5 comments about Jekyll & Hyde - The Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I bought this because I am in a production of it.
   The music is swampy and overblown and the singing is loaded with annoying pop-yodelling ornamentations. Despite this, there are a few very nice songs: "His work and nothing more" and a tango Lucy sings.



2. As an avid collector of original cast recordings, I have found that few studio casts project the spontaneity and excitement of those who have actually sung the roles on stage. I purchased this recording not even realizing that there was the earler concept album. Then, after reading a number of customer reviews expressing a preference for the latter, I decided to check it out for myself.
   To me, first of all, it is a tossup. And, second, the two cannot really be compared, any more than apples and oranges. The 1994, to be sure, includes about twice as much music; but a good bit of it is recitative that does not really lend itself to vocalization. The 1997, however, seems to move the story along much better. Of course, there were some alterations to the story between 1994 and 1997.
   I find Robert Cuccioli more convincing than Anthony Wardlow. The transitions between Jekyll and Hyde have greater contrast. Of course, having played the role on stage, these would likely come more easily.
   In both cases, the printing of the text in white print on black background made it difficult to follow while listening.
   If a listener is really gung-ho for this musical, I would recommend purchasing both recordings. If one is enough, I think the 1997 original cast is the better choice.



3. Frank Wildhorn's "Jekyll & Hyde" tries to be part "Les Miserables", part "Phantom of the Opera" - though not nearly as successfully. The show seemed to take forever to finally reach Broadway, but thankfully exposed a mass audience to Linda Eder's terrific voice. Robert Cuccioli is great as Jekyll/Hyde, but the show really belongs to Ms. Eder.
   
   Overall, the score is quite beautiful (and better than the show as a whole), but probably too many power ballads.
   
   Best tracks include:
   
   Facade
   This Is The Moment
   Someone Like You
   Murder, Murder
   Once Upon A Dream
   In His Eyes
   Dangerous Game



4. I saw Jekyll and Hyde a long while ago - live at a theater. I remembered it being much more powerful than this CD. So, apparantly I saw another "version" of it. I have also ordered 1994 concept album thru Amazon (which is much more expensive), but I am thinking this is the one I really want. Linda Eder played the lead, but I have no idea who played Jekyll/Hyde. This guy on this CD is a little weak sounding. Its worth buying, but buy the 1994 2-3 disk set instead if you are reading this.



5. I used this CD to preview/rehearse for the J&H show I'm in. Music didn't always line up/match what the libretto has, but it was a good introduction to the show and helped me with the basics.

5 comments about Songs from the Last Century.

1. This is a CD that is different than his others. The songs are from my parents' generation. What I find is that he has great talent and a beautiful voice no matter what he sings. I will be sharing this with my mom and I know that she will love it too!



2. The reviewer for Amazon totally missed the mark with his comments. This a solid CD and the highlight is George's version of Roxanne. I have seen Sting interpret this song many different ways, but I have never heard it sung as well as this version which now supplants the Sting and Brandford Marsalis version as my favorite. I purchased the CD specifically for that song.



3. Amazing tribute from George to a vintage songbook. His renditions are beautiful - mellow, upbeat and fun - with his unique style. His melodic voice is a great tribute to these classics. A special treat, a step out of the box, for George Michael fans - as well as those not so familiar with his music.



4. A lot of pure sap poured into this CD. Granted, I enjoy several of them (good late night listening when you want to unwind) but some of these really push the envelope of corny ("The first time ever I saw your face", for instance. My goodness, I could feel myself lapse into a coma...)
   In another song, "You've changed", if you listen close to the line, "You've forgotten the words.... I love you", at that break before "I love you", I would swear you can hear George Michael stifle a yawn. This entire CD is a stifled yawn.
   
   Thumbs down the review if you must... but you know I'm right.



5. I purchased this CD because I did a search for specific lyrics I wanted to hear. These lyrics were listed as being part of the CD. I purcahsed the CD for that reason only and the introductory lyrics were not part of the music. I was very disappointed.

5 comments about Bette Midler - Greatest Hits-Experience the Divine.

1. Bette Midler opened tonight in Vegas- incomparable show with many of the songs on this album - When a Man Loves a Woman blows the roof off Caesars.
   Buy the music here and do not miss this show.



