5 comments about A Man of No Importance (2002 Off-Broadway Cast).

1. Excellent recording, excellent music. i was surprised since I had not heard it before. Very enjoyable.



2. A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE was listed as a book so I was quite surprised when it showed up as a songbook. There were other songbooks listed which is why I chose this one as I was interested in buying the script. So I was unhappy about that. I enjoy the music and I imagine if I read music this would have been a perfect choice for me. So buyer beware.



3. I first heard about this musical when a friend told me she was auditioning for a production. Her brief synopsis was enough to get me interested, and I got the CD. The musical is based on the 1995 film of the same title, not on a novel. After listening, I was intrigued enough to purchase the movie.
   
   It's the story of a bus conductor in Dublin, Ireland. A quiet man who's job is to collect the fares of bus riders. But he plays a role in the lives of his riders, reciting poetry and verse during the ride, engaging his passengers and making their trip something more than just a ride.
   
   The opening number is a wonderful and poetic description of the seemingly mundane act of riding the bus to work in the morning being transformed from drudgery to a lively part of the daily round.
   
   Many of his riders participate in his amateur theatre productions at a local church hall. His spinster sister has put her life on hold until her brother meets and marries a wife.
   
   The conductor, Alfie, is a homosexual, who retreats from his own life into one of fantasy built around the poetry and prose of his inspiration, Oscar Wilde. His emotional outlets are narrowed to books and cooking, and his creativity is directed to his plays.
   
   As his life rumbles forward on the bus, the pain of living this way becomes clear. The pressures of self denial press in on him. He longs to live a real life, and to feel the pleasures of love with another human being.
   
   He longs, secretly, of the driver of his bus, but is caught in a net of Catholic guilt and social pressures, so shuns involvement in the outside world, preferring the safety and security of the secret world inside his own head.
   
   Until, that is, the need for human interaction - both physical and emotional - drive him to a desperate point.
   
   Beaten and humiliated by his only attempt to be himself, he finds that he is a man of importance to those around him. That being Oscar Wilde isn't who he needs to be, but instead, the man he is, Alfie Byrne.
   
   The musical seems to flesh out some of the characters better than the movie, and improve on some of the vagaries of the film. The motivations of his sister, Lil, are more understandable because her relationship with Carney, the butcher is more clear, for example.
   
   On first hearing, I found the story moving, but a little confusing - mostly keeping the characters in order. After reading the liner notes I had a much better feel for the action and interrelationships, and enjoyed it even more. The music captures the character and emotions of the story quite well.
   
   The score uses Irish influences extremely well, and eschews the current style of rock rhythms and American Idol style vocal acrobatics, resulting in a good, solid and serious musical.
   
   It's a sensitive story, well told by well written and evocative music.



4. This is another review that I did when I didn't have an account so i'm re-issuing it so that yall know it's me.
   
   
   
   Let me first say that if you don't like Irish music, you probably won't like this show.
   
   A Man of No Importance is the perfect example of how off-broadway can have amazing shows too. It is the story of a kind hearted ticket taker, Alfie Burnes who loves oscar wilde and poetry. Enter Robbie Fay, driver of the bus, this is the one on whom Alfie has a crush.
   Alfie lives with his sister Lil and heads the comunity theater group, The St. Amelda's players. For their next production Alfie wants to put on "Salome"
   I won't give away the whole show but that is the general gist nix the twists and turns taken during the play.
   
   The talent on the cast album is extremly gifted and sing the songs with such believability that you think you might really be in the streets of Dublin, Ireland while you're listining.
   
   Standouts include:
   A Man of No Importance
   The Burden of Life
   Going Up
   Princess
   The Streets of Dublin
   Books
   Our Father
   Confessions
   Art
   
   All in all this album is a good and enjoyable buy.



5. Let me first say that if you don't like Irish music, you probably won't like this show.
   
   A Man of No Importance is the perfect example of how off-broadway can have amazing shows too. It is the story of a kind hearted ticket taker, Alfie Burnes who loves oscar wilde and poetry. Enter Robbie Fay, driver of the bus, this is the one on whom Alfie has a crush.
   Alfie lives with his sister Lil and heads the comunity theater group, The St. Amelda's players,. For their next production Alfie want to put on "Salome"
   I won't give away the whole show but that is the general gist nix the twists and turns taken during the play.
   The talent on the cast album is extremly gifted and sind the songs with such believability that you think you might in the streets of Dublin Ireland while you're listining.
   
