The Wild Party (Lippa) (2000 Off-Broadway Cast)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Some 70 years after being written, Joseph Moncure March's 1928 Jazz-Age poem, The Wild Party, proved it still knew how to inspire: a pair of musicals dedicated to the sultry tale of excess were produced virtually concurrently. Too bad good parties, like good jokes, are often hard to recount. While the Tony-nominated, star-studded, and short-lived Wild Party by Michael John LaChiusa embraced the dark side of the Prohibition-era fête, this off-Broadway production by Andrew Lippa tries too hard to have a good time. March's poem is a seething, seedy work filled with internal struggle, but on this disc we never sense that underbelly. It's not until Taye Diggs, as Black, sings the touching "Poor Child" that we sense any tenderness at all in this morality play. For lighthearted good times, Julia Murney as Queenie and Brian d'Arcy James as her abusive lover Burrs do the job. On the fun, upbeat numbers ("What a Party," "Raise the Roof") this cast shines. But, despite its fascinating premise--a life-changing, epic event in the lives of a bunch of Prohibition-era misfits--this musical somehow still suffers from shallowness. --Jason Verlinde

The Wild Party (Lippa) (2000 Off-Broadway Cast), Music, Andrew Lippa, Cast Recordings, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Showtunes / B'way
The Wild Party (Lippa) (2000 Off-Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amazing. Show-Stopping
  • Amazing
  • NEEDS to be in any Broadway lover's collection...
  • An easy way to tell which version of this show you'll prefer:
  • DEFINITELY worth your money
 The Wild Party (Lippa) (2000 Off-Broadway Cast)
Andrew Lippa
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. See What I Wanna See (2005 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
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  3. Still I Can't Be Still
  4. Parade (1998 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Songs for a New World (1996 Original New York Cast)

ASIN: B00004TY8Y
Release Date: 2000-07-11

Tracks:

  1. Act I: Queenie Was A Blonde
  2. Act I: Out Of The Blues
  3. Act I: What A Party
  4. Act I: Raise The Roof
  5. Act I: Look At Me Now
  6. Act I: Poor Child
  7. Act I: An Old-Fashioned Love Story
  8. Act I: By Now The Room Was Moving
  9. Act I: The Juggernaut
  10. Act I: A Wild, Wild Party
  11. Act I: Two Of A Kind
  12. Act I: Maybe I Like It This Way
  13. Act I: What Is It About Her?
  14. Act II: The Life Of The Party
  15. Act II: I'll Be Here
  16. Act II: Let Me Drown
  17. Act II: Tell Me Something
  18. Act II: Come With Me
  19. Act II: Jackie's Last Dance
  20. Act II: Make Me Happy
  21. Act II: How Did We Come To This?/Queenie Was A Blonde (Reprise)

Amazon.com

Some 70 years after being written, Joseph Moncure March's 1928 Jazz-Age poem, The Wild Party, proved it still knew how to inspire: a pair of musicals dedicated to the sultry tale of excess were produced virtually concurrently. Too bad good parties, like good jokes, are often hard to recount. While the Tony-nominated, star-studded, and short-lived Wild Party by Michael John LaChiusa embraced the dark side of the Prohibition-era fête, this off-Broadway production by Andrew Lippa tries too hard to have a good time. March's poem is a seething, seedy work filled with internal struggle, but on this disc we never sense that underbelly. It's not until Taye Diggs, as Black, sings the touching "Poor Child" that we sense any tenderness at all in this morality play. For lighthearted good times, Julia Murney as Queenie and Brian d'Arcy James as her abusive lover Burrs do the job. On the fun, upbeat numbers ("What a Party," "Raise the Roof") this cast shines. But, despite its fascinating premise--a life-changing, epic event in the lives of a bunch of Prohibition-era misfits--this musical somehow still suffers from shallowness. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Amazing. Show-Stopping.......2007-07-10

I'm an admitted musical-theatre geek. But I like knowing about the "underground" shows.. the ones that never QUITE made it. This came to me from a friend who was running a basement theatre at a college, and I forgot his mentioning it for close to a year. When it finally came back to me, I bought it.. and was AH-MAZED. There are simply not words for this music, and the talent brought the show is phenomenal. I strongly recommend taking a chance on this one.. if you sing, there's something for every range; if you dance, there's TONS of great, high-energy dance numbers; and if you love theatre, this is as good as it gets.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing.......2006-11-22

I bought this album because I am a fan of Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs, and may I just say that it blew me away! Some of the songs are so beautiful, with amazing harmonies. Others have you wanting to jump up and celebrate like the characters. My favorite songs include: Look at me Now, Poor Child (really beautiful), Life of the Party, Let Me Drown and How Did We Come to This?. If you are considering purchasing this I uge you do so, you won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars NEEDS to be in any Broadway lover's collection..........2006-10-06

I was hesitant to buy this album because I was told it was a bit raunchy and not well done. I'm still kicking myself for not buying it sooner.

Lippa's "The Wild Party" has quickly risen to my top five favorite shows. The score is outstanding (who CARES if it doesn't consistently fit the time period), the lyrics are entertaining, and the cast...oh, the cast. I admit I bought it for the Idina Menzel factor, but after listening through it, Idina takes a backseat to the outstanding vocal performance of Julia Murney.

Julia Murney, as others have said, is a POWERHOUSE. Not just in the heavy-hitting songs like "Raise the Roof", but in every song she sings. It's dumbfounding. Since then I've seen her perform live, and I must say that the woman is a superb actress- you can tell even by her singing.

It is unfortunate that this show released the same year as LaChuisa's "The Wild Party" on Broadway, but that doesn't mean it's lower caliber by any scale. In fact, I prefer this show. The reviewer who compared Sondheim to Lachuisa and Larson to Lippa was on the right track. Though I would suggest that if you like "Chicago" or "Wicked" at all, you'll probably like this version. It is a lot more fun and the songs are top-notch.

