Back to Back [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Back to Back [Original recording remastered] [Import]

ASIN: B00000JXGG

Track Listings

1. Keep It Steady (Brecker Bump)

2. If You Wanna Boogie... Forget It

3. Lovely Lady

4. Night Flight

5. Slick Stuff

6. Dig a Little Deeper

7. Grease Piece

8. What Can a Miracle Do

9. I Love Wastin' Time With You

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
20 Bit K2 Remastered Reissue of 1975 Release.

Tracks:

Overture
Backstage Babble
Think How It's Gonna Be
But Alive
The Best Night of My Life
Who's That Girl?
Applause
Hurry Back
Fasten Your Seat Belts
Welcome to the Theatre
Good Friends
She's No Longer a Gypsy
One of a King
One Hallowe'en
Something Greater
Finale
Applause -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) (bonus track)
The Loneliest Man in Town -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) - bonus track
Smashing N.Y. Times -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) - bonus track
God Bless -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) - bonus track

Customer Reviews:

Applause for Applause!.......2006-07-13

I recomend this cd to all theater fans. Even the ones who love a great, toe tapping score. The song they sing in titled Applause can be seen in the Bonus Performances on the DVD titled Broadways Lost Treasueres. That is how I first heard of Applause. It was very entertaining!

Lauren Bacall !.......2005-07-09

Based on the classic movie "All About Eve", Lauren Bacall won a Tony for her performance in this great musical.

Best tracks include:

But Alive
Applause [Bonnie Franklin of "One Day At A Time" fame!]
Something Greater

Not all the songs are great, but totally worth the buy!

Love it.......2004-04-01

Love the CD ( I have had the vinyl recording ever since it came out), but wish it could be released on Video or DVD(does anyone out there know if this will ever happen?). I saw the television production with Lauren Bacall and Larry Hagman back in the early 1970's and saw an amateur production of it here in Melbourne as well and having always loved the whole concept of the movie, I feel that it transferred well to the stage.

Welcome CD edition of the original Broadway cast album.......2004-01-17

First... a request to people reviewing stage cast albums, Several reviews refer to these recordings as "soundtracks."

WRONG!!!!

"Soundtrack" recordings are records/cds transfered from from movies ONLY.

Live theatre does not use pre-recorded "soundtracks" - the casts perform live on stage and these "original cast recordings" are made in recording studios and designed for home listening.
PLEASE.... maintain your credibility by using the correct term!

************

Finally, after years of negotiation Decca Broadway is making the 1970 Tony winning musical APPLAUSE avaialble on Cd. Was it worth the wait? Well, yes and no. APPLAUSE is one of those late 60's musicals adapted from a hit play/novel/movie and offering lots of glitz and energy to cover up the deficiencies of the show itself.

Star Lauren Bacall provided the "star" quality though she has no real singing voice but as an actress she rises above it bringing the character to vivid life. Len Cariou sings well as Bacall's boyfriend but has very little to do.

Bacall gets the key gems and with two major exceptions any of the numbers in which she does not appear can be ignored. The first exception is the lively title song - a tribute to the power of applause. It has almost nothing to do with the plot but still stopped the show nightly. The other,is a dramatic soliloque for Penny Fuller in the (virtually) non-singing role of Eve: "One Hallowe'en." This is Eve's big moment to really show her true colours and Fuller makes the most of it. Missing from the recording - becasue it is a dialogue scene - is the following moments when Eve recieves humiliating comeuppance.

The original Lp release was done by ABC records and had an annoying "boxy" sound quality that has not been corrected on the cd. The very short selection has been filled out with demo recordings by composer Charles Strouse and a couple of the cut songs sound quite interesting. Packaging is up to Decca Broadway's usual high standards.

lauren.......2003-12-04

i have a copy of this recording on LP, and have enjoyed it for approx 25 yrs. couldn't wait for the cd. bought it the first time i saw it.
i am wondering if anyone has seen the tv production of APPLAUSE starring LAUREN broadcast circa 1974 on tv? and is there any possibility of obtaining a copy on anything? the production was FANTISTIC, to say the least!!!

