5 comments about Kismet (1953 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I remember walking into Marx's Radio & Appliance Store in Millburn, N.J. in 1953 and hearing this album, the track where you here Drake in the middle of Arabs chanting was playing. Wow! I was bowled over, stood in my tracks, and listened. It went on and on. All of the music was such a knock-out for those times. Never in Broadway's history had there been such glorious orchestrations and vocal artistry. Drake, Morrow, Deiner, Hackett, and the big sound of Henry Calvin. I was 17 at the time and determined to see this show. I had no problem getting a single ticket for the orchestra for $6.50! The show delivered beautifully. Everyone seemed to be having a good time on stage. You will enjoy hearing Henry Calvin, who himself was having fun singing "Was I Wazir," with those clever lyrics. He was a joy to watch, and that voice! The quartet singing "And This Is My Beloved", blew me away. Appropriately, this music is adapted from Borodin's Quartet No. 2. It is glorious. I now own my scratched-up 55 year-old album, the CD and now the remastered CD. This is great fare.
   
   Not long after I first heard the album there, Marx's was then playing an orchestrated version by Percy Faith. Beautiful indeed and capturing all of the exoticism. I remember hearing one of the owners proclaiming on the beauty of the music. He was right. It is Borodin!



2. The product arrived in a timely fashion and it was terrific to hear the original broadway cast sing the Borodin compositions from Kismet. A couple of these pieces didn't make it into the movie so it was nice to hear them.



3. It is quite good. There are radio interviews at the end of the CD with the leads and they're very interesting.



4. I purchased my first 33 rpm player just about the same time "Kismet" came out, and one of the first records I bought was "Kismet." Unfortunately, I chose the motion picture soundtrack, because it was a dollar cheaper. So it was some time before I experienced the richness of sound the original cast recording provides. None of the movie personnel begins to measure up to the original cast.
   Standouts--Richard Kiley, proving that he was a great singer as well as a great actor. Doretta Morrow, exuding the charm and innocence of the poet's daughter. And most of all, Alfred Drake, one of the greatest singer-actors of the Broadway musical. Close your eyes as you listen to "Gesticulate," and you can see his hands move. And my personal favorite, "The Olive Tree."
   Despite some unfavorable reviews, "Kismet" has shown its durability, with the continuing availability of this recording after fifty-five years, as well as the numerous studio recording that followed.



5. This is a beautiful rendering of this musical. Borodin's music was done a good justice by Robert Wright's arranging and inter-connecting of the tunes. I bought this Original Cast recording at the same time I bought the newer one with Ramey, Svenson, and Hadley. (I did so partly because I just love the music, but also because I wanted to have Richard Kiley's renderings. I first became acquainted and came to admire Richard Kiley's voice through The Man of La Mancha recordings, so I wanted to see what he did in this music.) The soloists and ensemble had a fine feel for the ebb and flow of the musical line, and the Ramey's, Svenson, and Hadley's singing was ravishing - and Dom DeLouise was quite characterful as well. I highly recommend BOTH recordings and would not be able to pick one over the other - YOU must do that (if you choose to purchase only one), and I do not purpose to say anything here that would sway you one way or the other as to which to buy.

5 comments about Notre Dame de Paris.

1. i have wathced the musical "Notre Dame de Paris" may be 8-10 times. Of course the main reason was the spectacular songs. And then i bought it Soundtrack CD. While listening i feel as if was watching the DVD..
   i can't speak French but i wondered the meaning of the lyrics. i translate them on internet. Then i liked the songs one more time. Not only for their melody and compositions but also for meaninf of their lyrics. shortly you wont regret if you have this album.



2. I love the music for the show. It is lyrical and emotional. One does not need to understand French to follow the pathos of the story. Fortunately, however, the DVD does offer the choice to have English subtitles. I have now watched this video 3 times and the parts of it I loved the first time I love even more now.
   My complaint with this DVD is not the show but the editing. I have no idea what this show really looks like. I think the choreography is spectacular but, again, who knows. The film editing is done in MTV style, a cut to a different angle every 15 seconds. The staging for this show is huge which befits Notre Dame. The choreography uses the whole stage horizontially and vertically but because of the manic editing you have to watch the dance numbers several times to get an appreciation for this.
   The look and style of the show is gorgeous. There is never any doubt that this is going to have a tragic ending. Don't buy this if you are expecting a French version of the Disney cartoon. (And because of Disney this will probably never be produced in the US)
   And the actors... amazing, beautiful, soaring. But my favorite is Gringoire. And the actor who is Clopin is so good that I wanted to reach through the screen and throttle him myself. Ah, enjoy!
   If you want a taste of this show, search for it on YouTube. Also look for the Italian version. French is the language of love, but Italian is the language of song.



