5 comments about The Secret Garden: A New Musical (1986 London Studio Cast).

1. I liked the OBC of this show and found it much more enjoyable! Barbara is too old to play Martha and she has about 4 solos and 2 duets, WHY? Mary the main character in the show dosn't have a solo! WHY? If you want somthing enjoyable get the OBC or the London.



2. The flat, unoriginal music in this boring musical does nothing compared to its flowering rival, Simon's "The Secret Garden" (Broadway). Buy the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Lucy Simon's musical, the original is a dead weed.



3. I bought this because I love the story and had also thoroughly enjoyed the OBC of the Lucy Simon version.
   I'm happy to say I was pleasantly surprised by this version. Many of the songs (notably Before You Know It's Summer, One Patch of Blue, Wings) are better than the version produced on Broadway and in London. However, my only criticism is that Barbara Cook is far too old to play Martha, and even though she sings her songs beautifully I couldn't help wishing it was someone younger! Since obtaining the London Cast of the Lucy Simon version (much better than the OBC!!) I would say I love both versions equally!
   Buy it before it's deleted!!!



4. As an alternative to the popular success of Simon-Norman's adaptation of "The Secret Garden" that played Broadway in the early 1990s, this studio album is perfect. It features some of the greatest of the Broadway stage. Tony winners John Cullum, Judy Kaye, George Rose and the immortal Barbara Cook lead the cast of this Sharon Burgett musical.

   It's a vastly different approach to the material, more from a traditional musical standpoint (Rodgers and Hammerstein-esque). It's material is beautiful with a knock-out overture. It may remind some of Alan Menken's compositions for "Beauty and the Beast", however this was made 5 years before that hit film.

   The standout is "My Mother", the duet between Martha and Mary. There are many excellent musical sequences and it would be nice to see this musical have some more exposure in the form of an actual stage production.




5. I really liked this CD. The songs were beautiful, but it took a while for me to get to like them. the song"MY Mother" is very touching and sad, while "Just like me" is really cute. I would really recommend this CD, especilly if you need music for a talent show act, some of the songs would make great dancing music!

2 comments about Heart Beats: Closer Than a Kiss: Crooner Classics.

1. Forget the sappy cover and patronizing notes on the back of the CD. What counts is what's on the inside, and this sweet collection of 16 of the greatest male singers of love songs excells in terms of the informative booklet, the selection of tunes, and of course the cast of balladeers. No less than 3 of the selections belong in virtually every listener's record collection--Sinatra's "Night and Day," Coltrane/Hartman's "My One and Only Love," and Chet Baker's "My Funny Valentine." But besides these classics there are numerous welcome surprises--the infectious swing of Jack Jones on "You'd Better Love Me," the seductive charm of Billy Eckstein on "That's All," the rich expressive tones of the scandalously forgotten Herb Jeffries on "As Time Goes By," and the uncharacteristically slow and reflective reading Dick Haymes gives to "The Way You Look Tonight." Promoted as a nostalgia record, a "chic disc," a mood-music miscellany, the album is actually a solid representation of the American Songbook and its most definitive male interpreters. (Amazon appears to offer two virtually identical versions of this album with the exception of the price ...



2. This is truly one of the best collections ever assembled, an' quite possibly the most romantic classics I can think of, all given perfect treatment by the singers. The tunes, the arrangements, the backing vocals are all top-notch. No matter what your frame of musical reference, you will respond to these songs and the singers performing them, because they are so beautiful and unequalled. Their suave stylings were, and still remain, the perfect soundtrack to candle-lit dinners with your sweetheart and nights spent cuddled up with her by a warm fire. I always have it in my CD player when me and my baby are together.