All I can say is BUY THIS ALBUM. I can't imagine anyone regretting it.

2 out of 5 stars An easy way to tell which version of this show you'll prefer:.......2006-08-03

As you may be aware, there are two musical versions of WILD PARTY: this one, written by Andrew Lippa, which premiered off-Broadway, and another version written by Michael John LaChiusa which premiered on Broadway.

Much debate rages in theatre circles about which version is better. In the interest of helping you, the consumer, make an informed decision about which one would better suit you, I have a simple multiple choice quiz you can take. Answer honestly, then scroll to the bottom to tabulate your results (NO PEEKING!).

1.) I think musical theatre is primarily _______.
A) entertainment
B) art

2.) I think RENT and WICKED are bright, shining pinnacles of musical theatre.
A) True
B) False

3.) In a musical, my biggest requirement for songs is:
A) that they be pretty, hummable and toe-tapping.
B) that they be vital to plot and character development.

4.) I think a musical's score should accurately reflect the time period in which it is set.
A) False
B) True

5.) Speaking broadly, I think Stephen Sondheim is _______ while Jonathan Larson is ______.
A) overrated / genius
B) genius / overrated

6.) In a musical, I think the score should:
A) wash over the audience and be easily digestable.
B) require its audience to listen carefully.

Pencils down!

If you scored three or more A's, you will be happier with the Lippa version of this show, as it is a typical book musical in the modernist vein, with an emphasis on musical numbers that function like set-pieces rather than plot points.

If you scored three or more B's, you will be happier with the LaChiusa version of the show, as its score is more stylistically appropriate for the time period. It also develops its characters through music rather than through the script, with an ironic post-modern approach to the subject matter that doesn't attempt to dispell the moral ambiguity of its characters.

5 out of 5 stars DEFINITELY worth your money.......2006-05-30

I am a musical theatre addict and am always on the lookout for exciting, little known shows. And let me tell you, musical theatre fan or not, this music is infectious. The music is so upbeat and the singers so powerful that you will want to listen to this CD on repeat. I rarely buy CDs anymore... in fact, this is the first CD I've bought in about 3 years. I was not disappointed. The Wild Party music is addictive and it amazes me that this show was never on broadway, based on the music alone and the apparent talent of the cast.
The Wild Party (LaChiusa) (2000 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Wild Party - One of the Best Scores of the Past Decade
  • Simply amazing.
  • An easy way to tell which version of this show you'll prefer:
  • I like them both (warning: LONG review)
  • Good, Though Prefer Other "Party"
 The Wild Party (LaChiusa) (2000 Original Broadway Cast)
Michael John LaChiusa , Marc Kudisch , and Norm Lewis
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004T9VJ
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

  1. Queenie Was a Blonde
  2. Marie is Tricky
  3. Wild Party
  4. Dry
  5. Welcome to My Party
  6. Like Sally
  7. Breezin' Through Another Day
  8. Uptown
  9. Eddie & Mae
  10. Gold & Goldberg
  11. Moving Uptown
  12. Best Friend
  13. A Little Mmm
  14. Tabu/Taking Care of the Ladies
  15. Wouldn't It Be Nice?
  16. Lowdown-Down
  17. Gin/Wild
  18. Black Is A Moocher
  19. People Like Us
  20. After Midnight Dies
  21. Golden Boy
  22. The Movin' Uptown Blues
  23. The Lights of Broadway
  24. More
  25. Love Ain't Nothin'/Welcome to Her Party
  26. How Many Women in the World
  27. When It Ends
  28. This Is What It Is
  29. Finale

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

With his controversial The Wild Party, prolific composer-lyricist Michael John LaChiusa continues to stretch the possibilities for contemporary musical theater. His racy musical is based on a 1928 poem about one night of escalating decadence, through which LaChiusa stages a brilliant, savage, polystylistic unmasking of the lies we live by. The original cast recording captures the manic energy of the top-rate cast, including Mandy Patinkin, Toni Collette, and Eartha Kitt all working together in electrifying ensemble. --Thomas May

Amazon.com

Ever since he emerged in the 1990s as one of Broadway's brightest hopes, the young and prolific composer-lyricist Michael John LaChiusa has been charged with the undeniably Sisyphean task of revitalizing the moribund musical. Along with such Tony-nominated efforts as 1999's Marie Christine--his Americanized retelling of the Medea tragedy--LaChiusa has managed to galvanize the genre with The Wild Party. Curiously enough, Joseph Moncure March's once-banned narrative poem of Prohibition-era decadence is the basis for two vastly different musicals produced within the same season (the other being Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway show at Manhattan Theatre Club). LaChiusa's work, which was produced by the Public Theatre's visionary director George C. Wolfe (who also collaborated on the book), kick-starts the new century with a manic, many-leveled, viciously satirical portrait--both brilliantly period and postmodern--of jazz-era alienation, sketching its "sexually ambitious" and "ambi-sextrous" promenade of characters with bold, flinty strokes. In addition to the 1928 poem, it seems equally inspired by The Threepenny Opera, Stephen Sondheim's dark humors, even Ann Douglas's cultural history, Terrible Honesty: Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920s. LaChiusa depicts the party-turned-nightmare trajectory of the story through complex, polystylistic counterpoint, as well as such searingly straightforward numbers as "After Midnight Dies"; even the orchestrations (by Bruce Coughlin) are fantastically detailed and allusive. Mandy Patinkin is made to draw on his full repertory of shticks and gives a wildly over-the-top characterization of the vaudeville clown Burrs, while Toni Collette (an Oscar nominee for The Sixth Sense), playing his unhappy lover Queenie who throws this mother of all parties, plays against him with toxic, combustible energy. For all the star turns here (including some economical but superbly effective cameos by Eartha Kitt), it's the unflappable ensemble that keeps this party going till the bitter end. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Wild Party - One of the Best Scores of the Past Decade.......2007-07-04

The Broadway version of THE WILD PARTY, written by Michael John LaChiusa, is surely one of the best scores of the past decade. It is a jazzy, thrilling, brilliant score, and the show has one of the best ensemble casts ever assembled.

