Complete Studio Recordings [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Complete Studio Recordings [Original recording remastered] [Import]

ASIN: B000AN023C

Track Listings

1. Tete A Tete

2. Pretty Girl

3. Blue China

4. Hum

5. Blindman, Blindman

6. Step Right Up

7. Weep

8. Straight No Chaser

9. Sometime Ago

10. Hymn

11. Dancing On The Grave

12. Battle Hymn Of The Republic

13. King

14. Ode To A Flugelhorn

15. Gal In Calico

16. Green Stamps

17. Hawg Jawz

18. Simple Waltz

19. Just An Old Manuscript

20. Haig And Haig

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
This remastered 2 CD set is comprised of 3 complete albums including Clark Terry/Bobby Brookmeyer Quintet, New York, 1964, The Power Of Positive Thinking, New York, March 1965 and Gingerbread, New York, 1966. Over 130 minutes of music featuring Hank Jones, Roger Kellaway, Bob Cranshaw, Bill Crow and Dave Bailey. Two of the most superlative horn players of their respective instruments, Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyer's stellar collaboration includes nearly 50 separate recordings, the majority of which were made as sidemen. This phenomenal 2-CD set features all of the studio recordings that these two giants made with their superlative quintet prior to the band's break up in 1966. This is the first time ever that their three outstanding studio sessions recorded between 1964 and 1966 are available on one edition. Lonehill Jazz. 2005.

Complete Studio Recordings,Clark Terry,Bob Brookmeyer,Lonehill Jazz,Bop,Jazz,Mainstream Jazz,Pop,Swing,United States of America

The Original: Complete Studio Recordings
Average customer rating:

Fresh from the fifties

Great Jazz

A Neglected Master and his greatest group

A great set of tunes

The Original: Complete Studio Recordings
Chico Hamilton Quintet
Manufacturer: Lone Hill Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:

Man from Two Worlds

Quintet in Hi Fi

Blues on the Rocks

Complete Jazz Guitar

The Dealer

ASIN: B000ERU98C
Release Date: 2006-03-13

Tracks:

Nice Day
My Funny Valentine
Blue Sands
Sage
Morning After
Jonalah
Chrissie
Wind
Gone Lover (When Your Lover Has Gone)
Ghost
I Want to Be Happy [Live][*]
Spectacular [Live][*]
Free Form [Live][*]
Walking Carson Blues [Live][*]
Buddy Boo [Live][*]
Stella by Starlight [Live][*]
Bark for Barksdale [Live][*]

Album Description

The original Chico Hamilton Quintet was one of the last significant West Coast jazz bands of the cool era. Consisting of Buddy Collette on reeds (flute, clarinet, alto, and tenor), guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Carson Smith, and the drummer/leader, the most distinctive element in the group's identity was cellist Fred Katz. The band could play quite softly, blending together elements of bop and classical music into their popular sound and occupying their own niche. Most of these performances were formerly quite rare and never reissued before. Highly recommended to jazz historians and to listeners who enjoy classic cool jazz. Packaged in a Digipak. Lone Hill Jazz. 2006.

Customer Reviews:

Fresh from the fifties.......2007-05-10

The Chico Hamilton Quintet sounds as cool and fresh as ever, showing characteristic inventiveness in instrumental textures, rhythm, counterpoint - suave and refined.

Great Jazz .......2007-03-21

When I was in Collage I listen to a Jazz radio station in Long Beach California. (The Jazz Knob) There was a program called "Sleepy's Hollow" which introduced me to Chico Hamiltion. I then bought this album and many others to follow. Over the years I lost in moving my whole collection of 50's jazz. Now with this purchase I have finally able to enjoy the music of my college days. This smooth jazz features Chico on drums using only the solf mallets. I have never forgotten "Blue Sands" and "My Funny Valentine" and now enjoy them again.