2. I absolutley love this CD.. Have been looking for it for a long time and just love it!!



3. Midler is Divine, one of a handful of singers that can get you off the couch and singing like you think you have a voice. She gets you hopping in this CD and intertwines some of her greatest ballads with her most popular rock tunes. Its a sweet rollercoaster ride that you don't want to end.



4. This album of Bette Midler's Greatest Hits is just that, plain and simple. You cannot play it enough, as she is truly one of the most talented singers / actress / and gifted person on the face of the earth. Rarely do I feel the emotion of anyone's performance in voice that is as moving as from her. This album gives you just a taste of the range of talent this true star really has!



5. Although I bought the album particularly for 3 of my favorite Bette Midler songs, I was also treated to a few other good ones.

5 comments about Totally Bublé.

1. While this CD may not be his best. It is what it is. Many up and coming artist regret earlier less then perfect productions. Nothing new about that. It is called the road to success. This is a earlier performance that was featured in a movie, it show cased his talent- what could be bad about that. Let's not be so serious about whether it is a 5 star or not.I personally think it's great. Maybe we should thank the producer.



2. I purchaed this CD to round out my Buble' collection and he was great in his early work, but just keeps getting better and better.



3. I have a collection of Michael Buble's music. This is a very good addition to that collection. I really like every track and listen to it frequently. A good choice for Michael Buble' fans.



4. I have the albums "Michael Buble" and "It's Time", both are amazing. This album, however, is not. As pointed out by another reviewer, this work was done for a film BEFORE Buble became a big name. The film maker owned the rights to the music and released it in an attempt to capitalize on the current Buble craze. These songs are too subdued to enjoy anywhere but in an elevator or while falling asleep; they are lounge-jazz or pop-jazz, not at all the real thing.
   
   Here's what Buble said about this fiasco: "Totally Buble" is not an album that I wanted to be released. They were songs I recorded for a film called "Totally Blonde" many years ago before I was signed to 143/Reprise Records. The decision to release it as an album was made by the film's producer, and I had no control over stopping him.
   
   Also note that Buble's other tunes are great for swing dancing. These songs still work, but they are not nearly as much fun. Listen to the real Buble who can afford to produce good music, not the one who had to record soundtracks for lame movies to earn a living.
   
   Oh yeah, the whole album seems to be only about 12 minutes long!!! The songs sound more like sample clips! I only recommend this CD for the hard-core fan who already owns every other recording Michael Buble has ever made. Perhaps these recordings would have turned out better without the obnoxious female jazz singers in the background. I hope this was informative.



5. I simply adore Buble but this wasn't really worth the money. Be sure and pick up "It's Time" and "Michael Buble" WAY before this album. I haven't ever seen the movie, but I'm guessing its one of those enjoy-the-music-during-the-movie-but-not-necessarily-after-it situations. Of course, Buble sounds good but the songs don't really do anything for me.

5 comments about Disney's Princess Collection: The Music of Hopes, Dreams and Happy Endings.

1. Bought as a gift for my 4-year old niece for her birthday, this CD stays in my car for her use when I'm driving. She loves it and asks for individual princesses and we sing along. I don't know how many times we've listened to it already (4 or 5, I imagine), but I anticipate many more. It's a heck of a lot easier than trying to remember the words on my own. :)



2. I want to start off by saying that if you're looking to buy only one Disney Princess CD, this is the one to get. This CD contains 12 tracks featuring 7 princesses (at the time that this CD was made, Mulan did not yet exist, in fact, the Disney Princess line itself did not exist). Unlike many other Disney Princess CDs, this one contains a *complete* collection of princess songs. That means that all the songs that any Princess actually sings is on this CD. No, not every song from every Princess movie is on here, but I wouldn't expect them to be, nor do I think that they'd even fit onto this CD. Something that's nice about this CD compared to some of the other Disney Princess CDs is that there is no subversive advertising. That means no mediocre songs from Cinderella V or the Little Mermaid X are on it. There aren't even any songs sung by non-Princesses, all the songs that are sung partly by others are at least partially sung by a Princess as well. One of the most interesting things about the album, in my opinion, is that it contains 'Home' by Susan Egan as Belle. In Beauty and the Beast, Belle has no large solo songs of her own, so they included this track from the original 1994 cast recording of the Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical. This addition makes the CD more interesting and does not at all detract from the quality of the CD.
   Again, if you are looking to buy only one Disney Princess CD or just find the best one, I would encourage you to buy this one. The selection of songs is complete and there isn't any annoying, mediocre album filler. I highly recommend this Disney Princess CD.



