5 comments about High Spirits (Original Broadway Cast).

1. I would imagine it took a lot to impress Noel Coward. When Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray came to him with a musical version of his delightful supernatural comedy "Blithe Spirit," he was prepared to dismiss it. After hearing the score, however, Coward not only gave them the rights, but agreed to direct it on Broadway. "It is quite brilliant," he wrote to a friend. Who am I to disagree with Noel Coward? "High Spirits" is indeed a witty and tuneful delight, one of the great "forgotten" musicals. I don't know if the show actually worked onstage, but the album is pure pleasure, due in large measure to two of its stars, the zany and unique Beatrice Lillie and Tammy Grimes, both of whom are perfection. (OK, here I do dare to disagree with Coward; he wanted Gwen Verdon and Kay Thompson!) Edward Woodward and Louise Troy are also marvelous, bringing strong voices and intelligence to the musical's straighter roles. I haven't replaced all of my musical theater albums on CD -- who has that kind of money? -- but "High Spirits" was one of those scores I couldn't imagine not hearing again and again. All in all, for fans of traditional musical theater, this is a must buy.



2. Perhaps Noel Coward's BLYTHE SPIRIT didn't really need to be turned into a musical, as it is already a pretty entertaining litlle comedy, but the songs by Hugh Martin and Timothy Grey perfectly conjure up Coward's characters. Bea Lillie is perfection as Madame Arcarti, Tammy Grimes is bewitchingly sensual as Elvira. Did Coward (who directed the musical) help outa bit with the score? The song "Home Sweet Heaven" sure sounds like pure Coward!
   
   ABC Paramount did the cast album. After the show closed it went out of print. MCA brought it back on CD but soon deleted it. Since most community theatres opt to do the original play instead of the musical not too many people know this score so naturally there wasn't a huge demand for it on CD. Perhaps Decca Broadway will reissue it? Hope so, as it's one of those very enjoyable 1960s scores that deserves to be better known.



3. What can you say about a musical with Tammy Grimes and Beatrice Lillie? How about that it would be good even without them, because Martin and Gray deliver one great song after another? Only "You'd Better Love Me While You May" was a hit, but all the others (including the character and novelty songs) have instantly memorable melodies and ingenious lyrics.
   
   Hearing Grimes sing "Home Sweet Heaven" and Lillie perform "Talking to You" are pretty much worth the price of admission. (At least, when the CD was still in print and reasonably priced.)
   
   The London-cast version (if still available) had terrible re-orchestrations of the music, and is interesting only because it includes Noel Coward singing several of the songs, some of which contain unused lyrics.
   
   Please note that the track listing has nothing whatever to do with this show -- it's for the soundtrack of the movie "High Spirits".



4. This long-forgotten gem, a musical version of Noël Coward's BLITHE SPIRIT about a writer who inadvertently conjures up the spirit of his late wife, has a score by Hugh Martin (MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS) and was directed by Coward himself. The score has several tunes which ought to have become pop standards -- "You'd Better Love Me," "I Know Your Heart," "Forever and A Day" -- and some great character songs "Something is Coming to Tea," "Go Into Your Trace," "Home Sweet Heaven." The small cast size and score designed for actors, not singers, makes it a natural for educational and community theatres.

   Seeing Beatrice Lillie in HIGH SPIRITS was one of the great theatrical experiences of my life. A recording can't do her justice, but this one does catch some of her timing and inimitable inflections. She was one of those stage stars, like Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr, whose stage personality was just too big to fit on screen. (She is the best thing in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, one of her very few film roles.)




5. First of all, the late Cyril Ritchard and Stanley Holloway are not on this Original Broadway Cast cd, and it isn't a "Soundtrack" it's a cast recording.Edward Woodward is in this 1964 OBC album and he and the rest of the cast are simply terrific. Woodward eventually gained fame as televison's "The Negoiator". If you are a Coward fan, you'll enjoy this cd,

2 comments about Grab Me a Gondola (plus Selections from Wonderful Town and Pal Joey).

1. Imagine my delight at learning that GRAB ME A GONDOLA was finally making it's CD premiere. This is a cast album I've long adored, ever since I came across a well-worn LP and literally played it to death. Hardcore musical theatre fans have wanted this recording on CD for the longest time and finally here it is!
   
   GRAB ME A GONDOLA, with music and lyrics by James Gilbert and Julian More, opened at London's Lyric-Shaftesbury Avenue Theatre on December 26, 1956, and ran for a very successful 687 performances. The show was actually inspired by British movie bombshell Diana Dors and her infamous publicity stunts during the 1955 Venice Film Festival.
   
