The Bacon Brothers named their debut Forosoco, an acronym for their combined influences: folk, rock, soul, and country. The title of their second album, Getting There, aptly describes the fraternal duo's stage in merging these styles. Taking the lead in most of the vocals, brother Kevin's arrangements and vocal stylings are a bit self-conscious and contrived at times, but he takes risks, assuming a honky-tonk rasp in "Not Born to Beauty," and a soft, folkie croon in "Ten Years in Mexico." "T.M.I." ("Too Much Information") is a humorous jab at the impossible paradox of being a sought-after movie star (yes, it's that Kevin Bacon) while trying to also make it as a rock star. Brother Michael, a formally trained musician with a dead-ringer James Taylor voice, provides warm intermissions between Kevin's character changes. Throughout, Michael's experience as a career composer is evident in the rich layering of harmonies and instrumentation that is neither taxing nor complicated, but as narrative as the lyrics. With a full back-up band at their disposal, the Bacon Brother's sophomore effort is part Nashville, part roadhouse soul, part Jimmy Buffett, and so full of good ol' wholesome Americana even the stuffy old fogies in Bomont, Iowa would embrace it. --Beth Massa
Getting There,The Bacon Brothers,Bluxo Records,Alternative Country-Rock,Americana,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock & Roll,Roots Rock
Average customer rating:
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Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00064ADMK Release Date: 2004-10-19 |
Tracks:
- Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
- Swanee- Al Jolson
- When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
- A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
- My Man- Fanny Brice
- Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
- If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
- Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
- Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
- Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
- Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
- Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
- Body And Soul- Libby Holman
- Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
- Night And Day- Fred Astaire
- Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
- Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
- You're The Top- Ethel Merman
- Summertime- Anne Brown
- September Song- Walter Huston
- My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
- It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
- Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
- Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
- Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake
Tracks:
- New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
- If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
- Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
- There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
- How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
- Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
- Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
- Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
- Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
- Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
- Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
- Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
- Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
- Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
- Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
- Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
- Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
- I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
- Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
- The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
- Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
- Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence
Tracks:
- Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
- I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
- Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
- My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
- Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
- Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
- Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
- Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
- I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
- The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
- Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
- What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
- As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
- Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
- People- Barbra Streisand
- Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
- If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
- Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
- The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
- If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
- Open a New Window- from Mame Voice
Tracks:
- Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
- Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
- I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
- The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
- Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
- I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
- I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
- We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
- Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
- Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
- Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
- One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
- All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
- Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
- Come Follow The Band
- Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
- And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
- The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia
Tracks:
- Memory- Betty Buckley
- I Am What I Am- George Hearn
- Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
- Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
- The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
- You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
- The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
- Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
- With One Look- Glenn Close
- On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
- Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
- Seasons Of Love-
- Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
- I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
- Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
- Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
- Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
- I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
- Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30
Top Shelf.......2007-01-04
TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23
Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14
Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17
Average customer rating:
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Spirituals in Concert
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001GDC Release Date: 1991-03-08 |
Tracks:
- In That Great Getting Up Morning
- Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
- Over My Head/ Lil' David
- Oh, What A Beautiful City
- Lord, How Come Me Here
- I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
- Ride On, King Jesus
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
- You Can Tell The World
- Scandalize My Name
- Great Day
- Oh, Glory
- Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
- Talk About A Child
- Gospel Train
- My God Is So High
- There Is A Balm In Gilead
- He's Got The Whole World In His Hand
Customer Reviews:
"Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18
And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!
Alinde O'Malley
WOW!.......2007-03-22
uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21
scadalise my name.......2004-10-29
Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29
I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.
There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.
The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.
And you know what? It all kills the spirituals stone dead. The spiritual is one of those musical forms where less is more and very little is best of all. That's how they started, after all. That's how and why they worked for their original audiences, and that's why they were powerful enough to make the transition from folk song to art song. If you want to hear Battle sing spirituals that are irresistible, listen to the set on her Salzburg recital CD, also with Levine (ASIN B00000E31B). There, the music speaks for itself and speaks with a strength and a beauty that the tracks on this disk never approach.
