5 comments about Crazy for You (1992 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Exactly what I was looking for and at the right price. This is unavailable in any shop and Amazon made it so easy to get. Unfortunately I opted for the Express delivery on this Item which was a very big mistake. UPS are responsible for the Express delivery and after paying three times the price of the actual disk, UPS failed to deliver on time and I had to go and collect from their Depot.
   Great Job as usual Amazon but I think you need to reconsider who you trust with your delivery - I for one will think twice about buying from Amazon again, I have no confidence in delivery anymore.



2. If you enjoy musicals and the music of George Gershwin, then this is the CD for you. One terrific song after terrific song. Looking forward to seeing this musical live in the Boston area in April, 2008.



3. The strengths of this recording are the very full orchestration, the voices are great and the diction is amazing. You can hear every word clearly. The only complaint I have is that the recording level is a little uneven so I found myself turning the volume up and down from time to time. Its a marvelous musical with lots of classic tunes and it makes me happy to listen to it.



4. Jodi benson appears in one of very few, but marveolus broadway performances!The music on this recording even downplays bensons work in disneys " The Little Mermaid"! It is and energetic fun-filled musical, yet it is based solely upon the one emotion that is so ellusive, yet so desired,love. Benson's rendition of someone to watch over me is absolutely amazing!overall this CD is well worth the money you put forth on it. I would also suggest the music book too for musicians as myself---Robert Ellis,14



5. The original cast of Crazy For You is superb. The songs are of course amazing. What Gershwin song isn't? Jodi Benson will blow you away with her beyond amazing voice and talent. Highlights include "Someone to Whatch Over Me", "Could You Use Me", "But Not For Me", "I Got Rhythm", "Embraceable You", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Every song on this CD is practically perfect. You won't go wrong if you purchase Crazy For You.

5 comments about Annie: The 30th Anniversary Cast Recordings.

1. Cast album producers are usually ignored by the general public, but without many of these producers who take risks, we wouldn't see many rare shows worthy of a cast recording.
   
   Robert Sher is one of those producers. From his OBC of Sugar Babies to the lost score of SHERRY! Sher is willing to gamble to bring musical theatre lovers items of interest. So, Why ANNIE? As divine as the Columbia OBC is, with benchmark performances by Andrea Mc Ardle and the incomparable Dorothy Loudon, The OBC has a very 1970's sound and feel that seems inescapable for a show that is set during the great depression. Ah, but this is more than a complete recording. This recording includes a second disc featuring songs from the 1992 mega disaster ANNIE 2 - Miss Hannigan's Revenge.
   
   If you'd wonder why you'd want to hear songs from this flop, the answer is simple: Charles Strouse's tunes are always interesting and often unexpected. In fact, some of his best melodies have been featured in scores from flop shows - Nick and Nora is just one example. Secondly, this second disc is narrated by Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan, who arguably was the best thing about the 1982 ANNIE feature film. Burnett lends her comic narrative to fill in the blanks around the score. Burnett,alas, doesn't sing Miss Hannigan in the ANNIE 2 Score, which is slightly disappointing, so you settle for Sally Struthers and Kathy Lee Gifford, who are both perfectly fine, but still leave you wondering what it would have been like if Burnett had performed the songs. Sadly, a lot of ANNIE 2's best melodies were recycled for the next ANNIE incarnation Annie Warbucks, albeit with different lyrics.Those songs were not included on this recording due to rights issues. The best three tracks on the second disc aren't from Annie 2 at all. They are the added songs for various productions of ANNIE. "Why Should I Change a Thing?", added for the 2004 Australian production is a welcome addition for Warbucks. "Don't Mess With Mother", added for the 30th Anniversary Production, is a revamped lyric of "You Make Me Happy", added for Nell Carter in the 20th anniversary production. Kathy Lee Gifford shines here and makes me regret not having caught her as Hannigan. The final song "It's Christmas" is from the 1977 NBC TV ANNIE Christmas Special, and features Andrea Mc Ardle reprising her role as Annie. This second disc is an oddity, but it is deserving of a place in any collector's library.
   
   This 30th Anniversary recording sounds timeless and lush. No, the new cast won't erase your fond memories, but it's chock full of performances that are fresh and just as valid. The orchestrations have been updated, while staying relatively faithful to the original concept and structure.
   