   Set against the colourful backdrop of the annual Venice Film Festival, GRAB ME A GONDOLA starred talented comedienne Joan Heal as glamorous movie star Virginia Jones, who harbours ambitions to become a classical Shakespearian actress. Joan Heal has a marvellous belty singing voice with lots of zing and zip, especially apparent during her big numbers "That's My Biography", "Cravin' for the Avon", "Star Quality" and "Rig o' the Day".
   
   Playing the romantic male lead, Denis Quilley finally cemented his position as London's greatest musical leading man; Jane Wenham ideally partners him in the love duet "Plain in Love", and he gets a smart solo piece, "When I Find That Girl". Joan Wenham also has a chance to prove her mettle with the wryly-written "Bid Him a Fond Goodbye".
   
   Featured in the chorus were future leading ladies Una Stubbs (SUMMER HOLIDAY) and Mary Preston (LOLA MONTEZ), they are both prominently heard during the "Star Quality" number. The cast album for GRAB ME A GONDOLA, originally released by His Masters Voice, is making it's debut in stereo for the very first time with some choice bonus materials from the original London cast "highlights" recordings for PAL JOEY and WONDERFUL TOWN.
   
   Opening in 1954, the London production of PAL JOEY starred Denis Quilley in the title role, with Carol Bruce as Vera and Jean Brampton as Gladys. Carol Bruce had distinguished herself on Broadway, playing ill-fated Julie in the celebrated 1946 revival of SHOW BOAT. Bruce was an ideal choice for Vera; and had played the role previously for several stock revivals as well as a touring production. Bruce was perfect for the world-weary socialite who gets swept away by caddish Joey, and her rendition of "Bewitched" proves it. Jean Brampton likewise has a ball with the showstopping comedy number "That Terrific Rainbow".
   
   The London production of WONDERFUL TOWN opened in 1955 starring British musical favourite Pat Kirkwood as Ruth. Playing Ruth's flirty younger sister Eileen was the promising Shani Wallis, who, the previous year, had impressed both audiences and critics with her soubrette role in WISH YOU WERE HERE. Their voices blend seamlessly with the homesick duet "Ohio"; Wallis also charms with a winsome "A Little Bit in Love". Kirkwood's comic skills are showcased in "100 Easy Ways" and "Swing" (sadly the "Conga!" number wasn't recorded).
   
   As if this CD wasn't already jam-packed with goodies, Sepia had also included two rarely-heard pop recordings from young Shani Wallis! Truly a must-own disc for musical theater fans!



2. i just took a chance this and an very pleased that i did. some of the best melodies i've heard are in this show (john gilbert wrote them) + very good lyrics. my title says it all.

3 comments about Kurt Weill: The Centennial.

1. Kurt Weill continues to baffle me with his music. It is only through his interpreters that his work is defined from the theatrical styles of Ute Lemper, Lotte Lenya to the hip versions of Sinatra and Darin. And that makes his music so intriguing that his ouvres continues to be played in various styles and in more frequent fashion.
   
   This Centennial collaboration is a welcome addition to that growing list of Weill tributes. Finally, I enjoyed his "Lost In The Stars" and "It Never Was You" compositions - works I find difficult to appreciate. Thank you Messrs. Peters and Panaro for singing these songs in a way I could understand musically! I wan't expecting the ubiquitous "Mack the Knife" would come out interesting but Shirley Jones' powerful rendition made the song worth giving attention. Even actress Sally Kellerman whom I thought wasn't a singer surprised me with "Speak Low".
   
   Being a live album, one can hear the audience's delight to this wonderful night's celebration for Mr. Weill!



2. I am so impressed and pleased to have found this recording on Amazon.com. I am always amazed when I find these seemingly obscure recordings, and thrilled to know they exist. What a wonderful history of our musical world---and what a chance to hear interesting, challenging, and unusual performances from so many well-known people. The songs live on--the composer is 'new' again, and this recording becomes part of history re-discovered. Thank you Amazon.com for your continued professionalism and for having these recordings available.



3. This incredible concert (which i attended) benefitting The Actors' Fund of America, contains some absolute MUST performances for any Broadway collector.

   For me, the highlights are HUGH PANARO ("It Never Was You"), NANCY DUSSAULT ("It's Him") and TIM CURRY singing "Surabaya Johnny" in German!

