5 comments about Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I adore Les Mis, and the OBC is a nice recording of it. It comes up a little bit short when compared to the OLC, however; Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle are on both recordings, but they are much stronger on the OLC.
   
   Michael Maguire is a clear advantage, in my opinion, over David Burt as Enjolras, but the favorable comparison ends after that. I like Patti Lupone more than Randi Graff as Fantine, although Ruthie Henshall is far better than both of them. I love Judy Kuhn and I think her Cosette was good, but Rebecca Caine's voice was potentially better suited to the role.
   
   David Bryant's Marius was very, very poor, especially when compared to Michael Ball's. His head voice is very thin and seems to be on the verge of cracking often, although his belt is decent. I also very much dislike Terrence Mann's Javert; he always seems to crop up on people's lists of greatest Javert actors, and I cannot for the life of me understand why. He doesn't even make my Top 5. His rhythms are odd, his enunciation is just strange, and his voice is far too light. Not as good as Roger Allam on the OLC, and not even in the same league as Philip Quast (CSR and TAC).
   
   In all, I suppose, it's a good recording, and a valuable part of a historical musical.



2. I am personally not one to give 1 star reviews, but this really deserves it. I am pretty picky about the Broadways I listen to, and this just didn't make the cut. Firs of all, it's amazing that on amazon it says to buy it together with The Phantom of the Opera, just don't. Buy the Phantom and skip this. I must admit that when I first put it into my car's cd player I was pretty much stunned. It started with booming bad keyboard music and some guy singing almost a slavery sort song. I hoped the next track would get better and it didn't. I'm not saying the singers can't sing, but not all of them were that good. The music itself was bad, the keyboards killed it for me. None of them were memorable like other Broadways I have heard. Come to think of it, I can't remember any of the songs as of right now. Some of the lyrics were rather dirty, the other half seemed rather meaningless. It sounded like they were almost talking really fast to the music and not even singing. Overall, I am glad this only cost me $2 to own and I will be passing it on for sure.



3. I opened the tape and noticed that there were two of the same discs. both disc 2. Since i had already mailed back the duplicate which I received in error I got disgusted. I kept disc 2 and threw the other disc 2 out. I will probably not be using amazon again.



4. I LOVE this musical. The complete recording is so much better than the highlights, too. I've listened to it nearly every day and still love singing along. And with the complete recording, you get the whole story and understand it so much better than if you just get the highlights. It's fabulous.



5. Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast)
   
   This 2 disc set is great. This original cast is spectacular. These are the voices I remember. I had a cassette from the 80's which is so worn out that I can no longer play it so I finally looked on Amazon and purchased this CD online not knowing whether the seller was reputable or not.
   
   My CD arrived carefully boxed and wrapped bubble wrap so it would not be damaged in shipping. There was an extremely nice note from the seller about their shipping practices, additionally asking me to let them know if the CD was damaged in any way. I appreciated this very much. Of course the CD arrived in perfect condition because this seller took such thoughtful care in their packaging prior to shipping.
   
   This seller is small and wants repeat business. I can assure you that any future music purchases I make through Amazon will be made through this seller!
   
   Way to go!

5 comments about Monty Python's Spamalot (2005 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Love it! If you are a fan of Monty Python's Holy Grail you will not be disappointed!



2. Both of my sons collect "everything" for Monty Python and they were thrilled to get these gifts from me. One good thing about "Amazon.com"
   is that you can always find what you need here when you can't find it anywhere else!!!



3. I recently saw the 2008 tour production of Spamalot with my family. I would have liked to obtained a CD/DVD of that, but the 2005 version is just as good. I purchased two CD's because I knew my kids would take it and I'd never be able to listen to it. Good thing I did.



4. We saw SPAMALOT twice in Vegas and wanted to hear some of the songs again. This CD brought back all the fond memories and is very well done!



5. Just saw it in Vegas! the show was excellent even though we got the understudy. The only thing i had a problem with was that we paid twice as much for the tickets to get these so-called VIP tickets that were incredibly lame. First we were suppose to get a grail souvener with a free drink in it. When we got there everyone had one and they were about 4 dollars. Plus the free drink was limited to soda or beer. We wished we bought regular tickets at this point. Then after the show we were suppose to be allowed backstage. the only person we got to meet was this twit of a dancer who called us retards because we were being so quiet. plus i really had to pee about midway thanks to the grail full of soda but i was stuck in the middle. Go but dont waste your money on VIP tickets

5 comments about Into the Woods (1987 Original Broadway Cast).

1. This is the kind of musical best experienced on stage, and I haven't yet. I'm sure that when I do, I'll be able to enjoy the music better.



