Original Broadway Cast [Import]

original broadway cast [import]

Track Listings
1. Overture
2. Little More Heart
3. World Is Beautiful Today
4. Rutland Bounce
5. I'm Gad I'm Leaving
6. Hello Hazel
7. Every Street's A Boulevard In Old New York
8. How Do You Speak To An Angel?
9. Autograph Chant
10. I Fell Like I'm Gonna Live Forever
11. You're Gonna Dance With Me Willie
12. Who Is The Bravest?
13. Salomee
14. Everybody Loves To Take A Bow
15. Laura De Maupassant
16. Finale
17. How Do You Speak To An Angel?
18. I Feel Like I'm Gonna Live Forever
19. Salomee
20. I Feel Like I'm Gonna Live Forever
See all 26 tracks on this disc

Hazel Flagg,Original Broadway Cast,Sepia,Cast Recordings,Soundtracks

Original Broadway Cast [Import]
Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Wicked musical
  • Wicked Wonderful!
  • Wicked Soundtrack
  • Wicked in London
  • Classic, classy, and funny
 Wicked (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
Stephen Schwartz , Kristin Chenoweth , and Idina Menzel
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
  2. Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. Wicked: The Grimmerie, a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical
  4. Avenue Q (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Wicked - Piano/Vocal Arrangement

ASIN: B0000TB01Y
Release Date: 2003-12-16

Tracks:

  1. No One Mourns the Wicked - Cristy Candler
  2. Dear Old Shiz
  3. The Wizard and I - Idina Menzel
  4. What Is This Feeling? - Kristin Chenoweth
  5. Something Bad - William Youmans
  6. Dancing Through Life - Michelle Federer
  7. Popular - Kristin Chenoweth
  8. I'm Not That Girl - Idina Menzel
  9. One Short Day - Kristin Chenoweth
  10. A Sentimental Man - Joel Grey
  11. Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel
  12. Thank Goodness - Kristin Chenoweth
  13. Wonderful - Idina Menzel
  14. I'm Not That Girl (Reprise) - Kristin Chenoweth
  15. As Long as You're Mine - Norbert Leo Butz
  16. No Good Deed - Idina Menzel
  17. March of the Witch Hunters
  18. For Good - Kristin Chenoweth
  19. Finale - Kristin Chenoweth

Amazon.com

One of the most common complaints about musicals is that the books are flimsy pretexts from which to hang numbers. Wicked runs into the opposite problem: it has a great plot, but too often the songs just get in the way. Based on Gregory Maguire's novel of the same name, Wicked tells us what happened between Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, before Dorothy showed up in Oz. And the show is lucky to boast a pair of ace leading women in the main roles. As Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth delivers a sensational star turn, displaying a crystal-pure voice and sharp comic timing; Idina Menzel lends her powerful pipes to the tricky role of Elphaba. Unfortunately, you wish they had better material to work with. Stephen Schwartz's pop score is often dragged down by overly synthetic orchestrations and sentimental lyrics (think Chicken Soup for the Witch). Still, at its best Wicked is a seductive slice of popular entertainment that could well give a younger audience a lasting taste for musical theater. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Wicked musical.......2007-07-13

There are two, for me, outstanding pieces to this recording of the Original cast recording of the musical 'Wicked' The wizard and I and Popular. Both sung with great fun and gusto.
Over all I enjoyed the CD, being a massive wizard of Oz fan, it was interesting to listen to the story from an altogether different perspective. Enjoyable, memorable and fun- a great purchase, that comes highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Wicked Wonderful!.......2007-07-12

My son and nieces saw Wicked on Broadway three years ago and it took me this long to order the CD. I played it endlessly the last several weeks and as a long time musical afficionado can say unequivocally, it is a superlative example of score and libretto. The lyrics are exemplary in their poignancy and clever massage of the concepts of good and evil. The music tugged at every heartstring I have. Wicked is sublime!

5 out of 5 stars Wicked Soundtrack.......2007-07-12

I have experienced Wicked in London at the Apollo Theatre on three separate occasions. Owning the soundrack enables me to relive the emotion surrounding this amazing theatrical production. This soundtrack includes an appropriate character dialog and music combination enabling the listener to participate in a continuous story line flow, avoiding gaps and interrupted transitions, providing the opportunity to relieve each theatrical experience scene by scene.

I recommend this soundtract for those who are planning to go to a Wicked production. The soundract includes printed musical lyrics in the included folio. Immersing oneself in the music and lyrics will enhance the total experience at the theatre.

Enjoy

5 out of 5 stars Wicked in London.......2007-07-11

I went to see Wicked at the Victoria Apollo Theatre in London last weekend. I had been playing this cd for a couple of weeks so that I knew the music beforehand and, although the vocals are not bad, it doesn't come anywhere close to the performance by Kerry Ellis. She is absolutely superb & if you get the chance to see her then you should jump at it. I hope that a Wicked cd featuring her is produced as this one has lost it's charm a little after hearing her.

5 out of 5 stars Classic, classy, and funny.......2007-07-09

The songs that are funny are VERY funny, and the songs that are sad are very sad. It opens with "No One Mourns the Wicked", a song that in any other show would be the closing number (in other words, start off with a climax and build from there.). For my money the three best songs are the ironic "The Wizard and I" (the W.W.'s wishes for the future), "What is This Feeling" (the best song in the show, it uses the clichés of a love song to talk about W.W. and Glinda's mutual loathing. If you hum any tune for a week it will be this - unless it's . . .), and "Popular" (Glinda's witty I-Know-How-To-Make-You-Over romp). The much-praised "Defying Gravity" is ok, but really just your standard Broadway Empowerment Tune(tm) -- this generation's "Impossible Dream" from MAN OF LA MANCHA. Likewise "Dancing Through Life" has such a great tune that it was a shame to waste it on those silly lyrics. They should have reprised it later in the show for a different character with deeper lyrics. Still, cast album is going into heavy rotation on my CD player.
Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great new musical
  • Another awesome Broadway Recording!!
  • Not living up to the hype.
  • Terrific Concept for Musical. Smart Album.
  • For those who hate musicals...
 Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Duncan Sheik , Steven Sater , Skylar Astin , Lilli Cooper , John Gallagher Jr. , Gideon Glick , Jonathan Groff , Brian Johnson , Lea Michele , and Lauren Pritchard
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000J3FBFC
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Tracks:

  1. Mamma Who Bore Me
  2. Mamma Who Bore Me (Reprise)
  3. All That's Known
  4. The B*tch of Living
  5. My Junk
  6. Touch Me
  7. The Word of Your Body
  8. The Dark I Know Well
  9. And Then There Were None
  10. The Mirror-Blue Night
  11. I Believe
  12. Don't Do Sadness
  13. Blue Wind
  14. The Guilty Ones
  15. Left Behind
  16. Totally F*ucked
  17. The Word of Your Body (Reprise)
  18. Whispering
  19. Those You've Known
  20. The Song of Purple Summer

Amazon.com

Who would have thought that Duncan Sheik would succeed where Paul Simon and Randy Newman failed, successfully transitioning from the pop-rock world to the Broadway stage? With Spring Awakening, Sheik and book writer/lyricist Steven Slater (who had already worked on Sheik's 2001 album Phantom Moon) have created a thoroughly exciting show that incorporates a contemporary art-indie idiom (including a small rock band instead of an orchestra) into a dramatic musical-theater context. The unlikely setting is that of a Frank Wedekind adaptation, but as it turns out, teenage angst is perennial, whether it's in contemporary America or in a 1891 German boarding school. Songs such as "The Bitch of Living" ("with nothing going on, asking just what went wrong"), "The Word of Your Body," "I Don't Do Sadness," and "Totally Fucked" ("You're fucked if you speak your mind and you know you will") resonate with the rage, frustration, confusion, excitement, joy, anger, and of course budding lust of those hormone-driven years. The show is greatly enhanced by its youthful cast members (they're all pretty close in age to their characters), who sing their hearts out. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Decca Broadway presents the cast recording for the acclaimed new Broadway production, SPRING AWAKENING. Written by pop music composer Duncan Sheik and playwright/lyricist Steven Sater, the musical explores emotional earthquakes in the lives of teenagers.

SPRING AWAKENING is based on Frank Wedekind's controversial 1891 drama, which was scandalous in its day for addressing sex violence and suicide. The story, dialogue and costumes suggest the 19th Century, and are perfectly wedded to a beautiful alternative pop music score by Grammy® nominated singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik. The creative team also includes Tony® Award Winning director Michael Mayer (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and legendary choreographer Bill T. Jones.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great new musical.......2007-07-13

I saw the cast performing on the Tony's and was blown away by the music. TV usually deadens live theater no matter how good it is, but when I saw the company performing and they still were dynamite over the airwaves, I knew this was something special. The CD does not disappoint. Only criticism is that some of the lyrics they sing in a few songs are not in the liner notes, and it's so good I wish I had every word in writing. Not suitable for playing if you've got young children in the car, but the profanity is not for shock value, it is justified in the text. Great new work.

4 out of 5 stars Another awesome Broadway Recording!!.......2007-07-13

Spring Awakening is wonderful...the music coming from the hearts of youth struggle and agony, the entire cd grabs the attention of the listener!!

2 out of 5 stars Not living up to the hype........2007-07-13

All the hype and samplers were great. But, calling this show the next "RENT" just ain't right. Also, raved as a "rock and roll musical". It is NOT. Some okay music, however, no show stoppers and no hummers.

4 out of 5 stars Terrific Concept for Musical. Smart Album. .......2007-07-12

Wow, I haven't brought a musical cast album in years. But this one caught my eye - and ear. Does anybody know if this is getting play on the radio? Some of the tracks are genuinely pop-radio friendly. It deserves to be heard by more than just Broadway audiences.

5 out of 5 stars For those who hate musicals..........2007-07-07

This is the rare Broadway soundtrack that lives off the stage as well as on. For those who are not fond of stilted show tunes, this soundtrack rocks! I can't stop listening to it, and I'm sure you will find the same true for you as well. The show was magnificent-totally deserving of its recent Best Musical Tony win. The soundtrack is a wonderful memento-Buy it!
Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Last Kander and Ebb
  • All DAVID HYDE PIERCE FANS WILL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!
  • Very Pleasant
  • Pure Entertainment
  • Curtains is hilarious
 Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Manhattan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000PC1QKQ
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. Wide Open Spaces
  3. What Kind Of Man?
  4. Thinking Of Him
  5. The Woman's Dead
  6. Show People
  7. Coffee Shop Nights
  8. In the Same Boat
  9. I Miss the Music
  10. Thataway!
  11. The Man Is Dead
  12. He Did It
  13. In the Same Boat
  14. It's a Business
  15. Kansasland
  16. Medley: Thinking Of Him/I Miss the Music
  17. A Tough Act To Follow
  18. In the Same Boat
  19. In the Same Boat
  20. Show People
  21. Wide Open Spaces
  22. A Tough Act To Follow

Amazon.com

Sadly, Curtains is the final entry in the long and fruitful partnership of lyricist Fred Ebb (who died in September 2004) and composer John Kander. While the show doesn't reach the heights of the team's previous masterpieces, such as Cabaret and Chicago, it's certainly a lot better than, say, their middling 1997 offering Steel Pier. Deliberately old-fashioned (it even features a real overture, something that's fast becoming a rarity), Curtains is a whodunit rolled into a musical--or vice versa. Set in 1959 Boston, it takes place backstage at a singing-and-dancing Western corker titled Robbin Hood. Someone gets killed, and a show tunes-crazy homicide detective (David Hyde Pierce) is called in. The plot is just a pretext for a series of very entertaining, characteristically brass-heavy songs that may not have the bite of old Kander and Ebb but are still very catchy. Above all, Curtains is (both thematically and stylistically) a love letter to old-school showbiz, and it's delivered on a silver platter by a cast of pros that includes the aforementioned Hyde Pierce, Kander and Ebb habituée Karen Ziemba, endearing Jason Danieley and, a notch above the rest, Debra Monk. Unsurprisingly, she chews the scenery and spits it right back in a pair of rowdy numbers: "Show People" and "It's a Business." --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Curtains is an entertaining play within a play, as well as a "whodunit" new musical comedy featuring one of the last scores by legendary, Tony Award-winning songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York). Starring David Hyde Pierce (Spamalot, "Frasier") and Debra Monk, the Curtains original Broadway cast album is produced by nine-time Grammy Award-winner Jay David Saks.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The Last Kander and Ebb.......2007-07-13

Couldn't miss the opportunity to hear the last of the Kander and Ebb collaboration. This score has a familiar feel to it. The music is good but not great and the show seems as if it would be fun.

5 out of 5 stars All DAVID HYDE PIERCE FANS WILL LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-10

And even if you are not---the music is great!!!!!! This is the final collaboration between John Kander and the late Fred Ebb--plus throw in the efforts of Rupert Holmes (who wrote the underated MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD--and everyone's favorite guilty pleasure 70's tune--THE PINA COLADA SONG). Anyway, I always thought David was robbed of a TONY nod for SPAMALOT--so his win for this was quite overdue!