3. in the description for this CD, it had the songs listed with clip you could hear from them. The clips were from the video i had seen. When the CD shows up, it has a slightly different cast and not all of the songs, only highlights, which excludes my favorite song. very misleading.



4. A very powerful set of songs based on the classic story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Even if you don't speak or understand French, nothing is missed as the emotions tell the true tale.



5. Notre Dame de Paris
   Notre Dame de Paris
   My wife and I both loved the audio CD and the DVD. The DVD is outstanding and the audio CD, if anything, is even better. Noa singing the the Part of Esmeralda is superb.

5 comments about Really Rosie (1975 Television Special).

1. This is a must for Really Rosie and Carole King fans alike! I am stunned that the DVD is not out on the market! So many memories this music brings back. I hope to share the movie with my daughter as I have the music she's come to love.



2. Not long after her overwhelming success with TAPESTRY C. King collaborated with Maurice Sendak for this 1975 television special. There are at least 5 wonderful songs on this album from the title song to "Chicken Soup With Rice" (classic King 70's sound-fun!) that will have you and your kids dancing in the living room.



3. My two toddlers love Scholastics "Where The Wild Things Are" DVD, which features some of the songs on this Carole King CD. It was the DVD that inspired me to purchase this CD, because the songs are infectious and well done. I'm not a fan of Carole King, and this is not a trip down memory lane for me, just some of the best music for kids that I have run across. If you are unfamiliar with these tunes, the original stage production, and/or the Maurice Sendak books from which the lyrics are lifted, don't let that keep you from purchasing some of the most creative and imaginative music available for kids. I am very glad I did. We crank it up in the car have a blast!



4. I have been looking for this CD for years. When I was little I said "I don't Care" all the time when I was asked a question. My parents played it for me. I own the CD and plan to play it for my daughter.
   
   I wish they would release the cartoons on DVD.



5. My 7 month old loves this cd as do I. It is fun playing it in the car singing along and remembering the first time I saw the Really Rosie special in second grade. There isn't a more enjoyable cd for the adults and kiddos alike. I highly recommend this cd!

5 comments about Follies (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Sondheim produces music that I can never get out of my head. I don't always catch onto the tunes and rhythms right away, but with time they become embedded in my mind. "Follies" is one of my favorites and sadly, one of the Sondheim plays I'm dying to see but think I have no chance. Too bad, because I'd love to see these songs come to life on the stage.
   
   My only real complaint is that since the original ambitious plans for a gatefold, vinyl double album were jettisoned for a smaller production, the ending especially feels cut off. Maybe the original didn't end with a big fluorish and refrain of "Beautiful Girls" but I can't imagine that being true. Despite being recorded in 1971, this cast album is lush and sounds more organic than other recordings of the same show. Excellent.



2. Here's the bottom line: The original cast recording of Follies is one you should own. This is truly one of the most satisfying cast recordings out there. It's got all the smarty-pants technique of Stephen Sondheim at his most erudite, but it's also chock full of that most elusive quality in Broadway musicals in the last forty years--memorable melodies! And lots of `em!
   
   When Sondheim gives you clever and touching lyrics along with a great melody line, it just doesn't get better. And that, my dear, is how you get classic songs like "I'm Still Here" and "Losing My Mind", both of which are best represented on this recording.
   
   Yes, yes, I know. There's Follies in Concert to consider. And that's a fine recording too with a lot going for it. Get both. But if you can't, get this one instead. It really is the definitive Follies. Yes, it's abridged, hence the four stars instead of five. Even so--by comparison to other CD recordings, these are the performances you want.
   
