5 comments about !Hero The Rock Opera (Digipack Version).

1. !Hero is amazing. One of the best CD's I've ever heard. It has tons of different styles of music such as Rock, Rap, Heavy Metal, Latino, Hip-Hop, etc... And the best part is that ontop of all the wonderful songs, they don't mess up the story of Jesus Christ.
   
   If you want to like the show, don't compare it to Broadway. Don't compare it to Jesus Christ Superstar or Godspell. Both of those shows are good Rock Operas and I love them both. They have many things that are characterisic of Broadway music. The biggest problem is that they leave out the most essential part of the story of Christ. His reserection! !Hero is much different. It is not even trying to be a Broadway show, as it's not even playing in New York, but in Tenessee. It does not have music normally found in Broadway shows. It is it's own unique category and it can't be compared to Broadway shows about Christ. One of the biggest and best parts of the show and CD are not it's amazing songs (which I love and have memorised) but the fact that it tells the whole story of Christ and is very acurate to the Bible's message. It even includes the reserection.
   
   If you want to enjoy it, don't compare it to Broadway, but listen to it with an open mind. It is a wonderful CD that almost never leaves my CD player. I love it. I would highly suggest anyone to get it!



2. Like the DVD and graphic novel...the HERO sdtk is a must have for those seeking to broaden their musical spectrums. This double cd features rock, pop, hip hop, and a few ballads. The production is timeless, the songs are priceless, the vocals are there, and message is clear. The music behind the 21st century's most authentic and original parable...A MASTERPIECE, and the album that introduced me to the music of Michael Tait(of dctalk & TAIT). A Rock Opera compilation worth the money and the message. BUY THE ALBUM.



3. This is really a great cd. The songs lead into one another just as they should if it's truly an opera. I can't help but find the name interesting as when one sees words such as "opera" and "rock opera" it conjures up certain images. The great thing about this cd is that the songs can be listened to and enjoyed inidividually or together. I honestly am not sure why this cd has gotten mixed reviews other than the fact that the title of rock opera may have given some people some sort of expectation of what it should be. I encourage everyone interested in this to give it a try - I was certainly not disappointed and I don't think you will be either.



4. !HERO: The Rock Opera is an outstanding rendition of the Christ tale with a blend of rock, pop, rap/hip-hop and other musical styles. This soundtrack features great performances from Michael Tait (Tait, DC Talk) as Hero (Jesus), Rebecca St. James as Maggie (Mary Magdalene), Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline as Petrov (the Apostle Peter) and John Cooper of Skillet as Chief Rabbi Kai (Caiaphas, the High Priest). Some of my favorite songs include "Lose My Life with You," "Secrets of the Heart," "Love's Declaration" (the Beattitudes) and "Take My Hand" (where Hero enters a hospital and cures an AIDS patient). I also love "Not in Our House" (Chasing out the moneychangers), the title track (Petrov's response to the "Who do you say that I am?" question), "I Am" and "He's Not Here." I think the lyrics from "Leave Here" reflect the secular world's Christophobic attitude towards not only Christians and Christianity, but also toward Jesus Christ Himself. I love the soundtrack CD as well as the live performance DVD, and I would really love to see !HERO: The Rock Opera adapted as a film for the big screen. This would make a great movie musical!



5. I was thumbing around passing time at a local Christian store, and I, by some "random" chance, started listening to the sample CD of !Hero The Rock Opera. It absolutely amazed me in how it intertwined a "secular" music sound with Jesus lyrics and how it would of been if it all happened in modern times.

   The songs put a new spin on how Jesus' life played out--but in the U.S. in modern times with modern reactions. I absolutely love the song "Lose My Life With You"--it gives a better insight into the relationship of the mother and her son--and what it's like to have that relationship in jeopardy.

   I highly recommend this collection for anyone--I'm a big theatre fan, so this awesome collection of songs with all different styles has a theatrical theme through it that is a must have for anyone--no matter their religion. :-)

1 comments about Broadway Show Tunes.