Average customer rating:

The Desert Song/The New Moon
Two classic operettas on one CD
Stupendous Operettas Finally Available

The Desert Song / The New Moon
Sigmund Romberg , Oscar Hammerstein II , Otto Harbach , Kitty Carlisle , Wilbur Evans , Felix Knight , Jeffrey Alexander Chorus , Thomas Hayward , Jane Wilson , and Lee Sweetland
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Student Prince (1952 Studio Cast)
Music of Sigmund Romberg
The New Moon (2003 Encores! Revival Concert Cast)
Roberta & Vagabond King
Desert Song (1953)

ASIN: B00006AWBJ
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Tracks:

Opening Chorus and Riff Song - From The Desert Song (Romberg / Harbach / Hammerstein II) with Kitty Carlisle, Wilbur Evans, and Felix Knight
French Military Marching Song
Romance
Then You Will Know
The Desert Song
Finale of Act I
One Flower Grows Alone in Your Garden
One Alone
The Sabre Song
Finale: French Military Marching Song & One Alone
Overture - From The New Moon (Hammerstein & Romberg) with Thomas Tibbett Hayward, Lee Sweetland, and Jane Wilson
Marianne
The Girl on the Prow
Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
Stouthearted Men
One Kiss
Wanting You
Lover, Come Back to Me

Customer Reviews:

The Desert Song/The New Moon.......2005-10-06

I have loved the music of The Desert Song since I first saw it, starring Dennis Morgan, in the cinema many, many years ago, and then the Gordeon McCrae version on TV. I think the Dennis Morgan one was better, or perhaps I may be prejudiced as I have an unfortunate tendency to prefer original versions (how many subsequent productions have proved superior? Not too many).
However, back to the CD. To listen to this super CD is pure pleasure, a real nostalgia trip. Although I had never heard of the musical The New Moon, I was very surprised to realise that the music was almost a familiar to me as from The Desert Song. Aha, the joys of listening to the old fashioned wireless when I was a little girl!
Gloria Little,
Queensland, Australia

Two classic operettas on one CD.......2004-02-03

Decca Broadway's operetta series providing remastered reissues of eight classic recordings from the 1940s/50s is most welcome. Many of these operettas have no other available recordings on Cd, and these Decca albums have been out-of-print since the late 1960s.

This set offers a classic DESERT SONG recording with Felix Knight, Wilbur Evans and Kitty Carlisle. Some of the dialogue is hysterical: "I Can't kill you" says Kitty before she sails into "I Love You" in the first act finale. It's silly but it's fun.

THE NEW MOON is a more or less straight reading of seven numbers from the score (plus a nicely arranged Overture conducted by Victor Young) performed by a solid cast.

Sound quality on both operettas is quite good considering the age of the original masters: DESERT SONG is 60 years old now.

Stupendous Operettas Finally Available.......2002-10-18

THE DESERT SONG/THE NEW MOON reissue on Decca Broadway Operettas series is as welcome as a spring day. Despite the limited range of the mono sound of both releases, the CD double play should make a welcome addition to any theater lover's music library.

Of the two, THE NEW MOON comes off best with absolutely stunning baritone singing by Lee Sweetland on "Marianne" and "Stouthearted Men" and finer but less impressive work by Jane Wilson and Thomas Hayward on the other familiar numbers. And they are very familiar. Even if you've never seen this show (or the altered film version with Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy), you'll have heard many of these songs as background music or featured in the film DEEP IN MY HEART, the story of composer Sigmund Romberg.

THE DESERT SONG gives a nice representation of its score hampered only by Kitty Carlisle's tremulous soprano waverings. Wilbur Evans and Felix Knight carry off the male roles with great artistry.

