/Kevin Gray
The Wedding Ceremony (Dju Vui Vai) - Peter Cousens/Joanna Ampil/Emy Baysic/Sylvia Dohi/Rona Figueroa/Lydia Gaston/Margaret Gates...
Thuy's Arrival - Charles Azulay/Peter Cousens/Joanna Ampil
The Last Night Of The World - Joanna Ampil/Peter Cousens
The Morning Of The Dragon - Tito Abeleda/Alan Ariano/Norman Kauahi/Ray Santos/Francis J. Cruz/Juan P. Pineda...
I Still Believe - Joanna Ampil/Ruthie Henshall
Back In Town - Kevin Gray/Joanna Ampil/Charles Azulay/Tito Abeleda/Alan Ariano/Norman Kauahi/Ray Santos...
Thuy's Death/ You Will Not Touch Him - Charles Azulay/Joanna Ampil/Company
If You Want To Die In Bed - Kevin Gray
Kim & Engineer - Kevin Gray/Joanna Ampil
I'd Give My Life For You - Joanna Ampil/Company

Tracks:

Entr'Acte - Orch
Bui Doi - Hinton Battle/Chor
The Revelation - Hinton Battle/Peter Cousens/Ruthie Henshall
What A Waste - Kevin Gray/Company
Please - Hinton Battle/Joanna Ampil
Chris Is Here - Junix Inocian/Hinton Battle/Kevin Gray/Joanna Ampil
Kim's Nightmare - Thuy's Ghost/Joanna Ampil/Peter Cousens/Hinton Battle/Company
Room 317 - Joanna Ampil/Ruthie Henshall
Now That I've Seen Her - Ruthie Henshall
The Confrontation - Ruthie Henshall/Peter Cousens/Hinton Battle
The American Dream - Kevin Gray/Company
Finale - Joanny Ampil/Peter Cousens

Customer Reviews:

Superb Saigon.......2007-01-26

Wonderful to be able to catch the entire essence of Saigon. The highlights are good but, to be able to catch EVERY aspect of the show.....is amazing. Completely suggest for any diehard fan!

1989 London Cast is much better that this CD.......2006-12-15

Lea Solonga will always be Miss Saigon. Not putting her on this CD is a crime.

A must for any Miss Saigon fan!!.......2006-08-20

Miss Saigon is my favorite all-time musical! I was hesitant when buying this recording because in my mind Lea Salonga is and always will be Kim! But I was pleasantly surprised. Joanna Ampil as Kim holds her own. While she doesn't have the vocal range of Lea, she has a beautiful, crisp voice which she uses to emote the emotional turmoil of Kim. She expresses herself in a way that makes you feel her love, pain and anguish and in turn she makes this part her own. The rest of the cast is superb (especially the amazing Ruthie Henshall as Ellen) but make no mistake, this show belongs to Ampil!

I also fell in love with some of the material left out of the LCR. There a beautiful bridges and songs which enrich the story. "Back in Town" stands out for me because of the gorgeous melodies. Anyone who has fallen in love with the story of "Miss Saigon" will appreciate these added gems! This cast recording is definitely worth a listen!!

Superb.......2006-06-30

This 1995 studio recording is fabulous. While I don't necessarily prefer it entirely over the original cast recording, there are elements to this recording that are over and above the original.

Joanna Ampil, while delightful as Kim, lacks Lea Salonga's essence. There are moments I find her, how shall I say it - too much? - even when the score calls for drama. Perhaps it is the over enunciation of certain words, or perhaps it is my yearning for Salonga's angelic, crystal clear rendition. I might have preferred Toronto's Ma-Anne Dionisio on this recording as well. Kevin Gray, as The Engineer, is nothing short of thrilling. He was fabulous on stage and just as magical on this CD - lending a greasy, snake-like feel to the role. Hinton Battle and Peter Cousens disappoint slightly (what is it with Peter Cousens' heartless, cold reading-esque "You shouldn't be here"?); Sonia Swaby a perfect Gigi; but Ruthie Henshall - beyond words! What I would have given to see her and Lea Salonga in New York. And perhaps the most wonderful performance on this CD is that of Charles Azulay's - his Thuy is deeper and much more complex than the original Thuy.