   Alene Robertson, who has made a cottage industry of playing Miss Hannigan, is delightful. Her voice is rich and deep.. and more than a tad butch.. but it works. The Divine Shelley Burch, plays Lily St. Regis on the 1st Disc, and on the Annie 2 disc, turns in a beautiful performance as Grace Farrell. I wish she'd played Grace on the first disc as well, as her voice is far superior to Elizabeth Broadhurst.
   
   Conrad John Schuck is a fine Warbucks, but doesn't posess the vocal depth, range or power of either Reid Shelton nor Harve Presnell.
   
   Of course ANNIE rises and falls on Annie herself. Marissa O' Donnell is perfectly lovely, but she still has to battle with the ghost of Andrea Mc Ardle's indelible performance. Mc Ardle's voice has always been something of an oddity: She had an adult belt from the time she was a baby, and she never sounded cutsey or sugary as Annie. Invariably, every subsequent Annie has that saccharine quality. That's simply no fault of O'Donnell's, she's just no Andrea Mc Ardle.. and who is?
   
   Grab this CD. It's not going to ever replace your OBC, but you will give it repeated play, as you hear this classic score reinvented and "gussied up" for an entirely new generation.. and of course, the 40th anniversary production isn't too far away.



2. Based on the recent 30th anniversary tour of this enduringly popular musical, this ANNIE features the tour's cast on the first disc and Carol Burnett, who starred in the first film version of ANNIE, narrating the story and deleted songs (or songs from the failed sequel, ANNIE WARBUCKS. The extras will please only the most fanatical ANNIE fans and musical theatre buff, while the tour's cast gives a solid, if uninspired, rendering of the show's score. The original cast album (and the hard-to-find original London cast) remain the definitive ANNIE albums.



3. I like this recording very much. I collect recordings of musicals and feel this is the best and most complete recording of the musical Annie available today. Many of the selections contain dialog that help tell the story better. When listening to it I almost feel like I'm watching the play. The 2nd CD with songs from the sequel Miss Hannigan's Revenge is also very good. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Annie.



4. wow! i was thrilled with this purchase. the kids voices are absolutely terrific...esp the little girl playing Molly in Annie. A must!!!!



5. This two-disc CD set is a joy! I was not in the market for another recording of ANNIE, but when I saw that it was a "complete recording" and it had songs from ANNIE 2, I got it. And I was thrilled with it from the very beginning. The CD brought ANNIE to life again right in front of my ears. The orchestra sounds full, rich and bright, and while I haven't seen the 30th Anniversary production, the performers are all very entertaining on this CD. "NYC" is particularly good.
   
   The second CD is ANNIE 2, the sequel to ANNIE that closed out of town. There are not too many of the traditional musical theatre composers like Charles Strouse working today, so it's a treat to be able to hear "new" old songs from him and Martin Charnin. Some of them are wonderful - "Coney Island" being the show-stopping standout. Plus, the three bonus songs at the end of disc 2 that were written for other productions of ANNIE and the ANNIE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL are really terrific.
   
   And one more note - the whole package with the booklet with illustrations of the real performers and scenes from the show in the style of the ANNIE cartoon strip is very well and cleverly done and show the same care that went into this recording.
   
   I, for one, miss the old-fashioned, big Broadway musicals. We're lucky that this season we are getting a number of rich sounding, well-produced CD's of revivals - SOUTH PACIFIC and hopefully GYPSY (due this summer and if it's anything like the show I saw on Broadway it will have dazzling performances and sound). This 30th Anniversary CD of ANNIE will be right up there on my shelf with the best of these revival recordings.

5 comments about Chess.

1. I have been listening to this CD for over a decade and it is still relevant, still in my CD player at all times, and a muscial and score that will live on as my all-time favorite for decades to come.
   
   I was blessed and fortunate to see Josh Groban, Raul Esparza and Adam Pascal perform in Chess for a one-night engagement for the Actor's Fund of America Concert in 2003 and I literally cried my eyes out the entire time! The audience loved the show and I can't imagine why they haven't tried to bring this back to Broadway in the years since, although perhaps there is some shell-shock from its original Broadway running which was less than mediocre. Hopefully they can get back to the original concept for this show, as evinced in this dual CD, a collector's must! I can't recommend it highly enough!



2. 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.