Average customer rating:
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Show Boat (1988 Studio Cast): Von Stade; Hubbard; Hadley; McGlinn
Frederica von Stade , Jerome Kern , Jerry Hadley , Bruce Hubbard , Teresa Stratas , David Garrison , Leslie Fyson , John McGlinn , and London Sinfonietta Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002SJL Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Overture
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cotton Blossom: Niggers all work on d Mississippi... (Stevedores, Gals, Queenie, Steve, Pete, 1st Mincing Miss, 2nd Mincing Miss, Beaux, Girls & Boys)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cotton Blossom: 'Andy!!!...' (Parthy, Windy, 1st Mincing Miss, 2nd Mincing Miss)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo: 'Here comes the Show Boat parade!...' (Boy, Girls, Boys, Andy, Parthy)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo: 'Hey Julie...' (Pete, Julie, Steve, Parthy, Andy, Ellie)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Cap'n Andy's Ballyhoo: 'It's a man...' (Ellie, Ravenal, Vallon)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Where's the Mate for Me?: Who cares if my boat goes upstream... (Ravenal, Magnolia)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Make Believe: Only make believe I love you... (Ravenal, Magnolia, Vallon)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene One - Ol' Man River: 'Oh, Joe!...' (Magnolia, Joe, Men)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Two - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man: 'What cher doin' all by yourself, Miss Nola?...' (Queenie, Magnolia, Julie, Joe, Servants)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Three - Life on the Wicked Stage: Why do stage struck maidens clamor... (Ellie, Girls)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Three - Till Good Luck Comes My Way: The man who ventures with chance... (Ravenal, Men)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': Mis'ry's comin' aroun'... (Queenie, Women, Joe Magnolia, Julie, Men, Solo Bass)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'Take her up, Rubberface!...' (Andy, Julie, Steve, Magnolia, Parthy, Ellie, Windy)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'Hello, Windy...' (Vallon, Andy, Magnolia, Steve, Julie, Windy, Ellie, Parthy)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'You needn't all look at us...' (Steve, Colored Chorus, Andy, Parthy, Magnolia, Ellie, Frank)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Four - Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun': 'Looks like a swell...' (Andy, Parthy, Frank, Ravenal, Julie, Magnolia, Steve, Joe)
Tracks:
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Five - I Would Like to Play a Lover's Part: Her face is fair to look upon... (Boys, Girls, Ellie, Frank)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Five - I Might Fall Back on You: Little girl, you are safe with me... (Frank, Ellie, Girls)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Five - Queenie's Ballyhoo: 'Is de theatre fillin' up, Cap'n Andy?...' (Queenie, Andy, Colored Chorus)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Six - Villain Dance
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Seven - You Are Love: 'That you, Nola?...' (Ravenal, Windy, Magnolia, Parthy)
- Show Boat: Act One, Scene Eight - Finale Act One: Oh tell me, did you ever!... (Firls, Boys, Chorus, Andy, Women, Men, Negro Women, Magnolia, Parthy, Vallon, Pete)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene One - At the Fair: When we tell them about it all... (All, 1st Barker, Boys, Girls, Chorus, 2nd Barker, Men, 3rd Barker)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene One - Why Do I Love You?: I'm walking on the air, dear... (Magnolia, Ravenal, Chorus, Andy)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene One - In Dahomey: Dyunga doe!... (Dahomey Villagers, White Chorus)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Three - Convent Scene: Alma Redmptoris Mater... (Nuns, Mother Superior, Ravenal, Kim)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Four: 'All right, Jake...' (Jim, Jake, Julie)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Four - Bill: I used to dream... (Julie)
- Show Boat: Magnolia's Audition - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Reprise): Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly... (Magnolia)
- Show Boat: Magnolia's Audition - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Reprise): 'Whaddaya say, boss?...' (Frank, Jim, Magnolia, Jake)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - Trocadero Opening Chorus: Let's make the new year... (Chorus)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - Apache Dance
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - Goodbye, My Lady Love: So you're going away... (Frank, Ellie)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Six - After the Ball: 'Ladies and Gentlemen...' (Jim, Drunk, Andy, Magnolia, A Man, All)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Seven - Ol' Man River (Reprise): Ol' Man River... (Joe)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Seven - Hey, Feller!: When you yen for a gent... (Queenie, Chorus)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Eight - You Are Love (Reprise): 'That you, Nola?...' (Ravenal)
