5 comments about The Secret Garden (1991 Original Broadway Cast).

1. This play is about pain, loss and most of all, hope for redemption. I was lucky enough to catch a touring cast perform this show locally back in the 90's and was brought to tears by the song "Lily's Eyes" (which is a tough thing to do to an angst-filled teen). Though at the moment you won't catch this show on Broadway or a major tour... if you ever get the opportunity you really should see it.
   
   As far as this CD, and my review of it. This is a very good rendition of the show, it is well mixed and if you have not seen the show you should be able to follow the basics of the story fairly easily. Most of the actors have amazing voices and the songs are performed well. I particularly enjoy the parts of Martha and Dicken. I was not as happy with the Collin on this recording as the one I saw live.. though he still did a wonderful job.
   
   The only thing that I dislike about this particular CD is that some of the songs are almost silly when taken out of the context of the show. If you haven't been building the emotions along with the characters then several of the more touching songs come across as slightly corny. Still, I drive around listening to it with my windows down, forcing those next to me at a red light to listen to "A Bit of Earth" no matter how corny it may seem... because it is art, and beautiful art at that. If you like theater, this CD is a must own.



2. This really is the ultimate recording of this show. Mandy Patinkin said it when it opened - when asked what the music was like, he said that it is like "children's" music - once you hear it, you can't forget it. When I saw the show in 1991, the music really haunted me as I waited anxiously for the cast album.
   
   When the show revived in London in 2001, so much was changed, and one has to wonder what was behind changing so much about it. I recently had the good fortune to acquire home movies of both the complete Broadway show as well as the 2001 West End show. Neither are well filmed, and the 1991 version has a lot of transfer loss (this show SHOULD have been filmed for PBS - it remains one of the greatest losses in Broadway history that it was not), however, I was extremely disappointed in the London version. I tried to like it - I really did, as I love the 1993 (non musical) film version. The changes that were made at the West End were not good ones - the songs are all fragmented and incomplete and the entire show seems somehow stripped down and void of soul. There is a loooong extended dance with the gardners that is completely pointless, and the characters are not well cast. Dickon looks as if he's a 35 year old unemployed eccentric and you find yourself wondering why he has nothing better to do but play with a little girl all day. The Broadway version, in contrast, just seems so much more complete somehow, and the cast seems better suited to their roles and closer to what you picture when you read the book. Mandy Patinkin - what can you say - he's simply one of the very best.
   
   Daisy Eagan brought a sensitivity to the role that is just amazing. That she could cry genuine tears every night that she performed the role of Mary is in and of itself deserving of a Tony.
   
   If you really do love The Secret Garden, I would recommend both albums, but there is a reason that the Broadway version ran for nearly two years, whereas the West End production came and went within a mere few weeks.



3. It is a shame this did not last longer on Broadway - it was incredible there as well as the road shows. Music is gorgeous and inspirational. The original actress to portray Mary Lennox in 1991 won a Tony for best actress and if not the youngest, definately something to accomplish at her tender age.



4. Such a wonderful score! The performers are beautifully suited to the material, and having seen the Broadway production, each song vividly evokes the memory of the scene it was in. The duet between Mandy Patinkin, and Rebecca Luker brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
   This show, and this recording, are not to be missed!



5. This music is so wonderful! I've sung selections from it in choir settings and love the creativity and the beauty of the music. I will long be listening to this CD!

5 comments about Let Yourself Go.

1. The first time I saw Kristin Chenoweth in a movie was the TV "Music Man". Just lately I listened to the "Wicked" soundtrack, and after that, I've been listening to Kristin's CDs whenever I can. This one is a jazzy, Broadway-type CD with fun, engaging songs. She's a different type of singer, and while not everyone might enjoy her voice, I really do. If you like Broadway, jazz, drama, romance, or just fun, catchy songs, this is a CD for you.



2. Once you have seen Kristen Chenoweth in action (check out YouTube) you know not only what an extremely talented musician she is, but also how fabulous she is at acting out and conveying each piece to an audience. She is the WHOLE package! This CD is a great sampling of her extreme talents!



