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"If you wanna hear me sing serious, buy an album," Dean Martin says early in this 70-minute disc, underlining his point by deliberately mangling the last word's pronunciation. Issued to catch the wave of Steven Soderbergh's remake of the Pack's romp, Ocean's 11, Live at the Sands is the second official issue of a Martin/Frank Sinatra/Sammy Davis Jr. show. This September 1963 date, though, is nimbler and funnier than the previous year's set preserved on The Summit in Concert. Some of the same jokes are told, but this Vegas jaunt adds at least one new running gag (Dino's brief rendition of "It's My Party"), and Sammy also gets a few racially tinged zingers off in return for those of his partners. Oh, and lest we forget, there's good music. Martin actually plays it straight on two Guys and Dolls duets with Sinatra, who also turns in a half-dozen strong performances on his own. Plenty of mystique is present, but Sands captures the trio hard at work as well. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (41)

This is the One
"Ladies and Gentlemen - direct from the bar, Dean Martin!"

And with that sendoff begins one of the best live recorded cds I've ever heard. Recorded in 1963 during one of the many live performances at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, more than a CD, this is a time capsule of a bygone era - a swingin' and much less serious time, before the assasination of JFK and the turbulant Sixties began. Frank, Deano, and Sammy are absolutely on top of their game.

The Rat Pack mythology was shaped during the filming of "Ocean's 11" in early 1960. The five leading men - Frank, Dean, Sammy, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop - filmed during the day and then gathered onstage at the Sands Hotel at night. These "Summit Meetings" as Sinatra called them, not only galvanized Las Vegas as thousands of visitors poured into the gambling mecca without a prayer of getting a room reservation, but also made headlines and piqued imaginations as news reverberated around the world.

The Rat Pack's support of Senator John F. Kennedy (Lawford's brother-in-law) in his bid for the presidency became a cornerstone of his campaign, even as he was a ringside visitor at their shows. It was a moment in time, in history, never to be repeated. "There they were," writes Bill Zehme in his liner notes to THE RAT PACK LIVE AT THE SANDS, "twice nightly, without fail, tearing it up together through the dinner show at eight and back again at midnight, primed for even greater mayhem and off-color foolery."

The audio quality of this CD is fantastic and the music and dialogue sound great. The guys are absolutely irreverant, witty, and have a great time with the audience and eachother. Stand-up, impressions, music, cocktails - everybody is having a blast, the Rat Pack included, and it comes through loud and clear on this CD.

There are other Rat Pack CDs out there - a lot in fact, but NONE that truly capture their very essence like this one. Listen to this one and prepare to be taken back and find out what it was all about.

One of my 5 favorite CDs
This CD is a slice of history. It is a modified version of the act that Dean, Frank and Sammy came up with to perform at the "Summit" in early 1960.

If you're just after straight music, there are plenty of other CDs to choose from.

As for me, I'll go with the live recordings because they are just that, *ALIVE*. Frank, Dean and Sammy are still as vibrant on the recording as they were in early September, 1963. If you want to laugh at crazy jokes, hear Sammy's incredible impressions or sing along with the timeless tunes, this is the album.

After listening to this CD, I'm hooked on LIVE Rat Pack recordings (I'm in the process of collecting all I can find). I just wish someone would come up with a video of what was happening on stage. I someone makes a DVD, I'll buy it!

If this sounds interesting and you like Sammy, I particularly recommend "Sammy Davis Jr. At the Cocoanut Grove" (recorded in 1962, Reprise). Its all Sammy (although I did mistake Sammy's impressions of Frank for Mr. Sinatra the first few times through.)

:-)

If you love a good time, this CD is guranteed to "leave you swinging..."

Best of the Rat Pack
This cd is a real treat. It's like stepping back in time for an evening of great entertainment. The music, singing, and jokes are all great. This cd is vastly better all around than the Live and Swingin' set (which I also bought just for the dvd). If you are a fan of the Rat Pack or just want to know what all the fuss was about, buy it and enjoy.

Drink To Me Only...
One of their shows. Astonishing! Jokes about booze, jews, negros, italians, gangsters,... and songs! Very nice! Some of jokes are repeated from previous performances and some are new!

This is Great
I've had this CD for a while now, and I love it! It's hilarious. It seems to me that life was much more carefree before Political Correctness took over. I really don't think the Rat Pack would be allowed to put on a performance like this today. It's excellent, if you don't have it, buy it. Trust me, it's not a waste of money. (Unless you hate the Ratpack) ... Read more

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Barbra Streisand's bravado made her one of the 1960s' overnight sensations. This 40-cut compendium traces her recording career from early tracks that frequently relay her subtlety to often impressive accommodations with soft rock and still later vibrato-fests that find her taxing the limits of performer's ego and listeners' ears. The narrative is one of direct, sometimes showy, emotion giving way to empty displays of technique. By 1983's icky anthem "A Piece of Sky," Streisand has plowed under the light touches of "Lover, Come Back to Me" and the triumphal Central Park version of "Happy Days Are Here Again." Where she produced schlock masterworks when teamed with Neil Diamond ("You Don't Bring Me Flowers") and Donna Summer ("Enough Is Enough") in the '70s, a diva summit with Celine Dion led to the car wreck of 1997's "Tell Him." Essential wraps up with previously unreleased takes of "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "You'll Never Walk Alone." --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (91)

It Hasn't Left the CD Player!
It's hard to imagine one album that would so completely encapsulate the career of Barbra Streisand... but this essential collection does so wonderfully. It's appropriate that Barbra begin the collection with "A Sleepin' Bee"... her 1st broadway song. All of the early classics are here, though I am surprised at the inclusion of "I Stayed Too Long at the Fair". I would have picked "Starting Here, Starting Now". The 70's are well reflected on this 1st disc as well. "Stoney End" is a personal favorite. Even Barbra's two disco classics are included! It's amazing to see the diversity of songs she has recorded. Ballads, pop, disco, broadway, film. All are well respresented here. I would have foregone "Lazy Afternoon" in favor of "Songbird" or "Prisoner". The 2nd disc starts with Barbra's #1 "Woman In Love" and touches base on most of her noteworthy songs up to the present day. I would have preferred the live version of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and teh inclusion of "Left in the Dark" but this collection was most special because of the two new additional songs. It must have been difficult to pick from well over 50 albums and find the 40 best songs. Barbra's voice is such an incredible instrument. The power, majesty and beauty are still there as strong as ever before. This is a perfect 40th Anniversary collection. Now I look forward to a new album of contemporary songs. Perhaps a "Guilty Again" or a
"Broadway Album - Act III". Perhaps an album of uptempo songs
a la Cher or a Pet Shop Barbra such as was done for Liza Minelli. Gay men have always been Barbra's most ardent fans and it would be incredible to hear Barbra's voice back on the dance floor after all these years. Sure it would be a commercial venture but would also be great fun. Barbra has long said she has wanted to give something back to the gay community. Forget about a film which would be seen and promptly forgotten. Her fans fell in love with her voice 1st and that is the part of her talent that will endure the longest. An album of fun high-energy anthem type songs perhaps mixed with a couple of contemporary power ballads would be magic... perhaps entitled "NightLight". If only Barbra would realize how many fans love her dance songs she wouldn't be so hesitant. It seems she hasn't forgotten the floundering "Emotion" album, but hey, that had 3 charting singles and MTV airplay, so how bad was that? I'm sure whatever Streisand does, it will continue to enthrall the millions of people who've been enchanted by the gifts of this extraordinary woman.

