3 comments about Billboard Pop Memories: 1945-1949.

1. Very familiar oldies with the original artists. A lovely trip down memory lane. My senior citizen patients love this, and I enjoy remembering the songs, too!



2. This was delivered in good order and on time. I love this so much and
   consider getting more CDs of the 1920-1930 era. Thank You for doing a
   splendid job.



3. This is a nice, reminiscent variety of music from the 40's. Though not terribly extensive (ten songs), the pieces certainly represent enjoyable highlights from the time period.

5 comments about Harem World Tour: Live from Las Vegas.

1. Beware of this CD. It is NOT the full concert!!! When I misplaced my DVD of this show, I decided to buy the DVD because I thought it would be as good but NO!!!!!! They left off 3 songs. Yep you heard me, 3 songs! And they were the best sounding on the DVD, which is what makes it even worse. I can't believe they would cut "Arabian Nights", "What A Wonderful World", and "Harem". WHY WHY WHY??????????? Whoever edited this should be fired. Buy the DVD, people, NOT the crappy CD.



2. This CD rocks! This is Sarah Brightman on her Harem World Tour, and this performance was recorded at her stop in Las Vegas. The first two tracks, "Kama Surta" and "Harem Overture" debut from her newest album, entitled HAREM. The two tracks are connected, but in the actual Harem Tour, the full piece "Harem" is sung. If you go to www.youtube.com and type in "Harem Tour" in the Search Bar, you can see live videos. I would prefer that the album has placed "Harem" instead of these other two tracks. The third track, "It's A Beautiful Day", is from Madame Butterfly, written by Puccini. This version is Brightman's twist, which some more pop and some English. It's pretty cool. The fourth track on the album, "Dust in the Wind" is from EDEN, an amazing album. Track 5 is, "Who Wants to Live Forever", and it seems as though Brightman never creates a tour without putting this piece in it. It's a beautiful tribute to Queen's rendition. Track Six is "Anytime, Anywhere", also from EDEN. I'm not really into the Foreign Language - English songs, but this works very well, especially because she ends the song with the classical foreign language. The seventh track is Brightman's rendition of Dvorak's "Song to the Moon", or "La Luna". The track is beautiful! The eighth track is Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", and Sarah masters this beautifully! There is no other soprano I know that can sing this piece one octave up and can hold the ending note for ever!!! Track 9 is "The War is Over", which is followed by "Free", both from HAREM. Track 11 is "A Whiter Shade of Pale", from LA LUNA. It's beautiful to listen to. Sarah's version is very gentle, but has a lot of energy in the chorus. The twelfth track on this album is "Twisted Every Way", followed by an instrumental version of "The Phantom of the Opera" Theme. The next track is "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", which is extended at the end, in which you hear some men cry out "WE LOVE YOU SARAH!", and she responds cutely with an, "I love you, too." The audience laughs! Track 14 is "Time to Say Goodbye", the duet that made Andrea Bocelli famous, and skyrocketed as the number one single sold in German history! The last live track on the album is "A Question of Honour", from "Fly", which is awesome! The last track on the album is a bonus track, which I don't really prefer. However, the whole album is simply amazing. I much prefer Sarah when she is live. She has a more magical quality! If you love Sarah Brightman, then you will love this album.
   
   ALSO RECOMMENDED : Since there is so much Sarah Brightman to choose from, I also recommend EDEN, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, LA LUNA, CLASSICS, and DIVA.