Tracks:
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine: Cottom Blossom (Reprise): Cotton Blossom... (Chorus)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine - It's Getting Hotter in the North: Now up in the northern land... (Kim, Chorus)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine - It's Getting Hotter in the North: 'Say, Cap'n Andy...' (Frank, Ellie, Andy)
- Show Boat: Act Two, Scene Nine - Finale Ultimo: 'Hello, Gay...' (Andy, Hope, Ravenal, Girl, Man, Magnolia, Old Lady, Chorus)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Pantry Scene (Act One, Scene Two; deleted - 1927): 'What cher doin' all by yourself, Miss Nola?...' (Queenie, Magnolia, Julie, Joe, Servants)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Waterfront Saloon Scene (Act One, Scene Three; deleted - 1927): 'Number four, black!...' (Voice (off), Ravenal, Loungers, Gambler)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Yes, Ma'am (Act One, Scene Three; unused - 1927): Bet your hat... (Girls, Ellie)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Kim's Imitations (Why Do I Love You?): (Act Two, Scene Nine; Ziegfeld Production - 1927): Why do I love you?... (Kim, Chorus)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Dance Away the Night (Act Two, Scene Nine; London - 1928): Music in the air... (Kim, Girls, Boys)
- Show Boat: Appendix - A Pack of Cards (Act One, Scene Six?; unused - 1927): One night as I sat by my fireside so weary... (Magnolia)
- Show Boat: Appendix - The Creole Love Song (Act One, Scene Seven; unused - 1927): 'That you, Nola?...' (Ravenal, Windy, Magnolia)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Out There in an Orchard (Act Two, Scene Four; unused - 1927): There was a sun sinking slowly in the west... (Julie)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Gallivantin' Aroun' (Universal Film - 1936): Liza Matilda HIll... (Magnolia, Chorus)
- Show Boat: Appendix - I Have the Room Above Her (Universal Film - 1936): 'Seems to me I've seen that stocking someplace...' (Ravenal, Magnolia)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Ah Still Suits Me (Universal Film - 1936): 'Joe! Dere you go again!...' (Queenie, Joe)
- Show Boat: Appendix - Nobody Else But Me (Act Two, Scene Nine; 1946 Revival): I was a shy, demure type... (Kim, Chorus)
Amazon.com
John McGlinn's sprawling, monumental three-CD set is about all the Show Boat any listener could ever ask for. In an obvious labor of love, McGlinn reconstructs the show as it ran on opening night, November 15, 1927, including every song, the original orchestrations, and all underscored dialogue. The most significant restoration is the dark choral number "Mis'ry's Comin' Aroun'," as Show Boat's serious subject matter helped establish its place as the most important turning point in the history of American musical theater. McGlinn also adds an appendix that includes songs cut before opening night and every song subsequently written for the show's many productions, most notably the love duet "I Have the Room Above Her," written for the 1936 film. (The recording is also available in a one-disc reduction called the "Broadway Show Album.")Rest assured this 221-minute blockbuster is not just dry scholarship; it's also terrific listening, with McGlinn conducting a dynamic London Sinfonietta and a strong cast including Frederica von Stade as Magnolia, Jerry Hadley as Ravenal, Teresa Stratas as the tragic Julie, Bruce Hubbard as the worldly wise Joe, Karla Burns as Queenie, and David Garrison and Paige O'Hara as the comic couple Frank and Ellie. And of course the songs by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II are among the most glorious ever written: "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "Make Believe," "Why Do I Love You," "Bill," "You Are Love," and "Life upon the Wicked Stage." Also included are exhaustive production notes, a history of the show, a detailed synopsis, and a libretto. John McGlinn's Show Boat is a staggering achievement and a recording for the ages. --David Horiuchi
Customer Reviews:
An American Treasure.......2007-03-03
I defy anyone to come up with another Broadway production that has three songs in a row better than Make Believe, Ol' Man River and Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (West Side Story's Maria, America and Tonight are the best three in a row of a movie musical) and it's a shame that no movie version of Showboat can compare to this version. The first act is full of songs that are as good as any ever sung on a stage and I can't think of another production with a first act that compete against the big 3 plus Cotton Blossom, Where's The Mate For Me, Life On The Wicked Stage, Till Good Luck Comes My Way, Misry's Comin' Aroun', You are Love, Act One finale and Why Do I Love You?. You just don't want to have the music stop.