   Loretta Divine, Brock Peters, they're all great!

5 comments about Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (Original London Cast).

1. The cd arrived at the time the seller said it would and I love the cd.



2. The music of Ellegies is some of the most moving I have ever heard. The premise of the musical was that the monologues were from the perspective of those who had died from AIDS and the songs were those who were still alive (only the songs are featured on the album).

   The only problem with this album is that it isn't as good as the newer version (which I also have). The newer version has the monologues and stars of the stage that are more famous. However, the orginal cast album does stand on its own and is the perfect addition to any collection.

   In addition, if you go to First Knight, the label's, webpage you can get more information.




3. The music of Ellegies is some of the most moving I have ever heard. The premise of the musical was that the monologues were from the perspective of those who had died from AIDS and the songs were those who were still alive (only the songs are featured on the album).

   The only problem with this album is that it isn't as good as the newer version (which I also have). The newer version has the monologues and stars of the stage that are more famous. However, the orginal cast album does stand on its own and is the perfect addition to any collection.




4. This recording by the Original London Cast of 1993 has been largely overlooked. It is quietly moving and stands the passage of time.

   Of course the flamboyant Miss Kim Criswell leads the cast with her opening of Angels, Punks and Raging Queens. Her performance is exquisite and emotional, never coming across as over-the-top.

   Miquel Brown and Simon Green and Kwanme Kwei-Armah take the story further with their quiet,powerful deliveries...

   My Brother Lived In San Francisco told by Miss Criswell never fail to move me to tears.

   Although the Live Concert Recording from USA is full of gusto and good-meaning, it comes across as a little forward. But as a live tribute concert, it is what all the artistes have put in with their heart and soul.

   I highly recommend the London Cast Recording which has the composer Miss Janet Hood on piano. The cast is solid, although English.

   Other stuff by Miss Criswell includes the wonderful "Wonderful Town" by Bernstein




5. One of the greatest musicals I've heard EVER! A wonderful West End show featuring an incredible cast of actors including the wonderful Kim Criswell. The script is available from Samuel French and is a great companion to the recording. One of the few shows where everyone who has heard the cd loves EVERY song! A very moving and joyous celebration of lives lost, remembered and lived. Buy, borrow or steal a copy! This is a cd you will want to share with your friends.

2 comments about Hot Mikado (Original 1995 London Cast).

1. I have heard about this show when it was performed near by me and a director I had loved it. A year later he gave me the CD and I am upset I missed it. I have never listened to a musical theatre and have been so excited when I was done. Not only is the CD amazing, but how the writers have adapted the G&S text and melodies to jazz, pop, gospel, and R&B styles. The CD features amazing performances from a great cast and a really strong tight jazz combo. My favorite number being the first act finale, I could listen to that all day!



2. This CD from the Musical The Hot Mikado, is one of my favorite CD's to listen to. I actually am a big fan of punk and ska, and have never listened to any musical soundtracks. My girlfriend made me listen to it, and i fell in love with the sound. The Orchestra pit is amazing and the singers are second to none. I reccomend this CD to anyone who loves music.

2 comments about An American Songbird in Paris.

1. JANE MORGAN'S SINGING A DELIGHT
   It is obvious when one hears Jane Morgan sing she had classical training. This "An American Songbird In Paris" is really a super collection of Jane's early efforts and hearing Jane sing with BERNARD HILDA is an added thrill. Those old 78's were really cleaned up! Thanks Savoy Records for this great collection (Jane's first US Lp is included)as well as her 1957 hit, "Fascination." Jane had numerous 45's for KAPP RECORDS that need to be on cd's.



2. I have always liked the tone of Jane Morgan's voice since I first heard it in the late 1950s. Her first hit in the UK "The Day the Rains Came" is one of my all-time favourite records. I was given the follow up "If Only I Could Live My Life Again" and i enjoyed that, too. (By the way does anyone know whether this disc has been released on CD?) "An American Songbird in Paris" affords the opportunity to hear that wonderful clear voice again in some of Jane's early 1950s recordings, especially "Fascination" which established her on the cabaret scene in Europe. A good welcome CD.

5 comments about Love Is Good.