   Standouts include:
   A Man of No Importance
   The Burden of Life
   Going Up
   Princess
   The Streets of Dublin
   Books
   Our Father
   Confessions
   Art
   
   All in all this album is a good and enjoyable buy.

5 comments about Flower Drum Song (1961 Film Soundtrack).

1. Flower Drum Song is just as I remembered it from the BIG screen @ Gruman's Chinese Theater. The remastered audio is clear, & the added features of the subtitles is nice - especially if you don't hear/understand accents. Color of costumes is bright & clear! I really enjoyed the commentary available @ the end! If you like BIG, Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals, this is a definite buy! Enjoy it with a bowl of noodles or a fortune cookie!



2. I was totally enchanted by this Rogers and Hammersteins musical. The soundtrack is wonderful and with added bonus songs is just a joy to listen to over and over again.



3. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song is one of those hopelessly happy and inspiring offerings from the early 1960's...and that is not entirely bad.
   
   Lovely throughout, from the light and happy 'A Hundred Million Miracles' to the very amusing version of 'Don't Marry Me' featuring the terrific Jack Soo.
   
   Best know for the Nancy Kwan song 'I enjoy Being A Girl' the soundtrack is multi leveled and is a nice slice of life...from 1961.



4. I have listen to The Broadway 1958 Flower Drum soundtrack since I was a little girl. I loved it so much I had my dance teacher arrange a solo dance to the overature for me. A month ago I ordered the 1961 Film version expecting it to be equally beautifull. I couldn't believe my ears!!! It lacked so much depth that was contained in the 1958 version. Comparing the 2 Overatures the 1961 version seemed to skip right through it and it lacked the intence feelings the original 1958 version abtained.



5. The movie soundtrack of "Flower Drum Song" should be used as a template and a shining example of how a sountrack should be produced. Lush orchestrations by Alfred Newman and vivid performances of the songs, even those dubbed, transformed a score considered by some critics to be cubic zirconia into diamonds. True some of the diamonds were of lesser quality but diamonds are still diamonds and boy do they sparkle.
   
   The original 1961 vinyl record with its space limitations resulted in editing on a few numbers. It would have been nice if the CD reissue had included the entire "Sunday" "Chop Suey" and "The Other Generation" but why quibble with a soundtrack that is ear candy to the movies eye candy.

No comments about Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber: Original Soundtracks.

3 comments about Jane Morgan Sings Showstoppers.

1. Jane Morgan made many lps and so far very few seem to have found their way on to CD, but here we have two put on to a disc with a couple of extra tracks thrown in for luck, all beautifully transferred and sounding better than ever. Sepia have done a fine job with this disc and their other release of some of her earlier recordings. Once described as having "moonlight" in her voice (in the days before the trades descriptions act of course) anyone who only knows her later Epic/RCA recordings will be surprised at how romantic these earlier recordings are.
   A message for Alan Hamilton who left a review of this CD ; the song "If Only I Could Live My Life Again" was included on Jane's 1959/60 lp "Jane Morgan Time", and this lp has recently been reissued on CD on the "LPTime" lable, which should not be confused with the previously released CD of the same name on the "Marginal" lable. I would point out that the LPTime issue does seem to have been taken from a source which may have been that terrible thing "mono enhanced for stereo sound" as it has a strange echo to it, which was not on the original mono lp. But it is still well worth getting



2. This is a terrific restoration of the terrific Kapp KX5006S from Kapp's two record "Fabulous" series of which Roger Williams did three sets on the piano. Sepia has kept the contents complete plus added some bonus tracks, and it IS FABULOUS. Great songs, great singer, what's not to love? Buy this!



3. Jane Morgan was one of my favourite singers of the 50s and 60s, and I always welcome transfers of her albums on to CD. "Jane Morgan Sings Showstoppers" is a collection of songs from the shows, and since I enjoy musical comedy, Broadway, etc., this album was received very well. The pure, clear voice which enunciates every word so that it can be heard, is a rarity today. Thankfully, Amazon tell me when a new release is available. Does anyone remember her singing "If Only I Could Live My Life Again"? I still have that record on 45 but would love to have it on CD or as a download.

5 comments about Babes In Arms (1989 Broadway Revival Cast).

1. It was refreshing to hear these songs in their original form. I actually could make out the lyrics to songs like Where or When and The Lady Is a Tramp.I also love Johnny One Note and Way Out West (On Western Avenue). I listen to the CD over and over and over. I would recommend it to anyone.