3. This CD rocks! This is Sarah Brightman on her Harem World Tour, and this performance was recorded at her stop in Las Vegas. The first two tracks, "Kama Surta" and "Harem Overture" debut from her newest album, entitled HAREM. The two tracks are connected, but in the actual Harem Tour, the full piece "Harem" is sung. If you go to www.youtube.com and type in "Harem Tour" in the Search Bar, you can see live videos. I would prefer that the album has placed "Harem" instead of these other two tracks. The third track, "It's A Beautiful Day", is from Madame Butterfly, written by Puccini. This version is Brightman's twist, which some more pop and some English. It's pretty cool. The fourth track on the album, "Dust in the Wind" is from EDEN, an amazing album. Track 5 is, "Who Wants to Live Forever", and it seems as though Brightman never creates a tour without putting this piece in it. It's a beautiful tribute to Queen's rendition. Track Six is "Anytime, Anywhere", also from EDEN. I'm not really into the Foreign Language - English songs, but this works very well, especially because she ends the song with the classical foreign language. The seventh track is Brightman's rendition of Dvorak's "Song to the Moon", or "La Luna". The track is beautiful! The eighth track is Puccini's "Nessun Dorma", and Sarah masters this beautifully! There is no other soprano I know that can sing this piece one octave up and can hold the ending note for ever!!! Track 9 is "The War is Over", which is followed by "Free", both from HAREM. Track 11 is "A Whiter Shade of Pale", from LA LUNA. It's beautiful to listen to. Sarah's version is very gentle, but has a lot of energy in the chorus. The twelfth track on this album is "Twisted Every Way", followed by an instrumental version of "The Phantom of the Opera" Theme. The next track is "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again", which is extended at the end, in which you hear some men cry out "WE LOVE YOU SARAH!", and she responds cutely with an, "I love you, too." The audience laughs! Track 14 is "Time to Say Goodbye", the duet that made Andrea Bocelli famous, and skyrocketed as the number one single sold in German history! The last live track on the album is "A Question of Honour", from "Fly", which is awesome! The last track on the album is a bonus track, which I don't really prefer. However, the whole album is simply amazing. I much prefer Sarah when she is live. She has a more magical quality! If you love Sarah Brightman, then you will love this album.
   
   ALSO RECOMMENDED : Since there is so much Sarah Brightman to choose from, I also recommend EDEN, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE, LA LUNA, CLASSICS, and DIVA.



4. What an album, absolutly beautiful!
   We, the fans of this great artist finelly have in our hands a live album, and it's amazing:
   -The voice is totaly live, she sang about 24 complete songs in the show, but the album only contains 15.
   -Snow In The Sahara is a lovely song.
   
   If you have the chase of get this alubum, don't doubt and get it; It wond disapoint you!



5. an impeccable concert experience that successfully elevates the album to majestic heights. I had long been a fan of Dead Can Dance and the unparalleled work of Lisa Gerrard. When Sarah Brightman ventured into these Middle Eastern sounds on the Harem disc, I thought it was too derivative of the Dead Can Dance sounds (there is even a sample used on one of SB's songs that had previously been used within DCD).
   
   However, experiencing this epic and intensely mystical concert compelled me to realize the individual and unique glory of Sarah Brightman. Also, this concert is so phenomenally entertaining at many levels that I couldn't help but fall absolutely in love with the special magic of Sarah Brightman. Obviously, the expansive Middle Eastern milieu can accommodate more than one angelic vocalist!
   
   I now consider Lisa Gerrard and Sarah Brightman to be geniuses who both warrant goddess status in the pantheon of lyrical greats. To see either one of them perform live is surely one of the most powerful and memorable sensory experiences one could ever have!

5 comments about City of Angels (1990 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Fun show, ingenuos concept, so-so score, with one exception. The ballad With Every Breath I Take is brilliant. One of Coleman's best pieces.



2. A duet between an author and the character he created, each claiming "you're nothing without me," is just one example of how sharp, witty and clever show is, with an unusual score, jazzy and bluesy and very 1940s, and some of the best lyrics I know.



3. City of Angels is an incredibly fun, classy, and jazzy musical that delivers. Stellar vocal performances are provided by the entire cast, particularly the female end. The fact that Randy Graff was the only female from this cast nominated at the Tony Awards that year floors me. Kay McClelland and Rachel York deserved nods for their powerful solos, With Every Breath I Take and Lost Found, alone. These two songs are also the type of sultry, jazz solos that one would expect in the 40's, which is why the show works. The music is completely period with when the show takes place, and that's why I love it. The best tracks are:
   
   3) What You Don't Know About Women
   6) With Every Breath I Take (destined to be a classic)
   9) Lost and Found (wonderful solo)
   10) All You Have To Do Is Wait (FUN! FUN! FUN SONG!!! Hilarious as well)
   11) You're Nothing Without Me
   13) You Can Always Count On Me (Randy Graff's Tony!)