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Album Description

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

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

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

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Broadway Divas
Love the choices
coulda been a contender
Two words: Julia Murney

Broadway Divas
Liza Minnelli , Mandy Patinkin , Bernadette Peters , Mary Martin , Patti LuPone , Jeanne Lehman , Mark Jacoby , Madeline Kahn , Marin Mazzie , Barbara Cook , Angela Lansbury , and Julia Murney
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Lady With The Torch
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I'm Not Waiting
Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Sondheim Etc. Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It)

ASIN: B00005LN5V
Release Date: 2001-08-07

Tracks:

I Got The Sun In The Morning - Ethel Merman
Sing Happy - Liza Minnelli
Mean To Me - Nell Carter
Children And Art - Bernadette Peters
Before I Kiss The World Goodbye - Mary Martin
Being Alive - Patti LuPone
Monotonous - Eartha Kitt
Shy - Sarah Jessica Parker
All That Jazz - Bebe Neuwirth
Raise The Roof - Julia Murney
Getting Married Today - MADELINE KAHN
Back To Before - Marin Mazzie
Losing My Mind - Barbara Cook
What Did I Have That I Don't Have? - Barbara Harris
Everything's Coming Up Roses - Angela Lansbury

Customer Reviews:

Broadway Divas.......2007-01-22

Wonderful selection of classic singers and songs. Special favorites are Ethel Merman and Barbara Cook.

Love the choices.......2006-08-11

This is great. Anything with Ethel, Bernadette, Barbara (both of them), Mary, and Marin is beyond words. Any one of them by themselves is awesome but these ladies together are mind blowing. All of the women sound amazing but they made a mistake on the list of songs and composers. "Raise the Roof" sung by Julia Murney (I love her)was written by Andrew Lippa, not LaChusia.

coulda been a contender.......2006-03-15

The divas are indeed divine, but the choice of music sung left me wondering why, with so many other great music selection contenders.

Two words: Julia Murney.......2001-09-03

OK, so it sounds crazy to review an album with Ethel Merman and Bernadette Peters on it and not mention them. But...tough. I've read enough about them to know how good they are.

Buy this album as a token of love to the producer who had the cajones to put Julia Murney on an album celebrating the last 100 years of Broadway divas.

Because SHE is one of the greatest voices of the decade!

Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast): Von Stade; Hubbard; Hadley; McGlinn

Average customer rating:

An American Treasure
DON'T DESPAIR. IT'S BEEN REISSUED!!!!!
An American tragedy....
Gorgeous!
Defective disc.

Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast): Von Stade; Hubbard; Hadley; McGlinn
Frederica von Stade , Jerome Kern , Jerry Hadley , Bruce Hubbard , Teresa Stratas , David Garrison , Leslie Fyson , John McGlinn , and London Sinfonietta
Manufacturer: Angel Records
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Carousel (1987 Studio Cast)
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Kiss Me, Kate (1948 Original Broadway Cast)
Lady, Be Good! (1992 Studio Cast Recording)
Oh, Kay! (1994 Studio Recording)

ASIN: B000002SJL
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Overture
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cotton Blossom: Niggers all work on d Mississippi... (Stevedores, Gals, Queenie, Steve, Pete, 1st Mincing Miss, 2nd Mincing Miss, Beaux, Girls & Boys)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cotton Blossom: 'Andy!!!...' (Parthy, Windy, 1st Mincing Miss, 2nd Mincing Miss)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo: 'Here comes the Show Boat parade!...' (Boy, Girls, Boys, Andy, Parthy)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo: 'Hey Julie...' (Pete, Julie, Steve, Parthy, Andy, Ellie)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo: 'It's a man...' (Ellie, Ravenal, Vallon)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Where's the Mate for Me?: Who cares if my boat goes upstream... (Ravenal, Magnolia)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Make Believe: Only make believe I love you... (Ravenal, Magnolia, Vallon)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Ol' Man River: 'Oh, Joe!...' (Magnolia, Joe, Men)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Two - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man: 'What cher doin' all by yourself, Miss Nola?...' (Queenie, Magnolia, Julie, Joe, Servants)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Three - Life on the Wicked Stage: Why do stage struck maidens clamor... (Ellie, Girls)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Three - Till Good Luck Comes My Way: The man who ventures with chance... (Ravenal, Men)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': Mis'ry's comin' aroun'... (Queenie, Women, Joe Magnolia, Julie, Men, Solo Bass)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'Take her up, Rubberface!...' (Andy, Julie, Steve, Magnolia, Parthy, Ellie, Windy)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'Hello, Windy...' (Vallon, Andy, Magnolia, Steve, Julie, Windy, Ellie, Parthy)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'You needn't all look at us...' (Steve, Colored Chorus, Andy, Parthy, Magnolia, Ellie, Frank)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'Looks like a swell...' (Andy, Parthy, Frank, Ravenal, Julie, Magnolia, Steve, Joe)