3. I hope she continues doing seperate albums on the side besides her beoadway albums. She sings in so many different stlyes and her voice is so beautiful in each. She gives such heart to every peice she sings.



4. A few years back I caught Kristin Chenoweth's socko boffo performance on a Boston Pops special on PBS and was suitably wowed. I had heard nothing but good things about her prior, but since Broadway is not my main musical interest, I admit I hadn't felt compelled to rush to check her out. Then a friend whose main musical interest is in fact, musicals played me a few tracks of the WICKED cast album, on which both Chenoweth and co-star Idina Menzel excelled (and were swell--hmm, maybe I should take up hip hop). All of that made me eager to hear Chenoweth's solo recordings, to experience--as it were--her full palette.
   
   LET YOURSELF GO from 2001 is as good a sampling as you could hope for. A solid mix of peppy, witty showtunes and heartfelt ballads, all sung with what we critics and would-be critics like to call "genuine flair." She's got the stuff, and she knows how to use it.
   
   Of course, all popular music is, at least in part, selling an artist's personality. Chenowith's impressive vocal prowess would not necessarily guarantee stardom if she weren't so charming and, as John Lahr observes in his liner notes, so downright wholesome. Like Bernadette Peters and rock's Cyndi Lauper, she has a somewhat comic, Betty Boopesque speaking voice, but is capable of turning around and blowing an audience away with sheer vocal power.
   
   Employing all that natural charm and wit, Chenoweth can get away with vocalizing stunts that might seem way too show-offy on paper. Her take on "The Girl in 14G" has her alternating operatic trills with very convincing, very Ella-like scatting. In less hands, it might prove WAAAY too cute. But I defy any listener to listen to Chenoweth's triple-tracked vocal pyrotechnics and not be suitably impressed, if not fully enraptured. Ultimately, the song is about the sheer joy of singing, and Kristin Chenoweth's take on it conveys that joy. And if there's a little bit of showboating going on, well, it's done with warmth and humor and, anyway, the girl's ENTITLED.
   
   The album is beautifully orchestrated and very well sequenced. A light hearted number like the above mentioned "14G" is followed by the sensitively rendered Rodgers and Hart number "I'll Tell the Man On the Street," which proves that the young Barbra Streisand did not OWN that song after all.
   
   The inclusion of the Ogden Nash/Kurt Weill classic "Stranger Here Myself" did make me hungry for something even edgier, though. Yes, I could imagine Chenoweth doing BRECHT/Weill as well. In noting her wholesome appeal, John Lahr suggests that she is something of a throwback to an era of lighter, more innocent musical theater. I take the point, but I disagree that she would not be a good candidate for a Sondheim production. Lahr maintains that Chenoweth is not "desiccated" enough for Sondheim. But surely, he of all people would be appreciative of the benefits of casting against type. After all, the above cited Bernadette has been doing it for years. And even Cyndi made a her Broadway debut a year or so ago doing Brecht/Weill. I could well see the already versatile Ms Chenoweth getting a little, how you say, edgier?



5. Do I mean the best album or the best singer? You are correct if you said both! I saw Kristin Chenoweth on a PBS show "Broadway's Best at the Pops," (though it was not the first time I had heard her) and decided to check out the offerings here. This is a collection of the kind of music and performances I love. She has a great range, a precise pitch, and a great style that is at the same time true to the music and to herself. In an era when singers try to outdo each other re-interpreting the composer's original work, not usually with great success, she is a blessing!

5 comments about 1776 (1969 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I wanted to get the CD for the movie, but couldn't find one, so I bought this. I really wanted John Cullum, but the rest of the cast is either the same as the movie or better. Some of the music is done a little differently, but it is close enough. If I wasn't comparing the movie & the show I would have considered this a 5 star recording.



2. An enjoyable soundtrack to the musical 1776. This CD would make an excellent addition to your film soundtrack collection.



3. 1776 is of my all time favorites. I love flavor of the music of the 18th century in the development of the songs.
   