1. Okay, I agree that this isn't the most popular in Broadway cast recordings, nor is it the longest, but it still is a decent listen for anyone who doesn't want to dive right into the Broadway/musical genre, but just skim the surface of it slightly. There are some surprisingly good songs on here, like 'Seasons of Love' from Rent, 'If I Were a Rich Man' from Fiddler on the Roof, and 'On My Own' from Les Miserables, to name a few. So, if you want a small collection of hits from musicals that have nothing to with each other without immersing yourself in the genre, buy this album.

No comments about Sound of Music.

5 comments about Broadway Passion.

1. Broadway Passion Ron Raines is an amazing talent. His voice stays with you as the music continues to play in your head long after the CD player has been turned off. His rendition of "Dulcinea" will move you to tears. It is the perfect match of music and voice. This CD is fabulous as is his SO IN LOVE WITH BROADWAY with an equally perfect "Anthem." All I can say is R3! (RON RAINES ROCKS!) And, on top of it all, he's one fine looking man! Check him out on GUIDING LIGHT as he plays the conniving curmudgeon Alan Spalding (the best one since Christopher Bernau originated the part).



2. While there are dozens of current recordings of contemporary theater artists available these days, this has got to be one of, if not THE best. I've been familiar with Ron Raines for years, but never gave him much thought until recently. After hearing him perform on Leading Men Don't Dance (a must have recording) and the studio version of 110 In The Shade (exceptional), I was compelled to buy this CD. And am I glad I did! He has the clearest, fullest voice of any leading man alive, not to mention an amazing, expansive vocal range. Is he a baritone or a tenor? The answer is both, his range is that broad. While the selections are all pretty standard Broadway fare, they are seldom performed with such brilliant clarity and nuance. Not to take anything away from other artists, but his version of Soliloquy from Carousel, is the best since John Raitt. His expertise as an actor shines through, and every word and note of R&H's masterpeice comes across with pure passion. I can not recommend this CD enough! Can't wait to get his next one!



3. Ron Raines' singing is out of this world. This tape showcases his amazing talent. Anyone who loves the Broadway hits will be more than pleased with his renditions.



4. A Five Star rating is hardly sufficient to rate this magnificent performance of Mr. Raines. His extraordinary Baritone voice is even from top to bottom and his delivery is of the finest quality! If I had my preference of ratings, I would award his performance on this CD a solid TEN!!



5. I love this CD. Ron Raines has a beautiful voice, and a wonderful way of presenting a song. It's too bad he has to make a living on GUIDING LIGHT though he is excellent in the complex charater of Alan Spaulding. He should be singing all the time. Ron Raines, being a great actor as well as a singer, brings a lot of depth to his interpretation of the songs on this CD. Why don't you buy it?

5 comments about South Pacific (2001 Television Soundtrack).

1. A total waste. Glenn Close was too old, the rest of the cast dull. The one exception is Harry Connick who was ideally cast as Lt. Cable. The entire film, however is dreary and unmoving. Get the Carnegie Hall concert version with Reba. THAT is a masterpiece of a performance, and does true justice to this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic.



2. South Pacific is my favorite musical, and always has been. I already have the original cast stage recording starring Mary Martin, but I wanted to add the original movie soundtrack starring Mitzi Gaynor, which is really my preferred version.
   
   Unfortunately the Amazon affiliate I ordered from made a mistake and sent me this one instead, otherwise, based on poor reviews here, I would never have ordered it. So I though I would show an open mind and give it a spin anyway, but was sorely disappointed right from the get-go and had not even got halfway through the CD, before I was impelled to remove it from the disc drive. I then gritted my teeth and played it all the way through so that I could write a review.
   
   The orchestration is weak, Glenn Close is mediocre as Nelly Forbush, and Harry Connick is really, really feeble in the lead role as Lt. Joe Cable. Quite honestly I did not realise what a weak singer he is until I heard this. I think maybe I could do as well. Rade Sherbedgia as Emile sounds like a second-rate attempt to mimic Maurice Chevalier, but without the charm.
   
   The singing of Bali Hai (in which Juanita Hall's vocals are is so beautifully overdubbed by Muriel Smith in the movie version) was so-so, and to add insult to injury one of my favorite songs, Happy Talk, is omitted altogether.
   
   I very rarely write such a negative review, but clearly if you want a good recording of South Pacific, either the movie soundtrack or the original cast albums are the way to go. I have also listened to the Reba McIntyre version, but in my opinion her whisky-and-cigarettes voicings are quite unsuited to the ingenue role of Nelly.
   