   My favorite cuts are as follows; the perfect opening track 'Night and Day' sung by the immortal Frank Sinatra, in the version recorded in 1942 with Axel Stordahl and his Orchestra. Frank's phrasing is impeccable; he doesn't sing so much as caress each note. Then 'My Shining Hour', sung by Mel Torme, a little faster and jazzier than some of the other cuts here, but still conveys loving emotion. 'Speak Low', sung by Sammy Davis, Jnr., one'a his best songs, lush and unhurried, focusing on Davis' superb vocals, and a simple acoustic guitar accompanying it. 'My One and Only Love', performed by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, with Coltrane's sweet, mellow an' unmistakeable horn intro, an' Hartman's beautiful vocal delivery. 'My Funny Valentine', sung by Chet Baker, with a very strange and soft voice and style, highlighted here in this almost spooky-sounding version, that has a kind of dejected and mournful vibe. 'I'll Be Around', sung by Al Hibbler, lovely and mournful, I prefer Sinatra's version of this song, but Hibbler, a vocalist for Duke Ellington's orchestra, has still got the goods for sure. And finally 'Closer than a Kiss', sung by Vic Damone, a beautiful and dreamy number, Damone's voice is yearning, halting, and so romantic it will no doubt make you want to be with your love the second you hear it.

   This whole collection is terrific. So this is what you do. Invite your significant other to a romantic dinner, have some candlelight, pour some wine, talk to each other, laugh with each other, tell how much you love each other. An' after that, you do whatever comes to mind.

1 comments about Star of Stage and Screen.

1. 
   I have the greatest respect for and owe a lot to the gallant little producers who are restoring old recordings to CDs. So to my list of such companies as DRG and Archeophone, I can now add a delightful little label from London, England called Sepia.
   
   
   I have just listened to 5 CDs, each featuring a female vocalist from the past, and was fascinated by their contrasting styles.
   
   
   "Starring Betty Rhodes" (Sepia 1069) showcases a singer whose ""I don't want to walk without you" I have used so many times in my talk about the songs of World War II. Never the great star, she was always around doing a far better than average job in a few films and countless recordings. Here she sings 26 numbers that include "Somewhere in the night," "What is this thing called love?" "Rumors are flying," and "Buttons and bows." Her style is easy going and very very pleasant.
   
   
   By way of contrast, "Betty Garrett: Star of Stage & Screen" (1038) is filled with lively but never over the top renditions of 28 songs such as "Manhattan," "Take me out to the ballgame," "Side by side," and "Home cookin'." She is accompanied along the way by such luminaries as Milton Berle, Vic Damone, Jimmy Durante, and Gene Kelly. Garrett, by the way, became a star when she brought down the house in "Call Me Mister" singing "South America, take it away." A real fun CD.
   
   
   I seem to remember the featured singer of "Hildegarde: Entrancing Music" (1066) as far back as my preteens. She was quite popular in cabarets and nightclubs, with a style that was friendly without being obnoxious (as are too many nightclub acts) and with a voice that could be sexy one minute and little girlish the next. Among the 26 numbers on this CD, she is best in slow ballads like "The touch of your lips" and "Every time we say goodbye," not quite comfortable with "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "The sidewalks of New York." The recordings used are in chronological order from 1936 to 1944 and afford a very pleasurable 78 minutes of listening. Hildegarde, by the way, passed away as recently as July 2005.
   
   
   Also having gained fame as a cabaret singer in Europe is the star of "Gretta Keller: Remember Me & Other Intimate Songs" (1063). Equally at home in German and English, this chanteuse renders 25 songs, recorded in the mid-1950s, that include "The very thought of you," "They can't take that away from me," "These foolish things," and "Time on my hands." Her smoky voice will conjure up memories of Marlene Dietrich; but Keller is her own self in these engaging renditions of mostly familiar ballads.
   
   
   The fifth and probably most familiar name on this cross-section of Sepia CDs appears on "Hommage a Josephine Baker: Disque du centenaire" (1065). This centenary tribute to the great singer includes songs recorded from 1930-53, in English and French (just listen to "Peg o' my heart" as "Peg de mon Coeur"!). Here is the voice of a St. Louis slum child who decided to make the most of her talents, even if it meant going to Paris to do so, and building herself into a great exponent of the French music hall.
   
