5 comments about The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Blisterpack].

1. I purchased a DVD from this seller and failed to receive it by the shipped date. As requested through Amazon I have tried to contact the seller and never received a response. I currently have put a claim into amazon for this purchase and awaiting a full refund with cancellation of the order. All in all it has been a huge headache. I gave them 1 star because they wouldn't accept a no star rating.



2. Our copy of The Lion King had gone missing and this one is just as good!



3. I recieved this new dvd in the mail and the corner of the box was damaged. The Dvd inside had been sliding around and there are some signs of scratches. I have not watched the dvd yet to see if has effected it.



4. this lion king platinum edition was scratched and was useless to me. I found out once I opened the movie package.
   janet kaplan



5. i will never buy anything from this person again. my purchase was not
   brand new even though they tried to pass it off as one. the movie skipped
   the package was rewrapped. i will have to think twice before i order
   anything from amazon.com again

3 comments about Street Scene (1989 English National Opera Cast).

1. Quite a few years back I played the part of Charlie Hildebrand for the LOC's performaces at the Fulton Opera House. After those shows, I followed my phillosophy on not looking back at the past, so the shows faded from mind fairly quickly.
   
   Fast forward to 2004. I become reminded of Street Scene thanks to another mention of Weill and put it upon myself to look up "Street Scene" on cd. No store carried it locally, but got a copy through special order.
   
   The performace and recording is top notch. And Charlie is still my favorite character, for obvious reasons. Street Scene is probably one of the greatest overlooked operas around.
   
   Four stars for the cd set, one star for nostalgia.



2. I never realized what singing talent Catherine Zeta Jones had until I heard her on this CD!! Right after I went on [another internet retailer] and bought some of her other CDs! ((By the way, Amazon.com employees, you should sell her other CDs here)) :) The other songs are good too.



3. I can't help wondering why Street Scene is not listed among all the other 40's-50's Broadway shows. It was, quite simply, the first work of operatic bredth produced on a Broadway stage. The sheer musical richness of Weill's score is truly stunning; he manages to sustain musical interest over the entire show. I can say without hyperbole that the score is comparable to Porgy and Bess. Weill ranges from spooky psychological songs (like Lonely House) to pseudo-"Broadway" numbers (like Wrapped in a Ribbon), to mock opera (the hilarious ice cream sextet, which some call Weill's thank-you to America), to real opera (like Anne's Aria), to jitterbug, swing, blues, chorales, on and on. The only real problem with the score is the lyrics: Langston Hughes (whose praises as a poet hardly need to be sung by little me) proves to be a terrible lyricist, and his (and Elmer Rice's) prosaic, mis-accented, occasionally non-sensical words often impale the music. Also, Rice's basic story (which one can follow fully on this CD; every line of dialogue is here) is hokey, and attenuated in the extreme. Still, the score is wonderful. This recording is the definitive version, and not only because its the only one that preserves the whole score. The cast is generally excellent (although some of the singers, especially the ingenue-if you can call it that-couple, are jarringly old for their parts; and as opera singers they cant all really be expected to give fully-fleshed performances.) The orchestra is lush and full (although i must quibble on one point - for some reason every song keeps the beat with a high-hat, which is awfully inappropriate at times.) All in all, this recording is an excellent buy, a great (if not perfect) recording of a treasure of the musical theater.

5 comments about Sentimental Journey: Capitol's Great Ladies of Song, Vol. 2.

1. This is one of my favorite compilations of all time. I love, love, love this CD.



2. Sentimental Journey: Capitol's Great Ladies of Song, Vol. 2 gives us classic pop vocals and timeless love songs sung by the greatest songbirds probably ever at Capitol Records. The sound quality is excellent and the artwork is extremely well done.
   