3. 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



4. 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



5. 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 comments about Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album.

1. I gave this three stars because no matter how bad the sound, the music is that good. Still, it's hard to believe that this is a remaster. For some reason they decided to mess with the fine mix from the LP and, instead, crank the vocal parts way up above the instruments. Sample some of the cuts and listen for yourself--if the LP is drilled into your head (like it is mine), you'll notice the difference. ON THE OTHER HAND, the sound mix on the DVD is pitch-perfect, which makes the screw-up with the CD all the more baffling. Tip: buy the DVD and rip the tracks to mp3 using freeware like DVD-MP3 Ripper.



2. I hadn't heard or even thought of "Jesus Christ Superstar" for a long time, but came across the film on cable and watched it out of curiosity. By the end of the first song, I was hooked (again). I'd forgotten how good it was. I'll review the movie separately under the item listing for the DVD, but I will report that I ended up watching it repeatedly (HD cable on demand allowed me to watch it at my convenience). It actually seemed to get better with each successive viewing, and so did the soundtrack. Both the music and the film have held up extremely well considering how old they are. In fact, I think that JCS is Andrew Lloyd Webber's very best work and while I have enjoyed "Phantom of the Opera", it's not as good.
   
   Since the only recording I had was on LP and packed away in a box somewhere, I needed to get it on CD or as a download. I started checking around on Amazon to see what was available and what other people recommended, and soon discovered that fans of this music have *very* strong opinions. There simply is no overwhelming consensus, but both the original studio recording (it was released as a studio recording before any stage performance had been given, let alone recorded) and this film soundtrack have fairly widespread support. Having watched the film so many times, I wanted the soundtrack, in spite of some negative reviews about the sound quality (mostly fair) and some reviewers who don't care for the performance. I purchased it as a download, since it was about half the price of the CDs and I could get it immediately.
   
   First, I'll discuss the performance. If you don't like the film, or if you don't like the singers in the film, then you won't like the soundtrack. But it's hard to imagine why listeners would not like the singers. Carl Anderson as Judas is outstanding and so is Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene. I found that Ted Neeley's performance as Jesus, which at first seemed a bit weak and underpowered, was actually nuanced, thoughtful, and built up through the movie, as is appropriate for his role. When he finally gets angry, you really pay attention. Having said that, some people really dislike Neely in the role and you may be one of them, so if you haven't seen the film, listen to his tracks before you make a decision. I also liked Barry Dennen as Pilate, and Josh Mostel as Herod.
   
   Now for the audio quality. Many reviewers complained about the remastering, and I agree that there are some problems, but none of them is a deal-breaker. A frequent complaint about the CD is the gap between each track, which also exists on the download version. However, you can get rid of it in iTunes by setting the "stop time" of each track to match the instant that the music stops, and then selecting "gapless play" for all of the tracks. It takes a little time, but it does a pretty good job of getting rid of the gaps, which are very annoying. This music was supposed to be heard in one continuous flow, not as segments or songs with silence in between.
   
   Another complaint that people have is that the sound was remastered and remixed poorly, and I agree that it's not nearly as well done as the remastered soundtrack that you'll hear while watching the film. I have no idea why they didn't just use the same mix for the CD, but they didn't, and it was a big mistake. There are noticeable changes in volume level between tracks, which makes it necessary to raise or lower the volume control. This doesn't occur during the film. The vocals tend to be a bit too "forward" at the expense of a fuller instrumental background, another problem that doesn't affect the film. There is also some very annoying high-pitched distortion at the very beginning of "Everything's Alright", which, while it only last a few measures, is also absent in the film version. Finally, this is not a totally complete soundtrack of all the music from the film. There is an all-instrumental interlude that takes place before the track "Judas' Death" that doesn't appear here, and it's very good music (reminiscent of a passage from Prokofiev's "Alexander Nevsky"). It could easily have been included and it should have been.
   
   Still, even with these reservations about the sound quality, I strongly recommend this version. I'm also ordering the CDs of the original version, since that was the one I first heard years ago and it is indispensible. I decided against any of the later versions, though they also have their adherents. I think it says something about the power of this music that there are so many performances available, and that each of them has its supporters.