2. If you love Sondheim, this is the best...amazing story, amazing music and wonderful cast. Fairy Tales aren't always happily ever after affairs...but then, neither is life in the real world. You just have to keep following the dream and venturing into the woods



3. This is one of my absolute favourite Musicals! Into the Woods combines wit and masterful dialogue to delight people of all ages. I love that the first Act is a Fairy Tale and that the second Act is more sinister and dark. Listen for yourself!



4. We listen to this soundtrack a lot and certainly enjoy it, but we've also seen the musical. I'm not sure I'd like it as much if I hadn't seen the piece.



5. The great thing about Stephen Sondheim is this: the more you listen to and explore his scores, the more impressed you are by his genius.
   
   Nowhere is that genius more apparent than in this musical. Sondheim and James Lapine stir together a stage full of fairy tale characters, give them each a burning, insatiable wish, and formulate happy endings for most.
   
   Then the fun begins. At the start of Act 2, the audience learns what messes are left when one must have one's wish at any cost. Happily ever after melts into battles and infidelities and untimely deaths and heartbreaks.
   
   Sondheim and Lapine explore the human condition with wisdom and insight. Listen to "Your Fault," where characters shoot and are shot at with finger pointing accusations and deflections. How like real life.
   
   This recording is the one to buy, where the performances of Bernadette Peters and the marvelous Chip Zien lift the words and situations straight to our hearts.

5 comments about Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Deluxe - Complete Edition.

1. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is in my opinion Sondheim's greatest work and is an indisputable masterpiece. The 2007 Film Soundtrack featuring Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd and Helena Bohman Carter as Mrs Lovett is a unique, fresh recording which makes the musical more accessible to both theatre and non-theatre fans.
   
   The orchestrations (by the legendary Jonathan Tunick) are haunting, lush and full, exceeding all other recordings; this alone is enough to warrant a purchase. The brilliance of the orchestrations is best demonstrated in the "Opening Title" track and at the end of "My Friends" - the latter (in my opinion) exceedingly replaces "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd". Only the 2000 Concert recording of the ballad in "My Friends" (performed by George Hearn and Company) can match the power of the the film's version, for me. Although I have noticed at times the orchestrations are less powerful on the recording than in the film. This is especially noticeable in the final scene. (see 6:03 minutes on the soundtrack and compare to the corresponding scene in the film).
   
   "No Place Like London" is now a great opening number and Jamie Cambell Bower's range is high enough to contrast Johnny Depp's tenor range to have its intended effect, although it works much better with Tim Burton's stylistic visuals of London and the absence of the Beggar Woman can make it rather uniform at times.
   
   Helana Bohman Carter's voice is definitely a weak spot in the soundtrack, however her voice is a lot easier to swallow than Angela Lansbury and Patti Lupone's giving a new melodic quality to "The Worst Pies in London", "Wait" and "Poor thing". Her voice works very well with Johnny Depp in the duet "My Friends" and is a high point in the soundtrack.
   
   Other lead highlights include "Epiphany", which is surprisingly powerful and the "Final Scene" which becomes with the help of Tunick very moving by the end.
   
   There is also a very strong supporting cast. Jamie Campbell Bower's voice, especially through his high register successfully conveys the naive and innocent Anthony in "Johanna" and Jayne Wisener makes "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" tolerable after Betsy Joslyn's absolutely horrific performance in the 1982 DVD. Although highly trained, Laura Michelle Kelly's performance of the "Beggar Woman" is less operatic than I would have hoped, but considering the new leads maybe it is more appropriate. Sacha Baron Cohen is funny in "The Contest", and Alan Rickman and Ed Sanders give quite moving performances in "Pretty Women" and "Not While I'm Around" respectively, making up for the disposable performance of Timothy Spall in "Ladies in their sensitivities" (a number that could have easily been cut).
   
   A must buy for any Sweeney or Sondheim fan and a good first experience for non-theatre fans to Sondheim. Purist theatre fans should buy the 1979 OBC album first.



2. While the music itself is quite pleasant, the bass part of the sound is weak in the MP3 version of this album. This gives the otherwise tragic and warm prelude and introduction to the musical a sterile, synthetic feeling, especially when it starts cutting out from 1:39-1:42 of the first track.
   
   Another possible issue is that the MP3 version of the CD is completely missing three of the tracks. While the track list indicates this on the purchase page, it isn't pointed out very well if you find the MP3 version by following the link from the Complete CD's page.
   
   Though the instant convenience of being able to purchase online is usually an excellent alternative to ordering the compact disc, in this case I was somewhat disappointed.



3. If you are a fan of the story of Sweeney Todd, or a fan of Tim Burton or Johnny Depp, this is for you. I was very impressed on the vocals of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman. They brought something very special to Stephen Sondheim's music. Who would of known all these actors could sing!!! I give this CD 5 stars GREAT music!!!



