A Venom Well Designed [Original recording remastered]

a venom well designed [original recording remastered]

Track Listings

1. Pierced

2. Living End

3. Poisoned Chalice

4. After Us the Flood

5. Enter the Martyrs

6. Demon's Lair

7. Arsenic Dreams

8. Strychnine

9. Blade

10. Leave It All Behind

11. Destroy/Adore

A Venom Well Designed,The Great Deceiver,Peaceville UK,Indie Rock,Pop,Punk Revival,Rock,Rock/Pop

A Venom Well Designed [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating:

This should never have worked at all
A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS
Chess
One of my favorites!
Concepts get better with practice

Chess
Bjorn Ulvaeus , and Tim Rice
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
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ASIN: B000002GLR
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

Merano - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Murray Head
The Russian And Molokov/ Where I Want To Be - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley
Opening Ceremony - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Bjorn Skifs
Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility) - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley/Bjorn Skifs
The American And Florence/Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Chess - LSO/Anders Eljas
Mountian Duet - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg
Florence Quits - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Embassy Lament - Tommy Korberg/The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas
Anthem - Tommy Korberg

Tracks:

Bangkok
One Night In Bangkok
Heaven Help My Heart
Argument
I Know Him So Well
The Deal (No Deal)
Pity The Child
Endgame
Epilogue: You And I / The Story Of Chess

Amazon.com

Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

This should never have worked at all.......2007-06-18

And on that basis alone, you've got to cut it some slack. Fortunately, not all that much slack turns out to be necessary.

While "Chess" may be a document of an era that no longer exists, there's a lot more going on than the surface metaphor. It holds up very well indeed. When it aims for humor, it generally succeeds, and likewise when it aims to devastate. What more can you ask for?

A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS.......2007-03-04

`Chess' is a musical that should be counted among the best of what the 1980-is had produced: side by side with `Cats', `The Phantom of the Opera', `Les Miserables' or `Miss Saigon'. The score as heard on this concept album, written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (formerly of ABBA) and with the exceptional lyrics written by Tim Rice, stand proof to this. And yet, due to various reasons, like the changing of the director half way through London staging; a heavy rewrite for Broadway and a pan review from Frank Ritch (a.k.a. `The Butcher of Broadway'), `Chess' seems to be unjustly neglected.

This concept album is the main reason why the show has so many ardent fans until this day. Tim Rice wanted to write the show with the main plot revolving around chess for years and after his long time partner Andrew Lloyd Webber remained uninterested, he found the new collaborators in Ulvaeus and Andersson. The subject matter follows two international chess players in a championship, a Russian (Tommy Körberg) and an American (Murray Head) and a woman called Florence (Elaine Paige) who is a manager to the American but falls in love with the Russian. The story also draws a parallel between the game of chess and the cold war/real life situations.

This concept album was recorded in 1984, two years before the original London production took place. As the authors noted in the accompanying booklet, it was a work in progress and thusly the story is not quite readable here from the musical numbers alone. Despite that fact (which is amended by the synopsis included in the booklet), this album remains a winner. The score (played here by the London Symphonic Orchestra) itself makes an intriguing bland of the famous ABBA sound, the classical; the rock and the pop enhanced by the orchestral solo passages and the strong choral parts. The lush orchestrations add an epic touch to it and on the whole it is melodic and hummable, packed with great tunes. Some of the songs achieved huge success outside the musical: `I know him so well', a duet between Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, held the number one spot on the UK singles charts for 4 weeks in February 1985 and won Ivor Novello Award as the Best Selling Single; Murray Head's `One night in Bangkok' became one of the biggest dance hits of its time, often heard today. Some other notable tunes include `The Anthem' (Russian's deliberation on his homeland); the soaring rock songs `Where I want to be' and `Pity the child' (in the former, the Russian reflects upon his life under the spotlight; in the latter, the American ponders about his own unhappy childhood) or the gentle `Heaven help my heart' (in which Florence weighs up her relationship with the Russian).

A special reference must be made to Tim Rice's excellent lyrics. With `Chess' he managed to keep up to the high standards he set himself in `Jesus Christ Superstar' and Evita'. Again in this case he shows he is a lyrical wizard, with his familiar cynical touch. `The story of chess', in which he gives a history of the game in a couple of crafty verses, is a pure masterpiece. The same can be said of the song `I know him so well', where the two women reexamine their relationship with the same man. As a whole, `Chess' owes a lot of its appeal to Tim Rice's written word.