3. Bought this CD for Christmas for my 5 year old and we love it!! A great buy!!!!!



4. i love this cd! my dad got it for me for my birthday 3 years ago and i still love it



5. I bought this cd for my daughter's 3rd birthday. She LOVES it! She asks me to play it every day and we both sing along to all of the songs. She has even picked up on the songs that she didn't know before she received it. I love it because now she is more interested in listening to the cd and dancing with me in the house than watching a video. In quiet times, she likes to sit on my lap and look at the pictures in the liner notes. The recordings are beautiful, it is the one children's cd that I can listen to over and over. If you have a little girl who loves princesses, this is definitely worth the money.

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 Sings The Great Italian Hits.

1. Jerry Vale Sings The Great Italian Hits is an excellent album of eighteen famous songs performed so sensitively by the great Jerry Vale. Vale could take a song and croon it so well that it sounded fresh and new even if you had heard it a hundred times before! Vale was one of the greatest crooners of the entire twentieth century; and this CD amply proves it.
   
   The track set begins with the single version of Jerry's take on "Innamorata (Sweetheart)." Jerry sings this flawlessly and his excellent diction really enhances his performance. I don't think they needed the chorus in the background while he sang; but at the time that was the style. "Volare" gets the royal treatment from Jerry as he bats this straight out of the ballpark! Jerry handles tempo and key changes very well and the accordion makes the melody very pretty. There's also "Non Dimenticar;" Jerry sings this sweetly and his rendition moves me with its beauty. The accordion again is used to great advantage and Jerry never sings a superfluous note!
   
   "O Sole Mio" features Jerry's vocals front and center and the musical arrangement works well; "O Sole Mio" sounds so good when Jerry sings it passionately. Listen also for Jerry to perform a fine interpretation of "Arrivederci, Roma;" I always liked this song very much and Jerry makes it shine like pure gold! "Al Di La" also has Jerry singing his very best; and the backup vocalists help the melody along while Jerry sings the lyrics.
   
   "Come Back To Sorrento (Torna A Surriento)" has Jerry delivering this with all his heart and soul; Jerry's excellent ability to convey every subtle nuance of the words he sings makes his interpretation of "Come Back To Sorrento (Torna A Surriento)" brilliant. In addition, "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (Io Che Non Vivo Senza Te)" tugs at my heartstrings as Jerry does a flawless cover of this tune which, I believe, was first sung by Dusty Springfield.
   
   "Oh Marie" is soothing to hear even though it's a melancholy ballad; Jerry's voice is so smooth even a sad song performed by Jerry can actually be relaxing! The album ends very nicely with Jerry performing "More;" this may not be a standard Italian song but it fits in very well with the rest of the track set and "More" makes a strong finish for this album.
   
   Overall, Jerry Vale fans won't want to skip this one--get it and enjoy! Even casual fans may want this in their collections; Jerry is at the top of his form here and he sings these ballads with a sensitivity that will easily enchant you.



2. Beautiful cd - what a wonderful voice - those were the good old days!



3. Excellent italian music. Reminiscint of my early days in New York with the Italian-American genre of music.



4. First of all, the best Italian-American album ever. Put this in the CD player, pour a glass of wine, sit by the pool, add a little salami, provolone, and tender olives, lite the porch lites out back, and you are back listening to the songs Mama and Papa sang. This CD is so good you cant stop listening to it. I am not kidding. My kids listen to it with me. Mt father-in-law and I would sit by the pool every Sunday night, sip wine and listen to Jerry...it was heaven on Earth...and I miss those nights so much...buy this CD and see for yourself...you will know exactly what I mean. The memories are all we have left. Come join me.
   Bobby



5. Nice to hear the old songs again. The quality of the CD is very good, highly commendable

5 comments about 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Connie Francis.