3. This is a good translation onto CD from the movie. If you are expecting the solid, powerful vocals present on the rock opera album, you won't get it here. They are not weak by any means, just 'different'. But it does make for good comparison between the two albums. There are aspects of the Judas I like on this album and some I like on the other. Same with Jesus. It is good to see how two different singers approach the characters.



4. I fell in love with this music when I first heard it in 1973. In the past, I have purchased the vinyl LP and cassette tape. Now that I have the CD, I can listen to Ted Neeley's awesome voice hit all the high notes; Carl Anderson agonize over his decision to believe or betray; and Yvonne Elliman's confusion without worrying that the tape will break at the worst possible time or worse still, simply wear out.
   Jesus Christ Superstar is a major part of my audio life. I listen to it with wonder whenever I can, as often as I can. I highly recommend this soundtrack to anyone who enjoys extremely excellent music and wants to be transported by the experience.



5. The soundtrack from the movie is so much better than the soundtrack from the theatre cast. I think this one is more fun and more energetic. It's become a tradition in our house every easter vigil.
   
   Hope this helped.

5 comments about Oliver! (Deluxe Edition) (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING].

1. I saw this play on Broadway when it opened. I still know the lyrics!



2. "Oliver!" is not a musical to be analyzed song-by-song or voice-by-voice. It is a musical to be enjoyed as a whole. While a couple of the songs did enjoy some popular success, there is really no stand-out among them; and none of the voices is out of the ordinary.
   However, every song either propels the plot or reveals character traits. And every voice portrays the person it represents.
   So--Sit back, close your eyes, relax, visualize the version of "Oliver!" you have seen (either the movie or on stage), and relive your theater experience. You will not be sorry.



3. Charle's Dickens'musical adaptation for "Oliver Twist" showed to be a most acclaimed work of art. This is the very original version, which makes it as twice as valuable as any other version, although the movie soundtrack is quite good. Wonderful songs and a very attractive story make this an experience for all.



4. Although this original cast recording includes all the musical numbers, I can see why songs like "My Name" and "That's Your Funeral" were not embraced by the 1968 Academy Award winning film; they simply do not measure up to the high standards of the other tunes. Also, the orchestration lacks the lushness and fullness of the film. The singers of this and the film version both give credible performances; however, I would have to give the nod again to the film performers, if only because this collectors edition has a thin recording studio sound. It is evident from the information brochure that is included that this cast recording was hastily gotten together and seemingly lacked the numbers of choral boy singers to overcome its musical deficiencies.
   
   
   
   
   
   



5. I love the songs from Oliver! -- learned them as a child from the LP of the film and from a songbook. They are so sprightly and clever, with melodies that capture the lilt of the words perfectly. I remember them as very tuneful and fun to sing. So I am disappointed in the musical style on this recording.
   
   Everyone seems to be shouting instead of singing. I expected Fagin to "patter" in that speaking-singing hybrid, but on this recording MOST of the characters do it, and in a loud, forced voice -- the Artful Dodger, Nancy, and the kids' chorus. The ones that aren't pattered are belted out in the "Oom-Pah-Pah" style. The score comes across as not very nuanced or varied, which is a shame.

5 comments about Merry Christmas.

1. Anyone who loves good vocals should buy this CD as AW is beyond doubt the best there is. I am not a lover of Xmas carols but I love this one.
   The Andy Williams Christmas Album is even better. His version of O Holy Night is absolutely magic and possibly the best piece of music I have ever heard. Just Great



2. This may not truly be the best Christmas album ever, but this one of all the others means Christmas to me. It has some songs that are not typically Christmas songs, but that means they are not ones you hear over and over again--such as Little Altar Boy, The Bells of St. Mary's, and Mary's Little Boy Child. But my all-time fave is Some Children See Him--this is truly a song about tolerance, love and understanding that made a deep impression on me as a child about acceptance and the possibility that religion doesn't have to be rigid. Pretty deep for Andy Williams, huh?
   
   I tried to find a CD or even tape of this album back in the 90' when Williams started up in Branson. No such luck. Tears literally came to my eyes when I found this was available, and I played and sang along over and over again. This made my holiday. I bought copies to give to my mom and sister. I also got the red Christmas Album, but don't like that as well, only because it wasn't part of our Christmas tradition.



3. Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, Sleigh Ride and Let it Snow! are great. There are a few that are nice songs, but a stretch for Christmas, but overall it is a worthwhile album.