Tracks:

Show Boat: Act One, Scene Five - I Would Like to Play a Lover's Part: Her face is fair to look upon... (Boys, Girls, Ellie, Frank)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Five - I Might Fall Back on You: Little girl, you are safe with me... (Frank, Ellie, Girls)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Five - Queenie's Ballyhoo: 'Is de theatre fillin' up, Cap'n Andy?...' (Queenie, Andy, Colored Chorus)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Six - Villain Dance
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Seven - You Are Love: 'That you, Nola?...' (Ravenal, Windy, Magnolia, Parthy)
Show Boat: Act One, Scene Eight - Finale Act One: Oh tell me, did you ever!... (Firls, Boys, Chorus, Andy, Women, Men, Negro Women, Magnolia, Parthy, Vallon, Pete)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene One - At the Fair: When we tell them about it all... (All, 1st Barker, Boys, Girls, Chorus, 2nd Barker, Men, 3rd Barker)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene One - Why Do I Love You?: I'm walking on the air, dear... (Magnolia, Ravenal, Chorus, Andy)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene One - In Dahomey: Dyunga doe!... (Dahomey Villagers, White Chorus)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Three - Convent Scene: Alma Redmptoris Mater... (Nuns, Mother Superior, Ravenal, Kim)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Four: 'All right, Jake...' (Jim, Jake, Julie)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Four - Bill: I used to dream... (Julie)
Show Boat: Magnolia's Audition - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Reprise): Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly... (Magnolia)
Show Boat: Magnolia's Audition - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Reprise): 'Whaddaya say, boss?...' (Frank, Jim, Magnolia, Jake)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - Trocadero Opening Chorus: Let's make the new year... (Chorus)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - Apache Dance
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - Goodbye, My Lady Love: So you're going away... (Frank, Ellie)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - After the Ball: 'Ladies and Gentlemen...' (Jim, Drunk, Andy, Magnolia, A Man, All)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Seven - Ol' Man River (Reprise): Ol' Man River... (Joe)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Seven - Hey, Feller!: When you yen for a gent... (Queenie, Chorus)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Eight - You Are Love (Reprise): 'That you, Nola?...' (Ravenal)

Tracks:

Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine: Cottom Blossom (Reprise): Cotton Blossom... (Chorus)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine - It's Getting Hotter in the North: Now up in the northern land... (Kim, Chorus)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine - It's Getting Hotter in the North: 'Say, Cap'n Andy...' (Frank, Ellie, Andy)
Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine - Finale Ultimo: 'Hello, Gay...' (Andy, Hope, Ravenal, Girl, Man, Magnolia, Old Lady, Chorus)
Show Boat: Appendix - Pantry Scene (Act One, Scene Two; deleted - 1927): 'What cher doin' all by yourself, Miss Nola?...' (Queenie, Magnolia, Julie, Joe, Servants)
Show Boat: Appendix - Waterfront Saloon Scene (Act One, Scene Three; deleted - 1927): 'Number four, black!...' (Voice (off), Ravenal, Loungers, Gambler)
Show Boat: Appendix - Yes, Ma'am (Act One, Scene Three; unused - 1927): Bet your hat... (Girls, Ellie)
Show Boat: Appendix - Kim's Imitations (Why Do I Love You?): (Act Two, Scene Nine; Ziegfeld Production - 1927): Why do I love you?... (Kim, Chorus)
Show Boat: Appendix - Dance Away the Night (Act Two, Scene Nine; London - 1928): Music in the air... (Kim, Girls, Boys)
Show Boat: Appendix - A Pack of Cards (Act One, Scene Six?; unused - 1927): One night as I sat by my fireside so weary... (Magnolia)
Show Boat: Appendix - The Creole Love Song (Act One, Scene Seven; unused - 1927): 'That you, Nola?...' (Ravenal, Windy, Magnolia)
Show Boat: Appendix - Out There in an Orchard (Act Two, Scene Four; unused - 1927): There was a sun sinking slowly in the west... (Julie)
Show Boat: Appendix - Gallivantin' Aroun' (Universal Film - 1936): Liza Matilda HIll... (Magnolia, Chorus)
Show Boat: Appendix - I Have the Room Above Her (Universal Film - 1936): 'Seems to me I've seen that stocking someplace...' (Ravenal, Magnolia)
Show Boat: Appendix - Ah Still Suits Me (Universal Film - 1936): 'Joe! Dere you go again!...' (Queenie, Joe)
Show Boat: Appendix - Nobody Else But Me (Act Two, Scene Nine; 1946 Revival): I was a shy, demure type... (Kim, Chorus)