2. Marvelous studio recording. Wish there were more of these of long lost shows.



3. People who listen to this wonderful recording jump to the conclusion that the show is an overlooked classic. It isn't. The score is jam packed with standards, but the book... the book is a mess! Filled with unfunny jokes, sub-plots that go nowhere and bits of business that I doubt were even entertaining in 1937. Despite a slew of good reviews BABES had trouble attracting audiences until suddenly in teh summer it was the ONLY musical running on Broadway, and that helped it achieve a healthy run of 289 performances. But the show will never be revived except in concert.
   
   Evans Haile is the real star hear, conducting the original orchestrations which swing in the best late 1930s tradition. The extended Ballet "Peter's Dream" is a bit repetitive but the rest of teh CD is pure gold. Really, this is the best way to enjoy BABES IN ARMS.
   
   CORRECTION: The listing says "1989 Broadway Revival Cast" - it wasn't a revival: just a concert version.



4. The score for Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's 1937 musical BABES IN ARMS is practically a catalog of hit songs: "Where or When," "I Wish I Were in Love Again," "My Funny Valentine," "Johnny One-Note," "The Lady Is a Tramp." Even the less popular numbers "Imagine," "All at Once," "You Are So Fair," and the title song are of fine quality (only "Way Out West" is slightly silly). The singers on this 1989 studio recording are all excellent vocalists (Judy Blazer and Judy Kaye particularly so), yet their voices are fresh and youthful-sounding enough for the juveniles -- "babes in arms" -- they are meant to be playing. But the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Evans Haile, is the real star of the recording. As the booklet notes explain, the show's original orchestrations have here been recreated, and the result is a charming sound that is authentically 1930's. As far as the orchestra is concerned, this is BABES IN ARMS as Rodgers and Hart themselves originally heard it.



5. My brothers school put this play on recently and I just had to see it twice. I love it so much and hopefully will get the Cd soon.

5 comments about Olivia's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2.

1. Ten good songs, but for the price, fork out a few more bucks and buy a better "greatest hits" collection, like "Magic" or "Gold." BIG hits like "Deeper Than The Night" and "Summer Nights" were totally ignored for this album.



2. I know that her greatest hits #1 was not something I was going to like.
   
   This greatest hits #2 has all the songs I remember. Especially Magic, Hopelessly Devoted (Grease), You're the one that I want (Grease), Physical, Suddenly (sung with Cliff Richard)and Xanadu. Definitely brings back memories.
   
   Songs on here are:
   Heart Attack
   Magic
   Physical
   Hopelessly Devoted To You
   Make A Move On Me
   A Little More Love
   You're The One That I Want
   Tied Up
   Suddenly
   Xanadu



3. And I am here on Amazon to buy it again. That's how good it is. And I have an iPod. I don't buy a cd anymore unless it's great. You can see from some of my more recent reviews how mean I can be as a critic and I don't have anything but nice things to say about Olivia and this compilation. This is Olivia at her peak. In an era of crappy singers like Ashlee Simpson and Madonna who have to lip synch live and mediocre singers like Jessica Simpson and Pink, in an era where even the great singers like Kelly Clarkson sing stupid lyrics plucked from the Beverly Hills vocabulary book (last years word was "jaded")this is absolute pop perfection. It doesn't get any better than "A Little More Love". Huge kudos to John Farrar for writing nearly all of these great pop songs. And to top it all off you are forever easy on the eyes Olivia!



4. Olivia Newton-John will always be one of my favorite singers. As a little kid all excited at the prospect of seeing the movie Grease, little did I know that on that night a sweet singer/actress from Australia would leave me dazed and bedazzled by my first sighting of a beautiful woman; I've been looking for my own Olivia ever since then, a cute Sandra Dee type who, under the right circumstances, can magically turn into a wild, extremely hot show-stopper. I don't think some people these days realize just how wildly popular Olivia was in the late 70s and early 80s, the era from which these tracks are taken. Physical was atop the charts just short of forever, and for that day and age the single was a delightfully suggestive little song (at least for a kid like me), if you can consider anything sung by an angel to be suggestive. The earliest recordings featured in this collection go back to 1978: from the Grease soundtrack come Hopelessly Devoted To You (one of the best love songs ever) and You're the One That I Want (a duet with John Travolta that I will certainly never forget thanks to the movie), while the scale-climbing A Little More Love is taken from Olivia's Totally Hot album. 1980's Xanadu may not be a critically successful movie, but it provides us with three great hits: the infectiously upbeat Xanadu (with ELO), Magic, and Suddenly (a really nice duet with Cliff Richard). Olivia's best-selling Physical album from 1981 provides only two tracks: the mega-hit Physical single and the rather sultry Make a Move On Me. The remaining two tracks, the memorable hit Heart Attack and Tied Up, were, if I'm not mistaken, recorded specifically for this greatest hits album.