1. There were only two women in my life at the age of 16; Patsy Cline and Connie Francis. But for them I might not have ever found such a love of music, and particularly country music. It's always difficult to find a quality album with so many great songs from your favourite artist. This one is gold. Connie sings pretty much her best sad songs here that will make you cry. If "Breaking in a brand new broken heart" doesn't raise the goosebumps you will never understand country music, yet this album crosses over time and time again. Country, pop, blues ... I don't know. I just know it doesn't get much better than this.



2. This is what got her started and it a must for all Connie Francis lovers



3. Great, tight collection of some of Connie's best classics. Sit back, relax & enjoy!!!!!



4. Love Connie, Love this CD. Any fan of Connie Francis needs these songs in their collection.



5. OK. What "seasoned" person does NOT remember Connie Francis? Come on. Step right up. Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, an Italian girl born in 1938, and from Newark, NJ BLASTED her way through the late 50s and early 60s with that powerful and very beautiful voice and a string of hits. She has some gorgeous songs on this album, 12 tracks in all, totaling somewhere around 30 minutes--not very long but great songs.
   
   A very beautiful song is "Mama," sung in Italian and then in English. If it doesn't make you cry, you need sensitivity training. This song alone is worth having the album for.
   
   Of course, there is "Where The Boys Are," from the movie of the same name. The song brings back memories of Ft Lauderdale, Florida during Spring vacation. Fortunately, I had a cousin down there so I went down when I was 17 and spent about 2 weeks with her. I remember I kept looking for that club with the big fish tank from the movie and nobody down there knew anything about it--must have been Hollywood BS. Yes, the place was MOBBED with people and No, I did not get into any trouble. Anyway, the point is that I had fun and this music brings back fond memories like that. Many of us danced to "Who's Sorry Now" and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" in school dances, when we were not dancing to the Temptations and the big-brass groups. "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on Your Collar" and "Vacation" were cute songs, too. Other great songs were "My Happiness," "Among My Souvenirs," "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own," and "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart".
   
   I had to grab this CD back from my 34 year old son long enough to rip it to my Gizmo (MP3). Even he likes it. He has the same broad-based love of music as his Momma.
   
   This is a beautiful CD and a "STROLL" down Memory Lane. (OK. Who remembers the dance "The STROLL" and will ADMIT it?--for the young whippersnappers, that was in the same time period as this CD.)

5 comments about Chess.

1. Bjorn and Benny's clever and eclectic collaboration with Tim Rice on this 1984 score resulted in one of the best records ever made of a musical. It doesn't work as well on stage, and many attempts have been made to fix the inherent flaws in the book but musically it remains a highly listenable recording. Highlights are the stirring "Anthem", the dramatic "Nobody's Side" and just about everything else.



2. An unbelievably pretty score....Too bad it is often overlooked as a musical. The musical masters behind Abba composed this , and it is a success on many levels. Do what I did , burn this with selections from "The Original Broadway Cast Recording" and you will have the ultimate "Chess" recording.....Sure, some of the recordings and words will overlap, but you will have the best of both versions....CHECKMATE



3. As a Musical Theatre Performance Major right out of high school in 1985, I immediately fell in love w/ this amazing musical. Having not had the honor of seeing it in London, I could only imagine the entire show in my head. The lyrics are amazing (Tim Rice!!), and the score is unbelievable (The B's in ABBA)combined w/ the performances- well, it's amazing and by far my favorite musical - and I've never seen it on stage!!! I completely wore out several cassettes (yes, tape cassettes for you youngsters) and even managed to wear out 2 CD versions. Given the chance, I could perform the entire show myself. I have to say that I was SOOOOO disappointed in the American version of the show. It was painful to compare it to the original cast. I try to keep an ear (and eye) open, hoping that someday someone will attempt a revival of the LONDON!!!! version on Broadway. Just can't say enough about this wonderful, amazing recording (make sure you DON'T get the Broadway cast recording - you just won't get how great it is! M. Humble-Nguyen Jacksonville, FL



4. I bought the cassette tape years (and years)ago. I have just about worn it out. I always was afraid the tape would break and the score lost. I was happy to see the CD version. I purchased it without hesitation. Tim Rice has been a favorite ever since Jesus Christ Superstar. This is one of his top works since.