Every song is a winner---and it is not just because of Pierce--Deborah Monk also has one of the great show stoppers "IT'S A BUSINESS"!

All theatre buff will enjoy--I certainly did!

3 out of 5 stars Very Pleasant.......2007-07-10

Nice, witty and pleasant music. Sadly, as the teams last work, it is not on a par with their earlier efforts. I kept expecting the big, gorgeous, soaring ballad of other shows, but it never really comes. I still think Steel Pier is their best work (tho the show didn't work). However when you are the composers of Cabaret, The Happy Time, Woman of the Year, Chicago, The Act and The Rink (among still more), you go down in theater history as one of the great songwriting teams in American theater.

The performers are all first rate, David Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk are hoots. KAren Ziemba, as always, is wonderful. A major disappointment is that Jason Danielly's beautiful tenor voice is not given more to do. Overall, pleasant fun!!

4 out of 5 stars Pure Entertainment.......2007-07-10

Very entertaining. A fitting finale to the partnership of Kander & Ebb.
The story is immaterial to the music. A strong cast carries off what could be considered a nonsense piece. Plaudits all round to the cast, writers and producers.

4 out of 5 stars Curtains is hilarious.......2007-07-09

David Hyde Pearce is excellent as the detective -- finally breaking away from his Niles Crane persona. He's not a great singer, but he sure can put over his songs. I was particularly impressed with Debra Monk who is delightfully catty and crude and she sings beautifully. The score is not Kander & Ebb's best, but the lyrics are clever and sometimes had be LMAOROTF.
The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A Few Good Moments, But Disappointing Overall
  • A very good recording
  • The Pirate Queen
  • A minor effort, but it has its moments
  • my thoughts
 The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Sony Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  2. Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
  4. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. High Fidelity (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000QTCY72
Release Date: 2007-07-03

Tracks:

  1. Prologue
  2. Pirate Queen
  3. Woman
  4. My Grace
  5. Here on This Night
  6. Waking of the Queen
  7. Rah-Rah, Tip-Top
  8. Choice Is Mine
  9. Boys'll Be Boys
  10. Wedding
  11. I'll Be There
  12. Day Beyond Belclare
  13. Sail to the Stars
  14. Entr'acte
  15. Enemy at Port Side
  16. I Dismiss You
  17. If I Said I Loved You
  18. Role of the Queen
  19. Christening
  20. Let a Father Stand by His Son
  21. Surrender
  22. She Who Has All
  23. Sea of Life
  24. Woman to Woman
  25. Finale

Amazon.com

The Pirate Queen, with a score by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon), took a critical beating when it opened on Broadway, but as this catchy cast recording demonstrates, that reception was really unnecessarily harsh. Set in the 17th century, the show (which closed after only 85 performances) tells the story of Grace O'Malley (Stephanie J. Block), an Irish ship captain and pirate who defied Queen Elizabeth I (Linda Balgord). The combination of that setting with the fact that the producers also brought us Riverdance means an overall Celtic flavor. But fans of Boublil and Schönberg should not fear. The duo delivers plenty of the over-the-top, super-emotional power ballads they're famous for--it's hard not to wonder what Celine Dion would make of songs such as "Woman" or "I'll Be There" (the latter sung by a man, but no matter!). Special kudos to Balgord, whose deliciously campy stage portrayal of Elizabeth I comes across well on "The Waking of the Queen," "The Role of the Queen," and two harpsichord-driven, vibrato-laden duets with Block, "She Who Has All" and "Woman to Woman." Also of note to fans of traditional singing is the participation of Áine Uí Cheallaigh (known from Riverdance) on several tracks. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars A Few Good Moments, But Disappointing Overall.......2007-07-13

I saw this show twice during its run: once in Chicago, once in New York. Loving both "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon", I had high expectations for "The Pirate Queen". Sadly, the show was disappointing - primarily from the once aspect I assumed would be great: the music.

The score's orchestrations sound terrific and the cast is quite good (esp. Stephanie J. Block), but only a couple of songs maintain any real staying power:

Woman
I'll Be There
She Who Has All



5 out of 5 stars A very good recording.......2007-07-11

I really like the CD. I find it too short but it was beautifully recorded. The voices were very strong and the orchestration was done nicely. I really didn't like the electric guitar, it seems so out of place sometimes over powering the vocal especially during I'll be there.

5 out of 5 stars The Pirate Queen.......2007-07-11

"The Pirate Queen" was a genious yet unique piece of musical theatre that suffered a harsh yet undeserved fate. I was very blessed to see this show twice on Broadway, including its very last performance on Broadway June 17th. Everytime I listen through the cast recording, I have to question why this show got the ratings it did. I refuse to believe that the critics that panned the show were watching and hearing the same show that I was. The cast, though, including the powerful and haunting vocals from Stephanie J. Block, were all incredibly talented and gave a thrilling and unforgetable experience every performance. I continue to feel shivers when I hear the Prologue, and can still perfectly visualize the opening scene. Some of the highlighted solos of the show include Ms. Block's "Woman" and Hadley Frasier's "I'll Be There". The conversations (duets) held between Grania and Queen Elizabeth in "She Who Has All" and "Woman to Woman" portray the strength and meeting of two historical women in such a time when powerful females were unheard of. Songs that include the chorus such as "A Day Beyond Belclare", "Sail to the Stars", and "Sea of Life" will surely leave you with the chills from the power and depth of the songs. There are so many other songs on the cast recording, and if I could I would tell you the magic behind each and every one of them, but I'll let you listen to it and experience it for yourself. Even though this show was robbed of the recognition it deserved, we are so incredibly fortunate to have a cast recording to allow us who have seen the show to re-live the magic we experienced, and also portray the beauty of such a wonderful yet short lived musical to those who did not have the chance to see it. "The Pirate Queen" may not be playing on Broadway now, but this CR will allow this enchanting show to forever live in our hearts. Long live the Queen!