America's Best Selling Female Vocalist - A Collection
Barbra Streisand's four decades of beautiful music are perfectly captured on this sterling two CD set. Disc One introduces us to 60's Streisand, a new star who would the standard for standards at a time when the prevailing taste in pop music was the Beatles. Her passionate and powerful renditions of "Happy Days Are Here Again", "He Touched Me" and "On A Clear Day" set the stage for America's most beloved female vocalist. The latter half of this disc captures Barbra in exquisite vocal form as her voice matures and loses its early "reed" like quality in favor of a more powerful and melodic vibrato. The 70's showcases her successful forays into various styles of music from light rock ("Stoney End") to disco ("The Main Event/Fight") and cements her status as America's premier interpreter of loved songs ("Evergreen").

Disc II captures Streisand at the zenith of her sales career with the songs from her brillant collaboration with Barry Gibb. From there her music finds a deeper & richer showcase in the songs from her film "Yentl". Barbra's best album of the 80's, "The Broadway Album" is well represented here and finds Barbra returning to her musical roots and reestablsihing herself as the ultimate interpreter of Broadway standards. Even the start of the 90's has Barbra continuing this theme with songs from "Back to Broadway". The latter half of the 90's teams Barbra with Bryan Adams and Celine Dion in memorable pop confections.

The two new songs included here ("Someday My Prince Will Come" and "You'll Never Walk Alone") both recorded in 2000 are superb. Her new rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" is in itself reason enough to buy the album!

Her fortcoming album "Duets" will feature performances with Josh Groban ("All I Know Of Love") and Barry Manilow ("I Won't Be the One To Let Go"). If reviews of her latest live performance on 9/30/02 are any indiction, Barbra is in "better than ever" voice and it would seem that there are many more golden moments for Barbra to come!

For those who choose to critique Barbra the photo or Barbra the person with childish and inappropraite remarks... all I can say is... are they running low on Zoloft or something? Get a grip!

Chris Sullivan

I only sing for the money
Once in a book Streisand it was written that Streisand said I only sing for the money. Well it is very clear that it is true for this emotionally barron diva, lacks any conviction, though she is technically gifted, she doesn't show any real passion or convictuin in her singing, just pure shallowness...

terrible,i despise it
please dont buy or listen to this horrible double disc compilation of fourty of the lousiest,atrocious horrid,horrible,crappy throwaway songs you will hear.you will get better box sets than this so avoid this disaster at all costs.get the box set of black sabbath instead.

Fabulous! I love it!
There are female singers, and there is Barbra Streisand, who is a total goddess. She sings, performs, acts, directs, and produces. She is, in a word, amazing. I'd eat off the ground she walks on! This collection is fabulous. You gotta get it. Buy now! ... Read more

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Tom Jones all but invented saucy power pop back before the sixties even started to swing when his second single "It's Not Unusual" rocketed up the UK charts in 1965. After that initial triumph the singer never looked back, tying his hair back with a thin black ribbon and putting some rather expressive body English into his stage moves, which assured that the stage floor would be routinely pelted with various undergarments pitched by enthusiastic fans. Almost four decades later both Jones and his audience are no less fervent as Wales' second-most famous export runs through his extensive and varied songbook, still imbuing his old chestnuts like "What's New Pussycat?" and "Delilah" with a sense of naughty fun and irony. But Jones is at his best while giving the latest generation of rockers a run for their money, as he pairs up with the likes of Wyclef Jean, the Sterophonics, Art of Noise, the Cardigans, and Mousse T; as he overhauls staid tired standards like "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)" or "Baby It's Cold Outside" with his arch humor and gutsy delivery. Prince's "Kiss" crackles with an inner light that even the great Minneapolis savant didn’t intend, while his duet with Portishead is as cold and disturbing as a grave. A must have album. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Tom Jones proves he still has it!
This is a wonderful cd and a must have for all Tom Jones fans.It
includes some of Tom's older songs with the perfect blend of his
newer ones.Sexbomb and Kiss are both destined to become Tom Jones classics.My husband and I had the pleasure of seeing Tom in
Las Vegas a couple of years ago.Trust me,Tom is still "Burning
Down the House"

The voice, the man, the power...
Okay, I'm not a long-time Tom Jones fan. In fact, I like country music (which is why I absolutely loved "Green, Green Grass of Home," by the way). However, Tom Jones is one of those guys who transcends genres. And I'm living proof that even a country boy knows how to get it on!

Okay, after that corny statement (I'm not too sure what it means, either), let me tell you about the music of this CD. If you're a Tom Jones fan, this review is probably pointless; you know the quality of the music you're going to get, and you're anxious to get it. If you're new, like me, then you might want to read on.

The album's three best (in my opinion) are: "It's Not Unusual" (of course), "Kiss" (a little pop, but hey, he's versitile), and "Sometimes We Cry" (a duet with Van Morrison, a stellar performance from both men).

Okay. I won't go into each song by detail; there's 19 of them, and that could take a while. Let me just describe to you the range of styles this man has: from the classics "She's a Lady" and "What's New Pussycat," to the pop "Kiss," to the rockers "Mama Told Me Not To Come" and "Burning Down the House," to the hiphop of "Tom Jones International" and "Black Betty," to the country of "Green Green Grass of Home" and "Without Love," to the blues of "Motherless Child." He even gets a little spy action with the theme to "Thunderball."

Quite a guy.

Except for the Van Morrison duet, Jones is best when he's on his own. Still, you should enjoy these songs; they're timeless, they're priceless, and they are truly classics. Tom Jones: one heck of a performer, one heck of a guy, one dandy album.

Something about a nearly 60 year old singing Sex Bomb...
is a little weird. He's now 60, but almost was when he recorded that song. It works. This album is full of great tunes that showcase his unique voice. The duets that he features here from his album "Reloaded" were hits in the UK, and sound great. I like the old stuff here. "She's A Lady" sounds great today as it ever did.

Tom Jones is truly living legend.
We loved this album. The duets were wonderful and when Tom and Van Morrison get going there is nothing better..

GREAT STUFF!!!!!!!!
Tom Jones has one of the best voices of the last 40 years. I wish he had done a duet with his pal Elvis Presley!Great cd! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A "Politically Correct" Compilation?
A 2-CD "best of" compilation for Billie Holiday without "Strange Fruit" doesn't make sense, but historically record labels have been reluctant to include this song. I wonder whether their reasoning is that the song's lyrics, about the lynching and hanging of a black from a tree, are unsuitable for mainstream audiences, which implies that they thought Holiday had crossed the line from blues or jazz (I think she's a blues singer through and through) to pop. After all, many blues recordings contain lyrics just as if not more gruesome than "Strange Fruit", but that doesn't result in their getting left off the compilation disks. If we can't hear the Holiday version of "Strange Fruit", then the soundtrack to "Lady Sings the Blues" by Diana Ross has a version of the song that is pretty convincing.

regarding the absence "Strange Fruit"
A couple reviewers remarked about the absence of "Strange Fruit" from this compilation. The reason for its absence is very simple: Billie did not record the song for Columbia. If you want "Strange Fruit," get _The Commodore Master Takes_ or the Verve compilation _Lady in Autumn_.