   Dinah Shore sings "Sentimental Journey with all her heart and soul; the male backup vocalists harmonize well--but this is Dinah's number. She never sounded better! The Andrews Sisters also do a fabulous job on "Well All Right (Tonight's The Night)." "Well All Right (Tonight's The Night)" features the sisters harmonizing at their usual high level of quality control and the big band style arrangement works wonders for this ballad! There's also "I'll Never Smile Again" by the great Keely Smith--wow, how that lady sings!
   
   Martha Tilton gives us her sublime rendition of "And The Angels Sing;" Martha could sing unlike too many others and this number alone amply proves it! Martha Tilton should get more recognition that she currently gets; hers was a rare and beautiful talent. Helen O'Connell also sings "Green Eyes" with a fine arrangement that makes great use of the brass as Helen sings this flawlessly. "No Love, No Nothin'" by Ella Mae Morse shines like silver and gold when this chanteuse sings it with great sensitivity. I love it!
   
   "You've Got To See Mamma Ev'ry Night (Or You Can't See Your Mamma At All)" by Kay Starr features Kay front and center while the big band arrangement sounds so good for this ballad. Kay Starr was always one of my favorite recording artists; her voice was always as clear as a bell and I am impressed. "Trav'lin Light" also gets a mighty fine treatment from the immortal Billie Holiday; Billie can do no wrong in my book.
   
   Helen Forrest sings "I've Heard That Song Before;" I first heard this tune over twenty years ago but whenever Helen Forrest sings this it still sounds exciting, new and fresh to my ears. Listen also for the great Peggy Lee to deliver "Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too)" without a hitch--Peggy's uncanny sense of timing enhances her performance and I really like "Why Don't You Do Right (Get Me Some Money Too)."
   
   June Christy does swell on "It's Been A Long, Long Time;" this romantic ballad is very pretty and June Christy sing it flawlessly. The King Sisters also do a fine job on "Take The 'A' Train;" I love how they harmonize and play with the key changes a bit! The CD also ends strong with "I'll Be Seeing You" by Jo Stafford. Jo Stafford sings this romantic, poignant and sentimental ballad with panache and this makes the perfect ending for this album.
   
   Overall, if you like classic pop vocals, this album is for you! People who like these songbirds in general will also want this album for their collections.



3. This AAD compilation, which first came out in 1992, offers up a collection of songs by some of the greatest female vocalists of the 1940s and early 1950s, including one from the little-known Mavis Rivers, the best singer to ever emerge from Western Samoa [track 5 which she recorded in 1959 with the Nelson Riddle orchestra].
   
   Tracks 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 21, 22, and 24 are all original renditions and, with the exception of Kay Starr's You've Got To See Mama Ev'ry Night, each was a huge hit for the artists concerned. Other than tracks 9 and 23 [1951 re-recordings by Helen O'Connell, one of her smash hit while a vocalist with Jimmy Dorsey in 1941 and the other one of his brother Tommy's biggest hits from the 1930s], and tracks 20 [a 1961 cut by Dinah Shore reprising her 1944 hit] and 26 [a 1963 recording by Jo Stafford of a 1944 Bing Crosby hit] the remainder were mid- to late 1950s re-recordings of earlier hits.
   
   The sound reproduction is excellent, and while there are no liner notes, per se, just a relisting of the selections showing the year each was recorded and the orchestras involved, there are some nice photos of most of the stars [there is none, unfortunately, of Mavis Rivers].
   
   Also, although the track listings above show only the vocalists involved, on some of the original hits the bands were, in fact, the main billing - i.e., tracks 8 and 22 which were billed to Stan Kenton & His Orchestra with vocal by June Christy, track 21 which was billed to Freddie Slack & His Orchestra with vocal by Ella Mae Morse, and track 16 which was billed to Stan Kenton & His Orchestra with vocal by Anita O'Day.
   
   Just one of a great series to emanate from Capitol back at the dawn of the CD age. A more informative insert would have brought it up to 5 stars.