3 out of 5 stars A minor effort, but it has its moments.......2007-07-10

Since the ill-fated "Martin Guerre" in the 90's, I've been waiting for Boublil and Schonberg to make a comeback and recapture some of the glory they achieved with their blockbuster 80's musicals, "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon." Unfortunately, "The Pirate Queen" is more throwback than comeback. Despite some Irish folk stylings thrown in to fit this story about an Irish female pirate, the music is just too similar to their earlier works, never sounding sufficiently new or original. It's derivative, no question, but fortunately, it's derivative of shows I really like (well, not "Martin Guerre" so much, but I'm certainly a fan of "Les Miz" and "Saigon."). Schonberg has a talent for unabashed dramatics, and when he turns it on here in songs like "I'll Be There" and "A Day Beyond Belclare," I can't help but get lost in my nostalgia for the pop opera spectacles that introduced me to musicals and cast recordings. Unfortunately, even nostalgia can't do much about duds like "Boys'll Be Boys," a gratingly corny number that musically is sort of a cross between "Master of the House" from "Les Miz" and "What a Waste" from "Saigon." And don't even get me started on the depressingly banal lyrics throughout, which are never more than functional. But I like the performances of stars Stephanie J. Block and Hadley Fraser, who both have impressive voices that are a perfect fit for this style of musical. Overall, "The Pirate Queen" is the musical equivalent of a summer popcorn movie ("Pirates of the Carribean," perhaps?), and on that level, it works just well enough.

4 out of 5 stars my thoughts.......2007-07-10

well, first off, I was shocked that the stores didn't carry more copies of this...I really had to look around for it but finally got it...This show is not great...It's not what it could be, but it has got a great cast, and some great great music...


Some songs I really enjoy are "The Pirate Queen", "Boys Will be Boys", "A Day Beyond Belcare", Sail to the Stars" One thing this Cd really has is GREAT ensemble numbers. The music really lets the cast's vocals shine, moreso than a lot of shows. I'd say that's one of the biggest highlights.

What REALLY makes this CD, and the song that I will listen to over and over and over and over again is Hadley Fraser's "I'll Be There". This is one of if not the best song for a male character B and S ever wrote. It's gorgeous and Hadley sings it brilliantly. He has the power in both the lower and higher register, he has a gorgeous tenor voice but it is so rich and powerful, yet lyric at the same time...so good.

The rest of the CD is just so so...Get it for "I'll be there" and the great Chorus numbers, but I was disappointed that Block didn't get her equivalent to "I'll be there" and The queen stuff is really annoying to listen to...

Jeff McCarthy does a great job as the dad...he has the perfect Boublil and Schonberg authoritative, legit baritone voice you'd want in a Javert or that type of character. It's not a CD or a show that's flawless, but for sure worth getting because where it's strong it's very strong.


Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Jersey Boys
  • Like being there
  • A step back in musical time
  • Great music, but missing too much
  • Jersey boys win my heart
 Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
Ronald Melrose , Ken Dow , Anik Oulianine , Stephanie Cummins , Deborah Hurwitz , Kevin Dow , Joe Payne , Larry Saltzman , Dave Spier , Bill Hayes , Randall Andos , Bob Milikan , Debra Shufelt , Maxine Roach , Belinda Whitney , Cenovia Cummins , Eric de Gioia , Louise Owen , Robin Zeh , Sarah Schwartz , Shinwon Kim , Christian Hoff , Daniel Reichard , Donnie Kehr , Erica Piccininni , J. Robert Spencer , Jennifer Naimo , John Lloyd Young , Sara Schmidt , Tituss Burgess , Steve Orich , and Bob Gaudio
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Very Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
  2. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  4. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. The Color Purple (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000BFH2QY
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Tracks:

  1. Ces Soirees la'
  2. Early Years Medley
  3. Cry For Me
  4. Backups Medley
  5. Sherry
  6. Big Girls Don't Cry
  7. Walk Like A Man
  8. December, 1963
  9. My Boyfriend's Back
  10. My Eyes Adored You
  11. Dawn (Go Away)
  12. Big Man In Town
  13. Dialog: A Little Trouble
  14. Beggin'
  15. Dialog: See How You Handle It
  16. Medley Listen Listen
  17. c'mon marianne
  18. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
  19. Working My Way Back To You
  20. Fallen Angel

Amazon.com

Although it squarely falls in the "jukebox musical" category, Jersey Boys doesn¹t try to integrate its songs in an artificial plotline. The show tells the story of the early-1960s group the Four Seasons, and the musical numbers tend to be introduced in context, as when songwriter Bob Gaudio comes up with a tune, or the quartet performs a show. This allows Jersey Boys to flow better than some of ill-fated peers, and the actors can shine without having to bend backward to accommodate an inane book. The show's most (only) daring move is to start with a hip-hop-tinged French-language version of "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," an actual hit in France in 2000. After that it's all VH1-biopic territory, but it's done with so much flair, taste and energy that the ride's a fun one. The Four Seasons had enough hits ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," etc.) to easily fill an evening at the theater, so it's left to the cast to do right by them. And it does, particularly John Lloyd Young as the band¹s star lead, Frankie Valli. Young hits all the falsetto notes and brings real freshness to the part. His "Can¹t Take My Eyes Off You," a second-act peak, is signed, sealed and delivered with a star's acumen. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Recounting the rich history and reliving the timeless sounds of the phenomenal Frankie Vallie & The 4 Seasons, the new Broadway musical Jersey Boys answers the musical-and philosophical question, "How did four would-be wise guys from Newark, NJ, become one of the greatest chart-topping successes in pop music history?" Jersey Boys celebrates legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi who, as the 4 seasons, wrote their own songs, invented their own identity, and sold 175 million records worldwide-all before they were 30.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Jersey Boys.......2007-07-08

Purchased CD prior to seeing the show when visiting USA in '06. A fun lively show - the CD now captivates those fond memories of not only the foot tapping music & show but also our special time in New York.

5 out of 5 stars Like being there.......2007-07-05

Have seen the play twice. This album lets me relive the experience anytime anyplace. A great piece of Rock n roll history.

5 out of 5 stars A step back in musical time.......2007-07-05

My wife and daughter didn't know about the Four Seasons but I did. When I told them I wanted to see the musical on stage, there was no interest so I bought this product and they heard it in the car. We went to the stage musical soon after and we have listened to the entire disk so many times I've lost track. I created a Four Seasons monster in my daughter. She's fifteen and has memorized most of the songs and sings along while we are driving somewhere.

4 out of 5 stars Great music, but missing too much.......2007-07-04

I saw this play at age 16 with no idea who the Four Seasons were, but instantly fell in love with it. The problem is, this soudntrack cuts a two hour play into less than an hour on CD. Most of the dialouge is missing, only including enough to let each member of the group at least say something. I know many play soundtracks cut out dialouge, but what confuses me is why this stretches to the music as well. What is there is amazing, but I don't understand why most of the songs are cut to half, and sometimes even a third or fourth of their original lengths. I love this CD, just be aware that you are hardly getting any story, just clips of lots of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs. So, great music and dialouge, just not enough for a musical soundtrack.