   The premise of the show examines the anxieties, regrets, and illusions that haunt a group of aging performers, well past their prime as they meet for a reunion before the old theater is torn down. (The characters are mostly chorus girls for the "Weismann Follies".) Wisely, the original cast was comprised primarily of--yep!--aging performers that many regarded as well past their prime. The voices aren't always pretty, yet the songs are often performed with a depth and understanding you simply won't find in a younger, less jaded performer. The full production employed a motif of having much older characters are joined by younger and rangier versions of themselves. This comes to haunting effect, for example, when an elderly, wheelchair bound Justine Johnson wistfully sings "One More Kiss" in duet with her memory of herself come to life. And then there's the legendary moment when Yvonne DeCarlo, having, in reality, just been thrown from the train of her career after the cancellation of The Munsters (she played Lily), brings off a fiercely satisfying delivery of "I'm Still Here".
   
   And I haven't even mentioned my favorite songs yet. Suffice it to say that Alexis Smith (Yes, that Alexis Smith, whose old movies you can never remember, but whose name you know you know) performs two solos that may be some of the most refined vocal acting you'll ever encounter on an original cast recording.
   
   God knows I could go on, but if you're not convinced yet, well then I just don't know what to do with you. Just buy the CD already. We'll all feel better.



3. I saw the original play with the great original cast three times. everytime it was better.i have the original cast recording,and it is excellent,although quite abridged.nevertheless a masterpiece.i really enjoyed Dorothy Collins,and her rendition of Losing My Mind.-it is absolutely the greatest. you can feel the emotion of the song as she sang it.a perfect job..i really liked Yvonne DeCarlo and I'm Still Here.her singing voice-was rather low,but her voice fitted the song,and what a tune.she was great singing that so true tune that really reflects life.I really didn't care for Alexis Smith as her voice while singing was sort of talking the songs through,her voice came across better on stage,i thought,rather than on the recording.Harold Prince should have had the complete recording of all the songs,not an abridged version.however,i still give it five stars.buy it-Dorothy Collins,i think, was the greatest singer in the show.her pitch,diction,and emotions and her great acting-fantastic-just came through so great...enjoy it.bob



4. Wonderful performances of Sondheim songs, especially from Dorothy Collins. There are other recordings with equally good performances, especially the one with Barbara Cook, and what one hears in listening to different recordings is how many valid ways there are of performing the songs.



5. Being a lover of Sondheim's music, I have enjoyed "Follies" many times already, and expect to enjoy listening to this CD again and again.

5 comments about Titanic (1997 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I'll admit it: I was coerced into participating in a local production of Titanic The Musical recently and while I never had, nor do I have any desires to perform on stage, I almost reluctantly fell in love with this incredibly moving story that involves an absolutely amazing musical score. I played Benjamin Guggenheim, who along with some of the most famous millionaires in the world (John Jacob Astor, George Widener and the Thayers, literally the Bill Gates and Donald Trumps of their day) died as the Largest Moving Object on the earth slipped beneath the waves, April 15th 1912.
   
   First, one major difference between this re-telling of one of the greatest maritime disasters of all-time and others, there really isn't any two or three characters that stood out as lead roles. The story was carried almost collectively with a large group of people--ALL based on real passengers and crew of the ill-fated luxury liner. Oh, and Molly Brown is entirely absent from the tale having already been done to death many times before.
   
   Second, the music--oh the music! If you are a fan of wonderful music, you simply owe it to yourself to experience this soundtrack. Everything from the opening number to 'Doing the Latest Rag' and so many in between to the closing 'Sail On, Sail On Great Ship Titanic' evokes a tremendous amount of emotion (which was exactly as planned) and is at once music you don't have to LEARN to love.
   
   Kudos to those who helped to bring this magnificent story to the Broadway Stage. The Titanic will forever be one of my favorite stories, and now I add the musical to my long list of reasons to be utterly fascinated by what happened all those years ago in the North Atlantic.



2. One of my favorites. Although it is wonderful as a whole, there are little bits and pieces of amazing that pop up which are what really make this album soar. Moments such as
   
   Barrett and the other sailors optimistic, "Fare thee well my darlin', I'll be back before a fortnight has passed..."
   
   Alice Beane expressing her longing to be apart of the first class: "I want more than we've got Edgar. Why don't you?"
   
   Jim Farrell coaxing Kate McGowan onto the lifeboat by singing [the semi-reprise], "You're going to be a lady's maid! Lady's maid in America!"
   
   Also, "The Blame" is an excellent song. Highly reccommended.



3. Wow a great musical do not understand why it was cancelled in this country. The music and lyrics are very moving and make great listening. I will have to visit USA to see it I suppose.