A Neglected Master and his greatest group.......2007-03-09

There have been several Chico Hamilton Quintets, all including wonderful musicians, but to my ears, this is the very best. A young Jim Hall on guitar, Buddy Collette on reeds, Carson Smith originally on bass, Chico on drums and Fred Katz on cello. Cello? Yeah, jazz cello. Soft, understated, melodic and yet hard swinging music all the time. Chico was a great drummer and we all know that Jim Hall became one of the absolute greatest guitarists in the history of jazz. If you love jazz, buy this CD. If you love warm melodic music, buy this CD. If you love fantastic mood music, buy this CD. Okay, just buy this CD. It is one of the great ones.

A great set of tunes.......2007-01-22

I heard an excerpt from this CD on NPR one morning...had to pull over and write down the artist. Ordered it at my first opportunity, and have enjoyed every listening moment. If you like jazz, this is a great choice!

Complete Original Quintet/Sextet Studio Recordings

Average customer rating:

Phenomenal West Coast stuff

Complete Original Quintet/Sextet Studio Recordings
Al Cohn with Zoot Sims
Manufacturer: Lonehill Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Complete Studio Recordings: The Master Tapes
Al Cohn Quintet Featuring Bob Brookmeyer
Complete Recordings
Complete Live at the Hillcrest Club
Complete Jazz Guitar

ASIN: B000MV92NS
Release Date: 2007-02-12

Tracks:

Tangerine
Zoot Case
Red Door
Morning Flu
Mediolistic
Crimea River
New Moan
Moment's Notice
My Blues
Sandy's Swing
Somebody Loves Me
More Bread
Sherm's Terms
From a to Z
East of the Sun
Tenor for Two Please, Jack
My Blues [Alternate Take]
More Bread [Alternate Take]
Tenor for Two Please, Jack [Alternate Take]
Somebody Loves Me [Alternate Take]
You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To

Tracks:

Note
You 'N Me
On the Alamo
Opener
Angel Eyes
Awful Lonely
Love for Sale
Improvisation for Unaccompanied Saxophones
It's a Wonderful World - Al Cohn Quintet
Brandy and Beer - Al Cohn Quintet
Two Funky People - Al Cohn Quintet
Chasing the Blues - Al Cohn Quintet
Haley's Comet - Al Cohn Quintet
You're a Lucky Guy - Al Cohn Quintet
Wailing Boat - Al Cohn Quintet
Just You, Just Me - Al Cohn Quintet
Gone with the Wind - Al Cohn Quintet

Album Description

Two CDs. Al Cohn and Zoot Sims played and recorded together on many occasions. This collection contains all of the Al and Zoot quintet and sextet studio recordings with one exception (a previously released title). This 38 track collection features the complete original albums From A To Z (1956), You 'N' Me (1960) and Al And Zoot (1957) plus their first quintet/sextet collaboration from 1952. Lonehill Jazz. 2007.

Album Details

Al Cohn and Zoot Sims Played and Recorded Together on Many Occasions. This Collection Contains all of the Al and Zoot Quintet and Sextet Studio Recordings with One Exception which Lone-hill Fans Will Understand: A February 1961 New York Session Originally Issued as Either Way. The Date Featured the Two Saxophonists Joined by Mose Allison on Piano, Bill Crow on Bass, and Gus Johnson on Drums. Singer Cecil "kid Haffey" Collier was also Added on Three Tracks. That Complete Session, Consisting of More Than Half an Hour of Music, Already Appeared in Our Series on the CD Entitled Zoot Sims-al Cohn: The Hoagy Carmichael Sessions and More, Where it was Coupled with an Obscure Cohn-sims Septet Session Originally Issued under the Name of Pianist Elliot Lawrence.