5 out of 5 stars Jersey boys win my heart.......2007-07-03

what a wonderful album-brings back such wonderful memories
they don't write songs like this enough today
Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

    Manufacturer: Ghostlight
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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    Similar Items:
    1. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
    2. The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
    3. Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)
    4. 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
    5. High Fidelity (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B000R7I3NW
    Release Date: 2007-07-17

    Tracks:

    1. Legally Blonde, Musical/Omigod You Guys
    2. Legally Blonde, Musical/Serious
    3. Legally Blonde, Musical/What You Want
    4. Legally Blonde, Musical/The Harvard Variations
    5. Legally Blonde, Musical/Blood in the Water
    6. Legally Blonde, Musical/Positive
    7. Legally Blonde, Musical/Ireland
    8. Legally Blonde, Musical/Ireland (Reprise)
    9. Legally Blonde, Musical/Serious (Reprise)
    10. Legally Blonde, Musical/Chip on My Shoulder
    11. Legally Blonde, Musical/So Much Better
    12. Legally Blonde, Musical/Whipped into Shape
    13. Legally Blonde, Musical/Take It Like a Man
    14. Legally Blonde, Musical/Bend and Snap
    15. Legally Blonde, Musical/There! Right There!
    16. Legally Blonde, Musical/Legally Blonde
    17. Legally Blonde, Musical/Legally Blonde Remix
    18. Legally Blonde, Musical/Find My Way/Finale

    Amazon.com

    Like Wicked, this show is a girl-friendly extravaganza; the main difference--and it's a big one--is that the score of Legally Blonde is better. Based on the hit Reese Witherspoon movie, the zippy, frothy show tells the story of SoCal, pink-loving sorority girl Elle Woods, who enrolls at Harvard Law and goes on to prove that appearances can be deceiving. The opening number, "Omigod You Guys," gives an idea of what the Broadway-pop score by Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy--The Musical) and Nell Benjamin is up to, embracing its over-the-top cheer with goofily infectious energy. Sure, a couple of numbers feel a bit derivative (the show with the witches has "Popular," this one has "Positive"), and the Celtic detour ("Ireland") is rather puzzling, but overall the songs are firing on all cylinders. Just check out the use of a marching band on "What You Want" for instance. Laura Bell Bundy (Amber von Tussle in Hairspray) is a charming Elle, and she delivers numbers such as "So Much Better" with the requisite elan. But this is not a one-woman show, and Bundy is surrounded by a crack team, including the endearing Christian Borle as Elle's love interest Emmett, power-piped Orfeh as hairdresser Paulette and up-and-comer Leslie Kritzer as Delta Nu's Serena. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
    Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • I want to take my ears off now
    • Isn't she amazing!
    • Ebersole's Versatility Lends Landmark Status to a Quirky Character Study in Co-Dependency
    • Smash Hit!
    • Ebersole is EXCITING
    		 Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

    Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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    2. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
    3. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    4. Company (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)
    5. [title of show] (2006 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B000G75A9I
    Release Date: 2006-08-22

    Tracks:

    1. The Girl Who Has Everything
    2. The Five-Fifteen
    3. Mother Darling
    4. Goin' Places
    5. Marry Well
    6. Hominy Grits
    7. Peas in a Pod
    8. Drift Away
    9. The Five-Fifteen (reprise)
    10. Daddy's Girl
    11. The Telegram
    12. Will You?
    13. The Revolutionary Costume for Today
    14. The Cake I Had
    15. Entering Grey Gardens
    16. The House We Live In
    17. Jerry Likes My Corn
    18. Around the World
    19. Choose to Be Happy
    20. Around the World (reprise)
    21. Another Winter in a Summer Town
    22. The Girl Who Has Everything (reprise)

    Product Description

    GREY GARDENS proclaimed the #1 Show of the Year by Time Magazine is preserved here in its Original Broadway Cast Recording. The show had been previously recorded following its off-Broadway premiere in the spring of 2006 (and its cast album released by PS Classics in August of 2006), but this new recording features the new songs and new cast members that were added for its Broadway transfer last fall. The new GREY GARDENS opened on Broadway on November 2, 2006, to rave reviews, led by Ben Brantley in The New York Times, who called it an experience no passionate theatergoer should miss! Starring Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole and Tony Award nominee Mary Louise Wilson, it subsequently appeared on over 25 Best of 2006 lists, including #1 Show of the Year (Time), Best Musical of the Year (USA Today, Entertainment Weekly) and Performance of the Year (The New York Times, New York) for Ms. Ebersole. In addition to the new songs and new performances, this Original Broadway Cast Recording also features an all-new 32-page full-color booklet complete with lyrics and Broadway production photos.

    Amazon.com

    Based on the Maysles brothers' cult 1975 documentary of the same name, this musical is an endearing—-and sometimes genuinely heartwrenching—-oddity propelled by Christine Ebersole's exceptional, for-the-history-books performance. The movie followed the kooky duo of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter, Little Edie Beale, as they lived with their 52 cats in a derelict East Hampton mansion. The show's first act, set in 1941, is a prologue of sorts, while the second act, set in 1973, follows the movie closely. Ebersole plays Edith in Act I (which she concludes in dazzling manner with "Will You?") and Little Edie in Act II (when Mary Louise Wilson comes in to play the mother). And while Wilson is superb, this is Ebersole's show. Technically, she is flawless—-just listen to the way she changes her voice between the acts—-but she also makes Little Edie a poignant eccentric, a lost soul stuck in a world of deluded, decaying grandeur. It all peaks in the poignant "Around the World," the show's best song and an Ebersole tour de force. Note that this recording documents the Off-Broadway production; the show transferred to Broadway in the fall of 2006 with a slightly altered first act. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars I want to take my ears off now.......2007-06-29

    Grey Gardens got good reviews? I honestly don't know why everyone is raving. I have listened to it a few times now and I don't get it. Well I get it, what it's about and what is going on but I don't get why people like it. The music kind of reminds me of Annie, but worse. Don't get me wrong, I like Annie, but it's...Annie.

    You might tell me its one of those shows you have to see on stage, but if I don't even like the music why would I even want to sit through it? Please. I can't stand this cast recording the only good thing about it is Christine Ebersole.

    They could have done SO much better. I get what they tried to do and I see where they could have improved. I've turned off the music now and have left it for another day, maybe on a day when I can't hear properly.