   There are better, more comprehensive greatest hits albums on the market today (ones featuring the earlier hits not included on this collection), but for a long time this was the Olivia Newton-John greatest hits album to have, featuring Olivia's best hits from the years she basically ruled over the world of female vocalists. Her voice is timeless and remains plaintively beautiful to this day. Whenever I listen to this album, I have to wonder why I haven't been listening to it every day for the last twenty years. Pure beauty never goes out of style, and no female singer has ever equaled the beauty of Olivia's voice, body, mind, and soul.




5. There's something truly magical about this album, which is odd considering it is just a compilation - one of the many in a career where the number of Olivia compilations on the market outnumber her studio albums! This, however, is one of only a handful which were endorsed and compiled with Olivia's blessing. Whilst Olivia's career over the last ten years has been 'dodgy' to put it lightly, part of the reason 'Greatest Hits Volume 2' is such a delight is it was released at a time when to say Olivia was the world's biggest female popstar was a justified accolade.

   ...The Hollywood phase of her career when 'commercial' seemed synonymous with 'innovation' - something truly lacking from today's musical climate! Purists will argue that her best years were in the early and mid seventies when the majority of her output fell into the 'country' or 'easy listening' categories. With this, I argue profusely. Her recording career up until 1978 was rather hit-and-miss, her albums containing stellar songs sitting side-by-side by embarrassments not even Anne Murray would have touched. This compilation covers the four years from 1978 - 1982, the four years in Olivia's career when she went from strength to strength.

   Her blossoming movie career (which died shortly hereafter) is well-represented with half the album culled from the soundtracks to the stellar 'Grease' and, erm, less-than-stellar 'Xanadu'. Never fear, because the music is as memorable as it was 20 years ago. 'You're The One That I Want', despite being massacred by karaoke singers worldwide, is still the fifties-meets-seventies-sing-a-long it was when Olivia and Travolta first wiggled their respective booties in that 'Shake Shack'. 'Hopelessly Devoted To You' remains Olivia's most successful pop-by-numbers ballad ('I Honestly Love You' can't hold a candle to this John Farrar-penned selection), whilst 'Xanadu' and 'Magic' have gone on to be rather highly-appreciated camp classics from a film which garnered similar accolades.

   Her non-soundtrack work is represented through two albums which, suffice to say, are the two best albums she ever released. 'Totally Hot' could've done with more of a showing than just 'A Little More Love' (umm, MCA, where in the world is the R'n'B/pop drum-and-bass confection of 'Deeper Than The Night'?!), but the song is about as perfectly edgy as Olivia ever got, so no complaints here. The other album represented by two cuts is Olivia's uber-successful 'Physical' - the briliant title track gets another outing here, as does the sing-a-long bouncy synth-romp that is 'Make A Move On Me'.

   This collection also boasted two non-album tracks which perfectly segue between the shimmering synth rock of 'Physical' and the more aggressive dance-based sound of the 'Two Of A Kind' soundtrack. 'Heart Attack', from the pen of Steve Kipner who also wrote 'Physical', is perfect Olivia-fare with a powerhouse chorus and a chugging drum and quirky bassline. 'Tied Up', on the other hand, is a slinky little pop/rock number which is closer in feel to Olivia's 'Recovery' than anything else... melodically quite dark, but still infectious enough to be a hit (perhaps the record-buying public didn't agree with me, as it sadly stalled just inside the Top 40 in the US).

   This was Olivia at her peak. Best listened to in conjunction with the 'Olivia Newton-John, Live!' VHS released the same year. Olivia's 'Physical' tour captured in such a way that it stands up today alongside some of the greatest tours of the 90's. Olivia is in great voice, and singing some of the best songs of her career. From here it all went a bit pear-shaped, but luckily we have flawless compilations like this to remind us what a gem Olivia really is.

5 comments about Le Roi Soleil.

1. I am truly obsessed with this musical. The cast is amazing: they have wonderful, expressive voices and aren't too bad on the eyes either. I am especially besotted by Emmanuel Moire who is not only an expressive singer but a wonderful pianist and songwriter in his own right. Though the musical is totally in French you will love it anyway! I only wish every one could see the DVD of the musical itself, but it is not available in the US.