   This is a very powerful exposition of this seminal episode in the history of America.
   
   1776 gives life to the familiar historical figures and reminds us of their courage. They are all educated and at least upper middle class men who, by signing the Declaration of Independence, are putting their heads in a noose. If the war had gone otherwise, they would surely have been hanged as revolutionaries.



4. I have played this album over and over again since I was 10. This was my first Broadway musical (my dad took me for my 10th birthday), and I still thrill to the vocal performance of William Daniels. The songs remain witty and inspirational, particularly the stirring "Is Anybody There?" and the dynamic "The Egg," one of the great showtunes of the 1960s and absolutely thrilling -- the thought of three Founding Fathers singing about their dreams for the future of the United States is simply captivating. "He Plays the Violin" is another beautiful number, made poignant by the lyrics' forshadowing of Martha Jefferson's early death.



5. This is a new CD, overall quality and amazon procedure were excellent. The CD itself on a few songs fails to provide enough amplification to the background chorus or secondary singer, thus I must strain to actually hear both duet parts, with the latter almost inaudible. For example, Lee's of Old Virginia, Till Then, and Who will write our new declaration. It is not in my players, but within the CD. I actually ordered this because I wanted Violin by Betty Buckley and am satisfied with the reproduction overall, but it also has the audio problems with Adams and Franklins lines within the song

5 comments about The Sound of Music (1965 Film Soundtrack).

1. This CD has the musical numbers from the 1965 motion picture entitled The Sound Of Music. While this is not the latest version of the soundtrack CD with all the bells and whistles; this still remains a solid album giving us every last hit song from this major motion picture musical. The quality of the sound is clear and crisp; and that artwork is really very beautiful.
   
   The CD begins with the music from the prelude and the overture to the movie musical. This music is delightful and they never miss! The strings and percussion are used to great advantage and we essentially get a musical medley of the arrangements for the major songs in the movie. Excellent! "Maria" is sung by several actresses playing nuns at the convent; they sing flawlessly about Maria, a nun who just doesn't fit in with the rest of the nuns. The melody is really very pretty and it all holds its own very well. Julie Andrews finally comes in on her number entitled "I Have Confidence." Julie Andrews' magnificent voice is rich, warm and very vibrant. Julie handles the tempo and key changes like the pro she always was and only Julie Andrews could have delivered this so well.
   
   Charmian Carr and Dan Truhitte perform "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" with grace and style; this song highlights their young love and it's very well done. Neither one of them ever misses a note! "My Favorite Things" brings back Julie Andrews to do yet another smash-up flawless job on this excellent, very memorable number from this movie. Listen also for Julie Andrews to sing "D-Re-Mi" with the captain's children; this number really takes off when the children come in! The children also perform an astounding rendition of "The Sound Of Music."
   
   "The Lonely Goatherd" has Julie Andrews again singing with the children; this charming number never ceases to delight me. The horn solo enhances the natural beauty of this number; and there's also "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" sung by the Mother Superior (Peggy Wood) at the convent when Maria (Julie Andrews) does decide to leave the convent.
   
   The CD ends with two very stirring and emotional numbers: we get "Edelweiss" with Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews and the children singing very well and the reprise of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is sure to please!
   
   Rodgers and Hammerstein sure did their best on this one! They were practically infallible and this album proves it easily. I highly recommend this album for fans of this movie and people who enjoy show tunes will also want this album for their collections.



2. I love this cd; It remembers me my childhood and my teenager years!! I saw the movie at the cinema when I was 12 years old and I purchased it on vinyl; now, when I found it on the cd format, I bought it inmediately!! The songs are beautiful and in excellent condition, without scratch and in a very good restoration!! buy it!!



3. This is one of my favorite CD. The song I like most is `Prelude and the Sound of Music'. The lyric is so wonderful: My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds that rise from the lake to the trees / My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies from a church on a breeze / To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over stones on its way / To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray....It seems that the song is telling me "Although sometimes people have to be realistic, there is much beauty in life. Just treasure and cherish your life." Each time I listened to this CD, I felt pleasant or even cheerful ^_^ I once gave it to a friend as a Christmas gift. I think songs in this CD are genuine.