    5 out of 5 stars Isn't she amazing!.......2007-06-28

    I mean, can you believe her? I mean, Christine, not Edie. Well, Edie, too. And her mom. But then Christine is both of them, isn't she. I mean...

    4 out of 5 stars Ebersole's Versatility Lends Landmark Status to a Quirky Character Study in Co-Dependency.......2007-06-17

    I was fortunate enough to catch Christine Ebersole's performance on Broadway last month, and it was indeed as transcendent as people have proclaimed. For those concerned about the future of the American musical theater, your fears can be allayed at least for another day. She gets the opportunity to play two vastly different roles and conquers both with élan and emotional power. Truth be told, the show itself is not as good as her, even though it deals with the fascinating, dysfunctional dynamics between the aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the Beales. Luckily, Ebersole dominates both acts, first playing "Big Edie" in her social register glory in 1941 and then over three decades later, as her daughter, "Little Edie", now a haggard, turban-headed 56-year old recluse. This pristine recording reflects the schizophrenic nature of the score by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie.

    Both acts are set in Grey Gardens, a palatial estate in East Hampton that has become a dilapidated, self-imposed prison over the years. Musically, the first act is the weaker of the two as it attempts to provide a fictionalized backstory to the Beales, including a likely exaggerated engagement between Little Edie and Joseph Kennedy, Jr., the eldest Kennedy son who was later killed in action during WWII. Even on record, the entire act feels strung together by a series of derivative faux-period songs like the time management swing number, "The Five-Fifteen", and the Berlinesque closer, "Will You?". However, the disc does allow more time to appreciate Korie's sophisticated lyrics on top of Frankel's WWII-era hodgepodge. The music is much better in the second act, which picks up where the famous 1975 documentary (Grey Gardens) begins with the mother and daughter having become co-dependent eccentrics tied inextricably to their health disaster of a home.

    Ebersole finds a poignant, approval-seeking core to Little Edie with a couple of beautiful ballads - the haunting "Another Winter in a Summer Town" and the stunning dual-personality lullaby, "Around the World" - and delivers them with a bell-like clarity and palpable emotional depth. Her sharp comedy skills are also on full display with the obtuse fashion rundown on "The Revolutionary Costume for Today" and the Sousa-like march of "The House We Live In". Mary Louise Wilson provides a funny and affecting turn as the aged Big Edie and even sings the delusional praises of her lunk-headed handyman in "Jerry Likes My Corn". Broadway veteran John McMartin also performs a couple of numbers, but it is Ebersole's show all the way and her seemingly effortless versatility is what brings this quirky, sometimes enthralling score to life on disc.

    5 out of 5 stars Smash Hit!.......2007-06-12

    With the least bit of imagination, one can visualize much of this musical; but, oh,heavens! this musical's addict would love to jump on a plane, fly to NYC and see this show. This very minute! Tony award winning performances are so evident on this CD. The "Around the World" song is an event to listen to.

    5 out of 5 stars Ebersole is EXCITING.......2007-06-11

    Having seen the cult film many times, I thought the musical would just rehash old things. BOY was I wrong! Ms. Ebersole is Unbelievable as the mother and the daughter Little and Big Edie Beale. The writing is amazing incorporating direct lines from the film to the score. BRAVO!
    110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful Cast Album
    • Fabulous recording of a terrific score
    • My new favorite show
    • It's not 110%
    • Beautiful music
    		 110 in the Shade (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)

    Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    5. The Pirate Queen (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B000PMG9GW
    Release Date: 2007-06-12

    Tracks:

    1. Another Hot Day
    2. Lizzie's Comin' Home
    3. Love, Don't Turn Away
    4. Poker Polka
    5. The Hungry Men
    6. The Rain Song
    7. You're Not Fooling Me
    8. Cinderella
    9. Raunchy
    10. A Man and a Woman
    11. "She Walked Out On Me..."
    12. Old Maid
    13. Evenin' Star
    14. Everything Beautiful
    15. "Stay and Talk..."
    16. Melisande
    17. Simple Little Things
    18. Little Red Hat
    19. Is It Really Me?
    20. Wonderful Music
    21. The Rain Song (reprise)

    Amazon.com

    More than four decades after its Broadway debut, the Roundabout Theatre's 2007 revival of 110 in the Shade is a glorious showcase for soprano Audra McDonald, and an eloquent statement for an underrated and neglected work. Based on N. Richard Nash's play The Rainmaker, 110 in the Shade tells the story of a Texas town stuck in a blistering heat wave. Lizzie (McDonald), the daughter of a local widower (Broadway veteran and TV star John Cullum), has resisted all suitors, including the sheriff (Christopher Innvar), until a potential huckster named Starbuck (Steve Kazee) arrives in town promising to bring rain ("The Rain Song"). Just like Marian the librarian, Lizzie thinks she sees right through the scam ("You're Not Fooling Me"). McDonald shines in her solos ("Love, Don't Turn Away," "Old Maid"), but Cullum, Innvar, and Kazee also get their moments either in duets with McDonald ("A Man and a Woman," "Simple Little Things," "Is It Really Me?") or by themselves. 110 in the Shade is obscure compared to Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's most famous work, The Fantasticks--none of its songs ever entered the popular culture like "Try to Remember"--but it's a beautiful, evocative score that is tailor-made for McDonald's rich voice. It's also much more sumptuous than The Fantasticks, even in Jonathan Tunick's pared-down, Tony-nominated orchestrations. (Also nominated were McDonald, Cullum, lighting designer Christopher Akerlind, and the show itself for Best Revival of a Musical.) P.S. Classics puts out its usual first-rate package, with color photos, introduction by Peter Filichia, synopsis, and libretto. --David Horiuchi

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Cast Album.......2007-07-13

    Saw a number from this show on the Tony Awards and ordered it immediately. Was not disappointed. The whole album is wonderful.

    5 out of 5 stars Fabulous recording of a terrific score.......2007-07-12

    This is simply the best recording of 110 In The Shade, a sadly neglected show by the composer and lyricist of The Fantasticks. It's a far superior score to The Fantasticks, but the original show didn't enjoy a long run on Broadway. Listen to the original broadway cast and I think you can hear why. The original cast sounds pallid in comparison to the cast on this terrific recording led by Audra MacDonald, who seems to have finally found a great part for herself. The supporting cast does not disappoint and the orchestra plays brightly. The only competition to this set is a British recording (now out of print) with cast that featured Karen Ziemba. That's a good set but Audra MacDonald's performance makes this recording the definitive version.