Toni Collette is pitch-perfect as Queenie. Every word she sings is entralling. Mandy Patinkin is also fantastic as Burrs, Queenie's violent lover.

Adding great support is Eartha Kitt as Dolores. Her "When it Ends" is a highlight. Tonya Pinkins and Yancey Arias are thrilling as Kate and Black, respectivley. Norm Lewis as Eddie and Marc Kudish also do great work.

Some of the best tracks are:

Queenie is a Blonde
Dry
Breezin' Through Another Day
Gin/Wild
Black is a Moocher
People Like Us
When it Ends

Go out and get this brilliant CD. It is very worth the money.

5 out of 5 stars Simply amazing........2006-11-20

Put this CD in your player. Turn the volume knob up. And hit play. Sit back.


.....


BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT!

Way to open a show, Michael John. And it just gets better from there - a rat-tat-tatting drumbeat cuts through the chaos, and the band swings into full hot-jazz swagger. Marc Kudisch smirks out the eternal line "Queenie was a blonde, and her age stood still", and from there on the recording is pure bliss.

Michael John LaChiusa is an immensely gifted lyricist and composer, possibly the most promising of the "New School of Composers", but suffers from the same disease as many of his contemporaries - while his songs are intricately layered and textured, with fantastic lyrics that cut to the core of the characters, he too often forgets to include a melody. Or actually a tune of any kind. Not so here. While his signature key changes, atonality, and surprise tempo shifts are still here, he supplies steel-trap tunes for the overwhelming majority of the songs. It's a genuine surprise to listen to something like "People Like Us" - it's instantly memorable, with a gorgeous melody and lyrics that mist the eyes. It's everything a theater song should be - instantly memorable, heartbreaking, smart and tuneful. And there's more where that came from.

Everybody knows by now the differences between this Wild Party and that Wild Party - Lippa's party is a great source for show-stopping pop tunes and anachronistic bombast, LaChiusa's is the cerebral cousin that requires repeated listening but turns out greater rewards in the end . It's Jerry Herman versus Stephen Sondheim all over again. I will say that I prefer this one, because LaChiusa has widened the scope - while Lippa's show is indisputably the property of the four leads (Queenie, Burrs, Black, and Kate), this is a true ensemble effort. While the brothers D'Armano (here played riotously by Nathan Lee Graham and Michael McElroy) are nothing more than token homosexuals in the Off-Broadway version, here they are absolutely delightful debauchers, singing vaudeville duets and sleeping around, sometimes in the course of the same song. Same with Jackie (Marc Kudisch), Eddie and Mae (the always-welcome Norm Lewis and Leah Hocking), Gold and Goldberg (Adam Grupper and Stuart Zagnit, deliciously Yiddish), the sometimes-comatose Sally (Sally Murphy) and of course Dolores (Eartha Kitt herself, in full vamp mode, purring and sliding and stealing the show with every word out of her mouth). Each of them is a person - a real, flesh-and-blood person. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes terrifying. While the majority of the credit must go to the talented actors (Lewis, Kudisch, and Kitt especially must be singled out as terrific singers), LaChiusa does deserve kudos for refusing to write these oddballs off.

And now for the leads. Here they are, ladies and gentlemen - Mandy Patinkin, Toni Collette, Tonya Pinkins, and Yancey Arias. Toni Collette was born to play Queenie; her slightly husky voice, undeniable singing and acting chops, and way with a wisecrack flesh out the character more than Julia Murney's constant belting ever could. She is more than up to the vocal demands of the score, and every word she says reveals a little more of the damaged goods beneath the hard shell of sex and drugs. Tonya Pinkins is kind of shafted as Kate. She's not given anything particularly revelatory, like Idina Menzel's "Life of the Party". However, she is a far better actress than Menzel, and does good work with what she's given. Yancey Arias shares Taye Diggs' dubious honor of being the weak link in an otherwise excellent cast - he's dull throughout, competent but unspectacular. Maybe it's the character, but at least here Black has some worthwhile material to work with. And finally?

Oh, Mandy. I've listened to this recording over seven times, and I still can't figure out whether his Burrs is a perfectly unhinged portrayal of a shattered vaudeville star or just Patinkin's indulgences allowed to run rampant. He works every single vocal and characteristic quirk he has to its fullest. He's passed "over-the-top" by his third line. He screams, hisses, snarls, growls, tightens his voice to a thin dog's-whistle and widens it to a full, encompassing belt, usually in the same sentence. You can almost hear the foam flying from his mouth. At the very least, he IS scary. (and the way he delivers the line "Don't ever think about not loving me" is absolutely perfect) Also, the differences between characterization on the part of the composers must be noted - Lippa makes Burrs a broken and violent man, while LaChiusa skips the "broken" part and focuses on the "violent", throwing in a pinch of "gibbering mental patient".

The music is great, the characterizations run the gamut, the voices are fantastic. It adds up.

5 out of 5 stars An easy way to tell which version of this show you'll prefer:.......2006-08-03

As you may be aware, there are two musical versions of WILD PARTY: this one, written by Andrew Lippa, which premiered off-Broadway, and another version written by Michael John LaChiusa which premiered on Broadway.