2. Nop I know nothing of French! But I'm Absolutely Besotted. I Completely Definitely love the music. I know what this musical is about as well as the story and that's enough. Music is indeed THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. It's beyond language.



3. the music is excellent and the songs are tender and thoughtful - if you understand French it is really worth the buy - I also own the DVD and it is awesome!



4. My friend handed me the CD and I'm sad to say that I didn't listen to it until 2 months later. When I did, I was blown away. I don't understand a lick of French but I still love it. I'm a very picky person especially when it comes to music, if I don't like it in the first minute or 2 I won't pick it up again but Le Roi Soleil just draws you in. I love Mon Essential and Ca Marche. I just wish they will come out with a DVD with English subtitles.



5. Just love this song. Found Christophe Mae's music while vacationing in France. Love him! Basically, just bought this for his contribution. If you are like me and heard Mon Paradis first, this is worth backtracking to. Ca Marche is fun french!
   Cheers!

5 comments about Ultra-Lounge: On the Rocks, Pt. 1.

1. Oh Man, This cd is so cool! I loved every ineterpretation and rendering! Hey I'm young , but I realize this is lounge and not mean't to usurp or dinegrate the original, so some of you peeps lighten-up! It's fab! These songs do make you think of times when cars were sleek and clothes actually fit people! The 60's were a mixed bag and that's what I love about this music, you could have hard rock, pop and lounge and they all co-existed...what an awesome world to have lived in. I would give this cd 10 stars if possible!



2. These recordings date from 1964 to 1971. During this time period, there were two kinds of "pop" music. There was the kind for teenagers, which featured the likes of the Beatles, the Doors and the Strawberry Alarm Clock. And then there was pop music for the parents of teenagers, featuring the likes of Julie London, the Letterman and the Hollyridge Strings. This CD features teenage pop songs as performed by pop artists for the older folks. Boy, talk about a style clash! Can you imagine Mel Torme singing "Sunshine Superman", or Julie London singing "Mighty Quinn"? Well, you don't have to imagine it, you can get this CD and hear it for yourself. There are some strange renditions of songs that will be familiar to anyone who ever turned on an oldies radio station. Most of the songs are instumentals, although I wouldn't call it "elevator music", for the most part. I have to make special mention of the orchestral version of "Heartbreak Hotel", which is downright spooky! Fans of "kitsch" should dig this CD.



3. The 1960s was the most tumultuous decade of the 20th Century. There were a great many events to commend it and condemn it. It produced the Apollo space program to put American astronauts on the Moon and some of the best original popular music as just two commendable events. Assassinations and the divisive Vietnam War were events certainly to condemn the sixties.

   Listening to Capital Records' "On The Rocks, Part 1"-part of the Ultra Lounge series-- has convinced me there is something else that gave the sixties a black eye. It spawned some of the worst rendition music ever to waste valuable recording studio time.

   As I mentioned before, the sixties produced some of the best popular music, and always sounded best when released by the original artists. However, this left the door open for others deluded into thinking they could take a top 40 hit and resuscitate their lagging career, or take a perfectly successful recording career and sending it into the ground.

   The On The Rocks Part 1 (& Part 2) CD is a compilation of some of the worst the 1960s and 1970s had to offer in rendition music. Better examples of a total lack of judgment probably cannot be found. Take, for example, Mel Torme singing Sunshine Superman, or Peggy Lee singing "Hard Day's Night"-please! Even Julie London took leave of her senses to record "Mighty Quinn'. Most painful to listen to.

   The indignities don't end there. Imagine the Hollyridge Strings performing the Theme from Shaft, or the Lettermen mis-performing the Doors tunes "Hello I Love You" and "Touch Me." Even the impeccable Nelson Riddle can step on the proverbial wet bar of soap, musically speaking of course, and produce their sad rendition of "Winchester Cathedral."

   If you have a morbid curiosity or want a great gag gift for your fellow Loungers, this is definitely the disc to get.




4. Mel Torme singing 'Sunshine Superman'? Julie London warbling 'Quinn, The Eskimo'? Exotica Supremo Martin Denny taking on 'Incense & Peppermints'? No, you haven't gone insane, you're just listening to the ultimate curveball CD from 'Ultra-Lounge' This may be one of the most mind-warping albums I have ever heard; extremly tasteless and misguided takes on your favorite 60's pop hits by desperate loungeurs trying to be 'relevant' to 'the kids'. They miss the boat entirely, but the result is this strange hybrid; not quite lounge music, not quite rock, not really muzak...but it is (in the words of The Firesign Theatre) 'weirdly cool' . On first listening I didn't know WHAT I was hearing, but this disc has become strangely addictive...