Customer Reviews:

Phenomenal West Coast stuff.......2007-05-07

This cd is a very nice collector's dream from Lonehill. Even if this time they changed the original cover in this case I can forgive them. The new cover in my opinion is extremely nice so I can pass over this thing (even if generally the original cover is a must for me). This double cd collection comprehend some phenomenal fifties sessions from the guys. More or less 40 tunes from four sessions that were in the albums. Al&Zoot, You&Me, AtoZ and another earlier session. I can say this stuff is phenomenal West Coast music! The two altos create whirlwinds of sounds on tunes that are the epitome of West Coast sound! I can really suggests this collection because the music is great great stuff, no problem absolutly! You can buy the sessions separately because at least a coiuple of them are still available, but you are gonna spend a lot of money. Here they are well repackaged. But the main thing is the music. This double cd is a gem! Buy it without esitation.

Cabaret (1999 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording)

Average customer rating:

Documented Well, However Very Medicore
Redress the balance
Good Reference; Mediocre Recording
Cabaret out of the closet!
So complete

Cabaret (1999 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording)
John Kander , Fred Ebb , Maria Friedman , Judi Dench , and Jonathan Pryce
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Cabaret: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1998 Broadway Revival)
Cabaret: The Illustrated Book and Lyrics
Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
The Complete Cabaret Collection: Vocal Selections - Souvenir Edition
Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00000I132
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Tracks:

Act One: Willkommen - Jonathan Pryce/Michael Cantwell/Nicholas Colicos/Kate Copstick/Jackie Crawford/Dominic Curtis...
Act One: So What - Judi Dench
Act One: Don't Tell Mama - Maria Friedman/Louise Gold/Gay Soper/Claire Moore/Jacqueline Dankworth/Caroline O'Connor...
Act One: Telephone Dance - Gregg Edelman/Michael Cantwell/Nicholas Colicos/Kate Copstick/Jackie Crawford/Dominic Curtis...
Act One: Perfectly Marvellous - Maria Friedman/Gregg Edelman
Act One: Two Ladies - Jonathan Pryce/Louise Gold/Claire Moore
Act One: It Could Not Please Me More - Fred Ebb/Judi Dench
Act One: Tomorrow Belongs To Me - German Youth/Men
Act One: Why Should I Wake Up? - Gregg Edelman/Maria Friedman
Act One: Sitting Pretty - Jonathan Pryce/Louise Gold/Gay Soper/Claire Moore/Jacqueline Dankworth/Caroline O'Connor...
Act One: Married - Fred Ebb/Judi Dench
Act One: Fruit Shop Dance - NSO/John Owen Edwards
Act One: Meeskite - Fred Ebb/Maria Friedman/Michael Cantwell/Nicholas Colicos/Kate Copstick/Jackie Crawford...
Act One: Tomorrow Belongs To Me (Reprise) - Caroline O'Connor/Marcus Allen Cooper/Michael Cantwell/Nicholas Colicos/Kate Copstick...

Tracks:

Act Two: Entr'acte - NSO/John Owen Edwards
Act Two: Kick Line - NSO/John Owen Edwards
Act Two: Married (Reprise) - Fred Ebb
Act Two: If You Could See Her - Jonathan Pryce
Act Two: What Would You Do? - Judi Dench
Act Two: Sally's Revolt - Gregg Edelman/Maria Friedman
Act Two: Cabaret - Maria Friedman
Act Two: Break Up - Maria Friedman/Gregg Edelman
Act Two: Finale Ultimo - Gregg Edelman/Jonathan Pryce/Fred Ebb/Judi Dench/Maria Friedman/Kate Copstick/Jackie Crawford...
Act Two: Curtain Calls - Michael Cantwell/Nicholas Colicos/Kate Copstick/Jackie Crawford/Dominic Curtis/Geoffrey Dallamore...
Act Two: Exit Music - NSO/John Owen Edwards
Money '87 - Jonathan Pryce/Micheal Cantwell/Nicholas Colicos/Kate Copstick/Jackie Crawford/Dominic Curtis...
Don't Go - Gregg Edelman/Maria Friedman
I Don't Care Much - Jonathan Pryce
Mein Herr - Maria Friedman/Louise Gold/Gay Soper/Claire Moore/Jacqueline Dankworth/Caroline O'Connor...
Maybe This Time - Maria Friedman
Money Money - Jonathan Pryce/Maria Friedman
Tiller Girls - Louise Gold/Gay Soper/Claire Moore/Jacqueline Dankworth/Caroline O'Connor/Clare Burt