The cast on this album ranks the high standard of the material. The principal parts (sung by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg and Murray Head) are delivered in a strong and impeccable fashion.

This 2-disc edition comes with a booklet containing a note from the authors, a text about chess, a full synopsis and a libretto, together with the photos of the principal singers.

Anyone interested in the modern musical theatre should find `Chess' to be a great score with great lyrics, which should be enough to satisfy any aficionado.

Chess.......2007-01-15

A magnificent musical, i have enjoyed the music since i first heard it and read the storyline. Had been unable to find it in our local music stores.Very pleased to find it on your site.

One of my favorites!.......2007-01-12

I love "Chess"! I still remember the first time I heard the single "One Night in Bangkok" on my car radio. I thought it was so unusual and so very cool, so I tracked down the album and bought it. Then I taped it onto a cassette, which is what I've been listening to for years, so I finally broke down and got it on CD. Of course, it's on my iPod now. I've seen the musical, and I loved that, too.

Concepts get better with practice.......2006-11-27

I love this show! That said, I do not care for this version of it. The inclusion of the word "concept" in the title means it is just that. This was, thankfully, not the final version of the show that would later spawn the hit song, "One Night In Bangkok".

With most Broadway musicals, the musical numbers tell the basic story of the show. If you listen to the recordings of Phantom, Mama Mia, Beauty and the Beast, you can discern the basic storyline of the show. Listening to this particular recording of Chess, though, will leave you wondering "What was that?" The Broadway arrival of Chess saw a much needed reworking of the storyline and arrangement of the musical numbers. This recording seems too much like a mish-mash of songs that don't really relate to each other.

For musical fanatics (like myself), I say "yes, you should have this recording in your collection", if only to understand how much work went into the show before it opened on Broadway.

If you are only buying the album because of "One Night In Bangkok", purchase the Broadway recording instead; you'll be much happier with the performance by Phillip Casnoff rather than Murray Head.

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1966 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Jaques Brel still lives
Fabulous Show
Jacques Brel lives on through English Translation of his songs
A Little Night Music....
Fine Singer / Actors Do Brel Justice

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1966 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
Jacques Brel , Ocr , Elly Stone , and Mort Shuman
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
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ASIN: B000067AS5
Release Date: 2002-05-28

Tracks:

Marathon
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Amazon.com

At the time of this show's 1968 Greenwich Village debut, French singer-songwriter Jacques Brel's body of theatrically insightful ballads was already an obscure but deeply influential treasure trove for many American musicians. The revue's success would go on to influence artists as diverse as Leonard Cohen, Bowie (who covered "Amsterdam" shortly thereafter), and Sinatra, and it may even be responsible for one-hit wonder Terry Jacks's revival of "Seasons in the Sun".

More important, the pioneering musical-without-a-book helped introduce Brel's oft-brooding, ever evocative art to a wider American audience--and arguably had an evolutionary influence on Broadway itself. This complete reissue of the 1968 boxed set cast album offers up a rich cross-section of Brel's songs about life, death, and love--and typically sharp-eyed observations about the human follies that season them--deftly performed by a cast that includes Elly Stone, Alice Whitfield, Shawn Elliott, and, crucially, rock pioneer, Brel associate, and co-producer Mort Shuman. This new edition fleshes out the set with the sessions' only unreleased song, a sprightly take on the deliciously cynical "The Middle Class." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Jaques Brel still lives.......2007-04-02

The CD of the original cast is still fresh and still gives Brel's music the most fitting rendition

Fabulous Show.......2007-02-22

This compilation of Brel's songs remains one of my favorite musicals. I would recommend it to everyone!

Jacques Brel lives on through English Translation of his songs.......2007-02-12

Although I've never heard but one Jacques Brel song in French (song by he, himself on the DVD - which is a MUST BUY), I heard this "album" shortly after it came out, in the early 70's. My dad got me turned on to this music and it's stayed with me all these 40+ years. This is very special music to me and I'm thrilled to have both the CD and the DVD.