   Particular faves are a kinda science-fictiony sounding 'Shaft', Lord Sitar(!) doing a faux Indian take on 'Daydream Believer', Zacharias & his spooky violin on 'Light My Fire', and what must be the strangest 'Heartbreak Hotel' since Dread Zeppelin's...plus the vocal numbers mentioned above. If you are an auditory adventurer, and you 'get' the whole 'lounge' vibe...bend your head around this one!




5. The British Invasion, it should be noted, contained Miss Peggy Lee. That's right, the Peggy Lee of "Fever". Peggy Lee, you see, was the 5th Beatle. This disc is evidence of that, as you hear Peggy belt out "A Hard Day's Night". Yeah, baby! Oh, and you also get a special version of "Light My Fire"--a version that I think Ed Sullivan would have approved. Come on baby, light my fire. Mel Torme, Wayne Newton--now THAT's counter-culture, man. So put on your fringe vest, those rose-colored Lennon specs, and take a step back in time to some real anit-Establishment venom!

5 comments about Notre Dame de Paris (2000 Studio Cast) [Epic].

1. Great CD. This is almost as good as the original French musical. It was very well adapted and the choice of songs really sums up the entire musical.



2. Notre Dame de Paris was the brainchild of Quebecois composer Luc Plamondon, author of Starmania and La Legende de Jimmy along with Celine Dion collaborations on Des Mots Qui Sonnent. A musical based on Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame, its charged soundtrack brought Quasimodo's plight to memorable life. I saw the (French) musical staged in Quebec in 2001, and although the staging did little for me (minimal abstract sets, modern costuming), the music was highly memorable.
   
   If your first thought is Disney's animated musical adaptation of Hunchback of Notre Dame, through that preconceived notion out the window. Plamondon's version of the classic love triangle is dark, gritty, and rock in its nature; no cute singing gargoyles here.
   
   Many of the original French-language cast reprise their roles on the English cast recording, including Garou as Quasimodo, Daniel Lavoie as Frollo, and Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire (the role was also played by Acadian singer-songwriter Jean-Francois Breau). Plamondon's original French lyrics have been translated into passable English by Will Jennings (My Heart Will Go On).
   
   The English tracklisting is varied slightly from the original, opening with Celine Dion's recording of Live For the One I Love. Pelletier as Gringoire has a pleasant enough voice, although he sounds as though he's reaching outside his range on the lower notes on Age of Cathedrals. Luck Mervil's urgent, melancholic hoarseness works perfectly on Refugees. Tina Arena was a much-contested choice among fans of the original French-language cast recording; however, her sensual, sinuous voice is imbued with a strength that shines. On Bohemienne Song, mysterious Eastern notes flit hauntingly through the ballad, hints of sitar and derbukka drums, exotic hints of the Gypsies' Eastern origins.
   
   We first hear from star Garou on the three-way Belle. His rough voice reminds me of Joe Cocker, and although his gritty sound may be an acquired taste, he sings with a sensuality and sense of wounded pride as Quasimodo that makes him entrancing to listen to in either language. Natasha St-Pierre shines on power ballad My Heart If You Will Swear. The next songs trace the complicated love quadrangle between Phoebus, Esmeralda, Quasimodo, and evil priest Frollo, who covets Esmeralda as his own. Garou's tortured despair is palpable on Dance, My Esmeralda, sounding as though he's being torn apart.
   
   The English cast recording generally holds up well against the original French. A note about the diction: most French-speaking Quebecers are bilingual, so English diction is generally quite good. It was a wise decision on the part of the producers to bring over the original Quebec cast to reprise the English roles. Garou is a standout in particular, and Bruno Pelletier is a bestselling rock star in Quebec, and the extra degree of authenticity (Notre Dame de Paris was written in French, after all) lends the musical an extra shine.
   
   Fans of the original French-language soundtrack will find much to like, although Celine Dion's cover of Live for the One I Love felt a little too convenient as she's not present on the rest of the album (it was marketed as an all-new track on All The Way...A Decade of Song).



3. If I want love songs, I can listen to top 40.
   
   For musical theatre, I prefer drama, though Broadway almost inevitably throws some romance in.
   
   This CD is dominated by love songs.
   
   Furthermore, this CD seems like a compilation of songs, rather than the entire story, so they do seem like just love songs absent strong characterisation.