"Strange Fruit" is missing because Columbia was afraid to touch it in the late 30s, not because of any current "political correctness." I'm pretty sure they'd love to have the song now.

Most major jazz artists recorded for many different labels, so "best of" and "greatest hits" compilations usually aren't as comprehensive as we might wish them to be. Usually you have to buy two or three different sets to touch on all the major bases.

Descent Compilation
Apart from the fact that some of my favorite Billie Holiday songs are missing...its still a very good intro to those first timers. I first heart HOliday when I was 18 years old..and 5 years later...I still can't get enough of her ...she's such a great singer...along with Ella Fitzgerald she is the only one who can bring me to tears.

Incomplete Sampler
Far from being a jazz buff, I'd still take issue with the other recommendations of this set to be a sufficient Billie Holiday sampler for the general public. The single most important reason - it's missing "STRANGE FRUIT".

It is Jazz's "Guernica", and therefore belongs in *any* Billie Holiday collection.

The Ultimate Billie Holiday collection!!!
I have so enjoyed this album! All the favorite jazz songs sung by the beautiful crooning voice of Holiday! If you are a jazz fan, you don't want to miss this CD! ... Read more

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Although he founded pioneering jazz label Commodore and later became a legendary producer for Decca, Milt Gabler couldn't read a note of music or play an instrument. Instead, as Gabler's nephew/compilation producer Billy Crystal notes in his warm recollection here, the producer's accomplishments came almost solely courtesy of his "big heart and a great set of ears." The 26 tracks here span four decades and include some of the richest, most vibrant performances of the jazz, swing and even early rock eras. Gabler's Commodore years yield Billie Holiday's iconic "Strange Fruit" and the nascent, energetic swing of Eddie Condon, the Kansas City Six and Wild Bill Davison. His productive collaboration with Holiday (the evocative "Lover Man" here) would continue at Decca, an era in which Gabler's eclectic tastes and effusive personality would inform everything from novelty pop (The Andrews Sisters' "Rum and Coca-Cola," Bing Crosby's "McNamara's Band") and savory jazz performances by Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton and Louis Armstrong to the Weavers' folk classic "Goodnight Irene." In the 50's, Gabler would help midwife rock 'n' roll via Louis Jordan's "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie" and Bill Haley's 1954 landmark, "Rock Around the Clock," yet also continue to produce some of the era's most successful pop singles, including key tracks here by Peggy Lee, The Four Aces and Mills Brothers. Rewarding as this collection is, it can't help but scratch the surface of his legacy; if any producer deserves his own box set, surely it's Milt Gabler. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (77)

Wonderful addition to anyone's CD library
I first fell in love with Steve Tyrell's music through the movie Father of The Bride. This put me on a mission to seek out all he had produced. My library is full of every Steve Tyrell CD there is. His music is the perfect accompaniment to a night at home alone or with friends. He sets the atmosphere in a positive, warm way like no other artist can. I love his music and anxiously await yet another fantastic CD.

With a little help from his friend...
There simply is no such thing as a bad album from Steve Tyrell who has brought back so many of the songs I loved while growing up. He has a universal appeal to all ages -- maybe sex appeal, maybe happiness showing through, which is, in and of itself, very appealing. The music is magnificent and personal, as if he is singing it to you. Alas, I hope it won't change since just about the time the CD was released, his Stephanie lost her several-year battle with cancer and died in his arms. She was truly his partner, inspiration, and helped get him from producing records to singing, both of which he has done flawlessly. I have all of his CDs and hope he continues to make them but, more than that, hope he knows that so many of us will treasure what we have, until he is ready to make more music.
I would recommend that anyone get this album -- it's beautiful, wonderful, and truly a tribute to love.

Soothing and Enchanting Voice
The first time I heard Steve Tyrell's music was on the internet radio. And since then I became one of his fans. It was October 2003, My dad bought this album for me and I was enjoying listen to this album 'till now. My favorite tune in this album is "This guy's in love", he re-arranged the living legend of easy listening composer, Burt Bacharach. In this album, steve's successfully re-arranged and sang all the songs with compassionate, soothing and enchanting voice that you will listen to it over and over again. This CD is highly recommended for those of you like some of these great vocalists such as Michael Buble, Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra, Dianna Krall and many other great vocalists. I guarantee you wouldn't regret it !!

Love this CD!
I first saw Steve Tyrell on the "Today" show doing an interview w/Katie Couric re: the death of his wife from colon cancer. While I was quite touched by his loss I was blown away by the snippets of music they aired of this CD.
I received it yesterday and I cannot tell you how many times I have played it ... over and over and over again. I rarely read who producers or arranges music on cd's, but I had to know, I love this cd that much. Kudos to all involved. This is one sexy cd. It reached that romantic part of me that we have all experienced in that first rush of new love, no matter what age you happen to be. It makes me feel happy, glowing, girlish.

I've purcahsed Rod Stewart's "All American Songbook"and Michael Buble's first cd and while they were both OK, I hardly listen to them. I've already put in my Amazon cart another of Steve TYrell's CD's. What a rush! BUY IT.

With Style And Elegance, Steve Tyrell Leads The Way!
Steve Tyrell can really sing! With his latest release "This Guy's In Love", he demonstrates his musical prowess, as he effortlessly performs 14 complimentary selections, and leads the way back to the wonderful tunes from the Great American Songbook. His original interpretations of these classic songs breaths new-life into them, and once again validates the obvious; these beautifully written tunes are truly timeless. It is challenging to do justice to this music, but as always Steve has proven his musical worth and given us a great album to enjoy over and over again.

If you LOVE listening to GREAT CROONERS and BIG BAND SWING, I would also recommend, Monte Procopio "Swingin' With Style" CD. He is another great crooner that can really SWING and deserves a listen. Buy both these CDs, you can't go wrong! ... Read more

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Lions and tigers and bears, the yellow brick road, gamboling midgets, warnings scrawled high above by a skywriting witch: No movie ever imprinted itself on young imaginations or endured in adult memory more than MGM's classic 1939 musical, and no movie score ever hooked as forcefully into our collective cultural memory.This exemplary soundtrack finally treats this deserved classic to a thoughtful and comprehensive rendering (an even more detailed, expanded version was also released simultaneously as a deluxe box) that confirms the enduring power of Harold Arlen's original music and E. Y. "Yip" Harburg's lyrics. On film, the songs unreeled as a mixture of discreet songs and multi-themed medleys with frequent reprises, a presentation preserved here, epitomized in the "Munchkinland Musical Sequence." If not as concise as Bobby McFerrin's legendary, hilarious concert compression of the entire musical story, this telling of The Wizard of Oz relives the film just as vividly. "Over the Rainbow" is here, of course, precisely where it should be in the sequence, as as timelessly luminous and wistful as ever. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The WONDERFUL Wizard of Oz
This is a wonderful recording of the classic movie. If you love the movie then you will love this cd. All of the songs are on it including the Jitterbug which was cut from the movie. Judy Garland is outstanding like always. This cd should be in everyone's collection.

great for any oz fan
great for any oz fan!all the songs from the original movie.any wizard of oz lover would be delited.great music!not any cut or shortened songs.wonderful.brings back many memories.best cd i have heard!