Amazon.com

This 1999 entry in JAY's Masterworks Edition series captures Kander and Ebb's Cabaret in an excellent two-disc release that preserves the complete Broadway score with its original orchestrations and vocal arrangements, as well as an addendum of four songs written for the 1972 motion picture (including "Maybe This Time" and "Money, Money") as well as three written for the 1987 Broadway revival--111 minutes in all. Jonathan Pryce might be too similar to his most famous role as Miss Saigon's Engineer, but Oscar-winner Judi Dench (who shined as Desiree in a London version of Sondheim's A Little Night Music) and lyricist Fred Ebb himself are excellent as the older couple, Fraulein Schneider and Herr Schultz. Also good are Gregg Edelman as Cliff and Maria Friedman (best known for her role in the video production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) as Sally Bowles. This production may not have the authenticity of the original Broadway cast, the Liza-led star power of the film soundtrack, or the grit of the 1998 revival, but it's a highly enjoyable reading, and the completeness of the score makes it a must for the voracious Cabaret listener. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Documented Well, However Very Medicore.......2006-01-02

Listening to this recording made me realize how medicore Cabaret is to other Kander-Ebb shows. There are certainly some great numbers, "Willkommen", "So What?", "Don't Tell Mama", "Perfectly Marvelous", "Two Ladies", "The Money Song" and the title song, to name to bulk of the terrific songs, but much of the show's book numbers, with the exception of "So What?" and "Perfectly Marvelous", are awful.
I think the medicore feeling you get from this recording comes from the medicore cast. Jonathan Pryce's MC cannot compare to Joel Grey's. Maria Friedman is also incomparable and medicore to the 1966 Sally and Liza Minnelli.
The only real standout performers here are Dame Judi Dench as Frau Schnider and the lyricist extraordinaire, Fred Ebb as Herr Schultz.
I'd recommend the 1966 Original Cast Album and the movie soundtrack over this.

Redress the balance.......2005-12-07

Five stars may seem a lot when the average for this item at the time of writing is hovering around the 3* mark. However this is a definitive set featuring all the music in the performing edition of the show as well as other titles added since the original Broadway production or from the film.
'Definitive'? Certainly! Fred Ebb sings Herr Schulz and you can be sure he would not have let his name and reputation be attached to an inferior product.
The cast is stupendous. Not only has Dame Judie Dench graduated from her West End role of Sally but the marvellous Maria Freidman (Woman in White) and Jonathan Pryce (Miss Saigon) head an all star cast of mainly British artistes. Among the Kit-Kat girls alone are Gay Soper, Claire Moore, Jacqueline Dankworth and Clare Burt.
Pryce may be no Joel Grey but who is? He is perfectly acceptable and in the end it is the totality of performance that should be judged and here this set stands as high as the original cast recording yet it is so much more complete. If we can never have a top live production on DVD (where is that Sam Mendes Donmar production of 1994?) then this is a more than acceptable substitute.

Good Reference; Mediocre Recording.......2002-07-03

This is an excellent recording to use as reference. As a music director for a production of Cabaret, this recording was released just in time. Very helpful for choreographers who need to hear the 'bells and whistles' of the percussion part in dance numbers such as "Money Song" and "Fruit Shop Dance".

Any director, choreographer, and music director mounting a production of the 1987 revision really should listen to this as it is the only recording of Cliff's new solo "Don't Go" (but if you have a choice - use "Why Should I Wake Up?" instead), and the 1987 "Money Song" as published by Tams-Whitmark.

Judi Dench is marvelous in her solos, but to be honest, the rest of the performances fell flat for me. I felt the energy was low, and the dialects and diction left much to be desired.