1. Excellent product that highlights this artist's incredible voice.
   Fills my home & car with wonderful music.



2. She is like a fine wine from a VERY good year. LOVE IS GOOD is a must for any vocals collection.



3. Christine Andreas Has One Of The Most Beautiful Voices Around, A Glorious Mix Of Barbra Streisand & Edith Piaf!! The Songs Are All Beautifully Sung & Arranged!! "Pirate" Is Spellbinding & Magical. "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress" Is One Of The Best Vesions I've Heard!!! This Cd Is A HIT!! I Can't Wait Till Her "Here's To The Ladies" Cd Is Released!!! A Fan For Life-David



4. Christine Andreas is a consumate perfomer with a distinctive voice that, beside simply being gorgeous to listen to, conveys an amazing range of emotion and truth. My favorite tracks on the album have to be "Love Is Good", sung partly in impeccable French with a romantic and classy Parisian bistro feel, and "Pirate", which evokes the gothic romances of the 19th C. and the timeless story of love lost. If you get the chance to see Christine perform live (in ANYTHING) you owe it to yourself to go. If not, buy the album and consider yourself lucky that this absolute treasure finally recorded an album.



5. This CD is pure joy. As I have never heard of her in the UK, I found this lady quite by accident during one of my many trawls through the delights of Amazon. The snippets I heard just blew me away and I had to have this CD. I can't stop it from rotating on my CD player, I just love it. When my mother recently visited, she too commented. Each time we went out, I had to put it in the car CD player so we could sing along (you don't have to imagine that - it is as painful as it sounds!).......so I did what any loving son would do and bought her a copy for her birthday. Christine's voice is crystal clear and the orchestrations are just perfect - not too intrusive as some orchestra's can be. All I need now is a handsome man to waltz me off my feet to the strains of the best song on the CD - Storybook!!

1 comments about Academy Award-Winning Music From MGM Classics: Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology.

1. I liked the music contained on this CD, but we need to ask the question, "just how many compilation albums do we need?" At least two thirds of the songs on this CD are featured (many of them together) on other Turner/Rhino compilation soundtrack albums or have the full soundtrack available. This CD is quite comparable to the "That's Entertainment" and the two disc "Over the Rainbow" movie musical compilation CD's, both from Turner/Rhino. What sets this CD apart is the fact that every song contained herein won an Oscar either for Best Song or for Best Score. A few of the songs here do not appear anywhere else and some (like "The Last Time I Saw Paris") are quite lovely. It is nice to see that Turner went beyond including only movie musical selections for this CD; added were the Overture from "Ben-Hur" and the Main Title from "Doctor Zhivago" - neither of which were musicals.

   I give this CD four stars because I love all of the music and the sound quality is bar none the best, and that the CD contains some otherwise unavailable songs. I don't give it 5 because we already have enough compilation soundtrack and star anthologies from the MGM musicals, in addition to the numerous original soundtrack albums available. I like the elegant and lavish packaging, though.

2 comments about Celebration (1969 Original Broadway Cast).

1. What has tragically proved to be Jones and Schmidt's final Broadway show (not counting the too-many aborted workshop productions and out-of-town closings since) is an odd bird indeed, but so were all their shows, and that's why they were special. The entertainment pundits blamed its premature closing on a small-scale show playing a big-scale house, and while that may be true there's something in this score that's off-kilter; it tries for the sweetness and innocence of "The Fantasticks" against a clashing world-weariness, all set to that feathery "Fantasticks" small-pit-band sound. Unfortunately the duo could not come up with a hit here, as with "Try to Remember", nor even anything to be resuscitated by Barbra Streisand; one leaves this recording humming the arrangements. But because the sound is so musical, and so memorable, this album has long survived the production, and serves as a true memorial to Jones and Schmidt's vision of a simpler, more humane theater.



2. Diamond in the rough. Great for it's time, and in some ways is better than the Fantasticks. Should be performed more. Buy it

5 comments about Absolute O'Brien.

1. I wanted someone to buy this for me from Amazon, but it wasn't available. I finally found a copy and just received it as a pre-birthday present to myself. I had heard 3 of the songs which he used in his Disgracefully Yours shows in the early 90's, as sung by Mephistopheles Smith. I had heard an interview where he described this album as being jazzy with alot of other styles mixed into it. After listening to it I wasn't quite expecting some of the songs that I knew, like Incubus of Love, to sound so much like lounge jazz. Really his description was absolutely perfect. One of the things I love about this album, besides the witty lyrics and his voice which always gives me goose bumps, is the heavy bass. That is one thing I have loved about all of the songs that Richard O'Brien writes. This isn't exactly like the music from The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Shock Treatment, but I think it is equally good. It is an album I can pop in and drive to, relax to or even play video games to really. Most of the songs are jazzy, some have a more classic country or early rock sound. Highly recommended for anyone that likes any of Richard's music and for anyone that likes jazz that has very witty and sometimes dark humor lyrics. Richard O'Brien is a great talent who doesn't get all of the credit that he deserves for his song writing and singing, but this album really shows off all of that. "Everybody here suffers from their sanity."
   
   keep the faith,
   dEx



2. Richard "Ritz" O'Brien is brilliant and his voice is perfect for this kind of lounge-y, blues-y jazz. Everytime I listen to this I just want to lick his eyes!