   
   Her voice can go from high soprano to what sounds like a mezzo, and she sounds great at any pitch. Included in the 27 songs on this CD are "La Congo blicoti," "Besame mucho," "Brazil," and "A message from the man in the moon." This disc should do a lot to make up for the cold reception she got upon her return to her native soil safter her European triumphs.
   
   
   I am assured by the gentlemen running Sepia that these discs are available through amazon.com. And by the way, think what excellent gifts these would make, since you can be sure very few people will already have them in their collections.

No comments about Broadway Ballads.

1 comments about 16 Most Requested Songs.

1. Kate Smith had arguably the purest voice in popular singing in the twentieth century and this cd certainly shows it off. My personal favorites here are magnificent versions of "Memories of You", "Somebody Loves Me", and "My Buddy". While "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo" may be suited more for male singers, she does these songs proud and are classic versions of these songs. If you love ballads being crooned with heart and great diction, you're sure to love this cd.

5 comments about Annie.

1. Althought the OBC is the definitive recording of this musical, and although the 1999 T.V. production with Victor Garber and Audra Macdonald is a far better adaptation of the show, this 1982 soundtrack is a delight in its own right. The main reason to buy this album is because of the cast: Carol Burnett, Albert Finney, Anne Reinking, Bernadette Peters, Tim Curry, and Aileen Quinn as the title character. A few songs in the film were actually better on screen than on stage, "It's the Hard-Knock Life" and "I Don't Need Anything But You" being chief among them. The songs added specifically for the film are also a delight, the comic duet between Burnett and Finney, "Sign" being my favorite. "Let's Go To the Movies" is also a classic and fits right into Depression-era culture. Although number like "Dumb Dog" and "Sandy" make you long for the numbers from the stage show they replaced ("We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover"). Still, a delightful soundtrack!



2. My husband and I looked all over for this movie. I remember watching it as a child and our little girl loved it also. We searched every store we could think of and had relatives in different states looking as well. It was not available. We finally found it on Amazon and it arrived on time and in brand new condition. Thanks so much!



3. We bought this CD when we discovered our 2 year-old loved musicals and loved the Annie video, so now we can enjoy the songs in the car! Truly great, we all sing along: 2 year-old, 4 year-old, and parents!



4. I bought this for my 3 year old daughter who has watch the move at least 20 times. I have this CD in my car. Anytime my daughter is in the car, she want us to put on Annie so, that she can sing along with it. It is one of the best soundtracks that we own.



5. My two year old daughter loves Annie, keeps her dancing and singing whenever she watches it!

5 comments about The Best of the Decca Years.

1. I'm not a fan of anthologies, but at least a well-produced collection such as this beats a grab-bag of mp3 downloads. Peggy's "second career" was kick-started when she left Capitol for Decca, where she was able to record her singular interpretation of "Lover" (the most attention-getting orchestral opening a pop tune has ever received) and "Black Coffee," the album that established her as a bona fide "jazz" singer. Unfortunately, only the title song of the latter session is included here, and the assortment of tunes, like other Best of-- collections, contains sometimes jarring alterations in audio fidelity, orchestral textures, and ambience. Nevertheless, it's a thoughtful selection of 16 tunes nicely representing Peggy's work for the label. Two of the tunes feature Peggy in the rare company of other singers (Bing Crosby and the Mills Brothers), and about half of the songs have lyrics penned by Peggy herself. The biggest revelation for me was "Where Can I Go Without You?," virtually an American "art song" with Peggy's poignant lyric set to an exquisite melody provided by the great Victor Young.
   
   If this one isn't brought back into print, I certainly hope it's available under a different title. But listeners new to Lee need to know what they're purchasing. Not realizing that "A Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring" was virtually her last recorded gasp rather than a Best of--anthology, some reviewers, I've noticed, are criticizing the septuagenarian Lee for not being 30 years old, or the record company for not making her sound that way. Let's at least play fair--or, if you prefer, release your own vocal recording after your 70th birthday.