If you don't like opera you won't like this version. Sung the way Kern and Hammerstein wrote them, you can't help but feel the operatic nature of these songs. Tough noogies because Showboat is above all an opera disguised as a Broadway play and no sweetening should be allowed.
The four leads are all superb, Frederica von Stade as Nola especially. The booklet contains the complete libretto and allows a different way to appreciate the music.
If you buy just one version of Showboat you need this one. If you have other versions of Showboat you need this one. As a matter of fact, anyone with ears to hear needs this version. A true American treasure.
DON'T DESPAIR. IT'S BEEN REISSUED!!!!!.......2006-11-16
Thank you, EMI.
I would hope other labels would follow suit and remaster and reissue other examples of classic American musical theater. It would be a pity if our children, grandchildren, and future generations were unable to savor "110 in the Shade" or "Little Mary Sunshine" or . . . . . . . . . (fill in the blanks.)
An American tragedy...........2006-02-06
Gorgeous!.......2005-08-26
M. J. Conrades
Defective disc........2005-08-15
Average customer rating:
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Rodgers & Hammerstein: Songbook for Orchestra (Orchestral Suites)
Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003CXQ Release Date: 1992-01-28 |
Tracks:
- Oklahoma!
- Carousel
- State Fair
- South Pacific
- The King And I
- Cinderella Waltz
- Flower Drum Song
- The Sound Of Music
Customer Reviews:
Irresistible.......2005-07-29
Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicals dominated Broadway in the 1940s and 1950s, and American musical theater has produced no more consistently eloquent and durable voice than Richard Rodgers. From his fertile genius flowed a surprising number of memorable songs, many of which have passed into and become an accepted and beloved part of modern American culture.
This well-filled CD (77:36) features symphonic arrangements (all but two by Robert Russell Bennett) of the music from Oklahoma (1943), Carousel (1945), State Fair (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), Flower Drum Song (1958), and The Sound of Music (1959). All the great tunes are here in suites from each musical that average 10-12 minutes in length. The arrangements are expert: rich, varied, and colorful. The performances are polished, idiomatic, and irresistible; Kunzel and this orchestra are thorough masters of this kind of material. And Telarc's sound (recorded 1991) is state-of-the-art (engineer Michael Bishop deserves to take a bow).
In short, there's nothing here to cloud your listening pleasure (the only quibble I can imagine is that some of your favorites may not last long enough), so it's hard for me to envision anyone with ears and a taste for music who wouldn't enjoy this CD. Warmly recommended. Finally, if you like this one as much as I do, you might want to know that the same team has produced a companion volume, the Lerner & Lowe Songbook for Orchestra.
"Some Enchanted Evening" with Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops.......2003-12-26
This CD has all the scores arranged chronologically. The OKLAHOMA! suite that opens this disc promises a feast for the senses, Kunzel ably evokes the territory's "bright, golden haze" in the way he conducts the various excerpts, until you feel the atmosphere of the country charm of the show, and the love-affair between Curly and Laurey. Then, in CAROUSEL, he ably evokes the pathos of this tragic R&H masterwork, especially in the truncated Waltz, but he leads a wonderfully melodic "June is Bustin' Out All Over" and a devotional "You'll Never Walk Alone." Although this suite does not include Billy's pivotal Soliloquy, it includes "If I Loved You" as an expression of his love for Julie, and within minutes you could be soaked in the ups and downs of the show's mood.