Much debate rages in theatre circles about which version is better. In the interest of helping you, the consumer, make an informed decision about which one would better suit you, I have a simple multiple choice quiz you can take. Answer honestly, then scroll to the bottom to tabulate your results (NO PEEKING!).

1.) I think musical theatre is primarily _______.
A) entertainment
B) art

2.) I think RENT and WICKED are bright, shining pinnacles of musical theatre.
A) True
B) False

3.) In a musical, my biggest requirement for songs is:
A) that they be pretty, hummable and toe-tapping.
B) that they be vital to plot and character development.

4.) I think a musical's score should accurately reflect the time period in which it is set.
A) False
B) True

5.) Speaking broadly, I think Stephen Sondheim is _______ while Jonathan Larson is ______.
A) overrated / genius
B) genius / overrated

6.) In a musical, I think the score should:
A) wash over the audience and be easily digestable.
B) require its audience to listen carefully.

Pencils down!

If you scored three or more A's, you will be happier with the Lippa version of this show, as it is a typical book musical in the modernist vein, with an emphasis on musical numbers that function like set-pieces rather than plot points.

If you scored three or more B's, you will be happier with the LaChiusa version of the show, as its score is more stylistically appropriate for the time period. It also develops its characters through music rather than through the script, with an ironic post-modern approach to the subject matter that doesn't attempt to dispell the moral ambiguity of its characters.

4 out of 5 stars I like them both (warning: LONG review).......2006-07-30

I was sketchy about purchasing this recording because I am a huge fan of the Lippa musical and I didn't want to become part of the "Which One Is Better" debate that rages on theatre message boards everywhere. (The ardent hatred of fans for one or the other boarders on terrifying.) However I got it because I care very much about the characters involved and wanted to see a different spin on how they were presented. I got exactly that. The two musicals could not diverge more and I found that in hearing both I found in each one a few things that the other lacked. For example, in Lippa's version the characterization is put almost entirely to the four leads, Queenie/Burrs Black/Kate, and the other guests are reduced to caricatures and stereotypes. Eddie and Mae are merely Fae Ray and King Kong, big and dumb love small blond and dumb, and have an annoying lyrically vapid song about how much they love each other. The D'Armarno Brother/lovers are merely there to provide the effeminate homosexual characters that every modern show of the last six years needs and the dancer Jackie is merely an ensemble member whom, for some entirely unexplained reason entirely out of Lippa's imagination, had his tongue cut out. In this version both these couples have complex subplots full of jealousy, emptiness and reconciliation. (The song "Eddie & Mae" is my favorite on the disc and Marc Kudisch is glorious as a manic depressive Jackie.) However the lead couples are not as delved into as Lippa's lovers are. The Queenie/Burrs/Black triangle is very disjointed. One minute Black is a smooth player caring for nothing but money, the next he's madly in love with Queenie. During the song "Gin/Wild" Queenie tearfully defends Burrs against the other women at the party, three tracks later she screams that she wants to see him dead. Lippa's Queenie is torn between both men and her love for each even after the final number has ended as she weeps over Burrs' dead body while begging Black "if they find you, you'll get the chair." I was also disappointed by LaChuisa Burrs as far as characterization went. Burrs is my favorite character in the Lippa version because of the fine line he walks between his love for Queenie and his insane jealous rage. He is Lippa's shining star in terms of depth where all the other characters fall short. (You'll need to listen to the CD in order to truly understand this) LaChuisa's Burrs is just as delightful in his moments of fury but misses the side of the character that loves and needs his woman. You don't care much for his plight because there's no real sadness, just anger.
Musically I could never decide between the two because thee styles are so different. Lippa is a rock and roll musical a la RENT or Tick, Tick Boom complete with electric guitars. The songs are taken better on their own rather than in context and are great for auditions/shower singing. The story itself could be in any setting when told in this way. LaChuisa and Wolfe worked hard to make the time period very important to the storytelling. The score covers the many musical styles and the subtle entwining songs give a picture of the 1920's such as a song called "Uptown/Downtown" describing the racial crossover happening at the time. I enjoy it more for its immersion in history. This is more in the vein of older musicals a la Sondheim or Fosse. I found it fascinating to listen to but being newer to the theatre world than most I've missed the boat on that style and I'm not really familiar with it so I love the rock musical as something familiar. This is probably why bought Lippa first because of Indina Menzel and Taye Diggs and not as bowled over by Mandy Patinkin and Eartha Kitt. They were both good but I'm not familiar with them at all.
That being said I'd like to mention that I have no complaints where the actors are concerned. Toni Collette is a mind blowing singer and creates a tough as nails beauty in Queenie. Tonya Pinkins could raise the hairs on your neck in her solo "Black is a Moocher" and Yancy Arias as Black has fallen under the curse of a wonderful voice with not a lot to work with, though he and Collette kill in "People Like Us". He would have been wonderful in Lippa's show. While I adore Taye Diggs, he definitely gets crushed under the huge voices of Idina Menzel, Julia Murney and Brian D'arcy James who play alongside him. Arias has a stronger more 'broadway' voice and would have been right with them. Theatre great Eartha Kitt gives me shivers every time I hear her songs and Mandy Patinkin, though as I said unfamiliar, was evidently giving the roll all he had.
I'm sorry this review was so long but I'm really sick of the ones that say 'this is bad, don't buy it. buy the other one' or 'they both suck' I think both musicals are underrated gems but each one is for a different taste. My advice would be to try both and see what you think

4 out of 5 stars Good, Though Prefer Other "Party".......2006-07-29

In 2000, New York was graced with not one, but two musicals based on the same source material, Joseph Moncure March's poem about Prohibition excesses called "The Wild Party".