4. This is my all-time favorite musical! It really works out when you're in love with Broadway Musicals and Titanic, like me! Michael Cerevis really shines as the builder Thomas Andrews in the song "In Every Age", as does Brian d'Arcy James as stoker Frederick Barrett in "Barrett's Song". This recording is definately worth your money for the most part and you'll probably love it almost as much as do.
   Godspeed Titanic!
   
   Robyn
   aka Mrs Harold Bride :)



5. Very good CD not normally that easily available but delivered on time for a reasonable price.

5 comments about Rudolph Frosty & Friends Favorite Christmas Songs.

1. This is a CD incorporating the classic songs from Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and the Little Drummer Boy. These are the original songs from the original series and the album is easily worth the money, though it seems as though this version is out of print. A very good Christmas gift for children and adults.



2. This CD has all the favorites plus a few I wasn't as familiar with. When I first purchased this my kids couldn't get enough of it. So eventually we played our first one so much I had to get a new one!! The whole family loves it, so much so that some of them would have us play it all year if I would let them. Great buy for the money.



3. This cd is an excellent addition to anyone who owns and loves the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. My children loved to hear the music from the shows they had watched.



4. The best of Christmas songs on one album for parents and children alike!
   I bought it for my three year old son. I wanted Christmas songs that were familiar to him and upbeat! This is it! It's mid January and he still requests it everytime we go for a ride in the car!!



5. This CD brings back such positive memories of my childhood. I really enjoy it!

5 comments about Grease - Deluxe Edition.

1. Is there any music lovers at Universal/Polydor? Is the money so important that you have to keep releasing the same old tired disc.
   Love Is A Many Splendored Thing is chopped off at the end again!
   Stop the insanity and release it thy way you know it should be. The way you would want to hear it. If the segway into Grease (reprise) is so important then include both on the disc. Please!!



2. "Grease - Deluxe Edition" was released to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the film and features two CD's in a nice case and a booklet with all the lyrics.
   
   Disc 1 is the same as the standard movie soundtrack Grease (Original 1978 Motion Picture Soundtrack). It features original songs from the movie and good clean audio. What's not to love with that?!
   
   Disc 2, the reason you're paying the extra bucks here, is a disappointment. I bought "Grease - Duluxe Edition" because I thought it would include more music from the movie that wasn't included on the original soundtrack. The bonus disc is a big let down.
   
   
   The second disc features an instrumental version of "Grease" originally released as the "B side" of the "Grease" single.
   
   There are four songs here touted as sing-a-long versions ("Summer Nights", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", "You're the One That I Want", and "Sandy".) This comes across as sort of a poor man's karaoke. The sing-a-long versions include the original music track and background vocals. I put the CD in my PC to see if they display the lyrics the way a real karaoke disc would - they don't. But, if you get stuck, there are always the lyrics in the booklet I suppose.
   
   Also, included are the single version of "Greased Lightnin'", a 20-second "Rydell Fight Song", a four and a half minute instrumental called "Greased Up and Ready to Go".
   
   There is a Megamix medley, a Dream Mix medley, and two songs are presented in a Martian Mix format. I found the mix versions kind of weird and unappealing.
   
   If you can pick up a good used copy of "Grease - Deluxe Edition" for the same price as the standard soundtrack, go for it. Otherwise, unless you're a "Grease" fanatic or a completist collector, "Grease - Deluxe Edition" isn't worth the extra money.
   
   Five stars for the original soundtrack performances, but a two star deduction for the disappointing Disc 2.



3. I have loved Grease since I was little and I remember singing along with the characters. I bought the original soundtrack to the movie, but when I saw this special deluxe edition, I knew I had to buy it (I had already purchased the 25th anniversary DVD).
   
   I loved the fact that the first disc included songs that were not in the movie such as "It's Raining On Prom Night" and "Freddy My Love." These were actually two of my favorite songs from the musical, so having them here makes this CD that much better.
   
   I liked the Grease Megamix and the Dream Mix from the 2nd disc. In a strange way the megamix reminded me of the end of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Strange, I know but I was somehow reminded of that. Anyway, this is a great CD to add to your collection, especially if you've loved the movie either since it came out or since you first saw it on VHS. Grease is the word!



4. 
   The complete Grease experience. This cd is a two disc-set with disc one being the complete soundtrack, while disc two is all bonus material including the popular Grease Megamix. Fans of the movie would want to make this cd an essential part of their music collection.