4. Una de las bandas sonoras más formidables de todos los tiempos. Prueba de ello fue la inclusión de tres de sus canciones en el top 100 de las mejores bandas sonoras de los 100 años del cine.
   Canciones como "My favorite things", "Do-re-mi" y "The sound of music" son ejemplo de la calidad de las composiciones.
   
   Excelente proceso de restauración y remasterización... Se lo recomiendo a todos los amantes de las bandas sonoras.



5. The music is great and excelent quality, but It should come with the lyrics

5 comments about Tap Root Manuscript.

1. This was a replacement for the same CD that "mysteriously disappeared" from my collection. (I'm sure someone else enjoyed it as much as I do and just didn't want to pay for it!)
   
   I already knew how great the CD was, and was extremely pleased with the price and the quick service--THANK YOU!!!
   
   This was my first Amazon purchase, but I will guarantee it will NOT be my last!!!



2. this album is just as good if not better when i bought the record many years ago. when you listen to it, you realize what a musical genius neil diamond really is.
   
   i got the cd quickly and it was in perfect condition. i would highly recommend it!



3. I have always loved this album. It is unique and different. He has special
   features i.e the children singing and fun lyrics.



4. This album is not the original (although the jacket looks the same). I wanted the same album with the same music that I had back in the 70's and it has been reworked. Different songs. Some are the same but not many. I was so upset. If they are going to rework an album - it should be clearly stated somewhere on the cover or in the listing.



5. I kind of wore the vinyl version of this out when it was released, and the African Song Cycle on this one turns out to be the most durable part of it. If you are a fan, and have not owned this, I recommend it highly as a product of its era, when Neil was cool. Fans of his score for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" should particularly like this one too.

5 comments about Dean Martin - All-Time Greatest Hits.

1. Dino is great as usual. The CD fades in and out so you always need to tune the volume.



2. THIS WAS THE BEST COMPILATION OF DEAN MARTIN FOR YEARS. ITS THE BEST TO START OUT WITH IF YOU ARE TRYING TO EASE INTO DEANS MUSIC.THIS IS SOOOO GOOD IT SHOWS WHY ONLY CROSBY COULD EQUAL THAT COOL AND EVERYDAY LOVE WE ALL HAD FOR DINO.HOW I MISS SEEING HIM ON TV.GET IT AND ENJOY AND KEEP FOREVER.



3. GREAT CD, and a wonderful way to re-experience music when it was at its best. I'm just sorry that "Everybody Loves Somebody..." was not included on this "Greatest Hits" collection. Otherwise, it's PERFECT.



4. If you have forgotten how good Deano sang then you need a reminder.
   This CD has all of his signature songs and many more which showcase
   his rang and versitility. Get the music sit back and remember how good entertainers were in the 50's and 60's; this is a no brainer.



5. Yet another wonderful CD of Dean Martin. This too arrived very quickly.

5 comments about Surrender.

1. I'm not a big ALW fan but his x-wife's singing turns his pompous, melodramatic works into sincere and romantic love songs.



2. Very happy in general with this CD and Sara's beautiful voice. A mixture of musical selections that wear well.



3. This CD is simply amazing! I prefer this album over "Dive" because Brightman sticks to what she knows best - which is opera! Surrender, Unexpected Song, Chanson D'efance, Tell Me on a Sunday, and Nothing Like You've Ever Known are simply brilliant and beautiful pieces music! Sadly, I do not prefer the 2 songs from Cats - about Macavaty and Gus. They really do not seem to fit to Brightman's style of music, for they are more outgoing! However, Memory from Cats (in Italian) is beautiful with soaring octaves! Everything's Alright is genius, with a 5/4 tempo, and it makes the song amazing. Pie Jesu is a beautiful piece, but I prefer Charlotte Church singing it. Brightman's vocals show to much vibrato, and it makes the song seem annoying! Amigos Para Siempre and the Spanish version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" are fairly decent pieces from Brightman. If you love the Brightman from "The Phantom of the Opera", then buy this album!!!