3. This is, hands-down, my favorite album of all time. It's strikingly different than the material Richard O'Brien is best known for (The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shock Treatment), and it's such a marvelous venture from the styles he's more associated with.
   
   This album is, at its core, a very laid-back, jazz-influenced album. O'Brien's voice is beautiful, though unconventionally so. Whether he's upping the pace on tracks like "Dance of Love" and "Running With the Noisy Boys" or slowing things down on tracks like my all-time favorite song, "Angel In Me," O'Brien truly shines and showcases his vast, unmatchable level of talent.
   
   He's brilliant - the songs, the lyrics, everything. I can't say much more than this is an awe-inspiring, beautiful, shockingly enjoyable album by one of my favorite performers ever. It's brilliant - get it and be amazed.



4. i just received this cd in the mail yesterday, but i haven't stopped listening to it since i popped open the shiny plastic jewel case and placed the perfect disc into my walkman! it's different from anything i already had in my collection, but it's just what i needed! it, to me, sounds an odd cross between adam ant and bryan ferry...taking the best of both, but becoming something so much better than either! it is, as other people have stated, very mellow, but that's not a bad thing at all! in this day and age of non stop stress, it's so nice to just be able to sit back and listen to this cd! and only o'brien could write a song('100 dollars an hour') about prostitution and make it sound so utterly romantic the way he sings it! i love him! i had been listening to the 'rocky horror' soundtrack, and watching both that and 'dark city' so much lately, i thought this cd might push me into overload, but, believe me, there is never enough o'brien....and on top of the cd's greatness, is the insert! complete with lyrics and plenty of pictures...for the girls and boys who like to ogle their boy as they listen to his seductively sweet voice! *sigh* it's certainly one of the most unusual and best CDs i've purchased in a long time....i only wish i had had the sense to buy it 5 years ago when i saw the advert in a magazine on it's release.....fool i am! but happy as a clam that i was able to still find it!

   babble babble babble!




5. Richard O'Brien is a very talented singer/songwriter/actor. But unfortunately, outside of "Rocky Horror", "Shock Treatment" and maybe even "Dark City" -- most of his work isn't known about, even by the devout Rocky people.

   Many of the songs on this album are from his Mephistopheles Smith live act he was developing in the early and mid-90s and finally gave up when the costume effect he insisted on going on gave him problems. He did however record some of the best songs (minus, unfortunately, "Disgracefully Yours" the title of his act) for this CD. He then added other songs that he wrote during the making of "Dark City" and recorded most everything in a soft jazz style that was decidedly different from his earlier tunes (exception "Running With The Noisy Boys.")

   Does this style work for Richard? Not as well as Richard playing it Rock and Roll style, or listening to him play acoustically on his guitar (oh yeah!) But it does work.

   Some songs like "It's Up To You" and "Rhythm of the Heartbeat" (the latter from Meph Smith/Disgracefully Yours) sound more like something you'd be listening to at Starbucks and are just a tad too mellow.

   The jazz style, however works terrifically on other songs. While I prefer the unrelease acoustic version of "Incubus of Love" the jazz version certainly does it justice. "Angel In Me" also works well here. But where it really scores is on two songs "Ain't That to Die For" (again from his act) which is a great upbeat number, and "One Hundred Dollars an Hour" -- the rare song about prostitution and sensuality.

   I'll be the first to profess more of a fondness for his rawer (and exceptionally difficult to find) earlier works released on vinyl such as his Kimi & Ritz and Dicky Hart singles, or the cast album to "The Stripper," another musical he co-wrote with Hartley (Hartley did the music, Richard the lyrics.) But we won't see a legitimate release of those songs on CD for year, and Richard would like to do another album before revisiting those works. But if you've already bought Rocky and Shock treatment, here's a chance to get another dose of cleverness from the shaven-headed one, Ritz.