Mr. LaChiusa's version, heralding an incredible cast (including Toni Collette, Mandy Patinkin, Eartha Kitt, Tonya Pinkins & Marc Kudisch) reached Broadway and received a Tony nomination for Best Musical (though losing to "Contact") ... but Andrew Lippa's Off-Broadway version was, frankly, much better due to it's powerful score and equally talented cast. Mr. LaChiusa's score is enjoyable, but just doesn't knock the ball out of the park.

Best tracks:

Queenie Was A Blonde
Breezin' Through Another Day
Movin' Uptown
Wouldn't It Be Night
People Like Us

Broadway Today: Broadway 1993-2005
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Broadway Today: Broadway 1993-2005

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      Similar Items:
      1. Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
      2. Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
      3. The Warmth of the Sun
      4. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
      5. White Nights

      ASIN: B000B8I93Q
      Release Date: 2005-10-18

      Tracks:

      1. Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'
      2. Summertime
      3. I Could Write a Book
      4. It Never Entered My Mind
      5. I Can Cook Too
      6. Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please
      7. If I Loved You
      8. My Heart Belongs to Daddy
      9. Thou Swell
      10. I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen
      11. There's No Business Like Show Business
      12. South American Way

      Tracks:

      1. Shall We Dance
      2. Ohio
      3. Luck Be a Lady
      4. Mack the Knife
      5. There's a Small Hotel
      6. Once in Love with Amy
      7. Yodel Blues
      8. Lazy Afternoon
      9. There Must Be Somethin' Better Than Love
      10. You're Just in Love
      11. Now Is the Time

      Tracks:

      1. Impossible Dream
      2. Love Makes the World Go 'Round
      3. Try to Remember
      4. Put on a Happy Face
      5. I Say Hello
      6. Happiness
      7. She Loves Me
      8. What Kind of Fool Am I?
      9. Shy
      10. Consider Yourself
      11. Poor Little Person

      Tracks:

      1. Magic to Do
      2. They're Playing My Song
      3. I Don't Know How to Love Him
      4. I Won't Send Roses
      5. Good Morning Starshine
      6. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina
      7. Hard Candy Christmas
      8. Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
      9. Won't You Charleston with Me?
      10. Applause

      Tracks:

      1. Phantom of the Opera
      2. Memory
      3. On My Own
      4. Muddy Water
      5. How Could I Ever Know
      6. American Dream
      7. I Know Him So Well
      8. Dr. Jazz
      9. Me and My Girl
      10. Suddenly Seymour

      Tracks:

      1. Mamma Mia!
      2. Popular
      3. Seasons of Love
      4. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think
      5. Whatever Lola Wants
      6. Crazy
      7. How Deep Is Your Love
      8. Stars
      9. People Like Us
      10. I Go to Rio
      Broadway Divas
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Broadway Divas
      • Love the choices
      • coulda been a contender
      • Two words: Julia Murney
      		 Broadway Divas
      Liza Minnelli , Mandy Patinkin , Bernadette Peters , Mary Martin , Patti LuPone , Jeanne Lehman , Mark Jacoby , Madeline Kahn , Marin Mazzie , Barbara Cook , Angela Lansbury , and Julia Murney
      Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      Similar Items:
      1. The Lady With The Torch
      2. Patti LuPone Live! (Highlights)
      3. I'm Not Waiting
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      5. Sondheim Etc. Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It)

      ASIN: B00005LN5V
      Release Date: 2001-08-07

      Tracks:

      1. I Got The Sun In The Morning - Ethel Merman
      2. Sing Happy - Liza Minnelli
      3. Mean To Me - Nell Carter
      4. Children And Art - Bernadette Peters
      5. Before I Kiss The World Goodbye - Mary Martin
      6. Being Alive - Patti LuPone
      7. Monotonous - Eartha Kitt
      8. Shy - Sarah Jessica Parker
      9. All That Jazz - Bebe Neuwirth
      10. Raise The Roof - Julia Murney
      11. Getting Married Today - MADELINE KAHN
      12. Back To Before - Marin Mazzie
      13. Losing My Mind - Barbara Cook
      14. What Did I Have That I Don't Have? - Barbara Harris
      15. Everything's Coming Up Roses - Angela Lansbury

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Broadway Divas.......2007-01-22

      Wonderful selection of classic singers and songs. Special favorites are Ethel Merman and Barbara Cook.

      5 out of 5 stars Love the choices.......2006-08-11

      This is great. Anything with Ethel, Bernadette, Barbara (both of them), Mary, and Marin is beyond words. Any one of them by themselves is awesome but these ladies together are mind blowing. All of the women sound amazing but they made a mistake on the list of songs and composers. "Raise the Roof" sung by Julia Murney (I love her)was written by Andrew Lippa, not LaChusia.

      2 out of 5 stars coulda been a contender.......2006-03-15

      The divas are indeed divine, but the choice of music sung left me wondering why, with so many other great music selection contenders.

      5 out of 5 stars Two words: Julia Murney.......2001-09-03

      OK, so it sounds crazy to review an album with Ethel Merman and Bernadette Peters on it and not mention them. But...tough. I've read enough about them to know how good they are.


      Buy this album as a token of love to the producer who had the cajones to put Julia Murney on an album celebrating the last 100 years of Broadway divas.