2. Some people believe that the Decca years were Peggy Lee's finest. Whatever one believes, it cannot be denied that during her time with Decca she made a number of very fine recordings many of which are featured on this CD. From her original rendition of "Lover" through to the almost whispered "Mr. Wonderful" she displays her own inimitable talents. Peggy does not have a powerful voice in the conventional sense of the word and perhaps that is part of the secret of her success. Her voice has a quality with somehow compels her audience to listen and to concentrate on her singing. Once you do that, she has got you - like a femme fatale she tightens her grip and any attempt at escape is futile. This CD encompasses the complete spectre of human emotions from elation to blues as in her rendition of "Black Coffee". From the less serious side of her nature as portrayed in two of her tunes from "Lady and the Tramp" to a more contemplative mood in such classics as "Where Can I Go Without You" and I would thoroughly recommend it to those who enjoy nostalgia, or those like myself, born after these recordings were made, who just enjoy good music. The recent death of Peggy Lee in January 2002 leaves an empty space which will never be filled for she was, in the tradition of all truly great performers, unique. We can, however, take some solace in the fact she left behind a plethora of recordings covering half a century and keep her memory alive for many years to come.



3. This CD captures Peggy Lee at her most expressive. Containing many of her own compositions, including one great ditty with the Mills Bros., she tears out your guts right from the start. But this is no ordinary singer, this is Miss Peggy Lee. She makes you think you know where she's going, then-- BANG--you are taking ANOTHER magic ride! That's the mark of genius, and, of course, the mark of Miss Peggy Lee. This is a MUST HAVE!



4. This superb collection will introduce you to some of Peggy's best work on the Decca label. When Capitol Records wouldn't record her amazing rendition of "Lover" she signed with Decca. This CD opens with her smash-hit "Lover" and includes her unequaled reading of "Black Coffee." It also has seven songs written by Peggy! "Johnny Guitar" and "Where Can I Go Without You" are Peggy Lee (lyrics) and Victor Young (music) classics! Then there's her wicked "Sans Souci," watch out! Truly a five star CD. For more info on Peggy please write to: The Peggy Lee Fan Club - 744 Collier Drive - San Leandro, CA 94577



5. Peggy Lee could sing the phone book & it'd be great..how I wish I were fortunate enough to have seen her perform live about 40 yrs. ago, I heard she gave the audience more than their money's worth, singing all her hit songs & more. Hers was one of the best voices in recorded music & I'm thankful Peggy has such a treasure trove of songs on both Decca & Capitol Records. This cd is an absolute must have if you're a true fan.

No comments about Evita.

5 comments about Meredith Willson's The Music Man (1991 Studio Cast).

1. The other reviews are of a different recording - that of the recent Broadway revival with Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker.
   This is a studio recording starring baritone Timothy Noble. The performance tries hard and includes probably more music than most recordings (including "Being in Love" from the film). The main problem seems to be with the tempo. All the songs could be performed twice as fast as the are. While orchestral details might be missing at that speed, the score would get an injection of energy which is what makes this musical work.



2. First of all, let me say that I love this show, but the old Robert Preston recording gets...well, for lack of a better word...old. Preston created the role, yes, but his less-than-stellar voice is often overpowered by the golden voiced divas he was duetting with (i.e. Barbara Cook and Shirley Jones). Craig Bierko, however, has a VERY good voice and he and Rebecca Luker blend nicely. I am a big fan of Luker's work, too, so her presence on this recording is an added bonus.
   
   It is also a "complete" recording, if you will. I mean that it includes all the songs that are performed in the stage version of The Music Man including the "Pick-A-Little" reprise and "My White Knight", which was re-written for the film.
   
   If you're looking for a Music Man recording, this is the one to buy. If you want Preston, buy the film, but stay far, far, FAR away from Matthew Broderick.