After a brief STATE FAIR suite, with sweeping renditions of "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "It's a Grand Night for Singing", we are brought into the disc's showstopping highlights. These highlights are the excerpts from SOUTH PACIFIC, THE KING AND I, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. But yet Kunzel conducts the rest of the disc until the various suites amount to a series of showstoppers. These three suites present wonderfully-arranged versions of their many familiar classic songs, with well-played solos. The SOUTH PACIFIC suite presents the songs in chronological order, yet preserves the atmosphere of the show at the same time. Kunzel ably brings out the romance in "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Younger than Springtime," and contrasts it with the exotic and dreamlike "Bali Hai'i" and the comic "There is Nothing like a Dame" and "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair". Although the suite ends quietly with a reprise of "Dites-Moi" rather than the reprise of "Some Enchanted Evening," within minutes we are swept into the KING AND I suite. Kunzel ably brings out the Oriental pathos in this score, and he captures the warmth of Anna's rapport with the King's Siamese children in "Getting to Know You", and with the King himself in "Shall We Dance." There is also romance in the love ballads "I Have Dreamed" and "We Kiss in a Shadow." Similarly, in the selection from THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Kunzel conducts this until the orchestra soaks itself in the atmosphere of this Austrian R&H score. This SOUND OF MUSIC suite has more of a feel of the score compared to the bonus track on Sony's reissued version of the Broadway recording. You can almost feel as if you are following the progress of the Trapp family and how it lifts its spirits with the joy of music. Kunzel gives us a soaring version of the title song, and spirited versions of "Do-Re-Mi" and "My Favourite Things." He balances it with the open-air quality of "Edelweiss" and "The Lonely Goatherd." Although this suite could have included "Something Good," the love ballad written for the film, the three recollections of the songs that were cut from the movie only last for a while. And, the towering version of "Climb Every Mountain" crowns this portion of the disc, and this sumptuously-produced recording. But, I should also mention the infectuous FLOWER DRUM SONG medley, where Kunzel turns this underrated score into a work of art, until it convinces you to buy the cast recording. And, don't forget about the brief CINDERELLA WALTZ, too, when Kunzel conducts it magically, until you feel like you are in the company of Cinderella and the Prince. He is able to show how this R&H score marked a comeback for R&H after the failiures of Me and Juliet, and Pipe Dream.
Overall, this glorious Rodgers and Hammerstein recording is guarunteed to make you want to pucker your lips out for a whistle or sing along (to paraphrase another revew for Kunzel's Disney Spectacular disc) - even if this recording is music only, and as long as you know the words to the songs (and you might know a large handful of them already.) There is always a certain magic in this fine CD that makes you feel like you're sitting in the theatre watching these musicals, until it makes you feel like it is truly, to borrow two R&H song titles, "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Something Wonderful" to be in Kunzel's company for this R&H offering. It would certainly be one recording that could make you feel willing to buy the complete cast recordings of the shows. And I guaruntee that it will make you feel willing to pull out your existing copies of the cast recordings to listen to them again. I also guaruntee that it will be a cornerstone in any Rodgers and Hammerstein collection, just as it is in mine. Recommended heartily to any Rodgers and Hammerstein enthusiast and to fans of Erich Kunzel's work. And, you can play it while reading the Richard Rodgers biography, Musical Stages, until Rodgers himself would count this as his favourite disc in the afterlife.
By the way, most of the arrangements for the suites on this CD were done by the veteran R&H orchestrator Robert Russell Bennett, and it surely adds to the appeal of this recording. This itself is enough to amount to the icing on the cake, since Kunzel conducts them well on here, and since this recording still allows the suites to have the original theatrical atmosphere. And, although this recording is like the Mauceri collection of the Rodgers & Hammerstein overtures in compiling orchestral suites of Rodgers & Hammerstein, I think that I like the Kunzel recording even more because Kunzel has more magic in his conducting of these suites.
Excellent!.......2003-04-08
Great Arrangments.......2001-09-02
Average customer rating:
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The Michael Feinstein Anthology
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000065DVH Release Date: 2002-05-21 |
Tracks:
- Nice Work If You Can Get It
- Isn't It Romantic
- Swinging On A Star
- Ask Me Again
- Rhode Island Is Famous For You
- 'S Wonderful
- Wonder Why
- Too Marvelous For Words
- Where Do You Start
- Theme From The Bad And The Beautiful
- Easy To Love
- Alexander's Ragtime Band
- Who Are You Now?