4. 1990 Tony winner for Best Musical, "City Of Angels" contains a great score, filled with jazz-oriented melodies & torch songs. Not all the songs are terrific, but most of the score lends itself to repeat listenings. Best tracks include:
   
   Double Talk
   What You Don't Know About Women
   With Every Breath I Take [beautiful song!]
   Lost And Found
   You're Nothing Without Me [the show's hit]
   You Can Always Count On Me
   Funny
   
   Great cast ... great buy!



5. This is one of my favorite soundtracks ever! Since I'm going to be working on music for the show, I'm happy that this is the case. It has been in my CD player for a few weeks now, and there's enough variety for it not to get old. But having read through the script makes the lyrics infinitely wittier. Musicals are supposed to rely partially on the lyrics and partially on the script. This show does that perfectly. Without the script, the lyrics are (apparently) lacking. But without the lyrics, the script is missing something. When you put the two pieces together, however, it's really easy to see why this show won a Tony.

5 comments about The Wizard Of Oz In Concert: A Benefit Performance For The Children's Defense Fund (1996 Lincoln Center Cast).

1. Well, this is one interesting album. If you love the film, or the music, or anything at all: STAY AWAY! Well, actually let me say, this is probably the only nice thing you'll hear me say about this album: THE JITTERBUG is amazing. I have actually been in productions of OZ that emulated this arrangement to great effect. Other than that, this album is horrible. Jewel yodels OVER THE RAINBOW. Jackson Brown...ugh...I myself have played the role of the Scarecrow...and he just degraded a role which I love so much. Roger Daltry...stick to THE WHO. Nathan Lane, actually not bad. Joel Grey, good Wizard, but liked him in the role better in WICKED. I would only suggest this album for one reason: THE JITTERBUG.



2. If you haven't seen this concert benefiting the Children's Defense Fund originally broadcast on TNT and available on VHS, you will definitely want to after listening to this soundtrack. Jewel is enchanting as Dorothy, taking 'Over the Rainbow' and making it her own. Roger Daltrey as the Scarecrow brings his rock edge in a rousing rendition of 'If I Only Had a Brain'. Nathan Lane is hysterical as the Lion, paying homage to Bert Lahr with 'If I Were King of the Forest'. Natalie Cole as Glinda puts a gospel spin on 'Open'. The one weak part of the cast is Jackson Browne, but the overall production is wonderful for the eye and ear.



3. I think the major stars on this, Jewel, Debra Winger, Natalie Cole and Jackson Brown, are fabulous. I was really disapointed in the Harlem Boys Choir. They do hit some great notes, but then the great notes are followed by some really flat ones. I've heard them in other recordings and thought they were great, but they are not at their top on this CD. But if you are a 'Wizard of Oz' fan, the rest of the CD makes up for them.



4. Our local Drama group is performing the "Wizard of Oz (RSC)" for our summer production and as Musical Director I thought I'd get as many different versions of each song as possible. Most of the RSC songs do not appear in the film version so i thought i'd add this cd to my collection. All the songs have been modernised without loseing their still traditional feel. The cd is worth buying alone for Roger Daltreys' (The Who) version of "If I Only had a Heart". All star cast inc Natalie cole (miss you like crazy and pink cadillac) and Nathan Lane ( voice of "snowbell" in Stuart Little) and a load more older names that your parents will recognise more.
   a must buy



5. I got this CD as a present from my mom for getting good grade's on my report card, so she ordered it for me. After waiting 5 day's, I finally got the CD. When I listened to it, I knew what to expect b/c I have The Wizard of Oz in Concert on video. I LOVED THIS CD!! Jewel's acting, and 2 renditions of "Over the Rainbow" and "The Jitterbug" will blow you away! She was pefect as Dorothy. Jackson Browne as the Scarecrow, Natalie Cole as Glinda the Good Witch, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, and Roger Daltrey as the Tin Man were excellent too. And Nathan Lane was HILARIOUS as the Cowardly Lion This CD is a must buy for Oz fans and Jewel fans! :)

5 comments about The Sound of Music.