If you are a Cabaret collector, a Judi Dench fan, or a music director or other such production team member, this recording will interest you greatly. However, for listening pleasure, stick to the original Broadway and Broadway Revival cast recordings. The only tracks unique to the recording are "Don't Go", the 1987 "Money Song" and some dance and incidental music. All other tracks can be found on the Original Cast, Revival Cast, and Film soundtracks, and with the exception of Dench's numbers, all are performed better on those recordings.

Cabaret out of the closet!.......2001-07-27

Hi. You wonder why Earth is so popular? I think it is because there are recordings such as this around! And it is there I start my revue:

This version of ýCabaretý is a real special gem for Cabaret fans. It has a number of pushing and pulling factors. The C.D. is essentially utilising the original book, music, lyrics and orchestrations as conceived by the authors, performed on double C.D.

This Studio Cast has recorded the majority of the music featured in the original Vocal Score, including the much loved, and sometimes much missed Telephone Dance, Fruit Shop Dance and Sitting Pretty, despite missing a few incidentals but including Sallyýs Revolt and the Break Up (with dialogue!). All of the music is in its original orchestrations and played by the National Symphony Orchestra; large and well rehearsed! They performed the technically difficult Telephone Dance and Sitting Pretty with great, noticeable enthusiasm, as well as the Kick Line being very good- sometimes throughout the C.D. there are uncertainties with the tempo. There was an over-exaggerated reverb throughout, although one gets used to the echo after a while!

I particularly wanted to buy this C.D., instead of the original Broadway version, because of the performers: Dame Judi Dench (playing Fraulein Schneider); the lyricist Fred Ebb (playing Herr Schultz); Maria Friedman (playing Sally Bowles but best known for ýThe Witches of Eastwický and the ýJosephýý video); Jonathan Price (playing M.C.); Gregg Edelman (playing Cliff); and many other well-known faces!

Although I say that the performances were generally well-judged, I must admit that I was a little unsure of the standard of some of the singing, especially the Jewish shopkeeper with the broad American accent! At least he knows his words quite well! I was pleasantly surprised at Dame Judiýs performance. Although not a singer, her acting and accent are just perfect for the part and gains almost top marks (50 marks to be precise!). Some people say that Maria Friedman plays Sally a little over the top. I canýt help but notice that Friedman found some of her songs a little bit too hard to sing for her range and that she lost a lot of emotion in ýCabaretý itself. She plays her, in some places, over the top, yes, but I agree with some that this is how Sally is supposed to be. Her eccentric performance got me laughing!

Another reason why I bought this C.D. was because they included many bonus tracks. They added some of the ýCut Songs.ý These include ýDonýt Goý and ýI Donýt Care Much.ý They also added ýSongs especially composed for the movieý (ýMoney, Moneyý, ýMein Herrý, ýMaybe This Timeý etcý) as well as a very interesting merge of ýSitting Prettyý and ýMoney, Moneyý as arranged for the 1987 revival. These being preformed, I think, by the Studio Cast. Excellent!

The written commentary with it is also interesting (simple yet detailed synopsis and information regarding the genesis of the show). The booklet also contains photos of the performers recording the C.D.

In summary: While singing isnýt admittedly the best, this package is a library of entertainment for the Cabaret fan especially, and would be advisable to buy if you, e.g. knew the performers and would like to take advantage of the bonus tracks and variety of music, as well as if you want a more up-to-date recording (1993-2000).

So complete.......2001-06-16

Most thorough recording containing not only 1966 and 98 tunes, but the hard to find 1987 revival pieces as well. A must for anyone doing this production.

Guys and Dolls (1995 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording)

Average customer rating:

First Complete Recording a real treat
A Must-Have!
A-plus!!!
Grab this Recording...and I mean quick!
wonderful!