4. Another fabulous compilation of the music of another time. This one is as great as Volume 1. Another winner!!



5. After watching a T V commercial with the song "Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy" playing in the background, I wanted my daughters to hear the complete song. We found this and I was very pleased to see that it included more of the beautiful songs from that era with many more of my personal favorites such as "Sentimental Journey", "I Don't Know Enough About You" and "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief". Being a child of the sixties, these songs were popular before my time...but having been raised with an appreciation of the big band classics, I knew most of the tunes on this volume and wanted to give my daughters the same opportunity. It's great nostalgic music, with a wonderful variety of songs and artists. I highly recommend this musical...sentimental journey...back in time.

5 comments about Boy Meets Girl: Sammy Davis, Jr. & Carmen McRae on Decca.

1. Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae certainly had different backgrounds: his career evolved out of the vaudeville circuit and Carmen's career was based upon much more formal music training. Nevertheless, their union sparks more than just plain old harmony on this generous "two-fer" CD. The "two-fer" CD is called a "two-fer" because it contains all the tracks from their record album entitled Boy Meets Girl as well as the tracks from their album entitled Porgy and Bess.
   
   The CD begins with the twelve tracks from the 1957 LP entitled Boy Meets Girl; and "Happy To Make Your Acquaintance" charms you with its beauty. Their excellent diction and enthusiasm electrifies this number and already you're dying for more.
   
   You won't be disappointed as you listen along, either. The track set continues with the classic "Tea For Two." Sammy and Carmen sing the rarely heard opening verse and the musical arrangement makes great use of the piano and horns. Sammy also interjects clever, witty side comments to make this number even better than I've ever heard it! Excellent! "You're The Top" boasts a great musical arrangement and Sammy and Carmen sing this to perfection. Once again, the rarely heard opening verses enhance the beauty of this number. When Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae sing these numbers, you can tell they ARE in love--with their music, of course, as they were two of the very best in the business.
   
   Carmen and Sammy infuse "Cheek To Cheek" with a high octane energy as they sing this number as if their lives were on the line! You become convinced no duo could perform "Cheek To Cheek" better than Sammy and Carmen can here.
   
   Other gems include "A Fine Romance" which gets a royal yet playful treatment from Sammy and Carmen; they sing like artists scratching to be heard and we get the all the benefits on numbers like "A Fine Romance!" "Baby, It's Cold Outside" offers more of that magical chemistry between Sammy and Carmen; and the horns on the musical arrangement work very well.
   
   The CD also gives us a bonus single track entitled "I Go For You." Carmen and Sammy sing this love ballad with panache and a playful togetherness that charms you instantly. The cha cha rhythm makes "I Go For You" even better, too!
   
   Then the CD gives us the ten tracks from Sammy and Carmen's 1959 record album entitled Porgy And Bess. Carmen performs "Summertime" with great sensitivity in a fairly serious mood. Sammy then comes in on the next track entitled "A Woman Is A Sometime Thing." Sammy performs "A Woman Is A Sometime Thing" with great feeling and a degree of sensitivity I rarely hear. His voice is rich, warm and full of masculine charm. "My Man's Gone Now" features Carmen performing this ballad with strength as she sings of her terrific angst over her lost love. Carmen even makes her voice tremble to convey her vulnerability which, ironically, makes her interpretation of "My Man's Gone Now" all the more powerful and commanding.
   
   Other great numbers from the Porgy And Bess track set include the touching and memorable "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.; and "It Ain't Necessarily So" gives us Sammy singing at his best with a great male backup chorus. "I Loves You, Porgy" yields yet another sublime duet between Sammy and Carmen; "I Loves You Porgy" lets Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae sing of the love Porgy and Bess have for each other and how they may have to fight for their love and happiness together.
   
   The CD ends with "Oh, Lawd, I'm On My Way." Sammy sings this uplifting ballad to perfection. The chorus in the background adds to the beauty of the number, too.
   
   The liner notes feature an essay about Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae by Wil Haygood; and the photos of Sammy and Carmen together are very nicely done. You also get miniature replications of the artwork for both the front and the back of the record album covers, too.
   