A Soundtrack Good For People of All Ages!
The Wizard of Oz is a great movie, one of the best musicals ever made and this is a good soundtrack with the wonderful songs from the movie and I highly recommend to fans of all ages of ths classic gem of a movie!

A fantastic soundtrack with great sound quality
I don't get why other reviews bash the sound quality. I think it's just fine, myself. But oh well.

I previously owned this soundtrack on cassette tape in a few incarnations, most recently this version, which was my favorite. But sadly, I've lost them all. But now I finally own it on CD, and I couldn't be happier. Extended versions, outtakes, and the classics we all know and love. Just like the purple sticker on the packaging says, it is "the most beloved movie of all time."

However, I do have some beef with this soundtrack, which is why it is rated only four stars instead of five. All 26 tracks clock in at a total of a measly 39 minutes. Considering most CDs hold at least 74 minutes, and there was so much music, including extended versions and outtakes, they could have crammed a bit more onto this disc, including more outtakes, such as the score from a deleted scene where the Wicked Witch of the West actually turned the Tin Man into a beehive as she'd threatened earlier in the film. Let's hope one day there's a single-disc Special Edition with more music or a reissue of the double-disc deluxe edition with all the music. But I guess they wanted people to buy the deluxe edition, and putting too much on the single-disc version could have talked people out of buying it.

All in all, while I would have liked for there to be more music, but for the reasonable price you pay, you get all the songs, digitally-remastered, with extended versions and outtakes. A must-have for your CD collection if you don't want to shell out money for the double-disc edition on eBay or Amazon or spend time searching in stores for it, but want the soundtrack.

Sound Quality was Good;All the Favorite Songs from the Movie
My daughter has just discovered the Wizard of Oz and is enthralled. I was hesitant to purchase the soundtrack, given how the other reviews said the sound quality was poor. I don't know if they re-mixed the songs or what, but the sound quality on our CD is just fine -- it's equivalent in quality to the soundtrack on the DVD. The CD has all of the favorite songs from the movie, of course. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

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One of the more successful attempts by another studio (here Fox) to make a quality animated film on par with Disney was Anastasia. The music by David Newman and songs by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Broadway team that won a Tony for Ragtime) give the movie a sturdy backbone. From the Zhivago-gone-Broadway opening number "A Rumor in St. Petersburg" to the Oscar-nominated get-up-and-sing "Journey to the Past," the CD is filled with bright numbers, including low-key pop versions of several of the songs. The vocal talent is exceptional, especially Liz Callaway (Grizabella in Broadway's Cats) as Anastasia (Meg Ryan supplied the speaking voice). Bernadette Peters and Jim Cummings (doing a mean Christopher Lloyd impersonation as the speaking voice of the movie's heavy, Rasputin) offer solid support, with kudos to Kelsey Grammer as Vlad, the portly sidekick. The album's (and film's) star is "Once Upon a December," simply one of the most beautiful songs ever from an animated film. Using a waltz motif that is heard throughout the film, the song--with sparse lyrics--builds into a sweeping and memorable number. It will have your dancing princesses asking for repeats. The CD's liner notes include complete lyrics. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (72)

THE MOVIE BEWITCHES YOU; THE MUSIC HAUNTS YOU!!
20th Century Fox's first animated motion picture is a visual beauty; its lusciously vibrant score extremely rich and captivating. Newman's Oscar-nominated score is truly the highlight of the movie. From spine-chilling choral operas to soulful tunes; it has such an astounding gravity and emotional depth that it easily ranks among the best scores composed for dramatic films.

The songs are mostly above average; ranging from Broadway styled verses to pop numbers. Three of the songs are magnificent whereas the other three are quite forgettable. "Rumor In St. Petersburg"; "Learn To Do It" and "Paris Holds A Key" become really irksome after the first hearing. The Oscar-nominated "Journey To The Past" is a wonderful song with its fine lyrics and moving tune. The pop version, performed by the late Aaliyah is also an enjoyable track and will be loved by her heart-broken fans. The villain's number, "In The Dark Of The Night" (by Jim Cummings) has a touch of rock music, nonetheless it makes for good hearing. And for those who love pop songs, "At The Beginning" is an excellent number. Performed by Donna Lewis and Richard Marx, you feel like listening to this song over and over again. However, the tune that lingers on is "Once Upon A December". It has a haunting depth that really touches an inner part of the heart. Liz Callaway is stunning as the singing voice of Anya and Deana carter's country version of "Once Upon A December" is a treat you can't afford to miss.

The compilation from Atlantic records is good, but sadly, we get to hear only a little more than twenty minutes of Newman's fabulous score, which as I said before is one of the best to ever grace any motion picture drama, animated or non-animated. Among them, the 'Prologue' and 'Finale' are definitely the highlights. 'Reminiscing with Grandma' and 'Kidnap and Re-Union' have such mesmerizing sad tunes that they haunt your memories. And the most astonishing part is, like Menken's Disney scores, they are nothing elaborate nor use a host of instruments. Only the piano and a flute and occasional female chorals make it sound so sweetly beautiful and sadly melodious, you will simply marvel at the emotional depth and beauty. The booming Russian opera heard in the "Prologue" was banned by the Soviet Government but Newman masterfully blends it into his composition to produce a spine-chilling effect. However, the CD would sound better if only it had included a few more minutes of the score. Parts like, 'At the Russian Ballet' or 'He Didn't Take The Money' and 'The final encounter with Rasputin' could have easily made themselves part of this superb soundtrack.

A last remark, this soundtrack is positively not for kids or those who like fast and fun oriented music as in Hercules, Aladdin and Tarzan. Kids will hardly understand the sentimental beauty of the songs or the depth of the score. I strongly recommend it to those who love soothing numbers and emotional choral scores.

TRACK LISTINGS:

1. Rumor In St. Petersburg
2. Journey To The Past [**** Very Good]
3. Once Upon A December
4. In The Dark Of The Night
5. Learn To Do It
6. Learn To Do It (Waltz Reprise)
7. Paris Holds A Key
8. At The Beginning [***** Excellent]
9. Journey To The Past (Aaliyah)
10. Once upon A December (Deana Carter) [*****Excellent]
11. Prologue [*****Excellent]
12. Speaking Of Sophie
13. Nightmare
14. Kidnap And Re-Union [****Very Good]
15. Reminiscing With Grandma [*****Excellent]
16. Finale [*****Excellent]
17. Viaje Tiempo Atras (Thalia)

GOOD MOVIE... GREAT SOUNDTRACK !
While I must admit to being partial to Walt Disney when it comes to animation and the soundtracks that accompany their films, ANASTASIA caught me by surprise. A classic tale, told in an uncomplicated way that children can follow easily, it's score and songs are a perfect compliment. "Once Upon a December" is a touching and beautiful song, worthy of it's "music box" box stature,and sung wonderfully by Liz Callaway and, while I'm no fan of country music, Deana Carter also delivers a fine version. "Journey to the Past " is another great song , performed by Liz Calloway as Anastaisia's singing voice and also by Aaliyah. The score itself is a wonderful mix of flavorsand influences, acknowledging the settings of both Russia and Paris . All in all, it's a wonderful CD, pleasing enough for children of all ages. Highly recommendable.