4. This brought back so many fond memories of days gone by when we would look forward to the Andy Williams' Christmas specials on T.V. every year. This is a wonderful selection of songs and a must have for any Andy Williams fan!



5. C'mon Sony! Put at least a little effort into your Christmas reissues! I own this and Andy's other Christmas album, as well as Tony Bennett's Sony Christmas album, and they did the same thing to all three - They sapped the life out of the recordings by filtering out the highest frequencies to reduce the tape hiss. They could have reduced the hiss by utilizing other methods, but that would have required effort. I guess Sony doesn't take their Christmas offerings very seriously.

5 comments about Hello, Dolly! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).

1. This is an amazing soundtrack! The insert even had history on the film, as this cd celebrates the anniversary of the film release. It is a treat to listen to, and all songs are performed by the original cast of the film!!



2. very good. amazing that Michael Crawford started off in this movie then did the Phantom of the Opera. he's amazing



3. Released in 1969, the movie Hello Dolly, while performing well at the box office, and even garnering an Oscar Nod for Best Picture, was considered a failure, often due to the miscasting of Barbra Streisand as the title character (ironically, she is the film's only saving grace). The soundtrack did not perform much better, and as of this day, still has not been certified gold.
   
   But even so, this is a must-own album for Barbra Streisand fans. While she does not perform on all tracks, the ones she does perform on are far and away the soundtrack's best offerings. "Just Leave Everything to Me," written specifically for the movie, is a wonderful introduction, "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" is great fun, and extremely catchy, "Before the Parade Passes By," while clearly an attempt to recreate "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl, is still well done, and the title song, a duet with Louis Armstrong, is fantastic, if a bit overlong.
   
   Unfortunately, the songs not featuring Barbra are not worth listening to at all. They are dull, not sung well, and just try to fill up space in what was probably promoted as a Barbra Streisand album. Because of that, I can only give this album three stars. Buy it for her tracks (which are 5-stars at least), but skip the rest.



4. At the time the film was released, and still today, many people ponder the fact that Barbra was 20 or so years too young to play the part. This may have been true, yet the fact remains that she is terrific in the part. On the whole, this is a fine film musical, true to the original. Very funny and hugely entertaining. There have been a lot more succesful film musicals that weren't nearly as well done. The CD is enjoyable, though I agree with others that much of the music has been needlessly abbreviatted. And the overture should most definetly have been included. Still BS is great, and you can hear what Michael Crawford's REAL singing voice is (not the breathy, over miked noise he now passes off).



5. There are very few soundtrack Cds from this period that haven't had a makeover (even "Goodbye Mr Chips" which has yet to be released on DVD)This CD is only the LP version cleaned up and transferred, leaving so much of the lavish music which can be heard in the film, on the cutting room floor. You will wonder at the end of "Just leave Everything to Me" where is the sparkling overture we are so used to in the film? You wont hear it here, nor the full dance segments from "Dancing", nor the Waiter's Gallop AT ALL. Can someone please shake up Fox and get them to release a restored and complete version of this classic score?

5 comments about Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Part One.

1. It is what exactly what it says it is. Nice jazz renditions of Christmas classics. Pour your self an eggnog and enjoy



2. This is such a hip Christmas disc! Every one who hears it loves it. It is one of our favorite holiday discs.



3. Christmas Cocktails, part one gives you twenty-one awesome tracks to make you feel toasty warm all over this holiday season! The quality of the sound is excellent and anyone who likes lounge music is bound to want this album.
   
   There are several highlights of this album. The first track is Billy May's "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo." This tune's Latin beat uses the brass, percussion and perfect timing to make a great arrangement. Peggy Lee's "Winter Wonderland" is another track I really like; her excellent diction bolsters her performance. Moreover, listen for Ray Anthony's medley of "Christmas Trumpets/We Wish You A Very Merry Christmas;" this one's wonderful, too.
   
   The incomparable Julie London does a perfect job on "I'd Like You For Christmas;" her voice conveys all the romance a man could ever want from a woman. Of course, Kay Starr's excellent "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag" features Kay singing at her best; the big band style arrangement lacks nothing, either.
   
   Dean Martin croons his way through "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm;" and Jackie Gleason and Jack Marshall give us a great medley of "I'll Be Home For Christmas/Baby, It's Cold Outside." Now THIS is mood music!
   
