Flowers for Algernon [Import]

Product Description
Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Flowers for Algernon,Kyosuke Himuro,Toshiba EMI,World Music

Average customer rating: A Trancendental Sense of Humor!!!!!!

Serious Fun! Manufacturer: Albany Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Bolcom, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Duke, Vernon | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Marc-Andre Hamelin: It's All About the Music Blah Blah Blah and Other Trifles... Dukas: Piano Sonata; Decaux; Clairs de Lune Haydn: Piano Sonatas Jay Reise: The Devil in the Flesh and Other Pieces ASIN: B0009OPMTQ Release Date: 2005-06-01

Tracks:

1. Come on Algernon
2. Maternity
3. Usherette's Blues
4. Musical Chairs
5. Pretty Plain
6. Someone is Sending Me Flowers
7. Christian Dior
8. Summer is A-Comin' In
9. Madeira, M'Dear
10. Ill Wind
11. A Word on My Ear
12. A Farmer's Boy
13. I'm Spending Hanukkah in Santa Monica
14. The Masochism Tango
15. The twelve Days After Christmas
16. The Green-Eyed Dragon
17. Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise
18. The Shape of Things
19. I Never Do Anything Twice
20. Tamara, Queen of the Nile

Product Description

Jeremy Nicholas writes: “Phrases that chill the heart: ‘I want a volunteer from the audience.’ ‘Is this your car, sir?’ ‘Have we shown you our holiday snaps?’ Or how about “Tonight’s lecture is on the art of writing comedy.” Go to that seminar and one thing you know for sure in advance is that you are consigning yourself to an evening devoid of any humor. Dissecting comedy, analyzing jokes or, in this case, comic songs, has all the allure of pulling off the wings of a butterfly to see how it flies. Setting off writing a comic song is rather like being your own crossword compiler, designing the grid, filling in all the squares, setting your own clues. No, it’s not, really. It’s more like taking a pile of kid’s building bricks and making a spectacular skyscraper from them. No, that’s not it either. But there are elements of both that are pertinent (a good word for seminars).” In other words, comedy (and comic songwriting) is hard work. Think of the last time you told a joke and it didn’t come off. The material was right but maybe the delivery was off. But remember the joy when the response was perfect: not only did they laugh, but you sensed the anticipation: this is going to be funny. And for this album, the anticipation certainly pays off. Anyone who grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s will recall the wonderful humor of the works of Tom Lehrer, the classic HMV (Angel in this country) LP’s of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann. More recently we’ve seen how Stephen Sondheim and William Bolcom can easily move back and forth between the serious and the humorous. And just to prove that comedy can be serious business, we have the participation of Marc-Andre Hamelin, one of the most highly regarded concert and recital pianists as accompanist and composer, joined by his wife Jody Karin Applebaum. Her resume includes performances of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St. Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, to contemporary works by Stephen Albert, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Gorecki. Together they have performed in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Canada, England and the Middle East. Together they have recorded music of Britten, Schoenberg, Bolcom, Wolpe, Weill, Satie and Poulenc. Here both they and you have some fun for a change!

Customer Reviews:

A Trancendental Sense of Humor!!!!!!.......2005-07-14

As an amateur pianist, I know how it is to play music of different styles for different occasions. I also have a slightly skewered sense of humor as well as a love of serious classical music. So on my shelves I have Dr. Demento as well as Mahler, Broadway Shows as well as Shostakovich. Marc-Andre Hamelin, one of the best pianist nowadays because he makes the most hardest piece of music sound easy, is married to Jody Karin Applebaum, a wonderful singer. They have recorded the Cabaret songs of Bolcom, Britten and Fredrich Hollaender and now turn their attention to comedy songs from many eras. Much of this repertoire is taken from Sarah Walker's Cd on Hyperion. Applebaum's diction is very clear and every song has a different mood and different voices and accents when needed. Comparisons between William Bolcom and Joan Morris are inevitable. Bolcom's "Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise" is also included. The program notes are written by Jeremy Nicholas, who has provided us with very informative program notes for Hyperion CD's, and who has written some wonderful songs such as "Usherette's Blues" and "Place Settings". Tom Lehrer's classic "Masochism Tango" makes an appearance (which is also on one of Dr. Demento's greatest hits CD's).Hamelin's recordings and performances have one thing that many pianist's do not have-HUMOR (when it's needed, of course). Here, he gets to put it to good use, and you can tell that they're having fun. This is a live recording, so there is much laughing from the audience, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Hamelin keeps suprising me with his CD's and repertoire choices, and this is no exception. Let's have some more, please!!! (maybe Dave Frishberg, more Flanders and Swann?).

Average customer rating: Uneven score strikes a few good chords A great album and wonderful show! Michael Crawford is brillant Worth the time for Crawford fans

Flowers For Algernon (1979 Original London Cast) Charles Strouse , and David Rogers Manufacturer: Original Cast Record ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Broadway & Vocalists | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music Traditional & Vocal Pop | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Soundtracks | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: See What I Wanna See (2005 Original Off-Broadway Cast) The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast) Knickerbocker Holiday Baker Street, A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (1965 Original Broadway Cast) Charly ASIN: B000004CO3 Release Date: 1995-03-23

Tracks:

1. His Name Is Charlie Gordon
2. I Got A Friend
3. Some Bright Morning
4. Our Boy Charlie
5. Hey Look At Me!
6. Reading
7. No Surprises
8. Midnight Riding
9. Dream Safe With Me
10. I Can't Tell You
11. Now
12. Charlie And Algernon
13. The Maze
14. Whatever Time There Is
15. Charlie
16. I Really Loved You

Customer Reviews:

Uneven score strikes a few good chords.......2002-01-23

Crawford's performance is noteworthy and a few of the songs are right on track. Unfortunately, there are some clunky melodies and lyrics that really hurt along the way. Diehards should certainly have this, though; I'm glad I do. But only about half the score is worth repeat listening. And an orchestration that isn't so tiny and whiney would help.

A great album and wonderful show!.......2002-01-01

I highly recommedn this album. I would give it ten stars if I could. Michael Crawford is wonderful in the role of Charlie Gorden. It is an album with some beautiful songs.

Michael Crawford is brillant.......2000-06-01

As in everything he portrays *Michael Crawford* steals the show once again. The music on this cd may sound a little strange at first (you have to get used to it). But after listening a few times you will be starving to hear more! I am so pleased that they made this cd even though the show didn't last very long. It is very emotional and takes you on a journey. Much like his other fabulous shows (EFX, POTO, Hello, Dolly!). I only wish he would do another musical or release a new cd (after his 99 Christmas album) sometime soon :)

Worth the time for Crawford fans.......1999-04-13

This isn't one of Michael Crawford's best achievements, however, he does an excellent job playing Charlie Gordon. As in everything Crawford does, he is the show's rescuer. Some of the songs are rather clever as far as lyrics are concerned, but I think this classic story could have been handled a little better. Yet, it is definately worth having if you are a Crawford fan.

Average customer rating:

Flowers for Algernon Kyosuke Himuro Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Japan | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00009PN7E Release Date: 2003-07-28

Tracks:

1. Angel
2. Roxy
3. Love & Game
4. Dear Algernon
5. Sex & Clash & Rock N Roll
6. Alison
7. Shadow Boxer
8. Taste Of Money
9. Stranger
10. Pussy Cat
11. Hitori Fascism

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

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