4. This cd is the exact soundtrack from the movie. When I first saw the movie I was a little iffie about the music, but I saw it again and the music captured me.I love Johnny's voice on here and all the others. The actual music speaks for itself and it plays out just as a Broadway musical would. Go for it and take a mystical trip down Fleetstreet.



5. I have been a fan of musicals all 68 years of my life and so I bought this movie to add to a collection that extends into 3 digits. I use the word movie because I don't think it deserves the title "Musical." Not a single song is performed in a setting that makes it memorable as part of the whole or something you would like to share with others The stars are good singers and great actors, but none of them will be singing concerts tomorrow. To my mind Tim Burton's obsession with creating "Art-Deco" film turned it into a horrific dramatic bloodbath that Stephen King might give rave reviews. It is filled with blood and gratuitious violence from the opening credits to the final scene and there isn't even any suspense leading up to that violence. If you are a fan of sadistic "Friday the 13'th" bloodbath movies enjoy, but don't buy this film because they called it a "Musical." I for one find it hard to beleive that Sondhiem at his age approved such a violent bloodbath within which to exhibit his talent at musical creation. I doubt that Irving Berlin would have cheered him on in presenting this creation as a "Musical."

5 comments about Anastasia: Music From The Motion Picture (1997 Version).

1. The music on this cd is just like the voices in the movie,the are very enjoyable to sing along with. I am very pleased with this product.



2. When I first saw this movie I was 9. It was so incredible. Now I'm 19 and the movie is still my number 1. I watch it all the time. I only recently bought the soundtrack, but I love it so much! Its beautiful and enchanting. My favorite songs are "In the Dark of the Night" and "A Rumor in St. Petersburg". Absolutely fantastic. 5 stars.



3. I really like the music to Anastasia, especially "Once Upon a December," and "Journey to the Past." The music is just a great element of the well told story in this film. Liz Callaway has a beautiful Soprano voice as Anastasia. Kelsey Grammer of Frasier fame is a great singer, and it is cool to hear his rich Baritone sound, especially on "Learn to Do It (Waltz Reprise)." The "pop" versions of the songs later on the cd are not as good as the originals, but having them on the cd does not detract from the better versions.



4. I love and my lil one loves this soundtrack! How beautiful and glorious it all is.



5. The music on the CD is wonderful. Love the movie, love the music - especially the song "Once Upon A December".

5 comments about Disney's Greatest, Vol. 1.

1. Excellent music for young children in the car. I pick up my 4 year old and 1 year old granddaughters from day care once a week and they look forward to this Disney music on the ride home. We all sing along.



2. I would hardly call songs from Hercules, Hunchback, and Mulan "Disney's Greatest." I had forgotten they'd even made a Hunchback movie and I doubt my son will ever watch it. But he loves listening to the songs he recognizes, and hearing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious made him want to watch Mary Poppins.
   
   We bought this CD because he loves the song "Cruella de Vil" although I was a little disappointed because it's about 3 1/2 minutes of piano and only about a minute of actual singing. At least it's the original version from the movie and not some Disney pop tart.



3. I'm a music lover, I bought this CD's mainly for the childrens, weekend's the childrens will visit me. And I want them to enjoy good music especially the Disney movie music and songs. I'm a great fans of Walt Disney's and of course he's talented and gifted. Well, last but not least this CD's is good and I have no regret bought it.



4. I LOVE classic Disney films and movies, and when I bought this CD with some birthday money, I was not making a mistake. If you want an affordable CD with a good amount of songs that you are probably familiar with (if you watch Disney films), this is a good buy. Soon after I bought this one, I added the 2nd volume to my collection, and finally the 3rd. Obviously they don't have all the Disney songs, but these CD's put together have just about every song to make every person in the family happy. There are songs that even my dad and mom like to listen to in the car on trips. This is worth your money!



5. This cd is great! It has a great variety of classic Disney music! Highly reccomended.

5 comments about Songs That Got Us Through WWII.

1. This excellent album contains eighteen songs that were popular during the WW2 years. The album starts with that well-known hit Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (performed by The Andrews Sisters), and then moves between jazzy hits (such as G.I. Jive and Yours). I really enjoyed hearing again some of the songs that used to be so close to my father's heart, including Long Ago (And Far Away) and The White Cliffs of Dover.
   
   I must say that I found this to be a very good album. I miss my GI father, who passed away a year ago, and I felt like I captured a little piece of him when I listened to the music he loved all those years ago. So, if you like that great Big Band sound, or want to get a glimpse into the world of WW2, then get this album. I highly recommend it!



2. Purchased to load onto an MP3 for an older person as a gift. Recipient very pleased



3. A good CD collection of songs from the 4o's. Recomend this CD for WWII buffs and lovers of songs form the 40's!



4. I purchased this CD for my Grandmother's Eight-first birthday party. Her family and friends really enjoyed listening to songs from their younger years. It was a big hit. I would highly recommend this CD based on the reactions of those who lived during WWII.



5. I purchased this because the audio casette (a five star rating) I've had for years was deteriorating. There are songs on this that weren't on the casette, which normally would be a bonus. Regrettably, I have found these songs superfluous and a tad annoying (which is why the rating for the CD is three stars - yes they are that "bad"). The core songs are among the best single collection of WWII songs I've ever some across and you can skip past the others.

5 comments about Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack).

1. We were very pleased with the Oklahoma Soundtrack.
   It brought back a lot of memories from when we saw the stage production. Thanks for your prompt service in sending us this CD.



2. Beautiful, enjoyable CD. We bought it for my husband's parents. His dad has Altzheimers, and we thought he would enjoy music. We played it in the car, and they were signing along in the back seat, swinging along with the music. We loved the CD so much we are ordering one ourselves. Wonderful soundtrack and we can't believe it is that old.



3. Most business's, anymore, do not care about customer service,but I was amazed at the customer service that we received with Amazon. com It is so nice doing business with a company that cares.Amazon from now on will have all of my business.



4. This soundtrack was just like the movie. If you enjoyed watching the production on film you will definitely enjoy this CD. There have been several other releases with different casts but this one was the one that most of us have probably seen and heard!



5. This cd is an Oklahoma! lovers' dream... The soundtrack is packed full with beautiful rich orchestra music direct from the original Rodgers & Hammerstein film. I was pleased to find they included the overtures and "scene changes" as well. I was also pleased to find that it was the original cast singing. A must-have for all Oklahoma! fans and orchestra music-lovers alike!

5 comments about Billy Elliot.

1. I saw the play in London while I was on vacation two years ago and it was fantastic. The film is great but the music from the play is complely different. If you enjoyed the soundtrack from the film you must hear the cast soundtrack.



2. At age 12 I saw the original production of "Oklahoma". Then, yeah God,I saw the orginal "South Pacific, "kiss Me Kate", My Fair Lady", "Mame","Gypsy" AND let me tell you loud and clearly "Billy Elliot, The Musical" is right up there!!! Don't miss it. I saw it in London and can't wait to bring my grandchildren to the N.Y. production.



3. It is charitable to call this show mediocre. The music isn't the usual Sir Elton theatrical music dreck. I guess that's a plus. The lyrics are awful. The same words are repeated over and over and over, so the pointed is quickly made, the song goes nowhere. Most of the lyrics are generic. Most of the songs give the impression of being the same length. I hope the show never makes it to Broadway. Stick with the movie!



4. What a stirring musical! I had heard so much about this musical having seen the film version and knowing a musical adaptation was going to be made. Several people had recommended it after have they had the opportunity to see it on the West End. Also being a huge fan of Elton John, enjoying his pop records as well as his musical ventures, I was really interested in giving this CD a listen...
   
   ...and I'm sure glad I did! Again, I'll say it's absolutely stirring. The chorus numbers are probably the most powerful particularly the opening number "The Stars Look Down" which features as a theme several times throughout the score. You can really imagine them filling an entire auditorium.
   
   Liam Mower as Billy has the sweetest most resonating voice. When he sings "The Letter" and his Mum joins in, you are moved to tears. Other great numbers include "Shine" where Haydn Gwynne gives her character of Mrs Wilkinson such a personality. Her voice isn't particularly outstanding but I love her character. It's nice to see characters like Mr Braithwaite being given some personality and filling out Grandma's back story with her own song "Grandma's Song". Other uplifting numbers include "Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher" and "Expressing Yourself".
   
   There is mild language but it adds to the mood of the piece. All in all thoroughly entertaining and I can't wait for it to come to Sydney in 2008!



5. A bit different than the movie which was delightful, this soundtrack remains very loyal to the original.

5 comments about Camelot (Original Broadway Cast).

1. Very pleased with the selections I received. Arrived in very good condition and enjoying them.



2. I absolutely loved the music and the voices of Julie Andrews, Richard Burton and Robert Goulet. Everyone should have this in their music library.



3. Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet. How could you go wrong? They really don't make them like this anymore. Jay Lerner's fantastic songs and a wonderful treatment of T.H. White's "The Once and Future King", one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, this cd is a must have for any fan of great musicals and probably all of us baby-boomers who still remember our country's own Camelot.
   "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment That was known as Camelot."



4. CD arrived promptly and was in perfect condition...
   Would order from, this person again....



5. I had this LP years ago. This digitally remastered CD has a better sound. The words to the songs are crisp and clear. The music is wonderful. The songs are romantic and listening to them really lifts your spirits. Robert Goulet's performance is at its best. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys good music.