Fantastic!
I LOVED this soundtrack! It brought back loads of memories from when I was six (that's how old I was when the movie came out), and the songs are B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! My favorites are 'Journey to the Past', and 'Once Apon a December'. They bring back the most memories for me. Blast from the past! Even if you haven't seen the movie, you'd love the music anyway. Liz Callaway's voice is lovely! Also, the soundtrack features bonus tracks, and special one of 'Journey to the Past' in spanish. Very cool! I highly reccomend this soundtrack to anyone!

Great for people of all ages
I've had this CD since I was about 7, [am now 13] and I still listen to it.

I can't get over how the songs just explode with beauty and grace but also boldness and exitment.

For singers, these songs are great warm ups.

Grade A material

I am very glad to have bought this because
I am glad to have bought this because I am related to the Romanovs through Queen Victoria and am sad and can imagine what they must have felt like that day they were killed. When I listen to it I think about them alot. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"Crazy" to NOT buy this album!
Yesterday, I walked into my local media store and saw this gem without knowing that day was the day Patsy Cline's Definitive Collection hit the stores. Thought it was a wonder that I didn't see this kind of collection (22 songs) for this kind of price (won't name it here but better than any double CD) before. So of course I took it home with me. Got hooked on Patsy when Dad would play her "12 Greatest Hits" CD (back when CD's first came to being in the mid-80s). Loved her ever since. There is no one who can match the country teardrop in her voice, the sassiness she gets on "Walking After Midnight", her wistful song selections from the ballads to the honky-tonkin' twangers. And this collection proves it. Buy it, you will not be disappointed. Unless you hate gool ol' country music, in which you're not reading this review anyways. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Evita was Andrew Lloyd Webber's last show with Tim Rice before he went on to projects with less interesting collaborators, so it's no surprise that it remains his most consistently involving and rewarding work. Loosely based on the life of Eva Peron, the charismatic wife of post-World War II Argentine president Juan Peron, Rice's compelling story of one woman's rise from poverty to power is complemented by Lloyd Webber's colorful music as propelled by vigorous Latin rhythms. The showstopper, of course, is "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina," but the score is full of gems, including "On This Night of a Thousand Stars," "Oh, What a Circus," and "Another Suitcase in Another Hall." Headlining the 1978 Broadway cast, Patti LuPone is fabulous in the title role, showcasing her big voice and brash egotism in the role she was born to play. Mandy Patinkin is Che, the Greek-chorus character commenting on and criticizing the Perons, and his tenor is sweet on the ballads and powerful on the driving numbers. LuPone and Patinkin made their names with Evita (and took home well-deserved Tonys), but it's the third principal, Bob Gunton, who elevates this cast to the stratosphere. As Peron--a role often filled by a nonsinger--Gunton inflects his strong voice with both menace and sensitivity. Forget the movie; this is the definitive version of this score, and an essential cast recording. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (71)

Please. Buy another recording. ANY other recording.
I have listened to myriad versions of Evita. The concept recordings, the Original London Cast (the best!), the movie, the touring casts...this Original Broadway Recording. Unhappily, this is the worst one of all. Patti LuPone ruins the music with her heavy sound that sounds as though it emanates solely through her nose. While appropriately enthusiastic in songs like "Buenos Aires," she lacks a certain youthful vibrance that Elaine Paige captured perfectly in the OLC. And the Che on this recording lacks David Essex's bite and sarcastic tone, also available on the OLC. If you're looking for a stage recording to compare with the recent movie, a word to the wise: do not buy the Broadway recording. It's painful, to say the least.

Perfect rendition of an imperfect but excellent score
Yes, Andrew Lloyd Webber has an irritating tendency to write a few wonderful pieces of music, then fill up the remainder of the show with reprises. Yes, Tim Rice's lyrics can be more than a little inane.

However, those few wonderful pieces of music are truly superb. And while the lyrics *can* be ridiculous, there are plenty of moments in which they shine -- and then linger in your mind long after those moments have passed.

I heard this recording after that of the movie and found the difference to be striking. Not only are the voices clearer and more vibrant, but some of the sharpest lyrics were cut from the movie because they cast a very negative light on Eva Peron. Plus, "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" was done by the *right* character in this recording. It works out so much better that way.

I've never heard Julie Covington sing (at least not that I can recall), and Madonna doesn't quite have the range or the sheer force required for the part, but Patti LuPone was such a perfect Evita that one can hardly ask for more. Her sharp soprano voice isn't the type that everyone will like, and to some it's probably an acquired taste. Yet it is perfect for the title part of this musical. She has easily the highest non-operatic voice I've ever heard, and she skillfully employs it with amazing forcefulness.

Antonio Banderas acts a great Che, but he simply is not a singer, with a voice not far above merely 'decent.' I did like Colm Wilkinson's singing in Les Miserables, but my guess is that as Che he wouldn't master the flawless, matchless vocal subtlety of Mandy Patinkin's Che. Patinkin's voice may be light and even effeminate (though the latter only when he sings falsetto, in my opinion), but what some listeners seem to miss is that Che is not *supposed* to be "rough and tough" -- he's supposed to be bitterly cynical and angry. Patinkin's emotional range is as wide as his vocal one, making him wonderful in the part. I've seen his Che described as "chilling," and that's the right word. Patinkin does indeed produce a chilling, even jarring fusion of lilting tenor song (and here he has a *beautiful* voice) and harsh diatribe of Evita that lends a wonderfully surreal note to the show.

Is this recording perfect? No, but only because _Evita_ itself, like any musical, cannot be absolutely without flaws. But there's no question that it's worth buying and listening to again and again.

If you want the definitive Evita, look no further
I was first introduced to Evita through the movie version. I bought that soundtrack, then I bought the broadway version to compare. Man was I blown away!!! This is the best cast album avalable. It has the best orcestrations, real lush, it just reaches down and touches your soul.

The cast is fantastic, this show could not have been cast better.

Patti Lupone as Evita- This woman can sing. Other reviewers have said she is too harsh and screeches too much. However I believe that harshness helps to capture the essense of the real Eve Peron. She was not that sweet and soft like the way Madonna portrayed her. She was a forceful and at times menipulating woman. Patti really evokes that in her porformance. Her stand out numbers for me are "Buenous Areis," and of course "Don't Cry for me Argentina."

Mandy Patinkin as Che- I love, love, LOVE Mandy's porformance as Che. His falsetto is really efective, it really helps convey hatred of Eve. However, Patinkin is not all falsetto, he can go into a low growl at times. There is only one way to describe his Che......downright bone chilling. You have got to hear Mandy sing "And the Money Kept Rolling in (And out)", pure perfection. I love his high notes during the chorus!!