- You're An Education
- You Are There
- Sophisticated Swing
- Love Can Change The Stars
- Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are
- Half Of April (Most Of May)
- Marianne
- They Can't Take That Away From Me
- I Love A Piano
Tracks:
- That's Entertainment
- My Favorite Year
- Ten Feet Off The Ground (With Rosemary Clooney)
- I Never Felt Better
- Someone To Watch Over Me
- Kiss Her Now
- The Ugly Bug Ball
- For You, For Me, Forever More
- The Mole People
- And So To Bed
- You're All The World To Me
- Old Friend
- Isn't It A Pity (with Rosemary Clooney)
- Pattisserie
- Open Your Eyes
- For Love Alone
- I Won't Send Roses/Time Heals Everything
- Get Out And Get Under The Moon (with Page Cavanaugh)
- My Romance
- Love Is Here To Stay
- Violin (with Liza Minnelli)
Amazon.com
The line between evangelist and entertainer has always been somewhat indistinct. But as showcased on this 43-track, double-disc collection culled from his '87-'96 recordings for Elektra/Nonesuch/Atlantic, Michael Feinstein's dedication to spreading the gospel of the American song often blurs it beyond recognition. While the singer's pedigree for the task is impeccable (a long-term stint as Ira Gershwin's assistant and early career sponsorship by Liza Minnelli), his interpretations often succeed by playing off a tense axis of fervent emotionalism and a joyous sense of irreverence.If his readings of romantic standards can sometimes tend toward the precious, they're often balanced here by sheer dramatic power and telling insights ("Isn't It Romantic" fairly bristles with ironic chauvinism) and a few loopy curves ("The Mole People," the Sherman Brothers' "The Ugly Bug Ball," and the previously unreleased "Rhode Island Is Famous for You"). Feinstein's dedicated song archaeology is also showcased on several gems: "Violin," a duet with Liza Minnelli; "My Favorite Year," a rejected ballad for the film of that name; the sublime "lost" Gershwin classic "Ask Me Again."
Sprinkled with live performances (the forum where Feinstein's talents seem most energized) and studio outtakes and featuring a lengthy print interview with the singer, the set chronicles both the pioneering efforts of one of pop music's most successful revivalists and, crucially, the cream of his beloved American songwriters, from stalwarts Gershwin, Berlin, and Porter to later legends like Herman, Styne, Lane, Martin, and Mercer. --Jerry McCulley
Album Description
The definitive collection of performances by the Grammy nominated singer features 43 tracks from 14 albums released by Elektra, Elektra Nonesuch, and Atlantic labels from 1987-1996. Plus 8 previously unreleased live tracks only available here 'Rhode Island is Famous For You', 'S Wonderful', 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', 'I Love A Piano', 'Patisserie', 'Get Out And Get Under The Moon' (with Page Cavanaugh), 'Love Is Here To Stay' & 'Violin' (with Liza Minnelli). 2 Digipacks housed in a slipcase with a booklet. Rhino Records. 2002.Customer Reviews:
Mixed feelings.......2005-10-05
Your love for this superb collection will be here to stay..........2002-07-18
He's done it again.......2002-07-15
This is perfect background music for a dinner party for a whole group but especially for two. Light, romantic and just gorgeous. You just can't go wrong when Michael Feinstein is your musical choice.
Way to go Michael, you've done it again!
Absolutely 'S WONDERFUL!.......2002-06-10
This collection not only contains all the favorites one would expect, but a neat group of surprises too. I especially love the duets with people like Liza Minnelli and Rosemary Clooney, and the various collaborative efforts with songwriters like Jule Styne and Burton Lane accompanying Michael at the piano.
This collection is a classic to be treasured. Bravo Michael!
Bravo Rhino!
A beautiful 2 disc CD-another hit for Michael.......2002-06-09
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Getting There
The Bacon Brothers Manufacturer: Bluxo Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00001IVI0 Release Date: 1999-08-31 |
Tracks:
- Ten Years In Mexico
- Arm Wrestling Woman
- Don't Look Back
- Getting There
- When You Decide You've Stayed Too Long
- T.M.I.