5. "Chess" is the story of a world championship match between the challanger, a crude American genius, who acts alone and fights with everyone sooner or later, and the champion, a Soviet "party man" who secretly desires to flee to the west. The similarities to Fischer-Spassky are, of course, deliberate; but "Chess" does not bore the audience by making the Fischer-figure a hero and the "commies" villans. It concentrates, instead, on the behind-the-scenes human relations of the principal actors, and the follies of the hanger-ons.
   
   The first include the mutual suspicion between the champions and his party-appointed second ("Go get me a chess-playing second--if you want to win!") and the rocky relationship between the challenger and his girlfriend ("you'll be lost without me to abuse like you're used to", she tells him when she finally leaves). The second includes the cynicism and greed of match organizers and merchendizers ("we are here to sell you chess" / "all major credit cards taken of course") or the silly attempts of the arbiter to use his moment in the sun to puff himself up ("from square one I'll be watching all 64").
   
   By doing excellent research about how high-level chess (and chess history in general) is (and was) like, instead of taking the "Fisher good genius, commies bad" easy way out, Benny and Bjorn (of "Abba" fame) created a musical whose intelligent, witty lyrics and music appeal to both the general public and to experts on chess. The lyrics deal with the human side of chess, not with chess moves; readily enjoyed and understood by those who know no chess at all, they nevertheless manage to include numerous "inside jokes" that refer to historical (or political) chess events.
   
   For example, "The Story of Chess" gives those ignorant of the subject an overview of chess' history that is--surprisingly--quite accurate, being based on Murray's justly famous "History of Chess". You can both learn about chess history and enjoy the song. To those who *do* know chess history and literature, however, the song's dramatic declaration the historical outline presented "the most accurate" is a double joke: about itself, since in the generally accurate historical outline, there is one deliberately absurd claim made as "history" (those who know Murray would recognize it instantly--can you?); and about the common brand of sloppy chess historians, who often repeat fables as facts while praising themselves for their accuracy.
   
   One does not have to know chess at all to enjoy this musical a lot; but the more one knows about chess (and chess history), the more thorough one's enjoyment will be.
   
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about Man of La Mancha: A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album (Original 1965 Broadway Cast).

1. I found the album version of this in college and loved everything about it, from the edgy Aldonza to the humorous Sancho. Beware, the album had much of the play's dialog on it which the CD lacks. Even so I'm happy to have the music back in my collection. My family appropriately thinks I'm a little crazy as I sing along loudly when I listen to the music.



2. Man of La Mancha accomplishes the impossible! Turning Cervantes classic (at least part of it) into a musical that works has to be a near miracle. The writers tried for years to get producers interested in it, but to no avail, no body beleived a musical version of Don Quixote could possibly work...well the rest is history. MOLM is one of the greatest American musicals. The book perfectly incorporates Cervantes story into musical form. The score is breathtaking, with Dulcinea and, of course, The Impossible Dream becoming two of the most beautiful songs written for the theater. Every word and every note work and further the story. Richard Kiley and Joan Diener's performances are now legendary, others in revivals come close, but no one can beat their original performances.
   A glorious recording!!!!



3. I finally wore out the cassette I had of this recording, bought in 1982. It is definitely the best of all the casts that are out there- I'm going to have to get the CD!



4. I was hooked on "Man of LaMancha" when I heard excerpts played on the radio in the mid-60s. I enjoyed adding "The Impossible Dream" to my personal repertoire.I was enthralled by a dinner theater staging I saw in the early 70s. And, like most, I was greatly disappointed by the movie version.
   Richard Kiley had already proved himself an exceptional singing actor in "Kismet" and "No Strings," but it was "Man of LaMancha" that really brought him the recognition he deserved.
   Mitch Leigh has written a fabulous score. The contrast from the pensive "To Each His Dulcinea" to the humorous " I Really Like Him" to the emotional "Impossible Dream" is enough to keep almost anyone's attention. The interplay between/among voices in "I, Don Quixote" and "I'm Only Thinking of Him" is glorious. It is too bad that Leigh proved to be a "one-hit wonder," although, personally, I like "Cry for Us All."
   The musical play itself deserves all the raves it has received. And the original cast recording merits all its positive reviews.



5. What more can be said about this timeless classic. Richard Kiley's best, I saw him in the original on Broadway, what a keepsake. People who see this show don't usually go once, they go 3-5-7 times.