Amazon.com

John McGlinn's sprawling, monumental three-CD set is about all the Show Boat any listener could ever ask for. In an obvious labor of love, McGlinn reconstructs the show as it ran on opening night, November 15, 1927, including every song, the original orchestrations, and all underscored dialogue. The most significant restoration is the dark choral number "Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun'," as Show Boat's serious subject matter helped establish its place as the most important turning point in the history of American musical theater. McGlinn also adds an appendix that includes songs cut before opening night and every song subsequently written for the show's many productions, most notably the love duet "I Have the Room Above Her," written for the 1936 film. (The recording is also available in a one-disc reduction called the "Broadway Show Album.")

Rest assured this 221-minute blockbuster is not just dry scholarship; it's also terrific listening, with McGlinn conducting a dynamic London Sinfonietta and a strong cast including Frederica von Stade as Magnolia, Jerry Hadley as Ravenal, Teresa Stratas as the tragic Julie, Bruce Hubbard as the worldly wise Joe, Karla Burns as Queenie, and David Garrison and Paige O'Hara as the comic couple Frank and Ellie. And of course the songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II are among the most glorious ever written: "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe," "Why Do I Love You," "Bill," "You Are Love," and "Life upon the Wicked Stage." Also included are exhaustive production notes, a history of the show, a detailed synopsis, and a libretto. John McGlinn's Show Boat is a staggering achievement and a recording for the ages. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

An American Treasure.......2007-03-03

When PBS showed the 1989 Paper Mill Playhouse production of Showboat, my five year old daughter fell in love with musical theater. To this day we never miss a production of Showboat, West Side Story, Music Man, Oklahoma or the rest of the great American musicals. These 3 discs are the closest you can ever hear to the original in 1927 and the recordings are leaps and bounds above any movie version or revival cast. Listening to Bill or Make Believe you almost want to cry at what Kern and Hammerstein were able to create.

I defy anyone to come up with another Broadway production that has three songs in a row better than Make Believe, Ol' Man River and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (West Side Story's Maria, America and Tonight are the best three in a row of a movie musical) and it's a shame that no movie version of Showboat can compare to this version. The first act is full of songs that are as good as any ever sung on a stage and I can't think of another production with a first act that compete against the big 3 plus Cotton Blossom, Where's The Mate For Me, Life On The Wicked Stage, Till Good Luck Comes My Way, Misry's Comin' Aroun', You are Love, Act One finale and Why Do I Love You?. You just don't want to have the music stop.

If you don't like opera you won't like this version. Sung the way Kern and Hammerstein wrote them, you can't help but feel the operatic nature of these songs. Tough noogies because Showboat is above all an opera disguised as a Broadway play and no sweetening should be allowed.

The four leads are all superb, Frederica von Stade as Nola especially. The booklet contains the complete libretto and allows a different way to appreciate the music.

If you buy just one version of Showboat you need this one. If you have other versions of Showboat you need this one. As a matter of fact, anyone with ears to hear needs this version. A true American treasure.

DON'T DESPAIR. IT'S BEEN REISSUED!!!!!.......2006-11-16

One of the great recordings of musical theatre ever. Although it's no longer available on EMI Angel, it was reissued in October, 2006, as an EMI Classic's "Great Recordings of the Century." It's been "Digitially Remastered at Abbey Road Studios from the Original Masters" and "noise-shaped via the Prism SNS system for optimum sound quality." If ART remastering does for this recording what it has done for other EMI Classics in my library, then it should sound superb. However, I understand the booklet is not as detailed as the one in the original 3-disc release.