The extra music and lyrics suddenly provide the bridge between gaps found in the OLC. For example, in the original recording, on disc one, it goes straight from Kim and Ellen's beautiful ballad, "I Still Believe," straight into the Engineer's shrieking, "Are you waiting for them to kill me? Did you not get what he said? There's a big screw loose inside you - I will rip it out of your head!" Even having seen the show, I'd forgotten what the moments in between were - what was the Engineering going on about? On this complete recording is a vital part of the show - a powerful explanation of Kim and Thuy's past, and an essential look into the very things Thuy himself hopes for, as well as the man he has has become. Also, whereas the OLC finishes disc one at This Is The Hour, the studio recording goes straight into I'd Give My Life For You, providing us with the Entr'acte on the second disc.

The finale is an improvement as well. While seemingly shorter, it is undoubtedly more forceful and significant. The heart is the same; but there's less of Kim "praying" to her parents and more of her concentrating on her very last moments with Tam, the very one who has "sustained her for miles."

The music of Miss Saigon is captivating, capturing the very essence of Kim and Chris' doomed love, as well as the shattered fantasies of the other characters. It is all at once heartbreaking, hopeful, and soaring. A lovely addition to any music theater lover's collection.

Fantastic.......2006-05-21

After listening to the OLC all my life, I was desperate to see the show, but it had closed in London. But then something amazing happened - Cameron Mackintosh announced a new touring production. Off I went, and it was not disappointing. I immediately invested in the CSR, eager to know the parts omitted from the OLC, and again, it was certainly not disappointing.

First of all, like the Les Miserables CSR, there is much more 'voice acting', (in lack of a better term), such as shouts in 'The Heat is On' and more screams in 'The Fall of Saigon'. When I listened to it, it felt like I was there, in the action. I could see the show play out in front of me.

The cast is also fantastic, and I enjoy Joanna Ampil's performance as Kim just as much as Lea Salonga's, as well as strongly favouring Peter Cousens as opposed to Simon Bowman, whose vibrato is just too much to bear someatimes. And Kevin Gray, well, fantastic! He really brought out the sinister character of the Engineer, stealing the show in my opinion. Sonia Swaby is a nice alternative as Gigi, (with somewhat of a 'cleaner' voice than the OLC), and Thuy is excellent also, providing an intense performance. The only weak link in my opinion is Hinton Battle as John, who, though he plays the American G.I. aspect of the character well, his ad libs in Bui Doi are simply awful, (a shame as it is one of my favourites).

As for the orhcestrations...well, the orchestrations don't seem to be too different from the original, but obviousley feel fuller.

My two favourite tracks are Back in Town/You will not touch him, as it's great to see it in its full form, (this bit also got me the most emotionally in the theatre, not Bui Doi or the ending, this bit), and The American Dream, with the dance section intact! I do however favour the original orchestrations for the dance section, (heard on 'The Heat is on' VHS), to the slinky saxaphone on this CD). I also love 'The Fall of Saigon'.

One thing mentioned alot when regarding Miss Saigon is the lyrics. Many complain about their simplicity, but apart from some occasional comically horiffic rhymes, ('first stop Bangkok, then I roam, cross that ocean white with foam'), I don't think the lyrcis are terrible at all.

What makes Saigon most special for me, (along with Phantom, Les Mis and Cats), is that I was in love with the music long before I ever saw the show, so it wasn't the helicopter, the cadillac, or the Ho Chi Minh statue that wowed me. It was the music, and this CD is a perfect testament to the fact that British (well, French/British in thisnd for making grown men across the world cry like babies, ;-). case), musicals don't depend on scenery after all. Bravo Boubil & Schonberg for a fantastic show, a

Average customer rating:

Gilbert & Sullivan at their best!
Good later G&S
Definitive
the best choice so far

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Gondoliers

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Gondoliers: Vocal Score
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ASIN: B0000029KH
Release Date: 1993-10-19

Customer Reviews:

Gilbert & Sullivan at their best!.......2005-07-20

This is the best recording of Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Gondoliers" ever recorded! The diction is excellent and the singers are amazing. It has really helped me get ready for the production of "The Gondoliers" I'm in with The Utah Light Opera Company.