A Little Night Music...........2007-01-23

I can't explain why I might review this...it's been a long while since listening. Yet it was a show that was transformative obviously not just for me. I'm thinking Bowie and other thoughts that way...and it shaped my hopes and dreams and now, older and not so well, I listened to this tonight at 2AM, not sleeping again, recalling how I heard it then, how I hear it now.
I had a good friend who was in the show for one summer, maybe 79 or 80. Just a sad staging in a little town in Appalachia trying on some Paris. We had a dinner theater in our town, which meant an old building , some tables, small area and a stage kind of and some curtains. Rather ambitious for the town, they staged summer shows of Brel. And other things too, finally. My girlfriend as she often did hooked me into her evenings and I made drinks there as well as gave a few musical efforts and some easily forgotten attempts at choral support. On nights someone didn't show. You actually also made the food and sang the show, in those days for your audience, who tended to tip fairly poorly and be the local lawyers and med school doctors dragged out by wives seeking a cultural night of dinner theater. It was a kind of starving kids for ten bucks sing, act, cook, serve vodka/tonics, smoke and tell you the story of Boheme life while mixing blue cheese from packets of powder and creme in a frenzy preparing to figure out who plays the piano well enough as the player won't being pissed over low wages and a remark made about his big derrière. That kind of a summer. Songs probably wasted on the young.

All that said, it was/is a lovely collection of songs. Even better an experience when you learn and sing the French and can then argue incessantly about the translations and "feel" of the shows on two continents. I loved then to sing them, and find a tune floating in my head tonight from no where-just there- when "No. Love You're Not Alone" actually woke me. The American film was awful, the show best seen in revival and smoky nights in clubs. Then, in 1980 or so, it made my life richer, it's probably a good thing Susanna was such a friend...though I didn't understand, we dragged ourselves to a lot of meaning.And that rather odious experience in the Bahamas.

I think this worthy of time and listening. And a big moon would be cool, to walk on the shore and hear it once more. Think I'll slip out awhile.

Fine Singer / Actors Do Brel Justice.......2007-01-15

In 1966, an American producer named Nat Shapiro introduced Eric Blau to Mort Shuman. Five years earlier, Mr. Shapiro had introduced Mr. Blau and his wife, Elly Stone, to the songs of Jacques Brel. After hearing a recording of one of Brel's concerts, Elly Stone informed her husband that Brel was the greatest songwriter of the 20th century, and she induced him to be the very first to translate Brel into English. Shortly thereafter, Elly Stone premiered Brel's love song, Ne me quitte pas (Don't Leave Me) to American audiences in the off-Broadway revue, O Oysters, along with the first English Brel translation, Carousel, showcasing Brel's melody for La valse a mille temps (The Waltz A Thousand Times As Fast) and loosely translated lyrics.

Unbeknownst to them, about the same time Elly Stone heard her first Brel recording, Mort Shuman was undergoing something of a revelation across the Atlantic. In the midst of a successful career writing rock and roll songs (including hits for Elvis Presley, and the ubiquitous teenage anthem, Save The last Dance For Me), Mort Shuman had been wandering restlessly around Europe, and came to settle for a time in Paris. There, he became acquainted with Brel's music, and, later, with the man himself, and the two became close friends. Shuman convinced Brel that he should be allowed to translate some of his better-known songs into English, and bring them to America. More on the strength of their friendship than Shuman's reputation as a songwriter, Brel agreed, but a problem soon emerged. Although Shuman had mastered French surprisingly well, he was finding the task of translating Brel's songs quite daunting. After several attempts, Shuman found his English versions sorely lacking. He realized that it was not only that he had become too enraptured with Brel's work to find the objectivity required to do them justice, but it also became apparent that Brel's songs reflected too much of the French philosophy and politics to appeal to an American public largely besotted on syrupy, trite love songs.

Shuman returned to America, vowing to find a way to introduce Brel's songs to an English speaking public. By this time, Nat Shapiro had heard Elly Stone perform Eric Blau's first translations of Brel, and wanted more. In November 1966, Nat Shapiro persuaded Mort Shuman to hear Elly Stone perform at Julius Monk's Plaza 9, despite Shuman's reluctance, which derived from his belief that only a male singer could do Brel justice. At a table with Shapiro and a very nervous Eric Blau, Shuman applauded politely. "She's good", he told Blau, "the translations are real good". It must have rankled him somewhat that it was Blau and not Shuman who first successfully translated Brel to English.

Nat Shapiro also had the idea for the perfect venue to introduce Brel to America - an off-Broadway show. Not exactly a revue, since that implied that the songs had been heard before, what eventually took shape was the first "libretto-less" musical, Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. In addition to Elly Stone and Eric Blau's enthusiasm for Brel's music, Elly's amazing talent had won Shuman over and convinced him to work with Blau on the translations. Two years later, their labor of love finally introduced Brel's songs to an American public that was as ready for Brel, as Brel's songs were ready for America.