Thank you, EMI.

I would hope other labels would follow suit and remaster and reissue other examples of classic American musical theater. It would be a pity if our children, grandchildren, and future generations were unable to savor "110 in the Shade" or "Little Mary Sunshine" or . . . . . . . . . (fill in the blanks.)

An American tragedy...........2006-02-06

This is the first of the great American musical plays, and probably remained unchallenged until the mid-1950s when West Side Story appeared. The term "musical comedy" does not apply. The few laugh lines are subsumed by the terrible sense of loss and disaster that work throughout the story. At its core is homelessness, the destruction wrought by racism, bad choices, human weakness, and reconciliation. The cast?--this was one of the few crossover recordings I've ever heard that actually worked. The trio of Jerry Hadley, Frederica von Stade, and Teresa Stratas is a marvel; Stratas in particular seems to have had a patented Dark Cloud that shadowed her. It's perfect for Julie Dozier Laverne. And the late Bruce Hubbard brings a magnificent dignity and voice to Joe--his singing of "Ol' Man River" amy not efface Paul Robeson, but can stand beside it.

Gorgeous!.......2005-08-26

Simply gorgeous! The most unforgetable music and the best voices! An album for all time!
M. J. Conrades

Defective disc........2005-08-15

I received this item on July 27, 2005. I played it on my portable CD player and found out that Disc 2 of the set was defective. It kept on skipping on my CD player. So, I returned it for a refund.

Average customer rating:

delightful studio "Oliver!"

Oliver!

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000008J3W
Release Date: 1993-07-20

Tracks:

Food, Glorious Food - The Williams Singers
Oliver! - Violet Carson/Leslie Fyson
I Shall Scream - Violet Carson/Leslie Fyson
Boy For Sale - Leslie Fyson
Where Is Love? - Denis Waterman
Consider Yourself - Tony Tanner/Denis Waterman/The Williams Singers
You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two - Stanley Holloway
It's A Fine Life - Alma Cogan
Be Back Soon - Stanley Holloway
I'd Do Anything - Tony Tanner/Alma Cogan/Denis Waterman/Stanley Holloway/The Williams Singers
Oom-Pah-Pah - Alma Cogan/Denis Waterman/Violet Carson/Leslie Fyson/Horace Phelps/Rita Williams/Tony Tanner...
My Name - Charles Granville
As Long As He Needs Me - Alma Cogan
Who Will Buy? - Denis Waterman/Violet Carson/Leslie Fyson/Horace Phelps/Rita Williams/Tony Tanner/Stanley Holloway..
Reviewing The Situation - Stanley Holloway
Finale - Denis Waterman/Violet Carson/Leslie Fyson/Horace Phelps/Rita Williams/Tony Tanner/Stanley Holloway..

Customer Reviews:

delightful studio "Oliver!".......2007-04-28

This is the 1962 London studio cast recording of Lionel Bart's OLIVER! The recording--featuring several famous British celebs--is a fantastic rendition of the score.

Alma Cogan, a famed British songstress, plays the role of Nancy; and the part fits her voice like a glove. Dynamic with "It's a Fine Life" and "I'd Do Anything", she also tugs at the heartstrings with a chill-inducing "As Long As He Needs Me". Ms Cogan could--and should--have been one of the leading singers on the world stage, had she not died of ovarian cancer at the age of 36.

Stanley Holloway, star of the Broadway, London and film incarnations of "My Fair Lady", plays the villainous rogue Fagin. He delivers a comic and sly performance with such numbers as "Be Back Soon", and "Reviewing the Situation".

Playing the title role, Denis Waterman sings a tender "Where is Love?". Tony Tanner ably-delivers as The Artful Dodger with a lusty "Consider Yourself". This recording also features the fondly-remembered character actress Violet Carson (who played Ena Sharples on long-running British soap "Coronation Street"), in the role of vile Widow Corney.

On the whole, this rendition of OLIVER! features enough top-drawer talents to help ensure it becomes an often-played title in your collection. Snap it up today!