Bob Gunton as Juan Peron- Creepy. Mr. Gunton scares me as Peron. He is a great singer, but his rolling of every R. is annoying. No particular standout number here, he does great on "Dice are Rolling" though.

Mark Syers as Magaldi- Not great, just a blip on the radar screen for me

Jane Ohringer as Peron's Misstress- Awesome, She really shines on her one and only song, "Another Suitcase in Another Hall"

Bottom if you want A great Evita recording, there is none better then the broadway cast. Plus it presents the entire show, not many cast recordings can boast that feat. Buy it and enjoy forever!!!!!

Brilliant
I recently saw a local performance of Evita, and was so moved that I immediately ran out and bought this CD. I'd had the LP in the 80s- indeed, I listened to it so much that I memorized it- and I've seen the Madonna version, but I probably hadn't heard this performance in at least ten year. And what a revelation it was.

It takes nothing away from the Madonna/Banderas version to say that this recording is simply transcendant. Patty LuPone's Evita is so powerful, so moving, that some of these selections bring me near to tears. And Mandy Patinkin's Che is, like so many of his interpretations, absolutely sui generis, without comparison. He moves effortlessly from a beautiful, lyric countertenor to a deep roar, never losing the character as he does so. Bob Gunton's Peron is simlarly nuanced, as are many of the smaller roles.

I think- and I'm certainly not alone in believing this- that Evita is by far the best of the Lloyd-Webber musicals, due in no small part to the work of his lyracist, Tim Rice. And this is certainly the best version of Evita ever produced.

Beautiful classic
I grew up listening to this album on my mother's record player, and I've loved it since I was young. This particular recording (Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin) not only reminds me of my childhood, but it is one of the best musical compilations I've ever experienced, transcending ALL genres. Absolutely perfect. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On Dreamer, São Paulo-born, Manhattan-based pianist Eliane Elias performs bossa novas and brush-stroked ballads by North and South American composers from Johnny Mercer to Antonio Carlos Jobim. This project is a sort of musical homecoming for Elias, who once worked with bossa nova pioneer Vinicius de Moraes. Elias's pretty pianisms complement her breathy Portuguese/English contralto, especially on the '60s hit "Call Me," "Photograph (Fotografia)," and "So Nice (Samba de Verão)." Elias's two compositions, "Movin' Me On" and "Time Alone," can be considered smooth-jazz-friendly, but the Bahia bounce of "Doralice"--where Elias quotes Stan Getz's well-known tenor solo--and her instrumental rendering of Burt Bacharach's "AHouse Is Not a Home" are highlights of this masterpiece of soft syncopation. Rob Mathes's elegant, Claus Ogerman-style string arrangements enhance the mood. --Eugene Holley, Jr. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Dream On
I have always been a fan of Eliane Elias. Her new album, Dreamer, appears at first to be a departure from her earlier work as a jazz pianist and sometime singer. In my opinion, Dreamer could be classified as an
"easy listening" CD on first hearing. But on closer listening, Elias' impeccable pianistic abilities, her authentic rhythms, her emotionally provocative and sometimes compelling vocals make this CD one of the best of all times, for all people. Cheers to Elias for continually discovering ways to display her many talents.

Outstanding!
Probably her finest. I consider Elias as probably the best Lyrical/impressionistic jazz piano player out there. I have all her CDs and relish every one;but I had a little apprehension when I heard that "Dreamer" was "with strings"-Elevator music?But I remember her "Through the Fire" on an old CD which had Strings. It was great. This CD has it all. Great songs and arrangements(her Time Alone is a classic) But her solos are special,she can move you in so many ways and then gets funky and leaves you laughing. One to cherish.

A wonderful album and an encouraging trend
I love this album, not just for its great song selection, and warm performances, but for its willingness to revive music the way I remember it from my childhood. I grew up on Sinatra, Gilberto, and Kaempfert-acoustic performances of top-notch songs with no digital tricks and no concessions to musical fads. The performances on this album are timeless-they could just as easily have been recorded 40 years ago...and that is a compliment.

A GORGEOUS CD
After taking a second listen to Dreamer, I realized that I have in my hands one of the greatest bossa nova albums in history. Eliane's singing is seductive, her voice is personal, distictive, her phrasing is fantastic, like only a great musician/singer can deliver. Eliane's piano playing is superb, as always; her solos are melodic,they swing, and they effortlessly tell a story through her seamless improvisations. As a songwriter, she demonstrates her superior craftmanship where the harmony adds to the emotional content of the lyric to devastatingly heart-wrenching effect.After hearing so many jazz artists trying to present Brazilian music in their recordings,it's a breath of fresh air to finally hear it done authentically. And with the uncomparable quality of a musician of her caliber. There seems to be a glut of singer/pianists out there today, but for me the reigning queen is Eliane Elias.

Congrats, Eliane!
It was very exciting to listen to Eliane's new album and I'm really not disappointed cause I consider this one of the best she has recorded like Paulistana and Impulsive.
The improvisations in "Tangerine" and "Baubles, Bangles And Beads" were wonderful! I find Eliane a complete piano player and now she is singing much better!
If you want to hear a marvelous piano and a warm voice buy it.
I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Peter Cincotti was noticed when he was still an undergrad at Columbia University because he had a certain facility at the piano and also because, let's face it, he was blessed with youth and good looks. On his second album, Cincotti follows the smooth jazz-pop groove also treaded by Norah Jones, with a smattering of horn-driven swing à la Harry Connick, Jr. The main problem is that Cincotti's milquetoast vocal interpretations don't usually bring much new to the material. His singing on "I Love Paris" isn't half as interesting as the orchestral arrangement for instance, while his take on Andrew Lippa's "Raise the Roof" is too subdued for such a rousing song. The CD makes for fine background music, but there are better versions of these songs to be found, and any Rat Pack album has smore swing and more style. On this record, Cincotti sounds like a musician who's not quite sure how to apply his natural gifts. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fiddler on the Roof is one of Broadway's great classics. Based on the tales of Sholem Aleichem, the musical tells the humorous and heartbreaking story of the milkman Tevye as he tries to maintain the simplicities of his traditional life even as his daughters grow up and Russia heads toward revolution. Many of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's songs have become touchstones of popular culture, including "Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man," and "Sunrise, Sunset." As Tevye, Zero Mostel leads--and at times dominates--the original 1964 Broadway cast, displaying irrepressible swagger and bluster. A young Julia Migenes plays his middle daughter, Hodel, while those who only know Bert Convy as a game-show host will be surprised by his pleasant voice as her suitor. The CD includes two previously unreleased songs but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Superior Original Cast Recording -- The Best!
Just as they say that the book or the play are always better than the movie, it is also almost always true that the original cast recording of a play out-shines the luster of any movie sound track - true, true, true! -- I have seen "Fiddler on the Roof" as a wonderful film, as well as a fantastic stage production. I'm also familiar with the original movie sound track. All are great entertainment. The only tangible thing to top all of it off is this CD recorded from the original Broadway stage production. Zero Mostel is THE ONLY Tevje! His rendition of "Tradition" and "If I Were A Rich Man" are priceless. The tunes "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and "Do You Love Me?" also are done best in this recording. If you are a fan of Broadway Shows, like I am, you will appreciate this superior original that has often been copied, but never duplicated!