   I truly have difficulty imagining a world of entertainment without the fine contributions of Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae. They sang passionately with all their hearts and souls. We are much better off for them sharing their fine artistry with us. I highly recommend this "two-fer" CD for fans of both Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will cherish this CD for many years to come.



2. This single CD combines two previously released albums featuring Sammy Davis, Jr. and Carmen McRae - "Boy Meets Girl" and "Porgy and Bess," recorded on various dates in 1957 and 1958, twenty-three tracks in all. The tracks from "Boy Meets Girl" feature some nice standards from Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Hoagy Carmichael, among others. Track 13 is a previously unreleased song, entitled "I Go For You," and it's a great duet tune, featuring witty lyrics and great singing. It's a very catchy number, and listening to it makes me wonder what other unreleased gems the record execs have kept hidden in the vaults away from prying ears. The tracks from "Porgy and Bess" are similarly excellent. It all adds up to a disc worth owning if you want to hear two great vocalists teaming up at their peak.



3. It's easy to take Sammy Davis Jr. for granted, even today. This collection of Sammy-Carmen tracks from the '50s serves as a welcome reminder that, had he done nothing else, he was still one of the several best male singers from this period or any other. To begin with, I thought much of his humor on this outing was gratuitous and even distracting (he'll quickly replace his own lush baritone with a Jerry Lewis impersonation followed by a Nat Cole impersonation followed by spoken asides--all within a phrase or two). But upon repeated listenings his rapport with Carmen sounds convincing, indispensable to the unique chemistry between this pair. And he plays it serious, or romantic and tender, on enough of the tunes to balance the cutting up. (He's endearing on "Two Sleepy People," and I doubt there's a better, and more moving, reading of "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" on record.)
   
   For some ears it may be a revelatory experience to hear Carmen McRae at this time (mid to late 1950s). By the early 1970s she was rightfully recognized as one of the top 3-4 jazz singers and interpreters of the American Songbook, but her once-lovely soprano had dropped considerably (perhaps by an octave) and it lacked the breath support that allowed her to draw out a phrase, finishing it off with a warm vibrato (the vibrato would desert her and her voice no longer had "body" when she sang softly). It was a credit to her that her interpretive abilities and all-around musicianship enabled her to work around the harmful effects of smoking. On this recording, however, you're able to hear both sides of Carmen--the ability to deliver a lyric convincingly and the vibrant vocal quality (which perhaps many listeners are unaware of).
   
   There's no horseplay on the latter part of this collection--the "Porgy and Bess" session. Arranger-conductor Buddy Bregman, whose comments on his own recording are included among the Amazon reviews, has reason to feel satisfaction if not pride. The performances and settings rank among the best of the available recordings of Gershwin's unique opera, which enjoyed a revival in the late '50s (I wish someone would figure out that it's due for another one). As for Sammy Davis' tour de force performance, it should be sufficient in itself to place him in the front ranks of all-time great American entertainers. And the recorded sound of the vocalists and orchestra is not only balanced but has detail, depth, and "presence." This is a genuine, largely-hidden gem that, given the musical sensibilities (and absence of comparable talent) of the present millenium, is indeed an unrepeatable event.



4. A number of years ago I heard their recording of ,"There's A Small Hotel", recorded in the fifties on Decca. A great rendition of the Rodgers and Hart classic and rarely done as a duet. The album was out of print for decades and has just been reissued.This disc contains two LP's, "Boy Meets Girl" and their interpertation of "Porgy and Bess". The "Porgy and Bess", is a beautiful arranged and performed recording. The, "Boy Meets Girl", is spotty. Sammy resorts to a Jerry Lewis voice in some of the numbers, he's having fun, but it doesn't hold up. I love his voice so I'm always happy when he get's down to business. Carmen sounds fantstic all the way through. For my money and well...yours, if you are considering purchasing this CD, the best part are, the ballads at the beginning and all the Gershwin at the end. Still a good buy, considering you couldn't get it until now.