   Perhaps I am a little harsh. After all this album contains plenty of enjoyable listening, but I am assuming that the point of reading reviews is to determine what is the best purchase, and the fact is that this is only a television soundtrack and that it is in competition with two of the most beloved of all stage and screen soundtrack recordings.
   
   If you listened to this without knowing who the performers were, you would just think that it was a cheap cover version.
   
   So even if copies of this are available so cheaply as to be almost free, it is probably worth while to fork out a few dollars more to get one of the definitive versions, parts of which are so beautiful they will bring tears to your eyes. I would get the movie soundtrack.



3. If you only want one version of "South Pacific", go for the Broadway cast recording. This one has its merits, but it falls short. Glenn Close handles her parts quite well and is the saving grace of this CD. Most other aspects of the recording are disappointing. The worst mistake, I think, was the inclusion of the altered, muted versions of several numbers, including the title theme.



4. The 1949 original Broadway cast is as definitive a recording of the original version as we'll ever likely get.

   Though the stage show was one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's biggest hits, the script has not aged well. It is overlong and lacking in subtleness. The 1958 film, despite the beautiful scenery, is played woodenly.

   So, in 2000, ABC TV and Glen Close produced a new TB film with a new script that weaves in most of the songs and situations of the original play while at the same time fleshing out the characters and making them more realistic.

   Is the film a complete success? Well, no. For starters Glen Close is too old for the role of Nellie. She does act it well, however, and she sings with a characterful chest voice though I do detect some of her high notes might be dubbed. I have just re-watched the movie and don't find her all that objectionable. She sounds like she is having fun cutting loose in "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "A Wonderful guy."

   Rade Sherbedgia certainly looks the part of DeBecque but since we are so used to hearing robust Bass singers in the role, his softly sung arias take a good deal of getting used to. Instead of an outpouring of emotion in "this Nearly Was Mine" he offers a more introspective take on the role. It's actually a good idea and might work better with a stronger singer.

   Harry Connick Jr acts the part of Cable quite well and shades the characters different emotions. True he is more of New Orleans than Philadelphia, and like the others he tends to pull the big musical moments inward. It is most effective in the scene after he first makes love to Liat and croons a tender "Younger Than Springtime." This is everything that the sung ought to be... passionate, sexy and filled with wonder. This is a young man caught off guard by true love for the first time and Connick communicates that brilliantly. His "crooning" is not wildly out-of-place and certainly in keeping with the types of singers he would have heard at home. Some scenes later he performs a remarkably understated "Carefully Taught" having played the intense anger in the dialogue scene that precedes the song. The result is more a case of Cable realizing what he is saying than just spitting out an angry indictment. It may not be the way it was originally done, but you can't argue with its effectiveness.

   In re-writing the screenplay, the scenes and songs were re-arranged from their traditional order. In this new version we see the first meeting of Nellie and Emile at an officers club dance, and the song "A Cockeyed Optimist" is used in this sequence to establish Nellie's outlook. It's part of her charm and clearly attracts DeBecque. The structure also allows the first two scenes of the musical to unfold simultaneously.

   Anyone considering a Broadway revival of SOUTH PACIFIC might do well to examine the TV film for its style and construction. There might indeed be a way to make the story work for modern audiences, clearing away some of the hoary old jokes and developing character instead.

   As for the CD, well if you do not like the performances in the film you won't like the CD, but if you like the new film you will enjoy the CD which is essentially a straight transfer from the film's soundtrack.