1. This CD has the musical numbers from the 1965 motion picture entitled The Sound Of Music. While this is not the latest version of the soundtrack CD with all the bells and whistles; this still remains a solid album giving us every last hit song from this major motion picture musical. The quality of the sound is clear and crisp; and that artwork is really very beautiful.
   
   The CD begins with the music from the prelude and the overture to the movie musical. This music is delightful and they never miss! The strings and percussion are used to great advantage and we essentially get a musical medley of the arrangements for the major songs in the movie. Excellent! "Maria" is sung by several actresses playing nuns at the convent; they sing flawlessly about Maria, a nun who just doesn't fit in with the rest of the nuns. The melody is really very pretty and it all holds its own very well. Julie Andrews finally comes in on her number entitled "I Have Confidence." Julie Andrews' magnificent voice is rich, warm and very vibrant. Julie handles the tempo and key changes like the pro she always was and only Julie Andrews could have delivered this so well.
   
   Charmian Carr and Dan Truhitte perform "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" with grace and style; this song highlights their young love and it's very well done. Neither one of them ever misses a note! "My Favorite Things" brings back Julie Andrews to do yet another smash-up flawless job on this excellent, very memorable number from this movie. Listen also for Julie Andrews to sing "D-Re-Mi" with the captain's children; this number really takes off when the children come in! The children also perform an astounding rendition of "The Sound Of Music."
   
   "The Lonely Goatherd" has Julie Andrews again singing with the children; this charming number never ceases to delight me. The horn solo enhances the natural beauty of this number; and there's also "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" sung by the Mother Superior (Peggy Wood) at the convent when Maria (Julie Andrews) does decide to leave the convent.
   
   The CD ends with two very stirring and emotional numbers: we get "Edelweiss" with Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews and the children singing very well and the reprise of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is sure to please!
   
   Rodgers and Hammerstein sure did their best on this one! They were practically infallible and this album proves it easily. I highly recommend this album for fans of this movie and people who enjoy show tunes will also want this album for their collections.



2. I love this cd; It remembers me my childhood and my teenager years!! I saw the movie at the cinema when I was 12 years old and I purchased it on vinyl; now, when I found it on the cd format, I bought it inmediately!! The songs are beautiful and in excellent condition, without scratch and in a very good restoration!! buy it!!



3. This is one of my favorite CD. The song I like most is `Prelude and the Sound of Music'. The lyric is so wonderful: My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds that rise from the lake to the trees / My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies from a church on a breeze / To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over stones on its way / To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray....It seems that the song is telling me "Although sometimes people have to be realistic, there is much beauty in life. Just treasure and cherish your life." Each time I listened to this CD, I felt pleasant or even cheerful ^_^ I once gave it to a friend as a Christmas gift. I think songs in this CD are genuine.



4. Una de las bandas sonoras más formidables de todos los tiempos. Prueba de ello fue la inclusión de tres de sus canciones en el top 100 de las mejores bandas sonoras de los 100 años del cine.
   Canciones como "My favorite things", "Do-re-mi" y "The sound of music" son ejemplo de la calidad de las composiciones.
   
   Excelente proceso de restauración y remasterización... Se lo recomiendo a todos los amantes de las bandas sonoras.



5. The music is great and excelent quality, but It should come with the lyrics

3 comments about Adrift in Macao.

1. i was delightfully shanghied to Macao and set adrift amongst a crazy cast of old and new characters belting broadway melodies across the sea. an only english speaking chanteuse serenading a nightclub of only chinese speaking patrons with a song, in english, that she does not know the words for is an idea made in musical comedy heaven. so goes a joyful romp as the self-exiles attempt to hide their pasts in a pastiche of song types and character revelations. i have only heard the score but it is so good that i cannot wait to see an actual production of this show. very fun, very singable, you'll be humming



2. The music is fun and the sound is nastalgic. I hope I get to see the show.



3. A pleasant enough diversion. I was disappointed though since I was hoping for another "Song of Singapore".

5 comments about She Loves Me (1963 Original Broadway Cast).