5. I'm enjoying listening to this great soundtrack that I loved as a child after a long hiatus. I had it on 8-track 25 years ago. So it's fitting that I should get the 25th Anniversary Edition on CD. The 24 songs from the movie are just as everyone remembers them, so I'll talk about the Bonus Disc, which contains 10 alternative versions of the songs plus 2 previously unreleased instrumentals from the film.

   Track 1 on the Bonus Disc is an instrumental version of the film's theme, "Grease", written and produced by Barry Gibb. Frankie Valli's voice has been replaced by a saxophone. The chorus is vocal, but the voices are not those in the original song. You could use this as a sing-along version, as it would be easy to sing over the sax. Tracks 2-5 are officially sing-along versions. "Summer Nights" includes the chorus vocals from the film and sounds good. "You're the One That I Want" has new chorus vocals of questionable merit. "Sandy" is a new arrangement. It's not as good as the film version, but you can sing along. Track 6 is the single version of "Greased Lightning" that you may have heard on the radio back in the day. It's differs from the original in that the bad words have been replaced for radio airplay. Tracks 7-8 are previously unreleased instrumentals from the film. "Greased Up and Ready to Go" is lively. Tracks 9-10 are mixes that I occasionally hear on the radio. The "Grease Megamix" and the "Grease Dream Mix" are fun, if awkward. Tracks 11-12 are Martian Remixes of "Summer Nights" and "You're the One That I Want". They retain the original vocals, but set them to a Latin rhythm. They make pretty good dance tracks.

   This 2-disc set isn't in a jewel case. The case is paperboard with 4 panels that fold out. This is inside of a clear vinyl slip case on which the tracks are written. This isn't convenient packaging. On the bright side, the case won't crack in the mail. Tucked inside one of the panels is a booklet that contains lyrics and credits.

   The "Grease: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" is a terrifically fun soundtrack to one of the all-time great movie musicals. And for all those preteen girls who go wild over the movie with each new generation, the bonus material is perfect for parties and horsing around.

5 comments about Judy Garland In Hollywood: Her Greatest Movie Hits - Original Soundtrack Performances 1936-1963.

1. Get Happy and The Trolly Song, are my two favorite songs by Judy Garland. Great to listen to when you need a little boost of energy. The Man That Got Away is a good song for those mellow moods.



2. It's been quite easy for me to forget about Judy's incredible acting talent, as I have a lot of non-movie performances on my playlist, so I tend to get wrapped up in her vocal and performing talents. However, with this gorgeous compilation of the best of her movie songs, I also remember what an incredible ACTRESS Judy was as well. Unlike singers and actors today, who either can do one well but not the other or can't do either one very well, Judy was supremely talented at both. And this compilation covers her entire movie career, from The Pigskin Parade, which she made on loan to 20th Century Fox, to her final movie, I Could Go On Singing. Within a period of 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 53 seconds, you can hear her transition from sweet-voiced teenage belter to the deep throaty-voiced woman she would become later in life. You can also hear that she never lost that incredible talent for singing. Even though the sound of her voice changed over the years, it's youthful exuberance stripped away by alcohol, drugs, and just living a tragic life, the emotion and intensity could NOT be stripped from her voice. This collection proves it.
   
   There's not a single dud on these CDs, and the sound quality is excellent. Many of the older tracks do have some hiss to them, as well as the occasional sound anomaly, which is to be expected. However, everything has been beautifully remastered and sounds incredible. The liner notes and packaging PERIOD are also incredible. Very informative and include lots of great pictures. And I might be weird, but I actually like the cover art. It's nice and whimsical, although from far away, or in pics made really small, it CAN make her look like something of a dominatrix. *Now THERE'S a side of Judy you thought you'd never see. ;)* But the cariacature's actually quite cute, and I just think it's a cute cover.
   
   Judy would sadly pass away six years after the last tracks on this compilation were recorded. Although she may be dead in the physical sense, as long as her films and audio recordings like these are available to the public, Judy will never really die in the hearts of the public, and she will never be forgotten. There's only one Judy Garland, and there will never be another like her.



3. Judy Garland was America's finest entertainer ever; and I doubt we'll ever see another one quite like her. She could dance; she could act; but oh, how she could sing! This CD offers people an excellent retrospective of both Judy's best known hits as well as her lesser known songs from her movies.
   