4. When we listen to opera, we don't really worry ourselves with the translation (although it is nice to have). So it should be here. It's really too bad this musical/modern opera just couldn't be presented here in the original French. I'm afraid this may come off as elitist, but hey, the original is SO SO SO much better than this!
   
   Tina Arena (Esmeralda) may have a fantastic voice. Unfortunately, you won't be left with this impression when listening to this CD. There's a harsh edge to her performance that is almost unpleasant. Her phrasing is poor. To add insult to injury, the acoustics are not spectacular, and the whole performance just absolutely does NOT come alive at all. The French recording is immeasurably better than this. When you listen to the French recording, you are just drawn into the whole story. And, if you know the story (do a little reading about the musical-- it's not necessary to read the Victor Hugo novel) you will have an idea what's happening while they're singing. (If you pick up the DVD you'll get the entire libretto (in French) and English subtitles.)
   
   Anyways, this is just flat-out not so good. I don't mind the actual lyric translation. . . I haven't listened carefully enough to find offense with the actual choice of words the translator chose. It's really the music, the performances, and the acoustics. Noa-- who is Esmeralda in the French version-- has an incredible voice. All of the cast is fantastic. The English version is just NOT GOOD.
   
   One more thing: It is difficult to find the unabridged 2 CD complete performance in French. It is available to download at some sites. If you can find that, rather than the one-CD abridged French that is available here, try to do that. There is something amazing about listening to the entire thing in chronological order. It's just one of the most beautiful pieces of music that I've heard.
   
   Addendum: I've listened to this a few more times. I DO think that Garou, Daniel Lavoie, and Bruno Pelletier are STILL incredible on this version. They bring their same beautiful voices to the English roles of Quasimodo, Frollo, and Gringoire. However, Tina Arena's Esmeralda is really enough to ruin the entire score. Her voice is absolutely unpleasant as Esmeralda. There is no sweetness to it. Both Noa and Helene Segara are so much better. And, Steven Balsamo as Phoebus is only okay. Patrick Fiori has a rich lush tenor when he sings Phoebus' part in the French version. Steven Balsamo-- who'll you'll hear here-- is only half as good.
   
   Lastly, after seeing the translation of the French on the DVD version, I have to say that I don't really mind the English word translation on this English version. My husband would actually laugh a bit when reading the English translation when we were watching the show. Here, the words and melodrama are toned down a bit. Not a lot, mind you-- it is a tragedy, but a little. If you have seen the English subtitle translation on the dvd (think the song Belle, specifically), and then listen to the translation here, it's really not as bad as you might think when reading these reviews.



5. This mangled version of the wonderful French original demonstrates the importance of lyrics to the success of a rock opera. A production like this one, with avant-garde, minimalist sets and costumes, stands or falls on the quality of the music, lyrics and performers. While the French version was nearly flawless (brought down somewhat by the less-than-stellar performance of Helene Segara, who in any case does not sing on the cast recording), the English falls short of the mark. Sadly, even the excellent cast can't save the boring, unsubtle, and often ungrammatical lines that replace the powerful original lyrics. Rhymes of the "hell/tell/sell" sort abound, and the translator's preference for rhyme over meaning often results in completely unwarranted character changes (such as Phoebus being uncharacteristically concerned with damnation during "Belle", apparently because the word "hell" rhymes with "well"...) The translation manages two seemingly self-contradictory errors: it is both excessively literal, and insufficiently precise. The latter is a real problem, as others have noted, not only because the vagueness of meaning dilutes the power of the lyrics, but also because it makes the show sound repetitive.
   
   Esmeralda on this recording is sung by Tina Arena; another mistake. She is a talented singer with a powerful voice, but her style and timbre do not match Garou's, nor does she have sufficient vocal expressivity to pull off this role. The music is not especially difficult in a technical sense, and relies more on the artist's ability to express emotion. Tina Arena certainly hits the notes with all she's got, but her Esmeralda lacks the charisma and tragedy intended for this character.
   
   There is one good reason to buy this CD: it does have a slightly different song selection than the French cast recording. In particular, "The Birds They Put In Cages" is a lovely piece of music and, even in this imperfect rendition, is worth hearing. However, unless you absolutely must have this music in English, you would probably do better to get the complete Original Cast Live version of the French production.

5 comments about Disney's On the Record - A New Musical Revue (2004 Original Cast).

1. I listen to this all the time.
   I love it. It in my opinion is worth the money.It's great to hear the Disney's songs all jazzed up.