3. This is the best Music Man CD yet! It has enough new instrumentations that it is interesting, but not so many that it is very different than Broadway. The book that comes with it (the one with the cover on the front) is great, it has pictures, lyrics, cast, and a summary of the play. The quartet was not that good, though. In all this is a 5-star album that any real Music Man fan should own.



4. If you like musicals, buy this CD. It is THE best Music Man cast recording of all time for one main reason; Susan Stroman (many Tony awards) directed it. Since Susan is a choreographer as well as a director she included dance music on this recording. It is great to finally hear complete songs. Although it is not the exact music you will hear if you go to see a "non-Susan Stroman" production of the music man; at least there is dance music. 76 Trombones is the most well known song from the show. On most other cast recordings it has been reduced to about 3 minutes, on this CD however, it is well over 7 minutes long. Also the Shipoopi is horrible on ALL the other recordings, on this one however the music is fabulous and the cast is great! All the songs on this CD are perfect. Craig Bierko is amazing (as good as Robert Preston, maybe better). Rebecca Luker is a great singer and does not at all bring down this cast recording, but she is not quite as good as Kristin Chenoweth from the new movie (but who is?). A lot of the songs have been slightly updated; the best are 'The Wells Fargo Wagon' and 'Finale Ultimo'. This new cast recoding is wonderful and greatly appreciated my music man fans and dancers all over. BUY IT!!!



5. Forget all but the Original Cast Recording. Everything about this Digital Recording blows every other recording of this musical out of the water. I've heard them all (including the new Kristin Chenowith/Matthew Broderick version) and this beats them all. Reading all the reviews of every version of this available here on Amazon.com, I am honestly shocked more people don't know about this incredible version. The cast is by far the best, the chorus is full and on target, and the orchestra is right off the bandstand--and wonderfully recorded. GET THIS NOW!

3 comments about The Musical Adventures Of Peter Pan (1996 Studio Compilation).

1. I was so pleased to find this compilation of Peter Pan songs. Not only do they include the songs from the classic 1954 Mary Martin Broadway/TV versions, but also the cut Broadway versions by Leonard Bernstein and little known gems from the 1976 TV version and the film "Hook." It's very clear that producer Bruce Kimmel researched all versions of Peter Pan, in order to bring the best of author James M. Barrie's vision of Peter Pan.

   The performances are splendid, particularly John Freeman as Captain Hook. When Mr. Freeman annouces that he "is the best villian of all time" in a wonderfully oily voice, he makes the listener (almost) forget Cyril Richard's classic performance as Captian Hook. (A nice added touch is the pirates' gruff asides and their offkey band.) Likewise, Alet Oury's "I Gotta Crow," Susan Egan"s "You can Fly/I'm Flying," and Lindsay Ridgeway's "I Won't Grow Up" capture Peter Pan's enthusiam and pride. The wistfulness of the story is poignantly portrayed in Michelle Nicastro's "Never Never Land," Kristine Fraelich's "Tender Shephard/Once Upon a Bedtime," and Liz Larson's "It's What You Believe In."

   This collection also brings out the darker side of the Peter Pan myth. During the 1970's, the Peter Pan Syndrome was born: Peter Pan was representative of all immature men who refused to grow up, and Wendy was the enabler who took over Peter Pan's responsibility as head of the household of the Lost Boys. When Tammy Minoff expresses Wendy's obsessive devotion in "Peter, Peter", the listener realizes that Peter Pan icon was based on a fully developed character with good and bad sides.

   One minor complaint: I was disappointed the song "Oh My Mysterious Lady" that Mary Martin and Cyril Richard did so charmingly was not included. One would love to hear what John Freeman as Captain Hook would have done with THAT song!

   But why quibble? From the beginning of the exciting overture, this CD captures the splendor and glory of Peter Pan.

   Please, Mr. Kimmel, let's have more Broadway compilations. How about West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie or Guys and Dolls next?




2. I love all the singers and the music!Its great



3. i have always liked peter pan its my favourt disney movie ever sence i was 5.