5. Two classic LP's! The re-mastering job on this CD was first class. The first of the two albums, "Boy Meets Girl," features fun standards with Sammy 'hamming it up' while Carmen's voice is as wonderful as she always was. "Porgy and Bess" was a good concept with fine orchestrations and early 1958 stereo sound (except that some of the selections has the vocals a little low in the mix) but overall felt a little uneven in presentation. That's why I gave it four stars instead of five.

2 comments about Arabian Nights (Original Cast Recording).

1. I bought this recording back in the 50's and played it a lot. What a thrill to have it back again. Little did I know that I would be working with Bill Chapman a few years later. It certainly sounds better than the original. Decca never used very good Vinyl and there was always a hiss. Thanks to Sepia the hiss is gone no pops or ticks. It sounds GREAT!The dance arrangements by the Guy Lombardo Orchestra are very Camp!



2. This was the first record I ever bought. I purchased it with my own allowance money back in 1955. I was eight years old and had seen the Jones Beach production and LOVED it.
   I still have the album, which have been full of clicks, pops, and surface noise for many years now. How wonderful to have a crisp new copy of this lush, romantic and clever score, filled with Rimsky Korsakov / Miklos Rosa style ballads [A Thousand and One Nights / How Long Has It Been?] and Gilbert & Sullivan-esque patter numbers [The Grand Vizier's Lament]. How great, after 54 years, to finally hear and understand the lyrics of "A Whale of a Story":
   `Cause when you're seasick there isn't any
   rail on a, rail on a, rail in a, rail on a monster.
   There's no rail on a, rail on a, rail in a, rail on a whale.'
   Lauritz Melchior still glorious at the end of his career / James McCracken at the beginning of his.
   What a treat! Thank you Sepia!

5 comments about Bennett/Berlin.

1. Bennett/Berlin is yet another incredible CD by the great Tony Bennett. Tony pays a wonderful tribute to Irving Berlin on this album; and it couldn't be any better. We get wonderful Irving Berlin songs interpreted so nicely by Tony; and the sound quality is excellent. The artwork is also very well done.
   
   The album starts with Tony Bennett singing "They Say It's Wonderful." The piano arrangement is awesome and together with the other instruments this number shines bright! "They Say It's Wonderful" gets a jazzy arrangement that works well for this ballad and that's terrific. "Isn't This A Lovely Day" showcases Tony Bennett's vocal talents--and wow, how he can sing! The piano again sounds just right and the music that accompanies Tony is very elegant without ever drowning out Tony! "Isn't This A Lovely Day" is a major highlight of this album and I always enjoy hearing this number. Tony's interpretation of "Isn't This A Love Day" is a very strong one indeed.
   
   "Now It Can Be Told" sparkles with finesse and Tony delivers this with panache. "Now It Can Be Told" has a very pretty melody and I think you'll like this number very much. Tony massages those lyrics and he handles this song like a pro. I believe that the jazz rendition of this tune works wonders for making it very special. "When I Lost You" gets the royal treatment from Tony; he sings part of this a cappella and "When I Lost You" is a tender ballad about love and how it isn't always easy. "Cheek To Cheek" gets an uproariously fine arrangement that rocks and swings brightly; Tony and the musicians sing and play this with lots of positive energy. It took a bit for me to become accustomed to "Cheek To Cheek;" but this rendition grew on me and I like it after all!
   
   "Let Yourself Go" has a fantastic arrangement that really jams as Tony sings this to perfection; and listen for "Let's Face The Music And Dance." "Let's Face The Music And Dance" comes from the movie entitled Follow The Fleet and both Irving Berlin and Fred Astaire would have been very proud to hear Tony's version! "Let's Face The Music And Dance" is easily my very favorite number on this album. "Russian Lullaby" gets its strength from that jazzy arrangement; and the CD ends nicely with Tony Bennett performing "White Christmas." "White Christmas" is actually a rather melancholy number--but it's nostalgic as well and, in a sense, very romantic. Tony delivers "White Christmas" with grace and style; and it certainly leaves you wanting more.
   