[Broadway Angel/EMI ZDM 0777 7 64890 2 5]

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Irving Berlin, Vol. 1
Irving Berlin
Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Ultimate Irving Berlin, Vol. 2
Ultimate Cole Porter, Vol. 2
Ultimate Cole Porter, Vol. 1
Rodgers & Hart, Vol. 1
The Ultimate George Gershwin, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00005RKQR
Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

The Jolly Bachelors: That Beautiful Rag
Ziegfeld Follies Of 1911: Woodman, Spare That Tree
Everybody's Doing It: Everybody's Doing It Now
Hullo Ragtime: Hitchy Koo
Hullo Ragtime: Snooky Ookums
Hullo Ragtime: Alexander's Ragtime Band
Watch Your Step: I've Gotta Go Back To Texas
Watch Your Step: Settle Down In A One-Horse Town
Watch Your Step: The Syncopated Walk
Watch Your Step: My Bird Of Paradise
Watch Your Step: Show Us How To Do The Fox Trot
Watch Your Step: The Simple Melody
Watch Your Step: The Always Follow Me Around
Watch Your Step: Discoveries
Watch Your Step: The Minstrel Parade
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Beautiful Honolulu
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): England Every Time For Me
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Teach Me To Love
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): I Love To Dance
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): The Girl On The Magazine
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): I Love A Piano
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Until I Fell In Love With You
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Father Wanted Me To Learn A Trade
Stop! Look! Listen! (Follow The Crowd): Take Off A Little Bit

Average customer rating:

Great, obscure old Berlin!

Watch Your Step
Cast Recording
Manufacturer: Original Cast Record
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
The Wedding Singer (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
I Love You Because (2006 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00005QZM9
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

Overture
Watch Your Step
What Is Love
Let's Go Round The Town
Come To The Land Of The Argentine
I Gotta Go Back To Texas
Bird Of Paradise
Lock Me In Your Harem
They Follow Me Around
I Love To Have The Boys Around Me
When I Discovered You
Show Us How To Do The Fox Trot
I'm A Dancing Teacher Now
Syncopated Walk
Lead Me To Love
I Hate You
Metropolitan Nights
Opera Medley
Homeward Bound
Move Over
Settle Down In A One Horse Town
Simple Melody - Old Fashioned Wedding - Your Just In Love
Encore - Simple Melody
Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

Great, obscure old Berlin!.......2002-08-07

As a cast member on this album, I'm a little bit biased, but it's this is really a chance to get a listen to some really fabulous Berlin. This is Berlin's first Broadway show and has some great gems like "Have the Boys Around Me" and a bunch of great catchy tunes. It's a wide mix of Berlin and if you're a big fan, it's a great chance to hear him in still somewhat developmental stages. A couple songs from this show were later re-worked and put into other shows. It's also has a great feel for the period and shows the influences around the time he was writing: opera (Opera Melody), cowboys (I Gotta Go Back to Texas) and Hawaii (Honolulu Girls). It's a keeper!

Tracks:

Dream
Suddenly
I Get The Blues When It Rains
Red Sails in the Sunset
Out of This World
Once In A While
I'm Beginning To Wonder
I'll Follow You
I Need You Now
How Little We Know
Give Me Something I Can Dream About
Don't You Remember Me
There Will Never Be Another You
Dancing In The Dark
The Song You Heard When You Fell In Love

Album Description

A second collection of Betty's hits, digitally remastered from the original recordings.

Customer Reviews:

An absolutely perfect voice.......2007-03-13

If only she had been blessed with hit-producers, undoubtedly Betty Johnson would have remained on the charts for years, instead of the nine records that made BILLBOARD'S Top 100 between 1956 and 1959.

An absolutely perfect pitch and refreshing sound of purity. Every would-be singer should study these vocals.

This Voume 2 contains a great many "standards" and it is wonderful listening. What a talent!

Respectfully,

/s/ SH

Betty's Hits - Vol. 2.......2007-01-14

I have been looking for a cd that contains Betty's hits for a long time.
Amazon was the first site that was able to deliver the disc. Very happy with it.