      Because SHE is one of the greatest voices of the decade!
      DRG 25th Anniversary Show Stopping Performances
      Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
      • Great compilation
      • A disappointment
      		 DRG 25th Anniversary Show Stopping Performances

      Manufacturer: Drg
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      Similar Items:
      1. Barbara Cook at the Met with Special Guests
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      4. ABC (Adler, Bock, Coleman)
      5. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

      ASIN: B00005Q6IN
      Release Date: 2001-10-23

      Tracks:

      1. A Day In Hollywood A Night In Ukraine: Just Go To The Movies - Priscilla Lopez/David Garrison/Frank Lazarus/Stephen James/Peggy Hewett/Kate Draper
      2. Babes In Arms: I Wish I Were In Love Again - Christopher Fitzgerald Jessica Stone
      3. Pal Joey: Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered - Patti LuPone
      4. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend - KT Sullivan
      5. Nunsense: I Just Want To Be A Star - Christine Anderson
      6. Louisiana Purchase: Wild About You - Debbie Gravitte & New York Voices
      7. Oil City Symphony: Beaver Ball At The Bug Club - Mike Craver/Mark Hardwick/Debra Monk/Mary Murfitt
      8. Falsettoland: The Baseball Game - Michael Rupert/Chip Zien/Faith Prince/Janet Metz/Heather MacRae/Stephen Bogardus
      9. Very Good Eddie: Isn't It Great To Be Married? - Virginia Seidel/Spring Fairbank/Charles Repole/Nicholas Wyman
      10. The Fantasticks: A Perfect Time To Be In Love - Harvey Schmidt
      11. Call Me Madam: You're Just In Love - Tyne Daly/Lewis Cleale
      12. Taking My Turn: Fine For The Shape I'm In - Margaret Whiting/Marnie Nixon/Cissy Houston
      13. A Party With Betty Comden & Adolph Green: The French Lesson - Betty Comdon/Adolph Green
      14. The Madwoman Of Central Park: Better - Phyllis Newman
      15. Greenwillow: Never Will I Marry - Anthony Perkins
      16. Song Of Singapore: I Can't Remember - Loretta Swit & Company
      17. Tintypes: Elite Syncopation/I'm Goin' To Live Anyhow, 'Til I Die - Lynne Thigpen
      18. I Love My Wife: Someone Wonderful I Missed - Joanna Gleason/Ilene Graff
      19. The Good Companions: The Pleasure Of Your Company - Malcolm Rennie/Christopher Gable
      20. Forbidden Broadway 20th Anniversary: Liza One-Note - Christine Pedi
      21. Meet Me In St. Louis: The Trolley Song - Donna Kane & Ensemble

      Tracks:

      1. 4 Guys Named Jose...And Una Mujer Named Maria!: Feel It - Philip Anthony/Henry Gainza/Allen Hidalgo/Ricardo Puente
      2. Fame - The Musical: There She Goes!/Fame - Natasha Rennalls & Ensemble
      3. Do Re Mi: What's New At The Zoo? - Heather Headley/The Animal Girls
      4. High Society: Once Upon A Time/True Love - Melissa Errico/Daniel McDonald
      5. Tenderloin: Artificial Flowers - Patrick Wilson
      6. State Fair: Driving At Night/Our State Fair - Company
      7. Kiss Me, Kate: Were Thine That Special Face - Brian Stokes Mitchell
      8. Black And Blue: Black And Blue - Linda Hopkins/Ruth Brown/Carrie Smith
      9. The Green Bird: O Foolish Heart - Company
      10. Out Of This World: From This Moment On - Marin Mazzie/Gregg Edelman
      11. The Boys From Syracuse: This Can't Be Love - Davis Gaines/Sarah Berry
      12. Snoopy!!!: Poor Sweet Baby - Pamela Myers
      13. SeesawNobody Does It Like Me - Michele Lee
      14. March Of The Falsettos: I Never Wanted To Love You - Michael Rupert/Stephen Bogardus/Alison Fraser/Chip Zien/James Kushner
      15. Lunch: Perfectly Alone - Carol Burnett
      16. 3hree: Foolish Dreamin'/Something Beautiful/Real Enough To Change My Mind - Jessica Molaskey/Will Gartshore/Rachel Ulanet
      17. Lucky In The Rain: Love Me As If There Were No Tomorrow - Barbara Cook
      18. Godspell: All Good Gifts - Sal Sabella & Company
      19. The Act: Walking Papers - Liza Minnelli & Company

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Great compilation.......2002-05-10

      I don't actually own this particular compilation, however, since I own nearly every recording represented on these discs...I think I'm qualified to comment. This is a wonderful representation of the high quality of work that DRG Records does.
      The previous review is way off the mark. This is definitely not a waste of time or money. This is 25 years of preserving Broadway shows, Off-Broadway shows, studio recordings (mostly from the city center concerts), etc. So what if they "aren't as good as the original", DRG is preserving many recordings and artists that other mainstream labels don't or won't. You have wonderful recordings from Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nathan Lane, Debbie Gravitte, Tyne Daly, Anthony Perkins, Joanna Gleason, Marin Mazzie, Carol Burnett, Heather Headley, Patti LuPone, Barbara Cook, etc., and many of these are from Original Cast Recordings just as they appeared on Broadway. This is an excellent sampler of the work going on at DRG. No...I'm not an employee...just an avid listener and collector of theatre recordings.

      1 out of 5 stars A disappointment.......2001-12-15

      There's a reason you've probably never heard of most of the songs and shows on this album, not to mention most of the artists. This is a second-rate collection of second-rate numbers performed by mostly second-rate artists. In the case of the shows that were revivals, the performances on the original cast recordings were better. Don't waste your money.
      Colored Lights: The Broadway Album
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • What's happened to Debbie?
      • A Taste of Broadway
      • OUCH!
      • (Deborah Gibson ) AT HER BEST!!!!
      • Deborah delivers deliciously
      		 Colored Lights: The Broadway Album
      Debbie Gibson , Jule Styne , Charles Strouse , Michael John LaChiusa , Peter Allen , Claude-Michel Schoenberg , John Harold Kander , George Gershwin , Richard Rodgers , William Finn , Ron Abel , John Krovoza , Ruth Bruegger , and Steve Orich
      Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B0000DJYNR
      Release Date: 2003-11-04

      Tracks:

      1. Let Me Entertain You (Gypsy)
      2. Blame It On The Summer Night (Rags)
      3. Raise The Roof! (The Wild Party)
      4. I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love (The Boy From Oz)
      5. On My Own (Les Miserables)
      6. Colored Lights (The Rink)
      7. I'm The Greatest Star (Funny Girl)
      8. Who Are You Now? (Funny Girl)
      9. They All Laughed (Shall We Dance?)
      10. Sex (Skirts)
      11. Maybe This Time (Cabaret)
      12. I Enjoy Being A Girl (Flower Drum Song)
      13. Anytime (I Am There) (Elegies: A Song Cycle)

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars What's happened to Debbie?.......2005-04-15

      I am not a staunch Gibson fan like most of the drooling 5-star reviews here. But I loved her in the 80's and think her to be a talented singer-songwriter who puts modern pop moppets to shame. I thought it was awesome when she broke into Broadway and made a steady career of it.
      Then I heard 'Colored Lights'.
      I ask, Debbie!(sorry, DEBORAH), what has happened to you??
      Like others here, I applaud her choice to include lesser-known songs. But in doing so, it really behoves her to SELL them as great songs, not rework them for her own interpretation. I felt like I was listening not to the pure-toned, crystal voice of our favourite teen idol, but someone doing a bad impersonation of her. There is hardly a single line she sings which isn't punctured by bad ennunciation, poor phrasing or a lack of respect for the intent of the composers.
      There were no gravelly growls(meant to sound sexy, no doubt, but too overdone to succeed), breathy sighs, uneven tone, lacklustre dynamics, excessive scooping, wavery pitch and lack of top range in the Debbie Gibson I remember. But her voice on this album is such a mere shadow of its youthful self that she resorts to these irritating vocal bandaids to get through the song. Any track that had a 'big finish' invariably caused her to run out of steam long before she got there. A belter, Deb is not.
      (and I know what I'm talking about, I'm a trained singer myself. If Deborah has a singing teacher, he/she should be shot).

      This album was a huge disappointment for me. I love Broadway, but Deb fails terribly to give these songs the great renditions they deserve.
      I should add, I have never had the fortune to see Deb sing live, so for all I know, maybe she COULD have done these songs justice had she avoided the pop slant. But this album shows neither the songs nor any talent she still has to advantage at all.

      Listen to some Idina Menzel if you want a pop-feel voice that can also out-Belt them all.

      5 out of 5 stars A Taste of Broadway.......2004-10-13

      I've been a fan of her since God only knows. I know she's not just talented but she is very passionate of (her) music. Knowing that she moved herself into broadways, it's rather of a challenge for me to listen to the songs especially when I'm too familiar with her pop genre. But after a while, I'm used to it coz Debbie is still Debbie to me. She's not afraid of re-arranging the original song to her style, at least she knows what she's doing and again she's proven it. My most favourite track is "Colored Lights", it's light, cheerful, somewhat witty and, in a way, brings up my imagination of seeing her (and the casts) on stage performing the song. All in all, Debbie still has a class and style for us to share.

      1 out of 5 stars OUCH!.......2004-08-23

      Deborah Gibson is a talented rock star. With a good musical director, she has proved herself to be a wonderful musical theatre performer. This album, however, is a very uneasy marriage of the two genres. She sings every showtune on the album as if it's a pop tune with horrendous bubble gum arrangements. I have seen Miss Gibson in two musicals and have heard her sing showtunes live on other occasions- she knows how to sing showtunes. On this album, however, she's trying to pander to her pop audience and in the process, she created an album that fails as a pop album and as a showtune album. I can only hope that Miss Gibson finds a better musical director the next time she decides to record showtunes.

      5 out of 5 stars (Deborah Gibson ) AT HER BEST!!!!.......2004-04-23

      Deborah really sing's her heart out on this cd
      and it is a must for all of Deborah's Fan's.
      Please take the time out and listen to some clip's
      of some of the song's from the album. Thank's.

      Love You Deborah!!!!
      You are the Best!!!!

      4 out of 5 stars Deborah delivers deliciously.......2004-02-13

      After more than 15 years in the business, Deborah Gibson has learned many lessons and fulfilled many dreams. After 2001's horrifyingly misguided "M.Y.O.B.," she returns to the adult contemporary sound that landed her two number one hits on the Billboard charts, and turns that up a couple of notches. By selecting 13 showtunes from varying Broadway musicals, Gibson satisfies immensely, and delivers a unique compilation worthy of at least one full listen.

      "Colored Lights" is not meant to be a showcase of hit tunes; many of the songs on this opus aren't radio hits. Instead, Gibson puts together a delicious smorgasbord of rhythmic melodies and heartfelt ballads that complement her voice (that, strangely enough, hasn't seemed to change that much after more than a decade in the industry).

      What is also important to consider in one's evaluation of "Colored Lights" is that, while comparison with the original works/performers is inevitable, we should also take the time to consider that Gibson's pop sensibilities will always shine through. Perhaps it is for that reason, that Gibson has had the best of both pop stardom and Broadway success, that she gives new dimension to these melodies.

      The standouts on this collection include "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love," which radio would do well to pick up, as the soothing melody and heartfelt delivery will find AC audiences easily; "On My Own," off "Les Miserables," where Gibson as Eponine sounds both heartbroken yet hopeful; the playful title track, from "The Rink," which features some of the most whimsical lyrics I've heard off Broadway thus far; "Raise the Roof," which is truly enjoyable in its pseudo-Latino reincarnation in Gibson's hands (yes, it does beg for a house remix; Gibson's gay audience will see to its success), and "Anytime (I Am There)," which is heartbreaking in its stark delivery, and is easily one of my top five Gibson tracks of all time.