5. The 2001 version of South Pacific with Glenn Close as Nellie Forbush, Harry Connick as Joe Cable and Rade Sherbedgia as Emile has some nice moments. The overture was expansive though not as much involving as the original. Glenn Close should dispense common notions that she cannot sing as she shows tremendous vocal pipes here. But as big a fan as I am of Glenn Close, I just think she is perfect for Norma Desmond songs (or a musical dedicated to the travails of Cruella De Ville). Nellie Forbush is not really her thing. "A Wonderful Guy" is a great song, but she sounded a bit old here where she should be an ingenue. "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" was much much better. Rade Sherbedgia did not have Ezio Pinza's range but his speech-voice gives a touching vulnerability to Emile. Emile was sung by Ezio Pinza and even Jose Carreras, but Rade reminded me a lot of Jon Voight who did Stanley Kowalski in one "A Streetcar Named Desire" adaptation. They both imbued a touching fragility to a character without diminishing his machismo. I am also a fan of Harry Connick, but his cloudy jazz vocal did not really flesh out Joe Cable the way Mandy Patinkin did in the near-operatic version of it in 1987. Connick sounds uncomfortable singing songs with long vocal lines. Note his initially interesting take of "Younger Than Springtime" with righteous world-weariness, then listen how the song became more like a study in geriatric plea for the hand of a maiden in the end. He fared better in "You've Got To Be Taught", but he scored major points in the last song where he duetted with Glenn Close, called "The Girl Back Home" that was not in the original production (I think). Both complemented each other. Connick longing, Close appropriately ingenuous.

   Bloody Mary and the one sho sang her did not make me forget Juanita Hall's or Sarah Vaughan's versions of "Bali Ha'i". Vaughan in particular gave an unsurpassable version of "Happy Talk" in the 1987 recording.

   Nice album, just the same, but I guess, people should be advised to get the Ezio Pinza-Mary Martin album or the Rosanno Brazzi-Mary Martin album or even the Kiri Te Kanawa-Jose Carreras version first before this.

No comments about Kate Smith.

No comments about The New Rocky Horror Show [Soundtrack].

3 comments about The Essential Mills Brothers: Four Boys and a Guitar.

1. "Four Boys and a Guitar" remains the perfect introduction to the Mills Brothers' early recordings. Most of the 1930s classics are here, along with memorable collaborations featuring Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Don Redman. Though no longer in print, this Columbia/Legacy CD is worth seeking out.



2. I have been a major fan of The Mills Brothers for ten years now. What jumpstarted my love of their vocals was a chance meeting with the song "Diga Diga Doo" on my car radio when I was driving home one cloudy morning. I have picked up six different compilations of their work since then, and this collection is my "Desert Island" pick. I have always been preferential to their early recording years; the upbeat songs are incredibly smooth, the melancholy songs haunting! Don't get me wrong, The Mills Brothers remained great until the end, but there is something about their voices in those earlier years that is very soothing; it feels as if they are singing the song to you personally, with a gentleness in their voices that is meant to calm your soul! That might sound melodramatic, but that's the only way I can describe the effect they have on me. The songs that hit me hardest: "Old Rocking Chair," a mournful tune about an elderly man living out his last days. As sorrowful as the lyrics read, there is something comforting in the way these gentlemen sing the tune. "Jungle Fever," an incredibly sultry song for its day about a man longing for his native dreamgirl. "I Heard" is not only a catchy tune, but a clever and humorous piece where we hear folks passing vague gossip down the line. If you own other Mills Brothers compilations, shell out a few more bucks for this particular collection. If you've never owned any Mills Brothers before, you owe it to your audio-soul to begin a new CD collection, starting with "Four Boys and a Guitar."



3. This CD (on Columbia/Legacy CK57713) contains 18 of their best known tracks from their early years with Brunswick records. Some of the songs included are: "I Heard", "Fiddlin' Joe", "Chinatown, My Chinatown", "Swing It Sister", Diga Diga Doo", and "Dirt Dishin' Daisy". All tracks are relatively clean sounding and not too clicky or scratchy (a nice change from most of the reissues of these early 1930s "lo-fi" recordings). It also contains a previously unreleased and only known copy of a test pressing of them singing "My Little Grass Shack", which is great to hear, and a nice version to boot. Well worth having in your collection, and these "Four Boys And A Guitar" tracks are every bit as entertaining as they were when released over 65 years ago, before the Mills Brothers went more "pop" in the early 1940s with songs like "Glow Worm" and "Paper Doll". END

No comments about Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940 Movie Soundtrack) (Rhino Handmade).

1 comments about When We Were Very Young.

1. My son is 5 years old and he loves this CD. He will gladly play quietly for hours as long as he can listen to Gene Kelly tell him stories. These are classic fairy tales all brought to life through song and acting by the great Gene Kelly. Every kid should have this CD.