   Bennett/Berlin is definitely one of Tony Bennett's better albums from his more recent years in show business. I highly recommend this for Tony Bennett fans; and people who like jazz versions of classic pop vocals will appreciate this album, too.



2. Like a fine wine Tony Bennett just keeps geeting better. I like this album. The jazz sound is really good. Just keep that sound and that distinctive voice going forever.



3. Relaxed, casual, warm, and at the absolute top of his vocal genius, Tony Bennett thoroughly mines the Irving Berlin songbook to produce an instant classic synthesis of pop/jazz and pop/vocal gems that belong on the short list of the best Bennett albums. Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, and George Benson showcase their incomparable talent that raise this album to the level of a timeless classic. Tony sings "When I Lost You" without accompaniment,and even includes a wonderful rendition of "White Christmas." If you're a serious Bennett collector, this album is an absolute must-have. FIVE STARS AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!



4. Except for a few songs,and the length overall,(too short,) this is one of the best bennett recordings Ive heard in years. The older the violin, the sweeter the music.He gets even better with time. Bravo!



5. I have to say that this is another of my favorite albums.As soon as it starts, you will begin to snap your fingers to "They Say It's Wonderful".The Ralph Sharon Trio just cooks the whole album and is joined by Dizzy Gillespie,George Benson & Dexter Gordon.What more can anyone ask for.Dizzy is on two tunes, Dexter is on two & George is on one."When I Lost You" is sung without accompaniment by Tony.Check it out.(VLS)

5 comments about Sentimental Journey: The Girl Singer and Her New Big Band.

1. Tremendous final effort by Rosemary Clooney, returning to her big band roots. Wonderful selection of songs, which she performs in her brilliant, insightful style.



2. This is yet another outstanding CD by the great Rosemary Clooney! Her voice, smooth as silk, takes us on a journey back in time to the world of big bands and girl singers. Among the best tracks on this collection are AND THE ANGELS SING, HAPPINESS IS JUST A THING CALLED JOE, and, of course, the title track. Her talent is amazing and I certainly miss her!
   This is a must for any Rosemary Clooney fan!



3. Like so many of her fans, the passing of this legendary vocalist hit me very hard.

   I was listening to the bulk of this CD at work and realized what a great talent Rosie truly was. In this Grammy-nominated effort, she demonstrated her magnificent way with a lyric, and the song selection (backed by Matt Catingub's solid Big Kahuna band) was first-rate. Loved the duet with Matt on "Ya Got Class!!!"

   Ms. Clooney knew the intent of a song and was musically true to each composer's work, in her own fashion. Sadly, there aren't many of the great interpreters of classic pop singing - Tony Bennett, Steve and Eydie, Robert Goulet, and so on - left.




4. Listened to this CD and absolutely enjoyed it. Almost felt as if I were sitting at a table in some nightclub, watching her as well. Well done!



5. Like all other Rosemary Clooney fans, I was deeply saddened over the weekend when I put the radio on & one of the headline news stories mentioned her passing after a battle with lung cancer. I feel as if I've lost a good friend & now I find myself pulling out just about all of her albums(due in part to the fact that there is no longer any NY radio station that plays American Popular Standards). Hopefully sometime in the near future we will see more collections(especially boxed sets)of even more of Rosie's wonderful music. Let's not forget come Christmas time to watch the classic film White Christmas-it will have even more meaning this year. Rest In Peace, old friend, I am sure you are having a blast up there with your sister Betty, as well as dear friends like Bing, Frank, Dean, Perry & many others of their ilk. Heaven must have one helluva chorus, especially with the addition of latest member, Rosemary Clooney. This music MUST be collected & preserved, so whether you've been a fan for many years or just discovering Rosie's music, at least you can take heart in knowing there is a huge treasure trove of music to choose from. Very highly recommended!

3 comments about Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 5.