   The CD starts off strong with "The Texas Tornado" recorded in 1936 when Judy was just 14 years old. You'd never know she was an adolescent when she recorded this. Judy's voice at 14 was already extremely powerful and rather mature as well.
   
   The next track is one of my favorites because it is so romantic and sweet: "Dear Mr. Gable/You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want To Do It.)" The sound is excellent; and the musical arrangement is perfect. The MGM musicians make excellent use of the violins as Judy sings and even speaks a little about her crush on Clark Gable. This track is followed by her infamous ballad, "Over The Rainbow." Judy's voice here is flawless; she sings so beautifully and she emotes so well. Harold Arlen wrote an excellent musical arrangement for "Over The Rainbow" which combined with Judy's voice makes me swear that a magical place located beyond a rainbow is real and not imaginary.
   
   Other classics on this CD include "The Trolley Song" from Meet Me In Saint Louis; "On The Atchison, Topeka, And The Santa Fe" from The Harvey Girls; "Easter Parade" from the movie of the same name; "Get Happy" from the movie Summer Stock and "The Man That Got Away" from A Star Is Born. Nobody but Judy could sing these songs so flawlessly. When Judy sang these songs she just didn't sing the way another singer would. Judy would sing so passionately in such a singularly beautiful, sensitive way that somehow you could instantly identify with her character's joy, her character's wanting to fit in, her character's heartache over a lost love.
   
   The CD boasts some terrific songs that are less well known but just as wonderful. "I'm Nobody's Baby" from Andy Hardy Meets Debutante is a sad song about how she doesn't "fit into" any social scene because she isn't just a kid anymore but she isn't quite an adult yet either. There is also the hauntingly beautiful "Last Night When We Were Young" which is an outtake from the movie In The Good Old Summertime. "Happy Harvest" is a joyful song that Judy performs in the movie Summer Stock; and "By Myself" is a gut-wrenching number from her last film entitled I Could Go On Singing.
   
   Will Friedwald contributes an extensive essay which sticks mostly to Garland's professional career; and there are wonderful photos of Judy as well. There's even a lovely black and white photo of Judy and her two sisters taken in 1942 when Judy was working on the movie entitled Presenting Lily Mars. The songs credits are provided and the recording dates for each song are there as well. Moreover, the sound quality is excellent; the remastering of these tracks to digital form is excellent.
   
   There will never be another Judy. This CD proves it. As you listen to Judy's performances on this CD, you become increasingly impressed and enchanted as you listen to each song. By the time the CD ends you want more just as Judy's audiences always wanted more whenever she gave a live performance. If you like this CD, I highly recommend the two CD set of Judy at Carnegie Hall from 2001 (the fortieth anniversary edition); the CD entitled Classic Garland: Capitol Years 1955-1965 and the CD entitled That Old Feeling: Classic Ballads from the Judy Garland Show. Of course, if you also like those, you'll be well on your way to discovering even more CDs and movies that feature this singularly talented artist, the incomparable Judy Garland.



4. Judy Garland is a legend. I recommend this CD for any Judy Garland fan. I highly recommend it to all the young people out there who are not familiar with her especially if you love to sing!



5. because I love that kind og music, is all very OK.

5 comments about Chicago - The Musical (1996 Broadway Revival Cast).

1. Makes the enjoyment of the show continue after you leave the theater. Definitely see the show before you by the soundtrack.



2. Chicago - The Musical (1996 Broadway Revival Cast)
   
   One of the top 10 best Broadway cast albums ever! A revival which surpasses the original. A must own for anyone who likes Broadway shows. Bebe Neuworth, Ann Reinking & James Naughton are stellar. Plenty of razzle dazzle and fun.



3. Chicago is a classic, and that classic status remains in the revival recording. Bebe Neurwith is truly a delight as Velma Kelly, and shines in the star number of "All That Jazz", but it's the men who steal the show. James Naughten and Joel Grey are perfect as Billy Flynn and Amos Hart. Every single one their numbers is absolutely perfect are true classics. There are, however, two downsides. First is that the film soundtrack exceeds vocally with Catherine Zeta-Jones as a belting Velma. Second, and ultimately, Anne Reinking's rendition of "Roxie" is downright awful. I love her versions of "Funney Honey" and "Me and My Baby", but "Roxie" is disgusting. In all, however, a wonderful, fun, and classic recording.