I am somewhat puzzled by the negative reviews by those who insist that Brel's songs can never be appreciated in anything but the original French. When Eric Blau realized, as Mort Shuman had earlier, that Brel's songs could never be translated exactly to American English (steeped as they were in French life and politics), they agreed to go for the next best thing. They opted to translate Brel's songs as closely as they could, but, when this was not possible, they kept Brel's melodies while attempting to retain the spirit of his writing, if not his actual words. What resulted were often very good translations indeed. One only has to compare the French text of songs that became Jackie, the Old Folks, Brussels, the Middle Class, Madeleine or Amsterdam to realize that, for the most part, the narrative and spirit (and sometimes even the lyrics) closely matched Brel's originals. Two additional translations, Song For Old Lovers and My Childhood, which also resembled the originals, were recorded by Elly Stone on her (now very rare) self-titled Columbia album. Miss Stone also recorded Goodbye My Friends for her second album, which was arguably a superior version of Brel's Le Moribond than the dreadful version by Rod McKuen, Seasons In the Sun.

In other cases, the translations altered Brel's songs in such a way as to make them more palatable to American tastes, while retaining Brel's concept. Thus, Jef, a song in which a man tries to cheer up a drinking buddy who has lost a great love, becomes a love song, in which one partner attempts to bolster the melancholy spirit of their beloved. In fact, some would argue that the beautiful prose of No Love You're Not Alone not only equals the poetic imagery of Brel's original lyrics quite adequately, they are actually an improvement. Conversely, When We Only Have Love was transformed from a love song to an anthem for brotherly love, yet did not destroy Brel's concept or his "poetry", but successfully built on it. Brel, by the way, often pointed out that, in his culture, it would be unforgivably vain for a songwriter to compare himself to a poet. To the French, poetry is not only a much higher art form than songwriting, Brel did not consider songwriting an art at all, but merely "a craft". All told, there are, in fact, only a few songs in this show where the lyrics, content, spirit, tone and / or subject matter were completely altered from Brel's originals.

When the show premiered in Canada, the creators were terrified that they would be taken to task by the French Canadian press for daring to present Brel in English there, as Brel is highly prized in Canada. Instead, it was the English Canadian press who savaged the show. But the French Canadian journalist, Rudel-Tessier (a bi-lingual writer, quite familiar with Brel in French) stated flatly that, although in translating the work, some of Blau / Shuman went in and some of Brel came out, he found it marvelous to have Brel in English at all. And, he gently chided his peers by pointing out that, while Shakespeare is quite popular in French, the Bard will never be quite the same in French as he is in English. So, to those who say you cannot appreciate Brel's songs in anything but French I reply, this show was written for those who never have, and never will, understand a single word of French. Does anyone really think that those who only speak French should be deprived of Shakespeare?

Even if none of this were true, I would like to point out that Jacques Brel himself, armed with exact French translations of the English lyrics, personally approved every song that was written for the show before the decision to produce it was finalized.

Besides, the passion and reverence that these performers feel for Brel and this material is evident in every song, and to those who claim that this show is an insult to Brel, I answer that it's an insult to the efforts of this fine cast to suggest that they had anything but his best interests at heart, and, as someone who is quite familiar with Brel in French, I believe they succeeded brilliantly. And as fine a songwriter as you can argue that Brel is in French, well, Elly Stone is equally as fine a singer in any language, and I bemoan the fact that she virtually squandered the balance of her career championing Brel's work, when she could have made a major name for herself, based solely on her own talent. Having seen Elly Stone perform live many times (in and out of this show), I will attest to the fact that, in her prime, she had the most impressive voice I have ever heard in a concert hall.

And in the end, it was Brel himself who gave the supreme complement to this effort. At one point, Eric Blau fretted when, in order to more closely translate Brel's lyrics to la Mort (My Death), he and Shuman had to alter Brel's melody. When they sent the new song to Brel, he responded, "You have improved it; it's better than mine". A year after the show opened, Brel flew in to New York to see it. That night, he led a standing ovation for the performers, and modestly told Blau and Shuman repeatedly that they had not only exceeded his expectations, in many instances, they had improved his work. He also told Elly Stone that she was, "the finest lady performer" he had ever seen (including Piaf, whom she was often compared to unfairly) and he told her that he wanted to write new songs specifically for her. Unfortunately for us, he never had time, but it was a testament to her talent and artistic integrity that Brel offered.