      Admittedly, Gibson can't overcome comparisons to the definitive versions of some of the songs. Let's face it: Debbie ain't no Barbra. Her versions of "I'm the Greatest Star" and "Who Are You Now?," while stellar on their own, just fall flat when compare to Streisand's. "Let Me Entertain You," off "Gypsy," ironically, isn't very entertaining, and "Blame It On The Summer Night" drags on.

      All in all, "Colored Lights" puts together a collection of songs that are quite distinct and classy, and is easily one of the more worthy albums in Ms. Gibson's discography. She would do well to continue producing albums along this line instead of trying to fight the Britney's and Christina's, because those fads fade, and only the classics remain. Trust in "Colored Lights" to earn a well-deserved place in that section of your record collection.
      Wild Wild West
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • sorry i bought this one
      • it was obviously terrible to listen
      • Good song, but Sisqo is SO ANNOYING!
      • This is the greatest CD for when you are happy or sad!
      • What's the point of rap anyway?
      		 Wild Wild West
      Will Smith
      Manufacturer: Sony
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B00000JIYY
      Release Date: 1999-07-06

      Tracks:

      1. Wild Wild West
      2. Wild Wild West
      3. Y'all Know

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars sorry i bought this one.......2002-09-11

      sounds better as snips on the TV commercial for the movie rather than as a 5 minute record

      1 out of 5 stars it was obviously terrible to listen.......1999-10-02

      there is no need to listen it again and agai

      3 out of 5 stars Good song, but Sisqo is SO ANNOYING!.......1999-09-07

      It's got good lyrics and a great beat...but Sisqo of Dru Hill is very, very annoying! If I ever have to listen to "We goin' straight to the Wild Wild West" again, my head is going to explode of a migrane headache (this song is most equivalent to a migraine headache). Still a good memorable song.

      5 out of 5 stars This is the greatest CD for when you are happy or sad!.......1999-09-02

      I really like this single and I think there is something in it for almost everyone.I really like Will Smith and this song just shows his great talent yet again.The lyrics are very ammusing and easy to sing along to,everyone should have this single.

      1 out of 5 stars What's the point of rap anyway?.......1999-08-20

      I'd rather be listening to the sound of the jet engines of a Russian-made airliner
      Polka Party with Brave Combo: Live and Wild!
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • Some of it barely sounds like polka
      • The future of modern polka music.
      		 Polka Party with Brave Combo: Live and Wild!
      Brave Combo
      Manufacturer: Easydisc
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      5. The Process

      ASIN: B00000663S
      Release Date: 1998-04-07

      Tracks:

      1. Pretty Dancing Girl
      2. Hosa Dyna
      3. Turkish March
      4. Pop Goes The Weasel
      5. Three Weeks
      6. Cuando Escuches Este Vas
      7. Don't Get Married
      8. Peanut Polka
      9. Do Something Different
      10. Polka Medley: Tinker's Polka/Lichensteiner Polka/Beer Barrel Polka/Pennsylvania Polka/Monday...
      11. Come Back To Me
      12. High Bounce Polka

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Some of it barely sounds like polka.......2002-12-09

      Some of the album has a definite polka sound, but a few tracks have such a heavy rock influence it doesn't barely sound like polka at all. "Come Back to Me" and "Pretty Dancing Girl" are examples, and two fine songs. The "Polka Medley" is great. I wish they would do some of those songs individually. Some of the record even sounds vaguely like ska music. I would highly recommend this to any younger listener of polka, and anyone who likes to dance polka. It may even appeal to some listeners of lighter core ska.

      4 out of 5 stars The future of modern polka music........1998-10-17

      This is a fine example of a robust live performance by a superb, energetic modern polka band. Renditions of the High Bounce Polka and the Peanuts Polka are true classics in the fast tempo "Eastern Style" of polka. This collection could possibly be the best example in its appeal to the modern polka listener of the future.
      Wild Party
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • papi chulo's favorite 30's hot dance band cd
      		 Wild Party
      Fletcher Henderson
      Manufacturer: Hep Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Classic Big BandClassic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Contemporary Big BandContemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Traditional Jazz GeneralTraditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
      JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B000001MCK
      Release Date: 2006-05-09

      Tracks:

      1. Hocus Pocus
      2. Phantom Fantasie
      3. Harlem Madness
      4. Tidal Wave
      5. Hocus Pocus
      6. Phantom Fantasie
      7. Limehouse Blues
      8. Shanghai Shuffle
      9. Big John Special
      10. Happy As The Day Is Long
      11. Tidal Wave
      12. Down South Camp Meeting
      13. Wrappin' It Up (The Lindy Glide)
      14. Memphis Blues
      15. Memphis Blues
      16. Wild Party!
      17. Rug Cutters Swing
      18. Hotter Than 'Ell
      19. Liza (All The Clouds Roll Away)

      Album Description

      19 classic sides with Coleman Hawkins and Henry "Red" Allen, 1934!

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars papi chulo's favorite 30's hot dance band cd.......2006-03-30

      This is a hot hot hot cd! This cd has some sizzlign tracks by this legendary band leader arranger Mr Fletcher Handerson. His band in the mid 30's was so tight and they really are right on the mark. This is pre-swing music, that swings!!! WOW! Every cut a gem! PAPI chulo recomends this highly!

      Music:

      1. Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]
      2. Urinetown (2001 Original Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]
      3. Wearing Someone Else's Clothes
      4. West Side Story (1957 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording] [Original recording remastered]
      5. West Side Story [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered] [Soundtrack]
      6. Wicked (Karaoke) [Cast Recording] [Karaoke] [Soundtrack]
      7. Working (Original 1978 Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]
      8. Xanadu [Soundtrack]
      9. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival Cast) [Cast Recording]
      10. 42nd Street (1980 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

      Music

      Music