1. Yep, that's American Idol Bad Girl, Frenchie Davis, belting "O Holy Night" ... THE reason to buy this CD.



2. I purchased this CD on a whim, and I was absolutely shocked when I got to track #4- "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel," by the cast of "Hairspray." I loved the upbeat humor, and as the song progressed, I realized I'd heard this version before- it was on South Park! I could not BELIEVE what I was hearing, but I completely adored it. As I listened through the rest of the 2-CD set, I concluded it would undoubtedly be one of my favorite holiday albums. It was a wonderful combination of traditional renditions, such as a beautiful "O Holy Night" performed by the cast of "Rent" and new, humorous songs, including "Too Fat to Fit" by the cast of "The Producers" which was had a personality reminiscent of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "Angelo Rosenbaum," sung by Thom Christopher Warren of "Lion King," and "Sing Out" by the cast of "Gypsy."
   
   Overall, the CD set was a wonderful surprise; I had expected a 2 CD set filled with well-sung music, but I was rewarded with a compilation as diverse as peoples' view of the holidays, ranging from the somber expression of religious value to the whimsical, with a jab at the commercial attitude in the middle!



3. This series of albums draws on the forces of today's Broadway show casts who each contribute a holiday song to this double CD. All proceeds go to Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

   Song list:
   DISC ONE --
   The Holiday Hop (cast of 42nd Street);
   O Holy Night (Rent);
   Los Peces en El Rio (Nine featuring Antonio Banderas);
   Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel (Hairspray);
   This Christmas Day (Beauty & the Beast);
   A Christmas Lullaby (Mamma Mia!);
   The Coming of Christmas (Thoroughly Modern Millie);
   Rod's Christmas (Avenue Q featuring Rod);
   Silent Night (Big River);
   Wrapped Up Nice (Boy From Oz featuring Hugh Jackman);
   DISC TWO --
   I Saw Three Ships (Wicked);
   Sing Out (Gypsy);
   Too Fat To Fit (The Producers);
   I'll Stay Strong (Aida);
   Ave Maria (Taboo);
   Chicago Style Jingle Bells (Chicago);
   Angelo Rosenbaum (The Lion King);
   How Great Our Joy / Joy to the World (Phantom);
   Christmastime on Highway 13 (Urinetown);
   O Tannenbaum (Cabaret featuring Raul Esparza).

   It's all good, or at least interesting, and it's for a good cause.

2 comments about Greatest Songs from the Musicals.

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



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

2 comments about At His Best.

1. PETER ALLEN WAS SO SUPREMELY TALENTED THAT EVERY TIME HE CAME TO TOWN FROM THE EARLY 70'S THROUGH THE LATE 80'S ,I WENT TO EXPERIENCE THIS WONDERFUL PERFORMER!!!! THE LINES WERE ALWAYS AROUND THE BLOCK AND HE WAS ALWAYS A SELL-OUT IN LOS ANGELES! THIS GREAT COLLECTION SHOWS YOU WHY AND IS A GREAT MIX OF HIS CLASSIC WORKS ON THE A&M LABEL. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF HIS GREAT A&M ALBUMS RELEASED ON CD, BUT UNTIL THIS HAPPENS THIS IS A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO HAD THE PRIVLEGE OF THE EXPERIENCE OR FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ENJOY A GREAT TALENT AT HIS PEAK!!



2. Prior to 1998, you could search the world for a Peter Allen CD (any Peter Allen CD!) and still come up empty handed. With this CD you can finally trash those treasured but old and scratched Peter Allen vinyl albums. There isn't the "crisp" Peter Allen sound of his later Broadway years but rather an austere, almost amateur "coffee house" recording tone to most of these songs. At first, it seems like poor quality but later you realize that its perfect for Allen's unique range of throaty tones and melodies. Its Peter Allen doing Peter Allen. It grows on you to the point where you realize that you wouldn't want it any other way. Other recordings will capture the glitz and glitter that was the later Peter Allen. This CD captures the pure essence of his talent.