And if Brel himself was pleased with the translations featured in this glorious production, why should anyone quarrel with that?

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris

Average customer rating:

Jacques Brel 2006 production - terrific
JACQUES BREL AND GAY MARSHALL
Not the original... better
Superb
Well I don't know about the CD...

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris

Manufacturer: Ghostlight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Le Diable (Ca Va) - Gay Marshall
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Sons Of - Gay Marshall
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Old Folks - The Company
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My Death - Natascia Diaz
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Customer Reviews:

Jacques Brel 2006 production - terrific.......2007-05-19

The 2006 production of this show was excellent, and the CD is also excellent. Some thrilling and some very moving performances by a very talented group of singers.

JACQUES BREL AND GAY MARSHALL.......2007-02-15

I had heard of Jacques Brel, and I knew two songs from the show. But what made me buy the CD was the performer Gay Marshall who I had seen in Las Vegas when she performed the role of DIANA in A CHORUS LINE in the 1980's.
Surprise surprise! She was terrific, of course, and I fell in love with the rest of the show, which I will recommend to community theatres to produce here. I am also buying the DVD---break a leg, Gay! Teri

Not the original... better.......2006-12-11

It should be noted that this is NOT the original, or even a revival (though I believe they call it that). This is a reworking of the original. It has deleted many of the songs from the '60s version, including "Marathon". Now before you wail too loudly, the replacement will knock your socks off: the powerfully rendered "Ca Va" sets the tone with an even darker humor than the original. There are other additions and deletions, but I swear, you won't mind. And you won't have to decide which version is better, because they are different. Also having seen this production (the week before this recording was made), sitting in my living room in Kansas I was transported back to the Zipper Theatre and the magic created by this spectacular cast and their incredibly talented musical director (you hear him singing on the "The Middle Class"). Sit back, close your eyes and enjoy!

Superb.......2006-12-02

I may be slightly biased because i've seen this show with this cast seven times so far, but it is utterly magnificent. the cast album is beautiful and the vocal ranges are spectacular. Each song is a complete story, some dealing with love, despair, anguish, war, ageing, joy and just about all aspects of human emotion.

If you saw the show in the sixties or have the CD from that show, you will totally disregard it after you have heard this cast. These performers are so talented that they are thrilling. You owe it to yourself to experience the joy of this cast album.

Well I don't know about the CD..........2006-10-11

...but the off-Broadway revival of which it's a recording was fantastic. Like unbelievably fantastic. I was raised on Brel (a younger brother was named after him), and this is simply the finest I've ever heard. Buy it, but it, buy it.
Everyone involved should be very, very proud. Kudos!

Average customer rating:

You'll be disappointed
Pretty good musical mix

Greatest Songs from the Musicals
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Soho
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Aquarius [From Hair] - Steve Brooker, NSO Ensemble, , Caroline O'Connor
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Phantom of the Opera [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Ethan Freeman, Claire Moore, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
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As Long as He Needs Me [From Oliver!] - National Symphony Orchestra,
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Memory [From Cats] - Kim Criswell, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
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Secret Love [From Calamity Jane] - Debbie Gravitte, National Symphony Orchestra
Quintet [From West Side Story] - National Symphony Orchestra
I Will Always Love You [From the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas] - Salena Jones, John Pearce
Money, Money [From "Caberet"] - Maria Friedman, National Symphony Orchestra, Jonathan Pryce
If My Friends Could See Me Now (Sweet Charity) - Jacqueline Dankworth, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Thank Heaven for Little Girls [From Gigi] - Ron Moody, National Symphony Orchestra, Martin Yates
Singin' in the Rain [From Singin' in the Rain] - Craig Barna, National Symphony Orchestra, Paul Robinson

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

Oscar Hammerstein Legacy: Musicals

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Camelot (1960 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B0000520X7
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