2. I fell in love with this CD when the second song, "Give a Little Whistle" started playing. I ADORE classic Disney songs, and I thought that this was a brilliant way to combine them in an enjoyable way. However, some people will not like this CD. My sister, who isn't such a Disney freak, didn't like it because the songs were different from the oringinals. So trust your gut, but I think you'll enjoy it!



3. This review is totally based on what I heard from the CD for I have never seen the show or learned about its synopsis before. This might be kinda long so bear with me here.
   
   First of all, I have to say that I own most of Disney's soundtrack albums. I also own many Disney's compilation albums so sometimes I got a bit tired that they still released those same old songs again and again. I don't buy them anymore since I had most of those songs already. But this album is something different!!!
   
   BASIC FACT:
   The album is an original cast recording of a Disney's musical revue in 2005. (It never made it to Broadway due to a bad plot and storyline.) The album consists of 45 tracks on 2 CDs with over 70 Disney songs mentioned. Some of them are included as part of a medley and some are just snippet of songs to link to others. Some people tend to hate this idea of cutting down their favourite songs to a short piece but what I feel from this CDs is it makes the whole thing seems so fresh and new. It's kinda fun to listen to how they connect and merge the songs together. The orchestration, to me, was fresh and really nice. It gives you a jolly feeling and lifts you up every time you put it on.
   
   THE SONGS:
   The song list spans over 70 years of Disney. The Oldest song is "Minnie's Yoo-Hoo" from The Shindig (1930) and the newest is "Will the Sun Ever Shine Again" from Home on the Range (2004). And in between are familiar songs from famous Disney's classics such as Snow White, Dumbo, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story and so on... All the songs are separated into 15 recording sessions with separated prologue, entr'acte, finale and exit music. Stand outs are Session 8 (A.K.A. Silly Symphony) which is a medley of "no-meaning" songs such as "Supercalifragilisticexpialidotious", "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo", "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and more. Session 4 about flying is quite beautifully arranged. There are 2 special sessions dedicated to The Little Mermaid and Dumbo. The unmentioned sessions are also nice in their own style as well.
   
   THE CAST:
   There are 4 main performers, 2 guys and 2 girls, starting with Ashley Brown, she rocks!!! I saw her as Belle on Broadway and that is the reason why I bought this album. For those who don't know, she is the original Mary Poppins on Broadway. In this album, she plays a younger girl. Her songs are pretty much the princess classics from the opening "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" to Ariel's "Part of Your World" and from Mulan's "Reflections" to Cinderella's "So This Is Love". All her songs are delivered wonderfully. But the most impressive song is "A Change in Me" which is a new song added to the stage version of Beauty and the Beast. I think her version is the best (better than Susan Egan's, in my opinion) and the song is worth buying the album for.
   
   Moving on to the younger guy, he is Andrew Samonsky. His voice comes out as a young teen kind of sound which sounds really nice. His outstanding performance is in the newly arranged jazzy version of "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat". This song is really cool and is a true showstopper!
   
   The older lady of the recording is sung by Kaitlin Hopkins. She has more of mature sound which is very contrast to Ashley's clear soprano. She gets most of the "less-famous" songs but she handed them fairly. Her big solos are "Poor Unfortunate Souls", "Colors of the Wind" and "Will the Sun Ever Shine Again". She has a few duet with Ashley. "I'm Wishing/One Song" is stunning while "He's a Tramp" can be a bit boring.
   
   The last performer of the album is Brian Sutherland who portrays the older man. He has a nice warm baritone which suits his songs well. Check out his "When You Wish Upon a Star".
   
   The four performers get to sing some duets and quartets with each other. Standout quartet numbers are the opening medley of "Whistle While You Work/Give a Little Whistle" and the "Silly Symphony".
   
   As for the ensemble, I think they help add a nice touch to the album especially in the Dumbo medley and the multi-language version of "Be Our Guest".
   
   THE BOOKLET:
   The album comes with a nice colorful booklet with information about all the songs, a note from the director, cast list and plenty of nice pictures on and off stage. But no lyrics.
   
   BOTTOM LINE:
   If you love Disney, this is the album to get. Whatever people say about the show, don't listen to them. You are not buying the DVD of the show. You are buying a recording and the music on this album will surely make you smile with joy. Buy it and enjoy!!!



4. This was a very good product. It contained many memorable songs over a set of two discs. I recommend this to anyone who has ever heard a disney song (that'd be everyone).



5. This CD is a delightful mix of Disney selections with a twist. I believe I am singing the new versions from this CD more than the originals! If you love Disney music, you will love this!