Good later G&S.......2002-01-30

The Gondoliers was the last Gilbert and Sullivan opera to be a great popular success; listening to this version of the opera as performed by the D'Oyly Carte shows why: it is a highly entertaining score, with warm characters and a lot of humor.

This CD contains excellent performances by John Rath as Don Alhambra, Jill Pert as the Duchess of Plaza-Toto and the usual fine comic performance by Richard Suart as the Duke of Plaza-Toro.

The score is particularly fine, with Sullivan showing his mastery of many musical types, as the liner notes indicate, such as the waltz, the gavotte, the saltarello and the tarantello. It is a very vibrant and upbeat score.

The libretto is very clever, and Gilbert's sense of satire is never sharper than here. There are amusing songs as the democratic Gondoliers make Barataria into a model of social equality, and the Duke and Duchess relate the story of their product endorsements -- like the Mikado, all the satires are really about Victorian England, not about the land in which the stories are staged.

The story's plot relies on a typical Gilbert device -- babies "switched at birth" make one of the two Gondoliers -- no one is sure which one -- the rightful King of Barataria, promised to the Duke's daughter, Casilda. This interferes with the Gondoliers' plan to marry their sweethearts, and provides much of the humor as the Gondoliers attempt to adjust to their new social position. There is, of course, the usual Gilbertian plot twist at the end to resolve everything happily.

This is a very fun opera to listen to; with almost none of the wistfulness that haunts the Mikado, Pinafore, or the Yeomen of the Guard.

Definitive.......2000-07-01

Sullivan's score to The Gondoliers has been the object of a good deal of tampering over the years, and as is the case with all of the D'Oyly Carte's more recent efforts, an attempt has been made to return to the autograph. What we hear in this set is Sullivan's original introduction, minus the cachuca which was tacked on in the 1930s. The original is vastly more effective. There are other points of interest, such as the almost supernaturally crisp chorus - sample them in the "Thank you gallant gondolieri" in the first act. The cast is, as usual with D'Oyly Carte, first rate, with John Rath and Jill Pert standouts. Rarely have I heard Don Alhambra's arias sung with such panache. Rath even gives Donals Adams and Darrell Fancourt a run for their money.

Well worth the investment, even if you have the excellent 1960 recording.

the best choice so far.......1999-07-18

There are two strong rivals for this set. The early electric set transferred from 78 rpms onto Pearl CDs is suberb--the closest we will ever get to what Gilbert wanted in articulation and characterization and to what Sullivan wanted in vocal style--but is of course subjected to the sonics state of the art circa 1930. But to understand what this opera is all about, this is the choice of choices! The complete version on Decca has all the dialogue...which might or might not be a Good Thing on repeated hearings. And, no, you cannot program it out since Decca decided to contain it on the same tracks as the music that precedes it. So if all you want is the musical parts and stereo is a must, this Sony/Columbia set is wonderfully paced, well characterized (though not as well as the early electric set) and well conducted. And in case you do not know, this work is even more tuneful than "The Mikado"--which is saying a lot. And by the way, try the "Iolanthe" in this same series, but not "The Mikado" (which is far too rushed).

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever: The Original Broadway Cast Recording

Average customer rating:

There's more to us then surgeons can remove...
CLEAR DAY is a great Broadway score.
Delightful score, enlivened by some first rate performances
A wonderful Boadway Show
A Few Interesting Tidbits

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever: The Original Broadway Cast Recording
Alan Jay Lerner
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Promises, Promises (1968 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000003F50
Release Date: 1993-05-11

Tracks:

Overture
Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here!
Tosy And Cosh
On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
On The S.S. Bernard Cohn
Don't Tamper With My Sister
She Wasn't You
Melinda
When I'm Being Born Again
What Did I Have That I Don't Have?
Wait Till We're Sixty-Five
Come Back To Me
Finale

Customer Reviews:

There's more to us then surgeons can remove..........2005-11-06

"On a clear day rise and look around you", that is the clarion call from Allan Jay Lerner, from his lyric and libretto of "On A Clear Day". Produced for the 65' 66' Broadway season this charming score remains one of my favorites, composed by Burton Lane and lyrics by the aforementioned Mr. Lerner. The team of Lane and Lerner had previously created "Brigadoon" and a few MGM musical scores. Then in the late fifties Mr Lerner who was on the lookout for a new collaborator, met Mr Lowe at The Lambs Club, and, well they owned Broadway for many a year. Lowe wanted to move back to Europe and enjoy the spoils of his life while Lerner kept going and enlisted Mr Lane to compose this exquisite score. Barbara Harris and John Cullum were the leads in this tale of past lives intersecting with present. The show had a modest run in part because the book was too muddled. I have heard that the book is being rewritten and there will be a revival. It certainly deserves it, lesser shows have been brought back to life while this has been sadly neglected. Meanwhile you can pick up the original cast recording and sing along...you can see forever more. A beautiful score, truely.