1. It's hard to believe that this musical belongs to the same creators of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Whereas in FIDDLER there is not even one bad song, this one's got them all. The singing is very good but the songs are quite unappealing and almost impossible to follow since melody is scarce and hard to catch.



2. I think She Loves Me might be my all-time favorite "classical" Musical. I love the story, romance, humor and most of all, the music. Having said that, I think the 1993 Broadway revival (at least the album, since I never saw the original Musical itself) improved on the original and is possibly one of the greatest soundtracks of all time. This album is also EXCELLENT, just not quite as...



3. When I was in high school living on MacDill AFB there was an adult theatre group doing this production. I got the leading Amelia role, then also designed and built sets. Of anything I have ever performed this was the single most challenging music. I loved every bit of it. What a joy it is to hear the sweet lovely words and tale of romance so fresh now - 35 years later! This story, lyrics and music did flavor my life actions viewing romance with sweet depth. Light, lovely and fun- this is a great piece of musical experience.



4. Having just seen a wonderful local production of this revival, we wanted to hear the score again. The Broadway cast is great, too. While it fits the play perfectly, the music grows as an independent joy.



5. This show is one of the best from the 60's. Barbara Cook is sublime, and the rest of the cast are practically at the same level. The 94 revival was also an absolute delight. the cast then was wonderful, maybe missing Cook, but who can equal her. That CD is wonderful as well. Saw that production several times and loved it more each time I saw it. Have seen Cook several times in concert and her performances of the songs from this show may be even better now.

5 comments about Music.

1. I bought this cd because Mr.Ball voice.So,I thought it could be a good cd.I found a few good songs. others are really boring.
   Conclusion.
   Great voice, bad song selection.But, this is my opinion.



2. This fantastic handful of songs might be derived from, "Just do whatever you want, Michael." All who work in the studio probably can't help but wonder what Michael and his people have in store next. We must also mention Michael is happy with his career that began in London's West End Musical Theatre. Founded for solo career by the great Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael spent time working along side many artists including Sarah Brightman and Elaine Paige. His big break was "Love Changes Everything" which was a big hit in 1989, and then in 1992's "It's Still You" got him into the studio for an album. Further albums and concerts were recorded based on his growing popularity to people across the world. While it's wonderful if an album is certified "Gold", it's even wonderful if it shoots to "Platinum". His "Movies" album did just this in 1998.
   Michael takes many songs and just sings them. He throws a few different artsy takes into the album for good measure so it's not a Karaoke album gone glorified. There is nothing wrong with performing songs which mean something to you. Likely this is a personal pop album for HIM. All the songs are fine and he doesn't take them apart like other artists have and turn them into dance mixes or jam sessions with the intention to steal it for a hit.
   A friend of Michael's, Brian Kennedy, steps in next to Michael to aide him in writing two compositions. Either new or out of an old folder, they still are worth a turn-up. A good pair of melodies that will surely catch the listener are "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Everlasting Love". It does seem, too, that every pop performer or such does "You Raise Me Up" from Josh Groban. It's no different than "My Heart Will Go On" as far as popular ballads of the day go. Michael has done this one and it's found on his "Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball" CD. It is a most beautiful rendition.
   Michael just wants us to do one thing: Listen to the music. He even made the insert to the CD simple! Simple becomes superb!



3. Just never get tired of listening to this man's incredible voice. The title track is my favorite on this one. But other songs are close behind. As long as Michael Ball keeps singing and recording, I(we)'ll keep buying.



4. I keep buying all the Michael Ball music I can find but I've quit looking on Amazon because of the incredible mark-up they put on their imports. This CD sells for ?6.96 on amazon.co.uk, which converts to $12.94. You would think they were mailing each individual CD to the States all by itself.



5. Michael Ball has been my favorite male singer since seeing him as Marius. I buy all his CDs and love this one especially since he sings "Fields of Gold." He says Eva Cassidy sings the definitive version but as much as I like her, Michael does as beautiful a job or better. My other favorites are "Life on Mars", "You Raise Me Up" and "Desperado." Worth every penny.

5 comments about Hopeless Romantics.

1. As a huge long time fan of both Shearing and Feinstein and collecting both, I was disappointed in this pairing. Mostly it's Feinstein too soft, too slow and no changes in vocal coloring - everything sounds the same - lacking any energy. If you want a CD totally mellow and perhaps sleep inducing, this is the one for you. I expect more from Feinstein. Shearing is perfect, as always! Frankly, Feinstein has lost out in my collection to Michael Ball who really can sing anything perfectly!



2. Shearing, a pianist of great sophistication, pokes along on this recording to accomodate Feinstein's overall lame - and occasionally expiring - delivery of the lyrics. If this were Shearing and a quartet, without Feinstein, the results would have been Shearing's usual delicious product, I'm sure. Why is a great talent like Shearing yoked to a mediocre lightweight?



3. This is an album of 15 songs written by the late, great Harry Warren (recall the play/review "42nd Street"), sung by the great Michael Feinstein and accompanied by the great George Shearing. Every song is sung as a ballad, and nothing is played or sung louder than mezzo piano.
   
   What to say about it? I see a strong case for a four-star review, and I see a strong case for a five-star review.
   
   Four stars: While there is much to admire in the musicality of these two great musicians, they sound here as though they are competing for the prize of who can pull back the most. Except for slight flourishes on "I Know Why (And So Do You)" and "Shadow Waltz", the normally ebullient Shearing (recall his "New York New York" and "Lullaby of Birdland" with Torme, for example) is barely recognizable. Songs that normally have drama to them, such as "At Last" and "I Only Have Eyes for You", have been stripped of that here. As a result, these pieces almost sound like pieces from a museum. The curators, Feinstein and Shearing, have preserved pieces to be admired; but I personally like living things.
   
   Five stars: Do any of you have any idea how difficult it is to sing a piece softly, without losing tonality, without losing focus, and making your lowest note sound as clear as your uppermost? Can any of you appreciate a singer who can train his voice such as to make his falsetto sound like his chest voice in timbre? Feinstein does that here--15 times. Every note is burnished with beauty. And I do mean every note. When I think of great 5-star albums, such as John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, Sinatra's "Sings for Only the Lonely" or last year's "One to Every Heart" by Mark Murphy, I ask: "Why not 5 stars?" Indeed, why ever not? The distinctions between the 4, in terms of beautiful end product (albeit different styles) are insignificant.
   
   My verdict: Given that I have had nothing but this c.d. in my player for the past 7 days, I have to give it 5. I just don't have that happen with 4-star c.d.'s. Besides, this is a perfect album to sing along with in the car, while driving to choir practice. Try to match up with Mr. Feinstein for 15 minutes, and by the time you get to rehearsal, you're good to go. RC



4. I had tears in my eyes when I first heard this album. I get emotional over music I really like, and this album got to me.So many great standards so well delivered by the duo. They deliberately chose slower ballads for this album so don't look for uptempo,snappy songs in this one.Not that Harry Warren could not write faster stuff like Jeepers Creepers,Shuffling Off to Buffalo etc. This album is to sing along with softly or hum.I kept thinking of Bogart in the rain in Casablanca and other lovers in W.WII.I know the main tune in that movie was not by Harry Warren;it simply reminded me of great love tunes from that era by Julie Styne[Time After Time] and the grossly underrated Harry Warren.Grab someone you love, some good wine and savor one of the great popular composers and a great duo.They should do more Harry Warren albums,Michael and George.I thank them profusely.