    5 out of 5 stars My new favorite show.......2007-07-12

    Oh wow! The music in this show is beautiful and fun. The cast is loaded with amazing voices with Audra McDonald shining above all. Her "Raunchy" number is outstanding and keeps a grin on your face from beginning to end. I've always loved the "Rainmaker" play and the music, for me, just makes it even better. Both male leads have voices that could melt a maid's heart and I'm just glad it's not me having to choose between the two!

    3 out of 5 stars It's not 110%.......2007-07-05

    The CD is well produced and Audra McDonald is wonderful, but most of the music sounds dated and old fashioned. Maybe that's because the show is dated and old fashioned.

    5 out of 5 stars Beautiful music.......2007-07-05

    I saw this recently on Broadway, and it was an incredibly compelling show. Who knew? I had never heard of it. Audra sounds absolutely magnificent on this cast recording. Her songs alone make it a worthwhile purchase. Add great supporting singers and fun orchestrations, and you have a memorable album to add to your collection.
    Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Loved it
    • Get ready to laugh until you cry!
    • A Lot of Spam
    • Love, love, love this soundtrack!
    • Hamalot!
    		 Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
    Eric Idle , John Du Prez , Tim Curry , David Hyde Pierce , and Hank Azaria
    Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    5. The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B0007OY2TE
    Release Date: 2005-05-03

    Tracks:

    1. Tuning
    2. Overture
    3. Historian's Introduction to Act I
    4. Finland/Fisch Schlapping Dance
    5. Monks Chant / He Is Not Dead Yet
    6. Come With Me
    7. Laker Girls Cheer
    8. The Song That Goes Like This
    9. He Is Not Dead Yet - Play Off
    10. All For One
    11. Knights of the Round Table/The Song That Goes Like This (Reprise)
    12. Find Your Grail
    13. Run Away!
    14. The Intermission
    15. Historian's Introduction to Act II
    16. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
    17. Brave Sir Robin
    18. You Won't Succeed On Broadway
    19. Diva's Lament (What Ever Happened To My Part?)
    20. Where Are You?
    21. His Name Is Lancelot
    22. I'm All Alone
    23. Twice In Every Show
    24. Act II Finale
    25. Always Look On The Bright Side of Life - Company Bow

    Amazon.com

    As gleefully silly yet wickedly smart as the beloved British comedy troupe and their 1975 cinematic savaging of the Arthurian legend that inspired it, this adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by MP's Eric Idle and longtime musical co-conspirator John Du Prez has much more on its feverish agenda than merely trashing King Arthur and firmly upending his Round Table. The film's plot remains largely intact, but its core songs ("Knights of the Round Table," "Brave Sir Robin") and comic thrust have been both expanded and satirically redirected, a musical comedy shotgun that takes dizzy aim at pop culture in general, and Broadway in particular. After typically Pythonesque distractions that somehow find us in "Finland..," stars David Hyde-Pierce, Tim Curry, Hank Azaria and company get busy conjuring the Lady of the Lake with the unlikely help of "Laker Girls..," while cast members Sara Ramirez and Christopher Sieber deliciously skewer contemporary Broadway cliches via the loopy showstopper "The Song That Goes Like This," a tune whose reprise also deliciously sends up every overwrought stage diva from Merman to Minelli. Idle has shrewdly ripped off--well, interpolated--Life of Brian's "Always Look On the Bright Side" for the new show, and even a snatch of "The Lumberjack Song" in "He Is Not Dead Yet." "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" reveals the frankly Semitic secret to stage success, and the French get can-canned on "Run Away!" Meanwhile, our bravest knight is de-closeted on the Manilow-mauling "His Name is Lancelot" before the familiar sound of clomping coconut shells brings down the curtain on the season's goofiest if satirically dead-on comic delight. --Jerry McCulley

    Have Fun with More Irreverent Musicals


    Urinetown
    The Rocky Horror Picture Show
    The Frogs

    Zanna Don't
    Hedwig and the Angry Inch
    Avenue Q

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Loved it.......2007-06-26

    The play was great, and so is the CD. Even my partner, who's generally not a Monty Python fan, says it's "hysterical."

    5 out of 5 stars Get ready to laugh until you cry!.......2007-06-25

    Being in the unfortunate position of living in a country where Music Theatre is virtually dead, I thought `what the heck' I'll purchase this just to see what it's like. I've never been a huge Holy Grail fan, and have only seen the movie one or two times. This musical is the first musical cast recording that has an independent storyline that you can actually gauge from the recording. It's so refreshing to actually WANT to listen to the entire recording from start to finish more than a handful of times. Most musicals have a few awesome songs that have you keep coming back for more but this musical has so much continuity that I can't help but listen from start to finish.

    Don't read what some of the other commenter's have written. This is brilliant and hilarious. And if you have a slightly warped sense of humour you'll love (and appreciate) this musical so much more.

    P.S. I love the songs that reference "The song that goes like this." This is supposed to be repetitive to mock its self and Broadway. It is also more comprehensive than some may lead you to believe... however just remember its called `Spamalot' not `Holy Grail' so don't expect too many Holy Grail references.

    5 out of 5 stars A Lot of Spam.......2007-05-22

    Great CD if you like someone who can laugh at themselves. The play mocks the whole broadway musical experience. Listening to it can almost make sitting in traffic bearable...no I wouldn't go that far, but the songs are funny and will put you in a good mood.

    5 out of 5 stars Love, love, love this soundtrack!.......2007-05-18

    The show was so much fun, and now getting to hear the soundtrack brings all the funny bits right back. These tunes are infectious! Even my 3-year-old hums them to himself. Any Monty Python fan should own this.

    3 out of 5 stars Hamalot!.......2007-05-15

    Overall, pretty good. I liked the inclusion of various other Python bits (Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Finland, etc.), but there was an appalling lack of Tim Curry on this album (Um, hello? Rocky Horror, anyone?). Also an over-reliance on songs with lyrics like, "This is how this song goes," or "Every show has a song like this." Some more inventive lyrics would have been welcome. (Mr. Idle, meet Mr. Brooks!)