4. I understand that many of you who have bought this CD will be Broadway lovers (and I am one myself)and you will be used to the lead roles having amazing powerful voices. But just as important as good singing is good acting. I think that Ann interpreted Roxie as a wannabe who had the enthusiasm but lacked the talent, which makes her raspy tones and sing-speak completely plausible. It also supports the theme that you can use other things than talent to get yourself to the top This may not be the way you like Roxie played, but you shouldn't shun Ann's interpretation. It's a good thing if there is more than one way of having a character played, I think so anyway.
   Personally I love the Miramax film, but I enjoy comparing these 2 and seeing the differences.



5. The revival edition of CHICAGO could be a whole lot better (like the original or the movie soundtrack.) But it is good none the less.
   Bebe Nuewirth is fun to listen to on the recording, but Ann Reinking is HORRIBLE! She can't sing and she can't act as well as Ms. Nuewirth.
   I recomend this recording to all Chicago and Kander and Ebb fans.

5 comments about Three Mo' Tenors.

1. 
   Excellent . beautiful job - recording encompasses several different music styles and they're all done with quality. Have recommended this one to several friends.



2. If you're a fan of THREE MO', don't miss out! A great mixture of blues, opera, jazz, and a little bit of gospel at the end! These men are SO talented. Beware! You will find yourself getting up and dancing, too!



3. I fell in love with this DVD. I miss this particular live performance in NYC, but the DVD has filled a void. These gentlemen are phenomenal.
   I just saw the 2007 Three Mo' Tenors, and although they were absolutely great, nothing, but nothing outdoes the original Three Mo' Tenors. I look forward to seeing them in future shows, but I also look forward to other Three Mo' Tenor performances on DVD.



4. The word "Mo'" in the title got my attention. I bought the CD to compare it to the already popular "Three Tenors" (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras). Wow! Was I surprised. I had expected an all opera, classical and possibly spiritual repetoire. But, the music varies from "Nessun Dorma" to "Love Train" was truly, truly delightful. I enjoyed the wonderful voices of Thomas Young, Roderick Dixon, and Victor Trent Cook and the variety of musical selections so much that I purchased several other copies for my family and friends. Then, several months later, I saw their performance on PBS. I immediately ordered the VHS offered by the TV station, paying way, way over the retail price. But, I had to have it. It was, and is, the most exciting musical performance that I have seen. Later, when I put the tape into the player at my son's house, my 5-year-old granddaughter Ciara stood next to the sofa to watch. I expected her to move away soon, but, she stood there, during the entire playback of the performance, and I do mean from beginning to end. I left the tape there so that son could see it later. The following day, and for most days during the next several weeks, Ciara asked to have the tape played, until she later was taught to handle it herself. The family has since replaced my VHS with the DVD so that now, when Ciara visits me, we can watch the show again (and again). "Three Mo' Tenors" was so surprisingly wonderful- with great voices, charismatic personalities, terrific orchestral arrangements, lively and precisely choreographed routines, and just an overall feeling of mutual admiration and respect among the three gentlemen. The beautiful cinematics, with frequently interspersed shots of the enthusiatic audience, contributes to the feeling that I am actually there at the concert. Every time I watch it, I see and hear something new. When I first heard the CD, I was not fascinated by the countertenor voice. After seeing Victor Trent Cook's heartwarming performance on the DVD, and hearing his comment about his mother's definition of a countertenor, I have been granted a new appreciation for his voice. Here it is, years later, and I'm still enamored, remembering Roderick Dixon's "Make Them Hear You" elicits tears, Thomas Young's "Twisted" makes me laugh, and the duet with Victor and Thomas (see, I'm now on first-name basis with them) is so beautiful. I could to on and on. In fact, it's time for another listen.



5. I would rate this CD more than five stars if I could! I picked up this CD not knowing anything about these guys, but, knowing that I liked some of the songs contained on it. I was absolutely blown away by this collection! These guys have it all. Voices, talent, showmanship, style, technique, etc. Everytime I listen to it, I feel like I'm sitting right there in the theatre. I am a huge fan of opera, jazz and gospel. This CD covers it all! Although my favorite tracks are La Donna e Mobile, Make Them Hear You, and Nessun Dorma, they are all so good! I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again. You have to hear them to believe them!