State Fair: It's A Grand Night For Singing - Dick Haymes
Show Boat: Why Do I Love You? - Tony Martin/Frances Langford
Show Boat: Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Ella Fitzgerald And Her Famous Orchestra
Show Boat: Ol' Man River - Frank Sinatra
Show Boat: I Still Suits Me - Paul Robeson/Elizabeth Welch
High, Wide And Handsome: The Folks Who Live On The Hill - Bing Crosby
State Fair: It Might As Well Be Spring - Dick Haymes
Centennial Summer: All Through The Day - Doris Day
Carousel: If I Loved You - Perry Como
Oklahoma: People Will Say We're In Love - Frank Sinatra
Show Boat: Make Believe - Tony Martin
South Pacific: I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy - Mary Martin
South Pacific: Bali Ha'i - Juanita Hall
South Pacific: Some Enchanted Evening - Frank Sinatra
High, Wide And Handsome: Can I Forget You? - Bing Crosby
Roberta: I Won't Dance - Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians
Show Boat: Bill - Helen Forrest
Sunny: Who? - Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra
Oklahoma: Oh, What A Beautiful Morning - Frank Sinatra
South Pacific: Happy Talk - Juanita Hall
Sweet Adeline: Why Was I Born? - Vic Damone
Very Warm For May: All The Things You Are - Tony Martin
Carousel: You'll Never Walk Alone - Judy Garland

Lost In The Stars (1949 Original Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

One of Weill's best American scores!
I love it!!
Can we get someone to put this label back in stock?
Powerful performance,historically significant
"THE MOST MOVING MUSIC AND SACRIFICE OF A NATION

Lost In The Stars (1949 Original Broadway Cast)
Maxwell Anderson , and Alan Paton
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Street Scene: An American Opera
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1951 Original Broadway Cast)
Allegro (1947 Original Broadway Cast)
Lady In The Dark (1997 Original London Cast)
Knickerbocker Holiday

ASIN: B000002OGX
Release Date: 2001-05-15

Tracks:

Hills Of Ixopo
Thousands Of Miles
The Train To Johannesburg/Reprise: Thousands Of Miles/The Search
The Little Gray House
Who'll Buy/Trouble Man
Murder In Parkwold/Fear
Lost In The Stars
O Tixo, Tixo, Help Me
Stay Well
Cry, The Beloved Country
Big Mole/Chapel Scene
A Bird Of Passage/Reprise: Thousands Of Miles

Customer Reviews:

One of Weill's best American scores!.......2005-10-16

`Lost in the Stars' and `Johnny Johnson' are two Broadway shows scored by Kurt Weill in collaboration with Maxwell Anderson and Paul Green respectively for the librettos, both in English. Both are distinguished works and both were, I believe, fairly popular when they were first performed. What these two works have in common is that they are both works aimed at our social conscience.

`Johnny Johnson' is a mildly anti-war play dealing with America's entering the First World War, written in the mid 1930s, when Germany was already uncomfortable for Jews, but not yet on the brink of precipitating World War II. What is most interesting to me about the libretto is the reluctance of the principle character, Johnny, to enlist in the army, while his fiancée (contrary to many famous antiwar works of the past), is all in favor of his enlisting and threatens to break their engagement if he does not enlist. As a work of art, I believe the work is more interesting as a milepost in American antiwar sentiments than as an important artistic work for either the composer or the lyricist. To my ear, there is not a single song from this work that finds its way into the repertoire of balladeers. This is from a composer who has given us `September Song', `Speak Low', `Lost in the Stars', `Saga of Jenny', and `Lonely House', not to mention all the great songs from his German works such as `Mack the Knife' and `Pirate Jenny'. On top of this, there is my feeling that much of the instrumental music sounds very similar to earlier German works, especially `Mahagonny'.

`Lost in the Stars' is based on Alan Paton's novel, `Cry, the Beloved Country' and was written after World War II, in 1948-1949, and has much of the musical interest of what is missing from `Johnny Johnson'. Throughout the play, the instrumental music is much less similar to earlier Weill works and all songs seem stronger. At least two of these songs, `Lost in the Stars', `Trouble Man' and `Stay Well' are often performed by Lotte Lenya and other vocalists. While it may be pushing it a bit, this work seems almost as strong as Gershwin's `Porgy and Bess'.

I bought both because I am a big fan of Kurt Weill's music, and I would recommend both recordings to any and all Weill enthusiasts, especially as both have extensive notes and complete librettos. But, to the person mostly interested in Broadway in general, I would recommend only `Lost in the Stars'.

I will say that the performances of both vocalists and orchestra are excellent on both; however the vocalists on `Lost in the Stars' seem to give just a little extra, possibly because their material is just a bit more substantial.

I love it!!.......2002-07-12

It is so easy to get some of these songs in your head...I love this soundtrack..