   Nancy Wilson performs a charming, sensitive rendition of the classic "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?;" and the immortal Nat King Cole performs "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)."
   
   There are three bonus tracks. I especially liked the one that features several different artists encouraging people to contribute to "Toys For Tots;" and Billy May's eclectic version of "Jingle Bells" is a cute way for Capitol Records to wish us all a Merry Christmas.
   
   The liner notes feature an essay by R. J. Smith; and we get two drink recipes--including one of the famous Hot Toddy. The artwork is excellent.
   
   In short, if you like lounge music--and especially pop Christmastime music from the 1950s and 1960s--you have got to get this album. It's worth every penny you'll spend on it.



4. Am I the only one who can't seem to download the music into iTunes? My computer won't even acknowledge the existence of the CD. Grrrrrr - that's not the true Christmas spirit... (or IS it?)



5. Nothing can be finer that Ultra Lounge - never a bad thing to say.

5 comments about A Year with Frog and Toad (Original Cast Recording).

1. My daughter and I love the stories, and put to music, they are even more fun.



2. After seeing a local production of "A year with frog and toad" we found this CD and we are so happy we did. My 4 year old daughters LOVE this CD--and it is fun for adults to listen to also. We all sing along with the songs and it pretty much plays continuously in our car. I grew up reading the frog and toad series and it's so fun to be able to share it both in book and music form with my children.



3. We just love this family CD. The songs are so much fun... Even I find myself lost in imagination as I listen to these songs - It reminds me of simpler times when a book is all you needed for entertainment. A must for Frog & Toad lovers!!!!



4. We've seen the musical twice now and would love to see it again. The songs are catchy, clever and cute. The characters are wonderful and richly developed. The songs go along perfectly with the stories if you have the book (if you don't you should get it). This is fun for our kids and I like it too!
   Absolutely delightful!



5. This is a delightful musical designed to appeal to children of all ages. (I'm 65 and found it magical!) Although I sure it's better to see the show than just hear it, this cast recording captures the energy of the show quite well. Most importantly, the valuable message of the show comes through very well on this recording. The message of the show is to answer the important question: "What is friendship?" Frog and Toad teach us the true meaning of this wonderful word in a way that is fun to hear!!

5 comments about Little Shop of Horrors (2003 Broadway Revival Cast).

1. Little Shop of Horrors is my all time favorite musical- I own the movie and I'm even in the musical that my school is holding. I even loved the original Roger Corman film- in fact, the whole Little Shop of Horrors story is fascinating to me, and the transformation from old school low budget movie to stunning Off-Broadway was fantastic- this was JUST the movie.
   
   There have been many revivals of the show, and this is probably the latest one. And I must say, it isn't bad, but it's definitely not good either. Here's why:
   
   SEYMOUR: OK, could have been better. When it comes to Musical Theatre, nobody can top Rick Moranis' portrayal of Seymour. The guy playing Seymour here struggles on the "I don't know! I don't know! Should I go and perform mutilations?" part.
   
   AUDREY: Ugh, don't even wanna talk about it. Her vocals on Somewhere That's Green make me wanna kill myself.
   
   ORIN: Not bad, but he could cut down on the sustaining notes.
   
   MUSHNIK: Pretty good, nothing special. WOrks on Suppertime though.
   
   THE DU-WOPS: 2 of them are great, the other one is AWFUL!!!!! She totally ruins Da-Doop.
   
   THE ENSEMBLE: Better than the main cast. Great singers, especially the wino on "Skid Row" who goes "Then you go...".
   
   THE ORCHESTRA- this is where it REALLY fails. Over orchestrated and Disney-like. I felt like I was listening to the OST for Cinderella. THis is supposed to be a ROCK musical, not a Disney peice of trash.
   
   Overall, buy this if you are an extremist, but be warned- there's better versions of this musical out there for sure. Try the 1986 film or the original broadway cast.



2. Let me start out by saying I too love the movie, as it was my first exposure to this show, it wasn't until years later I found out it was based on the Roger Corman movie. And I cannot argue that Ellen Greene OWNS the role of Audrey (as the originator of the role on Broadway, she just ran with it and made it her own), and Levi Stubbs as Audrey II is perfect as well. I was also pleasantly surprised that Rick Moranis held his own, I never would have thought of him as a singer.
   