- It's A Rocky Road
- Not Born To Beauty
- Chop Wood
- Don't Lose Me Boy
- Strung Out
- July Away
- Jersey Girl
- City Of Fear
- Angelina
Amazon.com
The Bacon Brothers named their debut Forosoco, an acronym for their combined influences: folk, rock, soul, and country. The title of their second album, Getting There, aptly describes the fraternal duo's stage in merging these styles. Taking the lead in most of the vocals, brother Kevin's arrangements and vocal stylings are a bit self-conscious and contrived at times, but he takes risks, assuming a honky-tonk rasp in "Not Born to Beauty," and a soft, folkie croon in "Ten Years in Mexico." "T.M.I." ("Too Much Information") is a humorous jab at the impossible paradox of being a sought-after movie star (yes, it's that Kevin Bacon) while trying to also make it as a rock star. Brother Michael, a formally trained musician with a dead-ringer James Taylor voice, provides warm intermissions between Kevin's character changes. Throughout, Michael's experience as a career composer is evident in the rich layering of harmonies and instrumentation that is neither taxing nor complicated, but as narrative as the lyrics. With a full back-up band at their disposal, the Bacon Brother's sophomore effort is part Nashville, part roadhouse soul, part Jimmy Buffett, and so full of good ol' wholesome Americana even the stuffy old fogies in Bomont, Iowa would embrace it. --Beth MassaCustomer Reviews:
Getting better.......2005-03-09
Best outings for Kevin are usually quiet understated ballads (his elegiac "Ten Years in Mexico", the achingly beautiful "When You Decide You've Stayed too Long"), with "Arm Wrestling Woman" the lone exception where he manages to come off sounding tough instead of phony on a rockier number.
Michael's best are "It's a Rocky Road" (sounding not unlike James Taylor's "Copperline") and his empty nest lament in "Don't Lose the Boy". The duo also manage a surprisingly good rendition of Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl", complete with great vocal interplay and some nice falsetto from Kevin.
Low points for the disc are "T.M.I" which runs too long and in too many directions (rapid tempo changes, awkward verses at times, a strange choir part singing "T....M....I"). "Not Born to Beauty" is an ambitious bar band tribute that suffers from too busy an arrangement and a vocal from Kevin that descends into parody by trying way too hard to sound "soulful".
Several other songs are solid without being exceptional. (The arrangement weighs down "Chop Wood" a bit, "Angelina" has Kevin's best vocal work but just isn't as good a lyric as some of the others).
Bottom Line: These guys are still quite a bit better than the amount of recognition they get would indicate. Don't let the fact that one of the band members is a grade B movie star keep you from giving them a chance.
3 1/2 stars
Something for everyone.......2003-06-19
you're in store for a repeat thrill. And if you never heard of The Youngbloods, The Bacon Brothers may very well be for you.
There's humor and beauty to this music. In current terms,
all you need in your CD case is this, and Keaton Simons.
Love these guys!.......2003-02-08
Catchy Pop.......2003-01-19
Get 'em all!.......2002-11-30
Average customer rating: |
Great Musicals
Manufacturer: Rajon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000682FF4 Release Date: 2004-11-15 |
Tracks:
- Oklahoma Suite: Oklahoma!/Oh, What a Beautiful Morning/The Surrey With
- My Fair Lady Suite: Ascot Gavotte/Wouldn't It Be Loverly?/With a ...
- Annie Get Your Gun Suite: Doin' What Comes Natur'lly/You Can't Get ...
- King and I Suite: The March of Siamese Children/I Whistle a Happy Tune
- Sound of Music Suite: The Sound of Music/My Favourite Things/Do-Re-Mi
- West Side Story: The Jet Song/America/Tonight/Something's Coming/Maria
Tracks:
- Porgy and Bess Suite: Summertime/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'/I Loves ...
- South Pacific Suite: Bali Ha'i/A Cockeyed Optimist/Some Enchanted ...
- Guys and Dolls Suite: Luck Be a Lady/Fugue for Tinhorns/Follow the ...
