1 comments about Collection, Vol. 2.

1. Not as good as the Collection Vol. 1, but still a good cd for easy listening on Sunday, or any time you need a pick-me-up.

2 comments about Broadway Magic.

1. Before I bought this CD, all I knew of Stanley Black was his piano-and-orchestra music (my parents owned the "Red Velvet" LP, which I now own and have on CD as well). I was hoping for more of the same, but there was no 'listen to samples' available, so I just bought it. It is very different to what I expected, not what I was looking for, and I actually gave my CD away to someone who will enjoy it more. Having said that, to give it anything less than 4 stars would be unfair to Stanley Black.
   
   I realised as I listened that it is very much what you would expect of musicals that you would find on Broadway. In a musical, there are some times when the 'action' is soft and tender, at other times loud and boisterous. Sometimes it is slow, sometimes fast. His renditions reflect this; sometimes the music is quiet and gentle, sometimes loud and brassy, with all variations (fast and slow) in between. I knew from the cover that the CD contains the songs from 2 CDs (the review by Gary Maloney has some details on this). The first 10 songs are more orchestral - only 3 or 4 have singing (apart from the occasional word in some others). In the second 10, all have singing - most is chorus singing, but there are a number of solo passages. And I didn't notice a piano passage anywhere! Musically it is very good, as one would expect from a musician like Stanley Black, which is why I say it would be unfair of me to give it less than 4 stars. It is not quite what I like, but I can well understand Gary Maloney's comment - "a must for any serious Broadway fan".



2. The 1950s and '60s featured many orchestras and bandleaders (e.g. Mantovani, 101 Strings) doing versions and medleys of leading Broadway showtunes. And why not? This was the golden age of the Broadway shows, with top composers pumping out memorable melodies every year. London Records asked Stanley Black to put together two albums of Broadway medleys, and they are collected for the first time, using quality tapes (unlike an earlier, incomplete version), and include blockbuster versions of "Oklahoma," "Ol' Man River," and "Bali Ha'i." The first 10 cuts are from the killer "Broadway Spectacular" LP, the second 10 from its followup. The first 10 cuts are frankly better, but the second 10 has several winners, including rousing versions of Loesser's "Big D" and "Standing on the Corner," from "Most Happy Fella"; a stirring version of "Lawd I'm on My Way" from "Porgy"; and a fun version of Coleman's "Hey Look Me Over." But the real treat in this collection are the two Rodgers instrumentals in the first half -- "Carousel Waltz" and especially "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue." Black uses expansive, exciting orchestrations to create definitive cover versions. "Slaughter," which rarely receives the attention it deserves, was the ballet sequence from Rodgers & Hart's "On Your Toes." It's slam-bang urban magic, melodic as only Rodgers could create in his heyday. Hey, I love the originals of these songs from original cast albums. But these orchestral covers are extraordinary, and a must for the serious Broadway fan.

5 comments about Hey Mr. Producer!: The Musical World of Cameron MacKintosh.

1. the best musical theater concert in history!
   
   From classic musicals such as My Fair Lady to mega-productions such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and Miss Saigon, this star-studded musical event showacses the best of musical theater history. A definite must-have for lovers of musical theater!



2. Probably the greatest musical theater album ever released! Where else can you find the best and brightest theater stars?

   Lea Salonga's voice and Bernadette Peters' presence alone are enough reason to get this recording (but you'll get more!)




3. This is perhaps the best musical theater CD ever produced! The biggest theater stars of this day are here: Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga (very beautiful and powerful performances!), Colm Wilkinson, and many, many more.

   Get the CD now; better yet, get the video, so you can watch this wonderful extravaganza!




4. Where else can you find the most memorable musicals performed on stage in one night? This is probably THE best musical theater album ever recorded. Topnotch performers (esp. Ms. Salonga and Ms. Peters), wonderful songs, brilliant staging -- it's breathtaking!

   Get both the video and the CD.




5. Lea Salonga, Bernadette Peters, Jonathan Price, Ruthie Henshall, and many more brilliant actors performing all the wonderful songs from different musicals in one recording - nothing beats this!

1 comments about Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

1. A lovely CD...personally, I thought the tempos were just a little slow for superbness. Very interesting arrangements into jazzy Night Music songs. I found it to be pleasing, but not absolutely THE best.

No comments about Greatest Christmas Songs Ever.

No comments about Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (1989 Original London Cast).

No comments about Quando Si Vuole Bene: In Concert, Vol. 2.

No comments about Follies and Facades.

5 comments about Disney's Greatest, Vol. 2.

1. My kids love to dance to this CD...we play it all day! A great mix of Disney songs!



2. I bought this gift for my little cousin and she loved it! She loves to sing and dance and this was the perfect fit for her!
   Shipped very quickly!



3. This is a great CD. I love it, my kids love it, and it worked perfect for our road trip. It is something we can all enjoy and listen to. We have collected all of the volumes. They are great.



4. We recently purchased this cd, after already having Vol. 1. My kids (3 and 1 1/2) love both cds. It can be a real help in the car on extended trips.



5. Nothing brings sweet recollection of Disney movies like hearing the wonderful songs. In an age where there so much music with no redeeming qualities, these Disney CDs are priceless. Wonderful for the entire family to listen to around the house or in the car while traveling. We can't help but sing along. We love that these are the original tracks from the movies! Wonderful! We now have all three volumes.

1 comments about Inside Out.

1. A cute and witty story of women who join a self-help group, some of these songs are beautiful, some upbeat and others purely hilarious. I recommend this to women, teens and comic broadway fans.