Guys and Dolls (1995 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording)

Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls (1992 Broadway Revival Cast)
Guys and Dolls 50th-Anniversary Cast Recording
Guys & Dolls (1976 Broadway Revival)
The Making of Guys and Dolls (Great Broadway Musicals)

ASIN: B000005BHQ
Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

Act One: Overture - NSO/John Owens Edwards
Act One: Runyonland - NSO/John Owens Edwards
Act One: Fugue For Tinhorns - Don Stephenson/David Green/Nicolas Colicos
Act One: Follow The Fold - Emily Loesser/Brian Greene
Act One: The Oldest Established - Tim Flavin/Don Stephenson/David Green/Bates
Act One: I'll Know - Emily Loesser/Gregg Edelman
Act One: A Bushel And A Peck - Kim Criswell
Act One: Adelaide's Lament - Kim Criswell
Act One: Guys And Dolls - Don Stephenson/David Green
Act One: Havana - NSO/John Owens Edwards/Emily Loesser/Gregg Edelman
Act One: If I Were A Bell - Emily Loesser/Gregg Edelman
Act One: My Time Of Day/I've Never Been In Love Before - Gregg Edelman/Emily Loesser
Act One: Finale Act One - Gregg Edelman/Emily Loesser

Tracks:

Act Two: Entr'acte - NSO/John Owens Edwards
Act Two: Take Back Your Mink - Kim Criswell
Act Two: Adelaide's Second Lament - Kim Criswell
Act Two: More I Cannot Wish You - Brian Greene/Emily Loesser
Act Two: The Crapshooter's Dance - NSO/John Owens Edwards
Act Two: Luck Be A Lady - Gregg Edelman
Act Two: Sue Me - Kim Criswell/Tim Flavin
Act Two: Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat - Don Stephenson/Katrina Murphy
Act Two: Adelaide Meets Sarah - Emily Loesser/Kim Criswell
Act Two: Marry The Man Today - Kim Criswell/Emily Loesser
Act Two: The Happy Ending/Guys And Dolls - Pam Baxter/Lynton Black/Elaine Boxall/Karen Broughton/David Cavendish/Nicolas Colicos...
Bonus Track: A Woman In Love (From The Movie) - Gregg Edelman/Emily Loesser
Bonus Track: Pet Me Poppa (From The Movie) - Kim Criswell
Bonus Track: Adelaide (From The Movie) - Tim Flavin/Don Stephenson/David Green
Bonus Track: Travelling Light (Cut From The Original Production) - Gregg Edelman/Tim Flavin

Amazon.com

Rich in humor, romance, and appealing characters, to say nothing of some of the most exuberant and lovingly crafted songs to be found in any show, Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls is as close as you can get to a perfect musical. In the theatre, it's impossible not to get caught up in the swinging title song, the tender duets of reforming gangster Sky Masterson and mellowing Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown ("I've Never Been In Love Before"), or the risqué nightclub set pieces and comic lamentations of the perennial fiancée, Miss Adelaide ("Take Back Your Mink"). Here, for a complete recording, the show springs to life in the studio thanks to some sympathetic performances and John Owen Edwards's taut conducting. Kim Criswell is an excellent Adelaide, funny and touching in her frustrated attempts to get Nathan down the aisle. Most poignant of all, Loesser's daughter Emily sings Sarah Brown's songs with a natural simplicity. They are well matched by Gregg Edelman and Tim Flavin as their respective beaux. It's a treat to hear, with the added bonus of songs written specially for the 1955 film. --Piers Ford

Customer Reviews:

First Complete Recording a real treat.......2007-06-28

I love this musical, and have always lamented (no pun intended) the fact that half of Loesser's music rarely ends up on Cast Recordings. This studio recording rectifies all of these discrepencies and provides us with some truly unique and memorable audio performances; there are even a few bonus tracks for the history buffs in the crowd. But for me, the true reason to buy this CD is to hear the full score and the full orchestrations of Runyonland, Havana and the Crap Shooters Dance. As a director who stages a lot of musicals and who has performed the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson six times to date I can tell you that this CD is a real asset for show preparation as well as pure enjoyment. If you're a stickler for consistent accents you may be disappointed at times with some of the vocals, but it ain't for lack of tryin'. These artists are first rate and, though sometimes miscast, in my humble opinion, the effort and the artistry is still there without a doubt. I'm sure that the late Frank Loesser must be smiling broadly to know that his entire creation is completely captured once and for all for us to enjoy. And I'm sure that Frank wouldn't be too unhappy that Emily Loesser stars in the piece, either! Buy it and enjoy!