CLEAR DAY is a great Broadway score........2004-12-18

When I first heard this score when the show came out in the mid-Sixties, I couldn't get enough of it. The great Barbara Harris was in her prime and she gave the material the kind of voice it deserved. (Unfortunately, Barbra Streisand and Yves Montand didn't do justice to the material. This is a musical with a number of interesting characters and not one that should focus on a STAR. In fact, when the DVD of the movie comes out, I want to add it to my collection if for no other reason than Montand singing the title song. How the French tongue and heavy accent virtually creams some of the lovely songs is enough to put this one in the "don't let this happen to you when casting a movie musical" category.) But the Broadway album captures the musicality of the score very well, considering the recording techniques in the Sixites were nothing like the digital quality today. So, the show isn't exactly My Fair Lady, but Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner could sure crank out great songs, and Clear Day is proof positive of that fact. And, if you're feeling down in the dumps, just listen to Barbara Harris sing "Hurry, It's Lovely Up Here!" I dare you to stay depressed after that one!

Delightful score, enlivened by some first rate performances.......2004-03-02

After Fritz Loewe retired, Alan Jay Lerner tried to team with composer Richard Rodgers (who had recently lost Oscar Hammerstein to cancer.) It was a match seemingly made in heaven that quickly deteriorated, it is claimed, due to Lerner's erratic work habits. Lerner took the idea next to Burton Lane, a gifted and very under rated composer. Together they created an enjoyable score that never quite fit with Lerner's awkward book. Still, it's the score that is heard on the CD and for the most part, it is a total delight.

This original cast recording (starring the wonderful Barbara Harris and in his first starring role the equally wonderful John Cullum) comes with a good set of notes by Ken Madelbaum and a detailed synopsis to take you through the story song by song.

A wonderful Boadway Show.......2003-07-20

I was one of the people lucky enough to see this show on Broadway and loved it. The music on the CD is wonderful. I was not impressed with the liner notes because they tell of Alan Jay Lerner's problems producing the show instead of giving the listener an idea of the plot. William Daniel is interested in climbing in the corporate world so he sends his fiancee, Daisy, to a Psychiatrist to help her stop smoking. The Psychiatrist is John Cullum. While he is hynotizing her to stop smoking, she goes into a past life where she was Melinda, a refined but put upon young woman. During the past sequences, the music is beautiful. I was especially impressed with Clifford David who sings on a bare stage. I expected him to have a big career. The news gets out so a millionaire comes to the Doctor to find out how he can leave his money to himself when he is born again. William Daniel is trying to explain to Daisy that though they are in their 20's, life will be sweet after he retires. John Collum is in love with Melinda which upsets Daisy, but he finally decides they are are the same woman and wants her. In the Finale they get together. I hope this brief summary helps someone who is listening to the gorgeous Burton Lane music and clever Alan Jay Lerner lyrics enjoy the CD more.

A Few Interesting Tidbits.......2002-12-24

I loved this album when it was out in vinyl, and saw the road show version with John Raitt. The reviews on Amazon.com capture the essence of the show. It had an interesting pre-Broadway history. Louis Jordan actually was the male lead in the show and left during it's out of town run. John Cullum who took over having played a supporting role in "Camelot" for Alan Jay Lerner, and was a durable replacement, who went on to many leading roles in musicals including the current "Urinetown" in NYC. Secondly "On a Clear Day" was produced by Robert Goulet and his partner Norman Rosemont, who had the ROGO Productions partnership. Mr. Goulet of course rose to stardom while performing in "Camelot",
and for years did road show versions of "On A Clear Day". He even included two numbers from the show on his terrific "On Broadway" album (available on CD) that was released the same year as the show.

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