Can we get someone to put this label back in stock?.......1999-12-28

With great hope in the powerful amazon.com's Jeff Bezos, the person of the year by Time magazine, we wish you can urge someone to put this title back into circulation! I have sung the piece "Lost in the Stars" and was drawn by the wonderful music and intriguing lyrics. Is there a way to locate the music score of the soundtrack?

Powerful performance,historically significant.......1999-06-04

After 50 years the little snippet heard on this site brings back the original emotions.I would love to purchase this recording in any format. The original performance, a life-changing event for me as a young girl, is recaptured.

"THE MOST MOVING MUSIC AND SACRIFICE OF A NATION.......1999-06-01

I saw the oringinal Musical "Lost in the Stars", and have the 33 album. Would love to have a CD to play on my "modern" equipment. When Todd Duncan was asked to do the part of the "Efunsdi", he read the part and broke an existing contract to go into rehearsal. He said "I have to do this for my people." I was enthralled at the libretto and zest of the choreography. So when I hear the music I am taken right back to the Opera stage and see and hear the glorious presentation. Please put it back into circulation, or if someone out there has a copy (cd) I would love to talk to you about it. CT

The British Invasion: Broadway 1981-1992

Average customer rating:

The British Invasion: Broadway 1981-1992

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Put on a Happy Face: Broadway 1959-1967
Broadway Magic: Broadway 1968-1980
Broadway Today: Broadway 1993-2005
A Time of Hope: Broadway 1935-1946
Center Stage: Broadway 1947-1958

ASIN: B0007ZENZQ
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

The Phantom Of The Opera
Memory
On My Own
Muddy Water
How could I ever know [The Secret Garden]
The American Dream
I Know Him So Well
Doctor Jazz
Me And My Girl
Suddenly, Seymour

Average customer rating:

A wonderful collection of show tunes .

Lost in Boston II Unsung Musicals

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Lost in Boston, Vol. 4
Unsung Musicals II (Studio Cast)
Unsung Musicals III (Studio Cast)
Unsung Musicals (Studio Cast)
Broadway's Lost Treasures III - The Best of the Tony Awards

ASIN: B0000014UB
Release Date: 1994-10-25

Tracks:

Man And Wife - Liz Larsen/Sal Viviano
Guess We May As Well Stay Married Now - Glory Crampton/Guy Haines
Thousands Of Flowers - Rita Gardner/Ron Raines
Throw It Away - Karen Ziemba/Harry Groener
What Am I Doing Here? - Liz Callaway
Italy In Technicolor - Judy Kaye/Buddy Crutchfield
I Have Acted Like A Fool - Debbie Pavelka/Richard Roland
When Messiah Comes - Lee Wilkof
Just A Map - Meg Bussert
I'm Lost - Walter Willison
Say When - Kaye Ballard
It Was Always You - Gregg Edelman
Flaemmchen (The Flame Girl) - Lynnette Perry
The Only Game In Town - Karen Mason

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful collection of show tunes ........1998-12-06

Lost in Boston II is the second group of songs that have been put on an album that were cut from well known musicals. It is better than the first Lost in Boston- only because the songs collected here have nary a loser(okay,"It Was Always You" from Applause sounds like a theme from a 70's Tv show- but it's still tuneful and endearing).Some listeners may be familair with some of these songs from the Ben Bagley compilations, but for me many were complete revelations. For example, I had heard only negative things about the score to Grand Hotel- then I played the showstopper cut from the show called" Flaemmchen the Flame Girl" - and I now would like to hear what was not cut! The same applies to the team of Jones and Schmidt. When I heard the gorgeous song, "Thousands of Flowers" I immediately went to buy the final score of "I Do I Do"... The first two Lost in Bostons confirmed how underrated this song team truly is. The liner notes are informative and to the point but as with all good stuff, they leave you wanting more.Don't miss this CD. It is better than many complete Broadway musical scores!