   That said, the movie and it's attendant soundtrack are not perfect. First and foremost, the lyrics are muddled throughout, to the point of incoherency in a number of spots. That's a shame, because Howard Ashman's playful lyrics and verbal gymnastics are, for me anyway, the star of the show. (I miss Howard terribly, and frequently wonder what other masterpieces he and Alan Menken would have created, after their stint at Disney. But I digress...) Also, there are some quite talky parts of the movie that seemed odd for a musical, although Mean Green Mother from Outer Space was written specifically for the movie, and is a worthy addition. Finally, I heard the ending had been changed, due to some bad test screenings. I know the original ending exists somewhere, and I would love to see it.
   
   But all those problems are resolved with this magnificent CD. This is the complete show, with all the songs and the original ending, which is wonderfully dark. The lyrics are crystal clear, and there is far more dialogue from the show incorporated, instead of the truncated songs from the movie soundtrack. I especially like the counterpoint in Now (It's Just the Gas), where Seymour sings the exact same sentiments 2 different ways in consecutive stanzas, a fine example of Ashman's clever wordplay, on display throughout. Mushnik and Son is a twisted version of If I Were A Rich Man, from Fiddler On the Roof. There are a number of other short songs cut from the movie that just enrich the entire show, weaving as more complete story than the movie soundtrack.
   
   While the music and lyrics are perfect, and I agree that Micheal Leon Wooley's Audrey II does not hold a candle to Levi Stubbs, I think it's time to lay off Kerry Butler as Audrey. No, she is not Ellen Greene, but who else is? It must be daunting, to have to live up to that original performance, as ingrained as it obviously is in these reviewer's minds. In all honesty, I prefer her more focused and human Audrey to Ms. Greene's cartoony Betty Boop voice frequently over-the-top and mannered phrasing, especially in Somewhere That's Green. I found Ms. Butler's performance to be much more down-to-Earth and heart-rending, instead of making it a big "Look at me, I'm on Broadway" number. But that is one man's opinion. Also, she gets to sing the tragic Reprise of that song, cut from the movie, in favor of the new ending.
   
   Look at this show as the director's cut of your favorite movie, remixed to sparkling clear stereo with added scenes that fully flesh out the story (the songs cut from the movie), and even deleted scenes (the demos, all of which would have been fine additions to the show, with We'll Have Tomorrow being my personal favorite). I find this to be a more complete, satisfying meal than the movie soundtrack, which seems to me more like an over-stuffed hors d'oeurve platter. And if you still miss the movie, do what I do: Play Mean Green Mother from Outer Space either before Sominex / Suppertime II (so as not to destroy the flow between that song and the Somewhere That's Green Reprise) or after (where it seems to logically fit).
   
   But no matter how you play it, this is a worthy successor (and is in some ways superior) to an obviously much-revered soundtrack.



3. I bought this CD on a whim. Previously, I had only heard three songs from the show (Grow For Me, Somewhere That's Green, and Suddenly Seymour) and I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. Usually I am sketchy about buying CDs I have never heard before, but based on the musicals popularity, I gave it a try.
   
   And boy am I glad I did. I experienced instant gratification when I played this CD for the first time and immediately played through it a second time. I have always been a fan of Alan Menken's music and this is definately one of his best works. The music is very well written and the orchestrations are full and very satisfying. Micheal-Leon Wooley as Audrey II steals it for me.
   
   As for all of you Original Off-Broadway Fans, I don't see any reason to bash this recording. True, I didnt grow up with the simplified version, nor have I even heard it, but being a huge fan of another very simple, Off-Broadway show (The Fantasticks) I can understand why you would be a "Little Shop" Purist and hate this "overblown" production. But in my mind, I see this as a show by itself, and not a re-due of the original. I was very pleased with this CD and I wonder why it took me so long to catch on.



4. This revival covers the distance made famous by the original and, later, movie version of LSoH. What makes the difference? The songs that didn't make it. "The worse he treats me" features Alan Menken, composer, singing as Audrey about her abusive dentist boyfriend. Seeing this and the other songs that were cut in their basic form makes one mourn all over again for Howard Ashman, the lyricist of LSoH.



5. The singing in this version of Little Shop of Horrors is absolutely wonderful, I'd recommend it to anybody who liked the play or movie.