A Must-Have!.......2003-04-30

As I happily begin re-listening to this delightful 2-CD soundtrack, I can't help but be grateful to the powers-that-be who were wise enough to produce this recording. Every GUYS AND DOLLS fan should own it, because it is, in my humble opinion, the definitive recording. It is far superior to the others I have heard and own in its completeness and in its trueness to Loesser's score, which is such a pleasure to hear. Bottomline: It's brilliant! Order yours NOW!!

A-plus!!!.......2002-07-16

Without question, the best played and sung performance to date. And don't forget, the most complete. Grateful to all involved for serving Frank Loesser's beautiful, witty and gutsy score so carefully. Proves that there are no reasons to change a musical score in any way to serve a production. I am not a purist (although I am a classically trained pianist), yet stick to the original all others who dare -- or should I say can! The orchestra is superb and very much alive. I hope that other musical shows that have not yet been given the full score recording treatment get similar attention to detail should they show up on disc.

Grab this Recording...and I mean quick!.......2000-12-31

Guys and Dolls has been very well served on CD. This recording on Jay Records is a diamond in the rough. Several years ago there was a Broadway revival starring Nathan Lane and Peter Gallagher. From that wonderful production came a great CD, which every fan of this musical should own. The subject of this review is a studio recording made in 1995. It is in everyway just as outstanding a CD as the Broadway revival recording. In it are Kim Criswell as Adelaide, and Emily Loesser (Frank's daughter) as Sister Sarah. Both sing their roles with idiomatic charm. An added bonus to this very complete (2 CD) recording are new renditions of some tunes found only in the movie (starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando), including "A Woman in Love". It bears repeating, grab this recording before it goes out of print. I promise buyers will be delighted with this gem.

wonderful!.......2000-02-27

Listen, and you are bound to be humming this play all day long."pet me poppa, poppa pet me goood,"

Wonderful Town: First Complete Recording (1998 Studio Cast)

Average customer rating:

good, not great (sadly)
Complete indeed!
nothing like the original
Great....good....fine....boring
A wonderful recording, worthy of a classic musical

Wonderful Town: First Complete Recording (1998 Studio Cast)
Leonard Bernstein , Betty Comden , Adolph Green , Rebecca Luker , and John Owen Edwards
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Audra McDonald, Kim Criswell, Thomas Hampson, Wayne Marshall, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
Wonderful Town (2003 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B00000DHY8
Release Date: 1998-11-03

Tracks:

Overture
Christopher Street
Ohio
Conquering The City
100 Easy Ways
What A Waste
Ruth's Stories
A Little Bit In Love
Pass The Football
Conversation Piece
A Quiet Girl
Quiet Ruth
Conga!

Tracks:

Entr'acte
My Darlin' Eileen
Swing!
Ohio (Reprise)
Swing! (Orchestral Reprise)
It's Love
Ballet At The Village Vortex
The Wrong Note Bag
Finale Act Two
Exit music
A Little Bit In Love (Full Version)
Christopher Street (Sans Scenes)

Amazon.com

Recorded in 1998, this two-CD set is a complete document of 1953's Wonderful Town. Rebecca Luker and Karen Mason play Eileen and Ruth Sherwood, the two Ohio transplants trying to make it in New York. Mayhem ensues--and so does love, of course. It must burn many contemporary songwriters that Leonard Bernstein and his lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green came up with the entire score in five weeks. Five weeks! The lengthy opening number, "Christopher Street," completely captures the city's raucous energy, and then there's over a dozen others that are just as thrilling, such as "100 Easy Ways," "A Little Bit in Love," "Conga!" and "Swing!" Comden and Green are at their most bitingly funny, and Bernstein's music is a marvel of jazzy syncopation and bursts of brassy energy. The whole thing's a barrel of fun. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

good, not great (sadly).......2005-01-15

"Wonderful Town" is my favorite Leonard Bernstein work, so I guess you could say that I am bias. I've seen the current New York revival four times, and own every cast recording ever made. Despite many good qualities, this is one of my least favorite.