- Carousel Suite: The Carousel Waltz/Mister Snow/June Is Bustin' Out All
Tracks:
- Joseph & The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will ...
- Evita: Don't Cry for Me Argentina/Another Suitcase in Another Hall
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Jesus Christ Superstar/I Don't Know How to ...
- Cats: Memory/Macavity the Mystery Cat/Mister Misoffeles
- Phantom of the Opera: Phantom of the Opera/All I Ask of You/Angel ...
Album Description
Australian exclusive 3-CD set from the Rajon label's 'Great Series'. 2004.
Average customer rating: |
Price for Peace
Manufacturer: American Journey ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B00005UWIT Release Date: 2001-12-21 |
Tracks:
- Dreamy Hawaiian Moon (Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiian Hotel)
- I'm Beginning to See the Light (Duke Ellington and His Orchestra)
- There are No Wings on a Foxhole (Meredith Wilson)
- G.I. Jive (Glenn Miller and His Army Air Force Band)
- Here We Go Again (Glenn Miller and His Army Air Force Band)
- Buckle Down Winsocki (Glenn Miller and His Army Air Force Band)
- My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time (Carmen Cavaltero Orchestra)
- We'll Meet Again (The Ink Spots)
- On A Coconut Island (Louis Armstrong and the Polynesians)
- Guns in the Sky (Glenn Miller and His Army Air Force Band)
- It's Been A Long, Long Time (Kitty Kalen and Harry James)
- I'll Be Seeing You (Georgia Gibbs)
- Salute
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Pearl Harbor
- Welcome Home
- Island Hopping
- Return to Iwo Jima
- The Philippines
- Brave Young Men
- Okinawa
- Price for Peace
Album Description
Price for Peace is a 90-minute film documentary by James Moll, with executive producers Steven Spielberg and Stephen Ambrose, in association with The National D-Day Museum. This film beautifully depicts the events that transpired in the Pacific War theatre between the attack on Pearl Harbor (December 1941) and the bombing of Hiroshima (August 1945). Nathan Wang provides the background score and incorporates 12 period recordings into the soundtrack.
Average customer rating:
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The Broadway Years: Till There Was You
Manufacturer: Koch Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001SLS Release Date: 1995-06-20 |
Tracks:
- He's Only Wonderful
- Here's To Your Illusions (From Flahooley)
- This Is All Very New To Me (From Plain And Fancy)
- Glitter And Be Gay (From Candide)
- Till There Was You (From Music Man)
- Getting To Know You
- Hello, Young Lovers (From The King And I)
- Magic Moment (From The Gay Life)
- Will He Like Me?
- Dear Friend
- Ice Cream
- Where's The Mate For Me?/Make Believe
- You Are Love (From Showboat)
- Who Are You Now?
- He Was Too Good To Me/Time Heals Everything
- Wait Till You See Him
Customer Reviews:
A real good selection.......2006-04-27
Cook was made for the stage and, following next, her live shows are quite impressive. Her voice can be tiny at times, but who doesn't get older?
Just listen to Glitter and be Gay: a Bernstein masterpiece, but a Cook personal creation. (Only Sumi Jo made it as good on her Carnegie Hall show).
All B'way fan should know Barbara Cook...
good overview of her broadway career.......2005-02-06
A Broadway legend appreciated.......1999-07-02
Average customer rating:
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Getting There
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen , and Various Artists Manufacturer: Trauma (Red) ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000066JEU Release Date: 2002-06-04 |
Tracks:
- Ready To Go - Republica
- Roadrunner - Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
- What A Wonderful World - Joey Ramone
- Waterfall - The Stone Roses
- Happy, Grateful, Aware - Ephemera
- My Best Friend - Incredible Moses Leroy
- Go! - Tones On Tail
- Say What You Mean - Lunachicks
- New Fast (Right Behind You) - The Weekend
- Gone - Mirainga
- Evolution - Crashpalace
Customer Reviews:
great mix!.......2004-01-17
Another brilliant soundtrack.......2002-08-04
Another great Olsen Twins soundtrack...with an edge!?.......2002-07-11
Music Album:
