5 comments about Mary Poppins (2005 Original London Cast).

1. If you did not see that musical yet...do it as soon as possible...we saw it 5 months ago and we are still singing.



2. I never grow tired of hearing this music. It is always so uplifting. I find my self singing the tunes all day.



3. In an era of so many Disney feature film crossovers to the stage, we all knew "Mary Poppins" would have to make its way to Broadway eventually. There is a story that the Sherman brothers wrote an ending song for the film that Walt Disney did not like. He said that it was a fine way to end a Broadway show but not his movie. Little did Walt know what was to come!
   
   The original (and beloved) score by the Sherman brothers remains substantially intact among several new songs by the British song-writing team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Their contributions are very much in the style of the originals but never, to my ears, blend seamlessly. Each original song has been re-arranged and re-orchestrated for this show, making them a little more "theatrical" in nature and more connected to the expanded plot of the show. (I enjoy the way "Jolly Holiday" is made into a partner song, for example.) But where are strings? In typical modern West End fashion, the pit is almost totally devoid of stringed instruments, much to the detriment of the production, I feel. Still, the cast is enthusiastic and the score has most of the innocence and charm you would want from a remake of the classic film. There are some very nice moments on this recording that cause me to keep this CD close by, though not at the top of the pile.
   
   This is a much more legitimate and satisfying effort than was the staging of the Sherman brothers "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." I recommend this CD to people who loved the theatrical version and to Broadway collectors in general. If you simply love the film, this CD, while good, may not be for you.



4. I'm a fan of the original movie. Not the obsessive fan that buys all that's Poppins, but a fan nonetheless.
   
   It's surprising that when Disney started producing for Broadway, they didn't see this among the first obvious choices. Of course, considering that Disney didn't have the stage rights to Mary Poppins, it's understandable why it may have taken so long. Fortunately, they were able to do a partnership to finally bring this to the stage.
   
   Unfortunately, I have yet to see this on the stage. I can't wait until the day that I do, though.
   
   The new songs were done in the Sherman Brothers style enough that the old songs flow very nicely, as if they had always been there. "Brimstone and Treacle" is quite possibly the highlight of all the new songs -- a rather cruel song, but you just won't be able to get it out of your head!
   
   I have heard complaints that the musical is a bit too dark due to its reliance on the books a bit more than the movie -- but the original movie wasn't all that bright and cheerful through the entire movie. "Chim Chim Cheree" got downright creepy at points in the song -- some lines still give me some chills running down my spine!
   
   I've yet to read the books... that's next on my list to do before I see it on stage.



5. I recently saw Mary Poppins on Broadway and was blow away by the show. The songs are still in my head weeks later, which is a good thing. I bought this recording of the musical, but also have XM radio, which has access to a recording of the Broadway cast. I have to say that the Broadway cast is better. While the company is great in both, the stars shine better in the Broadway recording. Ashley Brown interpreted the songs better than her London counterpart. I can only hope that Disney will decide to release the Broadway recording.

5 comments about Dreamgirls.

1. Arrived in great condition and got it at a fraction of the cost. I have played it over and over and over and it sounds just like new each time.



2. If you enjoyed the movie, now enjoy the music. Great complilation of songs from the motion picture soundtrack. A worthy add to anyone who enjoyed the movie as well as good music.



3. The CD was delivered timely. The sound quality is excellent. Sounds as though I'm in the theatre watching the movie.



4. As stated,the CD was in excellent condition and the shipping was expediate. Very Satisfied!



5. Jennifer Hudson's booming voice makes it worth the price of the CD. If you saw the movie listening to the CD is almost like reliving the movie.

5 comments about Beauty and the Beast - Special Edition Soundtrack.

1. This is an exciting and enjoyable CD overall. Included are all of your old favorites from the movie, including the wonderful score. And there are some new additions to this collection that make it even more wonderful! "Human Again" is one of the new additions to this collection that I absolutely adore, and "Death of the Beast" is such a touching piece -- I'm so glad they opted to add these two songs to this special edition.
   
   It's a fun collection overall. I listen to it over and over and it never ceases to brighten my day!



2. this is such a cute CD i love it so much and for a beauty and the beast fan, like myslef, its so good! i love!!! all the songs are beautiful.



3. This is one of my favorite disney movies. I know every song by heart.
   I was very excited to get this cd for the bonus tracks, only to find that the last 3 were faulty. The cd wasn't scratched- it went straight out of the case into the player.
   I rmaed it, they promptly sent me a new one, that one was also faulty- only the last 3 tracks again.
   So sadly I do not have this cd.
   
   Its an amazing soundtrack, now I just gotta find a copy were I can actually listen to all the songs



4. My wife really loved the gift. She had been asking for it for a long time. She loved it!



5. If you enjoyed the work tapes and demos features on this special edition version, I encourage you to check out the amazing (and rare) boxed set "The Music Behind the Magic", which devotes a whole disc to Beauty and the Beast (the majority of which is demo tapes, work tapes and even some near-final material that was cut from the final movie) A must-have for Menken and Ashman fans, or Disney fans that want to hear more of their work from this film and their other classic scores (Little Mermaid & Aladdin)
   
   The Music Behind the Magic Boxed Set with Book
   
   Amazing music from an incredibly talented duo.

5 comments about The King and I (1956 Film Soundtrack).

1. I have always loved this musical. Yul Bryner as the "King" was wonderful. I have never been able to picture anyone but him in this roll. When I listen to the music I can picture him on the stage performing the songs and creating the role, since I had the opportunity to see him do so on the stage. This is one of my favorite CD's and I listen to it often.



2. If you loved the film like I did, you will want to buy the soundtrack. The audio quality is outstanding, and it will bring back fond memories!



3. I bought this CD as a Christmas gift for my mother who loves musicals. I looked all over the town where I live (Santa Maria, CA) and was unbale to find it anywhere. My search through Amazon brought up the product quickly and it was reasonably priced! It arrived within one week in excellent condition.



4. Bought this for my wife who loves musicals. The soundtrack is re-mastered beautifully, and if you love the musical, you can't go wrong with this soundtrack.



5. The music is absolutly wonderful. The voices are so clear. It is not muffled. It is a truly great CD. I am going to try to save mine for christmas. If I can wait that long. Since I was a kid, I always loved "The King and I" Now I have the music again. To me their is only one King. And thats "Yul Brynner" very talented. But so is Deborah Kerr. You will love it!

5 comments about Godspell.

1. I just saw a new production of "Godspell" with an updated script (minus the original "Clown Theme") at a local theatre. I forgot how much I liked the music as I hadn't seen the musical in years. I ordered the CD right when I got home from the show!!



2. This is the genuine original, the only Godspell album that really ought to carry that distinction. It is not a sophisticated recording nor is the cast polished and experienced. Most of the cast is first and second year drama school students so voices are a touch thin and untrained. Listening with headphones reveals thumps often picked up from the piano microphone and other uncontrolled audio aspects. Instrumentation is basic with piano, Hammond M3 organ, acoustic, electric and bass guitar, drums and other percussion. It is not a problem however and adds to the charm and realism of the performance. As for where to peg it music wise I can't say it's Christian Rock, I find most Christian Rock is overly produced, slick and corporate and lacks soul and emotion. Godspell has a closer similarity to a good old Rock Opera with doses of folk mixed in. Lest one forget that we were freshly out of the 60's so it has many musical earmarks of that era. This recording of Godspell has vibrancy and energy that the later recordings of the musical seems to lack. Compare for example `All For The Best' on the 71' verses the London 93' version.
   
   I am biased a bit; I grew up with this version. Not to mention have seen it performed at my childhood Presbyterian Church many times and I know the melodies, instrumentation and lyrics by heart.



3. I listened with fondness in the 70's and part of the 80's untl cassette wore off.
   
   I agree with the reviewer who said it sounds dated, it does.. and there is a lot of nostalgia in that, like remebering when in mass you could sing day-by-day.. its songs may not be as impressive as Superstar, but they are more ctachy and melodical.. All the willows there is a great song, not too sad or tragic...
   
   It was only late in the 80's when I had the chance to see the movie, and I was not that impressed, though I admitt it was original.



4. Godspell takes a while to grow on you, but once it does you won't go away disappointed. The musical that made "Day By Day" famous is light, inspirational and a good way to make your day.



5. The item I ordered is the item I received. It's hard to go wrong with a particular CD that you want. Had I ordered the American Cast CD and received the London cast CD, then I would not have been happy. But I got what I wanted, so I am happy!

5 comments about Hairspray (2002 Original Broadway Cast).

1. My 3 year old daughter and I listen to this in the car all the time! She loves "Hey Mama Welcome to the 60's". My husband can even stand it and on a long car ride it's a life saver. The live show is so much fun as is the movie. I prefer this OBC recording over the movie soundtrack. Lot's of fun for everyone!



2. I received this a a gift. I've never seen the broadway play with this cast, So judging their acting, I can not do. I love the 2007 movie musical and the 1988 original movie. So when I got it, I gave it a try. The 2007 movie cast has much better vocals. Marissa Jaret Winkour (Tracy Turnblad) sounds so babyish, it's something I can not give a second chance. Her voice is a lot better on Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now : The 2007 movie edition. Harvey Fierstein (Edna) sounds like a Heavy cigarette smoking T-Pain. The only decent voice is Mary Bond Davis (Motormouth Maybelle Stubbs). She sounds good. But the other cast members do not. Given the fact that I've never seen the play and that the cast of the 2007 movie have better singing voices, I think I'll Stick with 2007 movie musical soundtrack. The singing voices by this cast are just plain horrible



3. love the music , is great hearing the original interpretation , dont get me wrong loved the movie, really impressed with travolta's "Edna" but the show stopper "You can't stop the beat" should not have been re-arranged , is very pale compared too the OBC , as well as the missing songs from the show



4. It taught me about segregation in that time era and following your dreams. The singing was fantastic! That MotorMouth Maybelle can really blow when she sings!



5. This is a great cd but there is only one thing I don't like about it. That is Harvey Fierstein. I don't think he did a good job. John Travolta did alot better! But that is not enough reason to give it 4 stars! STILL GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about Hair - The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (1968 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Hair...the seminal Rock Musical for the ages... Once upon a time in the mythical land called America great thoughts and changes began to appear across the land. People, especially the younger one's began to actually listen to the music...their music...Full of promises and prayers, asking the questions and finding the answers... Love...Understanding ...fellowship... permeated the soft sweet aromatic waves of the times.
   The age of Aquarius came and went...only the music remains.... Let the sunshine, let the sunshine, shine through...



2. I came to this backwards in time; I saw the movie version first and listened to that soundtrack. Go and buy that one, not this one; that one is way better. The musicality is outstanding on that one, whereas this has a second-rate AM radio sound. I was a pre-teen when the play of Hair came out and I remember most of the songs from AM radio in the late 60s--but after listening to the soundtrack I realize why most of the hits from Hair were recorded by other people. "Aquarius" was popularized by the Fifth Dimension. "Hair" was popularized by the the Cowsills. "Easy to Be Hard" was popularized by Three Dog Night. All those versions are better than the soundtrack (and some are not very good). Listen to Cheryl Barnes sing "Easy to Be Hard" in the film: it is outstanding.



3. This is certainly a classic of the era. To understand it fully you would have to have seen - even if it was 40 years ago.



4. Really enjoyed listening to fine tracks from the 60's. Anyone who lived through the sixties as a teenager will love this one.



5. The Quality exceeded my expectations. It brought back my original memories of the production of Hair I saw in 1968 in Los Angeles

5 comments about A Chorus Line (1975 Original Broadway Cast).

1. "Chorus Line" has to be one of the greatest of Broadway Musicals. It is particularly apropos to people who either are in show business or are well-familiar with the ups and downs of that craft. This recording just magnifies this!



2. We have the album version--the purchase of the CD was overdue. This play was my first Broadway show and I'll never forget the experience. Listening to this CD makes you feel like you are in the theatre again and the songs are classics that will stand the test of time. "At the Ballet" never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Forget the movie soundtrack version--no comparison to the original Broadway cast. This is a "must have" addition to your collection.



3. I live in NYC and recently saw A Chorus Line on Broadway. I remember it being my favorite show when i first saw it in 1977. While not as great as the original, but still wonderful, I came home realizing that I had to have the CD from the original production. This is a great CD, very well priced. Buy it. And sing along to the fabulous score.



4. i ordered the soundtrack from the movie NOT the original cast recording. When I opened it and put it in the cd player I was sorely dissappointed upon listening to it.



5. The CD was unplayable and we received no response to our emails to the dealer.

5 comments about The Essential Barbra Streisand.

1. Listening to Barbra Streisand's voice it's no mystery why she has sold millions of cd's according to the Recording Industry (RIAA) and Nielsen SoundScan. Included in this set is her last Top Ten Hit on "The Billboard Hot 100", "I Finally Found Someone" a duet with Bryan Adams (from her movie "The Mirror Has Two Faces") She's won multiple Grammy's and an Academy Award for her music, multiple Emmy's for her various television work (and her February 14, 2001 Fox/TV concert special had 8.7 million viewers according to Nielsen Media Research) She won an Academy Award for her role in the movie "Funny Girl" (tied with Katharine Hepburn) and received a Tony for her Broadway work. She's also well known for her political work, including her support of Hillary Clinton for President, Hillary Clinton went on to receive more votes than any other Presidential primary candidate in history.



2. For anyone out there who's a Barbra Streisand fan, this 2-set CD is a must-have! I may not necessarily agree w/ Barbra's political views, but I certainly love her voice and acting abilities.
   
   I believe Barbra Streisand is a musical icon, and all should know who she is. This album is a masterpiece of all her greats, and I was especially happy to know that two of the Yentl songs were on this album. What a great movie that was!
   
   You'll love this CD-set! Enjoy!
   
   Debbie



3. I love this album. It is one of my favorites. The disco type song "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with Donna Summer is a great 70s one. "The Way We Were" is a great slow song from 70s. Check out "Woman in Love" which is my favorite song by her. It is really just an amazing love song. "Memory" which is from the musical CATS she really sings well. A lot of other songs on here that are really good. She has such a great voice any song she sings sounds great. Sample them all. A great purchase.



4. The ESSENTIAL is the part not to miss... If you are a Barbra Streisand fan, and/or music collector, this one CD has it all! You can't miss with her standards, and more contemporary hits all on two outstanding CD's.
   It's like butta !



5. Even as a fan of Barbra, I think there are only on few songs on these two cd's that I look forward to hearing. Those are really good, but the others are just mediocre, songs I have never heard before. But the price is right.

5 comments about Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary [CD/DVD Combination].

1. The CD is great, but the DVD would not play correctly. It kept sticking on one spot, no way to advance scenes, etc. Have not had that problem with any other DVDs on my player. Very disappointed.



2. This music can't be beat anywhere. Looking forward to being able to purchase the show in it's entirety.



3. 
   After seeing mamma mia(the broadway version and the movie), the music of abba stayed with me.This is an excellent cd.It not only has good music but the second disc with the behind the scenes look made this a very good purchase.I recommend it highly.



4. I am very dissapointed in the quality of this product as it skips in some places, we tried different players with no change. I was also mislead on the dvd which I assumed was the complete show.
   
   Howard Kool



5. CD/DVD are OK but the DVD is only a compilation of a few moments on the Mamma Mia, I expected the complete DVD from the actual performance.I'm rather disappointed.