The most beloved Broadway musical of the 1960's
It might seem an odd choice for the honor, but "Fiddler on the Roof" is undoubtedly the most beloved Broadway musical of the Sixties. The book by Joseph Stein is based upon the stories of Sholem Aleichem, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, the songwriting team whose earlier Tony Award winning success "Fiorello!" certainly never suggested they could create something as wonderful as "Fiddler." Zero Mostel heads the cast as Tevye, the dairyman, with Maria Karnilova as Golde, his wife, who, with "Do You Love Me?" have the best love duet between two married people in musical history.

At the heart of the story are the efforts by Tevye to deal with the way God keeps presenting him with challenges, from needing to take care of a lame horse ("If I Were A Rich Man"), to getting his oldest daughter engaged to one man ("To Life") only to see her marry another ("Sunrise, Sunset"), and finally to leave the only home he has ever known to travel to America ("Anatevka"). Throughout it all Tevye tries to remain true to the traditions of his community ("Prologue--Tradition") and his faith ("Sabbath Prayer"). The cast features Beatrice Arthur as Yente the matchmaker ("The Rumor"), Austin Pendleton as Motel the tailor ("Miracle of Miracles"), Bert Convy as Perchik the student ("Now I Have Everything"), Joanna Merlin as the eldest daughter Tzeitel ("Matchmaker") and future opera star Julia Migenes as the second oldest daughter Hodel ("Far from the Home I Love").

I understand now from those who should know that Mostel butchers the pronunciation of anything not said or sung in English, but I have to admit that does not really detract from my enjoyment of this album; I do not pay attention to pronunciation when listening to opera either, so I am at least consistent. This CD version features two previously unreleased tracks, the "Wedding Dance" music (including the famous bottle dance) and "The Rumor," both of which are welcomed additions. Bottom line: If you own a dozen musicals on CD, then this is one of the ones that has to be in your collection

A Landmark Acomplishment.....by Zero Mostel
Ahhhhh...what can you say about "Fiddler on the Roof" that hasn't already been said. This landmark in American Musical Theater (and in theater in general) is forever perserved in this timeless recording. Bock and Harnick songs vividly bring the story of Tevye, the poor milkman, to life. The songs are so touching and reflect the emotions of all, while entertaining even the most avid musical-hater (shame on you).

However, the greatest accomplishment belongs not to Bock, Harnick, Harold Prince or Jerome Robbins (who directed). The man who personifies and carries (and downright dominates) this show is the great Zero Mostel. His acting, voice and comedic timing are greatly shown in this, his definitive role. He makes "Fiddler on the Roof".

In the interviews with Sheldon Harnick (lyricist) that are on this CD (another reason to buy it), he mentions that Zero recorded "If I Were A Rich Man" in only ONE take. Amazing. As is this CD.

Even if you are the most avid musical-hater, or a musical theater junkie like me, you will enjoy the classics like "If I Were A Rich Man", "Sunrise, Sunset" and "Tradition", while savoring songs which they cut, like the histerical "When Messiah Comes".

All-in-all, a fabulous CD! Well worth the price.

******Also, make sure you see and listen to Zero Mostel in Stephen Sondheim's "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum." Either buy the movie or the cast recording! You'll be glad you did!

Mazeltov!
Having had some history as a performer in this production, I can't recommend this soundtrack highly enough. If you've seen the film version, the music will bring you back. And of course, Zero Mostel is the "star," and there's no question about it, and his renditions as "Teyve" actually lay the foundations for the ensemble to play to.

In this collection, we hear:

Tradition
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
If I were a Rich Man
Sabbath Prayer
To Life
Miracle of Miracles
Teyve's Dream

Sunrise, Sunset
Now I have Everything
Do You Love Me?
Far from the Home I Love
Anatevka

What more could you want? Just go out and get the film, right? Or wait for the local community theater to do a revival production of this wonderful story.

It warms the heart, it does, and I highly recommend it!!

The Best Recording of Fiddler EVER!!!!!
I listened to the other Fiddler recordings and even played a part in our community theater and still this was the best. Zero Mostel brought the whole production to life! I grew up with it and have lived by it my entire life. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One of the best Broadway musicals of all time!
Simply one of the best Broadway musicals of all time. It's choc full of gallic-flavored hits. I can't wait to see the upcoming Broadway revival.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
ITS A MAGNIFICENT JERRY HERMAN WORK OF ART.
20TH CENTURY FOX SHOULD SELECT A TOP WINNING PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR AND MAKE THIS THE TOP HIT MUSICAL MOVIE OF ALL TIMES .
I SAY:
"PEOPLE WILL NOT LEARN IF YOU DON'T TEACH THEM"

It's a Roller-Coaster Ride That Never Stops
Whenever I listen to this album I think I'm at an amusement park and I'm going on these fun rides. The orchestrations for La Cage aux Folles are excellent and so is the sound quality. I will never stop listening to this musical until I am at old age. Everybody who is anybody should have this musical because this musical has extreme spirit that never halts until perhaps the 2 ballads here in this show. I could be riding on a motorcycle when listening to all these upbeat numbers and I'd stop at a red light during the ballads. Man, this show is even better than Hello, Dolly and/or Mame only because they don't have as extreme an excitement as La Cage aux Folles. In my opinion, this musical is like no other Jerry Herman musical, a musical with music to be played at amusement parks (especially the rollercoasters).

Meaningful Message for Us All
La Cage Aux Folles is a terrific musical with an important message of tolerance and love. It is not just for a gay audience--the broader issues of self-worth, of defining oneself rather than being defined by others, of aging and keeping love, and of the strength of love being the greatest strength of all; these are important messages for everyone. Furthermore, the songs are great, the words both amusing and deeply moving, the orchestrations terrific, and the performances for the most part superb.

The MUSICAL takes place in Saint Tropez on the French Riviera (not Miami--that is the Robin Williams movie which came later; and the previous reviewer's criticism that "We Are What We Are" doesn't sound like something that would be done in a Miami nightclub is consequentially absurd. It DOES sound like something that would be done where the musical is actually set.) Unfortunately "We Are What We Are" is cut considerably from Herman's original score--this is surely due to the fact that much of the missing music is intended to accompany dance, which of course we can't see on this CD, but I would have liked to have heard Chantal's and Phaedra's numbers which are part of the song in the Broadway production--but nonetheless is a delight to hear.

Also worthy of note are the very tender and sentimental "Look Over There" and "Song on the Sand" (not "Song OF the Sand", as that same previous reviewer would have!), beautifully sung by Gene Barry. The wittiest is probably "La Cage Aux Folles"--("all week long we're wondering who/left a green Givenchy gown in the loo"!) and "The Best of Times" leaves us with the worthwhile Candide-esque message that we must live the life we have now.