    Still, pretty good. Buy it for $11 or less & you won't feel taken.
    Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • I CAN HEAR THE BELLS
    • My New Obsession
    • Hairspray CD
    • You Can't Stop the Beat!
    • My #1 Fave show!
    		 Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
    Marc Shaiman , Scott Wittman , Marissa Jaret Winokur , Harvey Fierstein , and Kerry Butler
    Manufacturer: Sony
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    2. Avenue Q (2003 Original Broadway Cast)
    3. Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Recording (1999 London Cast)
    4. The Lion King (1997 Original Broadway Cast)
    5. Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B00006AALQ
    Release Date: 2002-08-13

    Tracks:

    1. Good Morning Baltimore
    2. The Nicest Kids In Town
    3. Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now
    4. I Can Hear The Bells
    5. (The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs
    6. It Takes Two
    7. Welcome To The 60's
    8. Run And Tell That!
    9. Big, Blonde And Beautiful
    10. The Big Dollhouse
    11. Good Morning Baltimore Reprise
    12. (You're) Timeless To Me
    13. Without Love
    14. I Know Where I've Been
    15. (It's) Hairspray
    16. Cooties
    17. You Can't Stop The Beat

    Amazon.com

    The cast recording for the Broadway musical of John Waters's 1988 paean to dance, music, big beautiful women, and integration is a sheer delight. It's wonderfully upbeat all the way through, with a classic feel that's in keeping with the story's setting in the early 1960s. The characters come alive in these songs, from Marissa Jaret Winokur's (Tracy Turnblad) opening lines in "Good Morning Baltimore" to the stunningly upbeat finale, "You Can't Stop the Beat." The music is by Marc Shaiman, whose recent projects include South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, as well as a number of film soundtracks, and his compositions are simultaneously solid and exuberant. Shaiman and Scott Wittman's lyrics brim over with the unreserved passions and primary-color emotions that made the film so successful. Regardless of one's familiarity with the story or the stage production, it's hard to avoid the appeal of this recording; even the less cheerful songs are awash in bright colors, without disrespect for their subjects. --Genevieve Williams

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars I CAN HEAR THE BELLS .......2007-05-18

    YOU SHOULD BUY THIS CD WHEN YOU WANT THAT LIITLE PICK ME UP. ALSO VERY GOOD THING TO LISEN TO ON THAT TRIP TO WORK OR SCHOOL OR EVEN CLASS IF YOUR IN COLLEGE.

    5 out of 5 stars My New Obsession.......2007-02-07

    I've been lingering over this CD for the past few weeks and finally decided to buy it and so happy I did so. This is all I've been listening to for the past few days.

    From the great opener 'Good Morning Baltimore' to the best closing song I've ever heard, 'You Can't Stop the Beat', this recording is a gem.

    One of my favorite songs on this soundtrack is 'The Nicest Kids in Town'. It has that kind of beat that's hard to not dance to. Another favorite is 'Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now'. It reminds me of the songs of Leslie Gore. My favorite line comes from Amber von Tussle "Once upon a time I used to dress up Ken/but now that I'm a woman I like bigger men/And I don't need a Barbie doll to show me how".

    '(The Legend of)Miss Baltimore Crabs' is a glorious song for the villain. With wonderful drumming and violins in the background, Velma von Tussel has a great solo song.

    'It Takes Two' is such a great slow song. I can just imagine a 1960's prom. Everyone slow dancing and the lights low. A band set up on the stage. I can't help sing along.

    'Welcome to the 60's' is another wonderful song. It seems to be everyone's favorite. It's one of mine too. Harvey Fierstein is great as Edna.

    'Big, Blonde, & Beautiful' is another good song. A good message to all big girls to be proud of yourself. Ignore what everyone says about you and strut. "Bring on that pecan pie/pour some sugar on it/Sugar don't be shy"

    '(You're) Timeless to Me' is such a cute song between Wilbur and Edna.

    'Without Love' is my number one favorite on this recording. Link proclaiming his love to Tracy who's locked up in solitary confinement and Seaweed proclaiming his love to Penny who's tied up on her bed. "Darling I'll be yours forever/'cause I never wanna be/Without love/so darling throw away the key"

    'I Know Where I've Been' is a glorious gospel song. Sung by Motormouth Maybelle about her experiences and having learned from them.

    'Cooties' is such a childish sounding song but it's the kind of song that should have it's own dance. It's too much fun.

    The little song that follows 'You Can't Stop the Beat' is so funny and dark. I don't know the name, I just refer to as 'Blood on the Pavement'. "Don't drink and drive/please keep your head/Or come graduation day/you'll be dead".

    I recommend this soundtrack to everyone. It's the kind of soundtrack that doesn't sound like a musical soundtrack.

    5 out of 5 stars Hairspray CD.......2007-01-14

    If you loved the Broadway, you'll love this cd. A friend heard me playing the cd and asked what radio station I was listening to so he could tune in.

    5 out of 5 stars You Can't Stop the Beat!.......2006-11-30

    I could try to come up with a more clever title for this review, but the title of the last track says it all about the soundtrack from the Broadway show Hairspray. I went reluctantly ($110 per ticket) on my last trip to NYC, and found to my surprise that I enjoyed the show and then adored the soundtrack--every number is performed with great gusto and excitement. "Good Morning Baltimore", sung by Marissa Winokur as Tracy Turnblad, the portly dance-crazed teen from 1963 Baltimore, gets the show off to a great start. "The Nicest Kids in Town" takes you back to the days of American Bandstand and its local knockoffs. "The Bells" was one I knew before seeing the show as my daughter and her friends sang (or at least lip synched) it at a drama camp talent show. "It Takes Two", a teen idol number sung by the character Link, sounds much better to me that the real Frankie Avalon/Ricky Nelson tunes of the early '60s that are its models. Other great songs, many with a civil rights theme following from the story of the film, follow, topped off by "Cooties"--an insult song sung by Tracy's rival Amber Von Tussle, and the showstopping (literally) finale "You Can't Stop the Beat", which sounds more urgent with every listen. Along the way the songwriters include some clever and slightly subversive lyrics--Tracy sings about the "rats on the street" who "all dance round my feet"; Linc croons that "Liz, she has her Dick"; and Penny Pingleton is ready to "call the NAACP" if anyone challenges her love for her African-American boyfriend Seaweed. Some have said that Hairspray is the Grease of the 21st century, but to me it's much better-more human; and also significantly better than the '80s comedy film on which the musical was based. We await with excitement and trepidation the film musical, which could hardly improve on the stage show, but in any event we'll get to hear those great songs again.

    5 out of 5 stars My #1 Fave show!.......2006-10-23

    I heard this show is closing in 2007, while a movie's coming out Independence Day 2007!

    My fave Hairspray songs are:

    1. You Can't Stop The Beat
    2. Good Morning Baltimore
    3. Without Love
    4. I Can Hear The Bells
    5. Mama I'm a Big Girl Now
    6. Run and Tell That
    7. The Nicest Kids in Town
    8. Big Blonde and Beautiful
    9. Welcome To The 60's
    10. The Big Dollhouse

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