4. The first couple of songs were fair the next few were crap and the next were hogwash and the last showed how a beautiful voice could crumble with lousy songs chosen for her Terrible ablum especially for 30.00 really terrible



5. I surrendered ..... you should too!

   This album is just incredible. As I'm sure you already know, this is a collection of Sarah singing the works of brilliant composer (and ex-husband) Andrew Lloyd Webber.

   Sarah just takes my breath away. Her technique is incredible and her voice is perfect- which I unfortunately can't say for all of her albums. Her Spanish pronunciation is nothing short of amazing on one of the album's highlights, 'No Llores por Mi Argentina', 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina' from 'Evita' in Spanish. Another incredible highlight is 'Piano', 'Memory' from 'Cats' in Italian. Sarah really throws herself into it and it comes out sounding almost like an operatic aria. If you're looking for her famous 'Music of the Night' that's here too, as well as a brand new version of 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again', which definitely improves on the already fantastic version that's on the 'Phantom of the Opera' cast recording. 'Macavity: The Mystery Cat' from 'Cats' shows off a whole new side to Sarah's voice. When I first heard it I was amazed! I couldn't believe that it was Sarah singing it. Other amazing highlights (for me at least) are 'Unexpected Song' from 'Song and Dance', 'Tell Me On a Sunday' from the musical of the same name, and 'The Last Man in my Life' from 'Song and Dance'.

   The album includes fantastic liner notes explaining each song and the musical that it's from, courtesy of Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, and some really cool behind the scenes pictures. I strongly urge you to buy this album even if you already own the 'Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection'. I don't own that album myself, but from what I understand, it's basically a repackaging of this with a few song changes and different pictures. I'll probably buy it to get the songs that I don't have one of these days .....

   I adore this album. All Sarah Brightman, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and musical theater fans in general need this. In my opinion it's one of Sarah's 3 best works, (the other two being 'La Luna' and 'Time to Say Goodbye'.) Of course, with Sarah's huge and varied discography, your opinion is bound to differ from mine but I'm saying mine anyway.

   This album is one of my top favorites of all time. It's worth every penny. Buy it- you won't regret it.

5 comments about Enrique.

1. I received this cd fairly quickly...in about 5 days with basic shipping and when I read this seller's info on this cd they claimed it was like new, but when I got it I was a bit skeptical that it would play because the back of the cd looked as though they tried to buff out scratches with some sort of machine...it does play though...EXCELLENT in fact. And for the price...amazing deal! -Lily_like_the_flower@yahoo.com



2. I love the songs on this cd. He sings with such emotion. True love songs..



3. The best songs on this album is Rythm Divine and Ritmo Total!Just those two songs alone makes me give it 5 stars!



4. Being the son of legendary Julio Iglesias it was no coincidence that Enrique would become a singer aswell. Blessed with good looks, charisma and a smooth romantic voice, Enrique debuted with this English album in 1999. Many of the hit songs here are latin uptempo's like "Bailamos", "Rhythm Divine", "Alabao" and "Oyeme" that perfectly came in a time where Latin music sold well to the English market (Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jlo, Shakira) but there are also great powerballads like "Be With You", "I Have Always Loved You " and "I'm Your Man" and covers like Bruce Springsteen's "Sad Eyes" and top notch duets "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" with Whitney Houston. There are also spanish versions of 3 songs towards the end, including the big hit "Rhythm Divine". From a commercial point of view, "Enrique" had it all and it sold really well also. Enrique was the artist on everybody's lips in 1999-2000. He would later release "Escape" that was also good and lastly "Seven" in 2003 that was a dissapointment. Now it seems like he's spending more time being a celebrity and dating hot models then being a good singer. A shame. "Enrique" is an exellent pop album though, recommended.