5. While I am not a great duo fan, and recommend MF get back to those lushly orchestrated back-ups, these tunes are uplifted as good as I have ever heard them.
   My only gripe is that sometimes, MF gets a little too slow for my tastes. He can be like a Shirley Horn of a different gender, so I found this album drags too much. It's like listening to a doctoral dissertation of Buxtehude.
   Finally, I am an old Shearing Quintet lover, and boy would that have made this a gem. Shearing has not won me over as a paino player like say Brubeck or Evans, but with the quintet setting he is an icon nonetheless.

5 comments about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

1. At the risk of not being Politically Correct, the London cast, while not bad, is simply not as good as the American cast. It's that simple.



2. This remake is crisper, and slightly different than the original, but I still like the original better.



3. CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the cheerfully-mindless musical by the Sherman Brothers, was mounted for the West End stage in 2002, opened at the London Palladium and enjoyed a run of nearly three and-a-half years (the subsequent Broadway production fared less well). The Sherman Brothers score sparks either rapture or revulsion depending on whom you ask, but the musical does offer some quaint charms.
   
   The stage version of CHITTY operates almost like a glorified pantomime, the story remains the same but the score has been re-jigged and altered. In this cast album of the original 2002 London Palladium cast, Michael Ball adds his own special touch to the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, with newcomer Emma Williams as Truly Scrumptious. Ball is at his best with the plaintive lullaby of "Hushabye Mountain". Emma Williams doesn't get all that much to warble as Truly (her big movie number "Lovely Lonely Man" was mercilessly cut from the stage score), however Williams has a charming way with "Doll on a Music Box".
   
   Brian Blessed and Nichola McAuliffe push the 'camp' gear into overdrive with their performances as Vulgaria's hideous Baron and Baroness ("Bombie Samba", one of the additions to the stage score, has to be heard to be believed). Richard O'Brien of ROCKY HORROR fame plays the equally-odious Child Catcher with yet another bland addition, "Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies". Carrie Fletcher and George Gillies play Jeremy and Jemima. Stage veteran Anton Rodgers is wonderful as Grandpa Potts.
   
   Happily though, all the best movie songs ("Me Ol' Bamboo", "Toot Sweets", "Posh", "The Roses of Success" and the Oscar-nominated title song) are all here, making the new additions to the score even more inferior by their presence.
   
   [Sony Music/Chitty Records MRBB001]



4. Sickly, effeminate broadway adaptations of the movie soundtrack. The rendition of Hushabye Mountain is... it makes me sick thinking about it. Don't purchase if your looking for anything remotely similar to the original movie soundtrack. When in a rush, I mistakenly purchased thinking it was the original.



5. WOW!! I have no clue what is happeneing to broadway? What is with the boring show of this year like, Little Women, The Light in the Piazza, The woman in White and this crap, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
   Now just from the title this show should be a romping, roaring, good-time musical. Instead we get half-assed atempts at being cute which in turn are syrupy enough to keep New York in pancakes FOR-EV-ER! The sappy-ness goes way overboard when the KIDS, sing "Truly Scrumptious" to , you guessed it! Truly Scrumptious.
   Other AWFUL songs include:
   You Two
   Them Three
   Toot Sweets
   Think Vulgar!
   Hushabye Mountain
   Come to the Funfair
   Me Ol' Bamboo
   Posh
   Vulgarian National Anthem
   The Roses of Success
   Kiddie-Widdie-Winkies
   Teamwork
   Chu-Chu Face
   The Bombie Samba
   Doll on a Music Box/Truly Scrumtious (Reprise)
   You Two/Chitty Prayer
   Chitty Flies Home
   
   The only good song in the entire show is the title one and it came from the original movie, As did some of the others but you would never be able to tell because they are done so badly.
   
   PLEASE SAVE YOU MONEY AND GET A GOOD MUSICAL FROM LONDON'S WEST END LIKE
   MARY POPPINS OR ALMOST ANY THING FROM ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER.
   OR SOME GOOD ONES FROM BROADWAY LIKE
   SPAMALOT
   DIRTY ROTTEN SCOULDRELS
   THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
   AVENUE Q
   WICKED
   HAIRSPRAY...ANYTHING!!!