Even more disappointing..........2002-10-05

Volume one of Betty Johnson's Hits was a considerable disappointment on many fronts. One would have hoped that some of the shortcomings of that piece would have been corrected here in the subsequent "hits" package. No such luck. And to label this a "hits" package is just plain misleading. No additional hits here at all with the exception of the inclusion of "Dream", a track that was listed but not included on the volume one CD. Again, sound quality is mediocre and obviously not taken from high-generation tapes. Unfortunately, for those seeking the music of this artist, there are no other options currently available. Johnson's contribution was a notable element of the music of the 50s and deserves much better treatment than that given here.

Average customer rating:

Take a chance on this incredible score!
Failed Broadway musical revived 25 years later.

Her First Roman (1993 Studio Cast)

Manufacturer: Ducy Lee Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000C2LN
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

Opening/What Are We Doing In Egypt? - Mark Miller
Song To The Sphinx - Richard Kiley
Save Me From Caesar! - Leslie Uggams
Many Young Men From Now - Leslie Uggams
When My Back Is To The Wall - Leslie Uggams
Pleasure Him - Leslie Uggams
Her First Roman - Chorus
Magic Carpet - Leslie Uggams
Rome - Mark Miller
The Dangerous Age - Ron Raines
The Things We Think We Are - Ron Raines
Her First Roman: Reprise - Ron Raines
Parable Of The Monkey - Maureen Davis
I Cannot Make Him Jealous / I Can't Help Feeling Jealous - Leslie Uggams
The Wrong Man - Leslie Uggams
Let Me Lead The Way - Brenda Silas-Moore
In Vino Veritas - Ron Raines
I Fell In With Evil Companions - Ron Raines
Just For Today - Leslie Uggams
Finale Ultimo - Ensemble
Song To The Sphinx (Demo Recording) - Ervin Drake

Album Description

25 years after this show debuted on Broadway, the two original stars - Richard Kiley (Man of La Mancha) and Leslie Uggams (Hallelujah, Baby) - join a talented cast of newcomers to record the score! The album also restores the original orchestrations - long thought lost - and recreates the thrilling sound of Broadway shows in the 1960s.

Also featured are Broadway stars Priscilla Lopez (A Chorus Line), Ron Raines (Days of Our Lives) and Brenda Silas-Moore (Freeway Dreams), among others.

Customer Reviews:

Take a chance on this incredible score!.......2004-07-22

I'm glad I did, as it definitely now resides in my top ten favorite Broadway scores. It's an extremely variable score, from wildly comic to powerfully beautiful, and that may have affected the show's run, but it works great on your CD player.
Don't be afraid to change the order of the songs either. I start off with 2,3, then 1, etc. In fact, the only song I didn't end up liking on the entire CD was "Many Young Men From Now".
When I read a review by someone, I'm always curious about other shows they've liked, or didn't like, to see how similar (or dissimilar!) our tastes are. Some scores I've enjoyed include: House of Flowers, Grass Harp, Saratoga, Camelot, Purlie, Dear World, Mata Hari, The Life, Avenue Q and Wicked.
Some I didn't like include Bajour, Subways Are For Sleeping, The Seussical, St. Louie Woman, Applause, Urinetown, Greenwillow, Big River, Sweet Charity and The Golden Apple.

Failed Broadway musical revived 25 years later........1999-06-05

This is a true oddity. HER FIRST ROMAN with book, music and lyrics by Ervin Drake is a show with some promise. The rhyming in some of the lyrics is clever, the premise of adapting Shaw's CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA to the musical stage a beguiling one. But this is amateurish from beginning to end. Not able to make up its mind whether it is drama, comedy or low comedy, it is none of these. Uggams is woefully miscast but Kiley does a wonderful job as Caesar. There are only two songs of merit - MANY YOUNG MEN FROM NOW (which should be in every gay cabaret singer's repertoire) and the rollicking I FELL IN WITH EVIL COMPANIONS. The rest range from mediocre to downright boring. Amazing that the original cast members and the producers liked it well enough to mount a cast album 25 years after the closing. Valuable to Broadway composers/lyricists in showing how NOT to write a show. This would have been ideal material for Lerner and Loewe, but sadly not for Mr. Drake.

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