5. I had to buy this cd again because my other one got ruined- totally worth the money- this cd is the best

5 comments about The Definitive Collection.

1. Sammy Davis Jr was one of the Best Ever! This cd is a great overview of some of his finest work. It has everything from his early stuff right through to even his theme song for the TV series Barretta. What this collection has over others is that it contains Sammy's Definitive version of "Mr. Bogangles". I can just pictiure him doing this complete with hat and great dance moves. If you don't get the box set by Rhino out there,this cd is a terrific starter in introduce people to. Enjoy.



2. I bought this CD for my 21y/o son who is finally developing a taste for good music. This is a great starter CD for anyone looking to hear a variety of great songs by one of the all time best singers of our generation. Well worth the purchase.



3. This is a great collection of his best songs - and contains his really incredible rendition of Too Close for Comfort. It's a great cd to put on while you sip something warm and wrap yourself in the jazzy, caressing sound of Sammy's voice. The one downside is that the recordings, even though remastered, are just the tiniest bit fuzzy. Still, it's such a great songlist that it's really worth owning.



4. Sammy Davis Jr. is one of the most important figures in American popular music. When he first came on the scene, he was initially ostracized for, among other reasons, his height and his skin color. And even afer he broke down those barriers, with the help of a good friend named Frank Sinatra, he then had to become a terrible tragedy that cost him half his vision. And still, Sammy persevered to become one of the most beloved figures in popular music.
   
   The 30 song "The Definitive Collection" perfectly show why Sammy remains as beloved as he does. Sammy's talent and perseverence as an artist shines through on each and every track, from "Hey There" to "Something's Gotta Give" to "The Lady Is A Tramp" to "What Kind Of Fool Am I" to his anthem, "I've Gotta Be Me" (one of the most powerful and uplifting songs ever) and everything in between. Sammy's skills as a vocalist are powerful, pure and beaten by few. Even fluff like "Candy Man" becomes a masterpiece in his hands. Sammy was a one of a kind talent with great flair and energy as a performer. God Bless Him.
   
   This cd has a great remastering job and has an awesome essay by David Ritz. A must-have for all music fans.



5. A BEAUTIFUL RETROSPECTIVE OF ONE THE THE WORLD'S FINEST ENTERTAINERS. HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE ON AS LONG AS WE ENJOY LISTERNING TO IT.

5 comments about The Essential Tony Bennett (Rm) (2CD).

1. This is a great cross-section of his body of work!!
   It includes some of his best recordings....
   The CD is in EXCELLENT condition.....



2. The Essential Tony Bennett (Rm) (2CD) An outstnding performance by Mr. Bennett even though made long ago - a perfect selection of music lore.



3. 2nd CD is the best of the two. "Smile" and "The Very Thought of You" bring tears. What a guy.



4. He didn't have Frank Sinatra's technical skills nor Bobby Darin's finger snappin' swagger, yet Tony Bennett deservedly carved himself a niche in American popular music as one of its most legendary performers, and his career is still going strong today.
   
   "The Essential Tony Bennett" is an excellent career spanning compilation from Bennett's early 1950s' glory days to his hugely successful 1990s' renaissance, where he managed to defy the generation gap and appeal to even the MTV crowd.
   
   Classic songs such as "Because Of You," (a perennial wedding favorite and one that was played at the weddings of many of my older relatives) "Rags To Riches," the timeless "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "I Wanna Be Around," "The Good Life," "The Shadow Of Your Smile," and "Steppin' Out With My Baby" all show off Tony's marvelous voice as well as the indominatable spirit and vitality that he puts into his music. His heart may be in San Francisco, but his soul is in every song he sings.
   
   The sound quality is excellent, very clear and sharp. The liner notes are lacking, but contain some nice photos. Overall, this is a truly essential collection of one of America's most beloved entertainers.



5. Sure, if you have a large collection of Tony Bennett recordings, you may not need another one, but if you're in the market for a compilation, this is the best 2 disc collection around. It is one of the few that contains what Tony has referred as his favorite song - "I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You".