The best, most powerful song is undoubtedly "I Am What I Am", which has become an anthem for the gay and transgendered. George Hearn's rendition moves from an almost broken, plaintive cry to a grand shout of affirmation; but it is not only the performance that makes this so powerful--this is composer Jerry Herman at his best.

The only disappointment on the CD is "With Anne On My Arm/With You On My Arm"--the song is not a bad one, but only average. The clever ploy of making the same love song for both Anne and Albin doesn't raise the piece above the mediocre. A very minor flaw in the entirety, though, and certainly forgivable.

The CD notes contain a brief plot synopsis, a few hundred words by Fierstein about the creation of La Cage, and 16 small photos of the original Broadway production. Oddly, if you don't already know which one is George Hearn and which one is Gene Barry, you'll have to infer that from the back cover--the stars' photos are poorly labeled, although the other photos are clear. This is all crammed into a 6 page foldout with tiny, light type that will make your eyes water. Given that the musical is about growing older, perhaps RCA might have been a little more generous and granted us a couple of extra pages and a few larger font sizes. All in all, though, definitely a CD worth getting, for Broadway fans, for gays and transgendered folk, in fact, everyone.

A gay milestone.
A very daring show for its time -- only the early hysteria of AIDS kept it from a longer run on Broadway. This should be in every gay man's CD library -- it is a show about love, family, courage, and dignity. Not to mention being downright campy and hilarious, as it should be. The Jerry Herman score harks back to the halcyon days of the classic book musical, so lacking on today's Broadway of British megamusicals and Hollywood adaptations. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Man of La Mancha, the show that introduced "The Impossible Dream"to the world (and lounge singers everywhere), was the hit of the 1965Broadway season. Richard Kiley is magnificent in his career-definingperformance as the deluded wannabe knight Don Quixote. His leading lad JoanDiener sings the role of the kitchen wench Aldonza with just the right balanceof dignity and vulgarity. Irving Jacobson turns in a fine comicperformance as the Don's faithful squire, Sancho Panza. The score,with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion, was revolutionary in its time.The orchestra had no violins--just brass, woodwinds, percussion, and flamencoguitars. Man of La Mancha is one of Broadway's most inspiringmusicals and it well deserves its high reputation. --Michael Simmons ... Read more

Reviews (17)

"I shall impersonate...a man."
Richard Kiley shines as Don Quixote in this original 1965 Broadway cast recording of MAN OF LA MANCHA. Listening to his voice, one can "see" the legendary "knight" he portrays: a man with noble ideals and a gleam of madness in his eye. Joan Diener, though her tone occasionally grates, inhabits the character of Aldonza, the prostitute whom the Don imagines as a lady of spotless virtue, "Dulcinea." Another standout in the cast is tenor Robert Rounseville, who as the sympathetic "Padre" sings the lovely "To Each His Dulcinea," a song that should be much better known than it is. The recording includes the Don's death scene, and it is very moving, with wonderful acting from Kiley and Diener. The recorded sound itself is bright and vivid. And there is that delightful Al Hirshfeld drawing on the CD cover! No Broadway CD collection is complete without this MAN OF LA MANCHA.

AN INCOMPARABLE MUSICAL...GLORIOUS IN EVERY WAY!
This is one of the all time best musicals. The music and lyrics are yet to be rivaled by any other musical. There is not one bad track on the entire CD. The cast does an outstanding job. When one hears Richard Kiley sing, he does so with such feeling that he makes one weep. Whether it be "Man of La Mancha", "Dulcinea", or "The Impossible Dream", one cannot help but be moved. Juxtapose those songs to the despairing refrains of "It's All the Same" and "Aldonza" or to the light and whimsical "I Like Him" and "A Little Gossip", and it is no wonder to the discerning listener that the original Broadway show was a long running hit. Every song is terrific!

Having been fortunate enough to have seen "Man of La Mancha" when it was first on Broadway, I can attest to the powerful effect that the music had on the audience. This is a wonderful recording that brings back memories. The original cast was magnificent, and this CD is a memorable recording of their triumph. No music collection should be without this CD. It is positively glorious!

Brings back memories
When I was 15, I took a School Field trip to The Martin Beck Theatre in NYC to see this play on Broadway. This CD rekindled the joy and satisfaction of that day many years ago. I enjoyed it then, and I enjoy it now. One of the best. Thank you Miss Brach , wherever you are ,for taking us on that field trip.

Certainly better than the movie cast!
The only other time I heard this music is when I watched the movie, and this CD is so much better than that! Everything is well done- the voices are excellent! It is thrilling to listen to this fun yet sad CD. I would recommend it to anyone who likes musicals. :-)

The only musical like
I is a great CD to listen to, most of my friends think I am nuts but I like this musical and the CD is great. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The party line on most Windham Hill products seems to be that it's either the greatest stuff since wave machines, or that it all sounds alike. On a Starry Night, with its collection of world songs and reputable artists such as Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, the Turtle Island String Quartet, and others, does lean toward a seamlessly understated, homogeneous quality that is broken only occasionally by Bobby McFerrin's piece and a couple of others. That said, there can hardly be a more mellow or sonorous album of kid's music anywhere. Starry Night could calm a nursery with no nurses; why, it could even soothe the pained yelps at the dog pound--and turn a freeway full of bumper-to-bumper sour pusses into pussycats. Effective? You've heard of mind control, haven't you? --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (29)

gentle music for children and adults
I believe that music is a powerful and innate force in our lives, so I bought a number of CDs geared toward children when I gave birth. Most were harmless enough, many became tiresome after a while .... this CD still gets played regularly at our house after three years.

International artists play and sing old favorites as well as songs new to us, but even the old favorites (Rock-a-bye-baby, Brahms Lullaby) are performed in engaging ways which renew their interest. Heaven knows, I am not one to seek out Kumbaya, but I even like that song here! Seventeen songs are presented from the US, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Ireland, Congo, Ghana, Cuba, Iceland, Israel, England, Russia and Germany. Some are sung, most are instrumental. All are very beautiful and soothing. The CD booklet contains a paragraph about each song with performance credits, original words and translation.

A remarkably soothing collection of lullabies.

Will definitely become one of your favorites!!
This CD is beautiful and so soothing. It really does give you a dreamy effect. It's good for the soul! We use it for bedtime music for our 4yr old, and not only does she love it, but we love it. I am so glad I found this CD. It raises the standard of what good lullaby compilations should sound like. First Class music, indeed. Don't hesitate if you're looking for good music for nightime or even a relaxing break in the day for your little ones-this is an excellent choice.

Soothing, dreamy music!
I just had to write a review of this cd. It was recommended to me by another mother, and I tried it and love it! We like to listen to it in the living room as nap time approaches, nursing with the lights dimmed. With the fan going and this cd on quietly, both momma and baby start drifting off to sleep. It's absolutely wonderful, and I recommend it to anyone who needs some instant R&R.

Your Baby Will Love This CD
We were given "Starry Night" as a gift when our son was born 21 months ago. It is one of the best gifts we have received as he has been sleeping to this CD from day one. The minute we turn the CD on and dim the lights he knows that it's time to sleep - whether it's for a nap in the afternoon or after a long day of running around.

We love this CD so much that both sets of in-laws bought it for our son...