To begin, I did not like the way that Karen Mason performed the role of Ruth. She was good, but that's the problem: to be Ruth, you have to be spectacular. I didn't get that feeling listening to her. For me, Donna Murphy is the best Ruth, and Ms. Mason doesn't even come close!

On the other hand, my heart absolutely melted over Rebecca Luker's interpretation of Eileen. Ms. Luker, one of the best voices currently in the theatre, brings her full-bodied soprano to Eileen, and it is transfixing. Her version of "A Little Bit in Love" is my favorite version of all time.

All in all, you should buy this recording, along with the versions starring Donna Murphy and Brooke Shields, and spend an enchanted evening in that old fashioned New York of days past.

Complete indeed!.......2000-08-28

This recording of Wonderful Town is fabluous. Extraordinary playing and singing all the way around. I have just completed a run of this show (as music director/conductor). While I understand those who prefer the orignal w/Rosalind Russell (I have that one, too), this recording in its completeness is unbeatable. Every measure of the score is present on this recording. This is especially helpful, since the available piano vocal score is nearly unplayable at the keyboard due to both scoring and manuscript difficulties. Even with talented rehearsal accompanists, we ended up teaching every bit of the choreography straight from this recording, with virtually no changes in the orchestra once they came in to production. I highly recommend this item, especially if you are thinking of doing this show!

nothing like the original.......2000-07-01

I've read the reviews of this record and while it's fine, it doesn't match the electricity and fire of the original. Precisely, Rosalind Russell is an actress and she imbues her singing with a passion that Mason can't equal with her superior singing voice. I remember the excitment that accompanied the move of Russell to Broadway and the attendant snobbery that a "film" star would have the chutzpah to try the sacred stage. Well, babes, she not only did herself proud, she knocked the socks off the critics. You hear the transcendent Russell persona in the songs, so don't get seduced by this better singer stuff. One reviewer mentioned that he/she got bored by the songs after a few hearings, well, it won't happen if you get the original. Get that babes, and you'll wear the darn thing out! Besides, what a bargain! It's ten times cheaper!

Great....good....fine....boring.......2000-05-08

When I got this CD at first, it was great! But the more I listened to it, the more boring it got. The tunes are great and the performers did a good job, it is just the tunes get worn out so quickly. I cannot give a reason why this is, but it is just so. It's not like I played it too many times either. If you plan on buying this music listen to it seldomly, maybe once a month. Then it might stand a chance.

A wonderful recording, worthy of a classic musical.......1999-07-31

Wonderful Town easily ranks among West Side Story, The Music Man, and all the other greatest musicals of the fifties and sixties; why it has been utterly forgotten by most is beyond me. Leonard Bernstein delivers one of the theater's best scores (when has he not?); the overture has more personality than many more successful shows have in their entire scores. This recording is the perfect representation of an amazing show. True, there is nothing particularly wrong with the original; however, this one is even better. Rosalind Russel gave a brilliant performace- or so Im told - but she is fundamentally an actress, and although her voice is passable, she couldnt really do justice to the fantastic songs, chosing to use her personality more than her singing ability in many instances. Nothing wrong with that. But here we have Karen Mason, who, while not as forceful a personality as Russel, has just enough no-nonsense attitude to pull off the part, and boy, can she sing. Rebecca Luker is the perfect Eileen- she combines a lovely voice with ditzy charm, just what her songs require. Ron Raines and Gregg Edelman both sing perfectly. Add to all this the presence of the National Symphony Orchestra, which allows Don Walker's sparkling orchestrations to shine far more than could any pit band, and you have a fantastic recording of Leonard Bernstein's fantastic score.