Average customer rating:

This Is the Army & Call Me Mister

Manufacturer: Jasmine Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006J9M1
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Tracks:

Overture: This Is The Army, Mr. Jones/I Left My Heart At The Stage Door/Canteen/That Russian Winter/This Is The Army, Mr. Jones (Reprise) - All-Soldier Chorus
This Is The Army, Mr. Jones - Irving Berlin & Chorus
I'm Getting Tired So I Can Sleep - Private Stuart Churchill
I Left My Heart At The Stage Door Canteen - Corporal Earl Oxford
Dialog With Staff Sergent Ezra Stone, Corporal Philip Truex & Private Julie Oshins - Staff Sergent Ezra Stone
The Army's Made A Man Out Of Me - Staff Sergent Ezra Stone
What The Well Dressed Man In Harlem Will Wear - Corporal James 'Stump' Cross
How About A Cheer For The Navy - All-Soldier Chorus
American Eagles/With My Head In The Clouds - Soldier Chorus
Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning - Irving Berlin
My British Buddy - Irving Berlin & Chorus
This Time - Cote Glee Club
Going Home Train - Lawrence Winters & Male Chorus
Along With Me - Danny Scholl
Little Surplus Me - Betty Garrett
The Red Ball Express - Male Quartet
Military Life - Harry Clark
Yuletide, Park Avenue - Betty Garrett
When We Meet Again - Paula Bane
The Face On The Dime - Lawrence Winters
South America, Take It Away - Betty Garrett
Call Me Mister - Bill Callaghan

Before the Rainbow : The Original Music of Oz

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Restorations
What?
Excellent, historical, entertaining

Before the Rainbow : The Original Music of Oz
L. Frank Baum , Frederic Chapin , Louis F. Gottschalk , Paul Tietjens , James Patrick Doyle , and The Utensia Ensemble
Manufacturer: Original Cast Record
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Wizard of Oz - Vintage Recordings from the 1903 Broadway Musical

ASIN: B00003WGP2
Release Date: 1999-12-06

Tracks:

The Wizard of Oz Opening Pantomime (Paul Tietjens)
The Wizard of Oz Phantom Patrol (Paul Tietjens)
The Wizard of Oz Waltz & Grand March (Paul Tietjens)
The Wizard of Oz Finale Act I (Paul Tietjens)
The Woggle-bug Selection (Frederic Chapin)
Down Among the Marshes (L. Frank Baum)
The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (Louis F. Gottschalk)
The Maid of Arran (L. Frank Baum)
Prelude/Ojo's Theme - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
Dr. Pipt/Jesseva & Danx - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
The Patchwork Girl Theme (Gottschalk)
Munchkin Waltz - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottscahlk)
Soldier with the Green Whiskers - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
The Woozy - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
The Hoppers - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
The Tottenhots - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
Horners/Lonesome Zoop - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
The Dark Well - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)
Royal March - Patchwork Girl of Oz (Gottschalk)

Album Description

Rebuilding the Lost Oz Before Judy Garland sang Over the Rainbow, Oz had inspired over 200 songs. This CD provides an overview of the rich early musical legacy of Oz. Most of the original music of Oz is associated with Baums stage works: The Wizard of Oz (1902), The Woggle-Bug (1905), and The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (1913). In the absence of published vocal scores, music was gathered in the form of published songs, piano or orchestral medley arrangements, and manuscripts. For the Wizard suite, I drew upon Tietjens own manuscript indications and a 1902 orchestral selection by Hilding Anderson, who would later orchestrate for Gershwin shows. The Tik-Tok Man selection is a 1913 orchestral arrangement by J. Bodewalt Lampe, who, like Gottschalk, was a pioneering film composer. From these scores, it was a matter of laying down the parts track by track; fortunately, advances in digital sampling synthesis have allowed me to record this music within a reasonable budget without sounding like Switched-on-Baum. The scores and parts are available for performance. The Cowardly Lions share of this collaboration was done before David and I met, through hours of on-line conversation. The audience for The Wizard of Oz in 1902 largely arrived in horse drawn carriages to see the first stage show in history with electrically controlled lighting. For this project to have been coordinated through the internet and realized digitally is a wonder worthy of Baums imagination.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Restorations.......2006-06-04

James Doyle does a wonderful job restoring and re-creating these early scores which would otherwise be lost to time. You should also check out his recording "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Toronto Cast Recording", a completely new musical production which is extremely faithful to Baum's original book.

What?.......2000-07-20

Can someone PLEASE help me? I love the story of The Wizard of Oz. I'm sure this is a great CD, but does it have any words or is it just music. If some one can help me I would be vary thankful!

Excellent, historical, entertaining.......2000-01-01

The Hungry Tiger CD _Before the Rainbow_ is excellent and I recommend it highly. I might (or might not) have preferred "period instruments" to the synthesizer, but then it would have cost too much to produce and we'd be without anything. My roommate/landlady said the final grand march from Patchwork Girl sounded like "roller skating music." But that was intended as a compliment. No Oz fan can live without this recording.

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