Caroline, or Change (2004 Original Broadway Cast)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Remember 1958, when milquetoast The Music Man won the Tony for Best Musical over brashly innovative West Side Story? It's likely that one day we'll remember 2004 as the year wholesome Avenue Q won over brilliantly daring Caroline, or Change. The Tony Kushner-Jeanine Tesori collaboration proves that a show can be smart, inspirational, provocative, touching, and simply beautiful all at the same time. And lest you think Caroline is the kind of musical that's good for you in a spinach kind of way, this two-CD set demonstrates that the show's also terrifically fun. Because the plot is set in 1963 Louisiana, Tesori's ultra-melodic score, delivered by a superb cast, expertly weaves together R&B, gospel, doo-wop, soul and girl-group pop (check out the lovely "Salty Teardrops"). And of course there's a bona fide showstopper for Caroline (Tonya Pinkins) in the heartwrenching "Lot's Wife," which had New York audiences in tears during the show's run. Truly extraordinary. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Caroline, or Change (2004 Original Broadway Cast), Music, Jeanine Tesori, Tony Kushner, Tonya Pinkins, Anika Noni Rose, Cast Recordings, Music Theater, Musical Theater, Pop, Showtunes / B'way
Caroline, or Change (2004 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • OVER-RATED!
  • This show should have come out a few years later!
  • Caroline Don't Change!!!
  • Magnificent
  • AMAZING cast album, AMAZING show!
 Caroline, or Change (2004 Original Broadway Cast)
Jeanine Tesori , Tony Kushner , Tonya Pinkins , and Anika Noni Rose
Manufacturer: Hollywood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Caroline, Or Change: A Musical
  2. Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  3. The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast)
  4. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  5. Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00028HOG8
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Tracks:

  1. 16 Feet Beneath the Sea - Caroline, The Washing Machine
  2. The Radio - The Radio
  3. Laundry Quintet - The Radio, Caroline, The Washing Machine
  4. Noah Down the Stairs - Noah
  5. The Cigarette - Caroline, Noah, The Washing Machine
  6. Laundry Finish - The Radio
  7. The Dryer - The Dryer, The Radio
  8. I Got Four Kids - Caroline, The Dryer, The Washing Machine
  9. Caroline, There's Extra Food - Rose, Caroline, Grandma Gellman , Grandpa Gellman, Noah
  10. There is No God, Noah - Stuart
  11. Rose Stopnick Can Cook - Grandma Gellman, Grandpa Gellman, Stuart, Rose, Caroline, Noah
  12. Long Distance - Rose
  13. Dotty and Caroline - Dotty, Caroline, The Moon
  14. Moon Change - The Moon
  15. Moon Trio - The Moon, Dotty, Caroline
  16. The Bus - The Bus
  17. That Can't Be - Dotty, Caroline, The Moon
  18. Noah and Rose - Noah, Rose
  19. Inside/Outside - Moon, Noah, Rose
  20. JFK - Grandma Gellman, Grandpa Gellman, Dotty, The Moon, Noah
  21. Duets: No One Waitin' - The Radio, Emmie, Caroline
  22. Duets: `Night Mamma - Emmie
  23. Duets: Gonna Pass Me a Law - Caroline, Noah
  24. Duets: Noah Go to Sleep - Caroline, Noah
  25. Noah Has a Problem - Caroline, Rose
  26. Stuart and Noah - Stuart, Noah, Caroline
  27. Quarter in the Bleach Cup - Noah, Caroline, The Washing Machine
  28. Caroline Take My Money Home - Noah, Caroline, Emmie, Jackie, Joe
  29. Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw - Noah, Emmie, Jackie, Joe, Caroline

Tracks:

  1. Santa Comin' Caroline - The Radio, The Washing Machine
  2. Little Reward - The Washing Machine, Caroline, The Radio
  3. "1943" - Caroline, The Radio, The Washing Machine
  4. Mr. Gellman's Shirt - Rose, Caroline
  5. Ooh Child - The Washing Machine, The Radio
  6. Rose Recovers - Rose, Caroline, The Dryer
  7. I Saw Three Ships - Jackie, Joe, Emmie, Caroline
  8. The Chanukah Party - Stuart, Noah, Rose, Grandma Gellman, Grandpa Gellman, Mr. Stopnick
  9. Dotty and Emmie - Dotty, Emmie, Caroline
  10. I Don't Want My Child to Hear That - Caroline, Mr. Stopnick, Grandma Gellman, Grandpa Gellman, Rose
  11. Mr. Stopnick and Emmie - Emmie, Mr. Stopnick, Caroline, Rose
  12. Kitchen Fight - Dotty, Emmie, Caroline
  13. A Twenty Dollar Bill and Why - Mr. Stopnick,Rose, Noah, Grandma Gellman, Dotty
  14. I Hate the Bus - Emmie
  15. Moon, Emmie and Stuart Trio - Moon, Emmie, Stuart, Rose
  16. The Twenty Dollar Bill - Noah, Rose, Mr. Stopnick, Grandpa Gellman, Grandma Gellman, The Washing Machine and Caroline
  17. Caroline and Noah Fight - Noah, Caroline, The Dryer
  18. Aftermath
  19. Sunday Morning - Caroline, Dotty
  20. Lot's Wife - Caroline
  21. Salty Teardrops - The Radio
  22. Why Does Our House Have a Basement? - Noah, Rose, The Washing Machine
  23. Underwater - Caroline and Noah
  24. Epilogue - Moon, Emmie, Jackie, Joe

Amazon.com

Remember 1958, when milquetoast The Music Man won the Tony for Best Musical over brashly innovative West Side Story? It's likely that one day we'll remember 2004 as the year wholesome Avenue Q won over brilliantly daring Caroline, or Change. The Tony Kushner-Jeanine Tesori collaboration proves that a show can be smart, inspirational, provocative, touching, and simply beautiful all at the same time. And lest you think Caroline is the kind of musical that's good for you in a spinach kind of way, this two-CD set demonstrates that the show's also terrifically fun. Because the plot is set in 1963 Louisiana, Tesori's ultra-melodic score, delivered by a superb cast, expertly weaves together R&B, gospel, doo-wop, soul and girl-group pop (check out the lovely "Salty Teardrops"). And of course there's a bona fide showstopper for Caroline (Tonya Pinkins) in the heartwrenching "Lot's Wife," which had New York audiences in tears during the show's run. Truly extraordinary. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars OVER-RATED!.......2007-06-25

I saw this production in LA with the original Broadway cast, and while I thought it was emotional and VERY well acted, it was also musically forgettable. I mean, 'songs that sound pretty powerful while you hear them that you couldn't sing a note from ten seconds later' forgettable. Yes, there are some interesting songs like the afore mentioned "Salty Teardrops", "Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw", and "Lot's Wife", but it still doesn't stay with you. The EMOTION does, but alas, the melodies do not. And I've sang in an award-winning gospel group for years, but ANY of those melodies stay with you and these don't. Not too mention that when you hoped that it might finally be over, you realized it was only the intermission! I have not experienced anything like THAT in a musical since Anthony Newley's "Chaplin", and that's NOT a good sign! A first act should not feel that long....

Also, the reviewer above was only half right: No, "Avenue Q" did not deserve Best Musical, but "Wicked" most certainly DID! Over-hyped or not, it still was head and shoulders above anything else that year. I would've enjoyed THIS show better as a straight drama, but as a Musical I'm afraid it misses the mark.

5 out of 5 stars This show should have come out a few years later!.......2007-01-23

I never had a chance to see the original production on Broadway and after listening to this CD that upsets me. Caroline, or Change has a great score and a good story. The actors are excellent and pure. Tonya Pinkins is amazing in the role of Caroline. If this show came out after shows such as "Wicked" and "Avenue Q" I think it would have had a better chance to be noticed. With shows like "Grey Gardens" and "Spring Awakening" now out on Broadway I believe that there is now an audience for smaller, original, quality shows like "Caroline, Or Change" (I am not saying that "Avenue Q" is not quality or original but "Avenue Q" and "Wicked" flooded the news especially when it came to the Tony's). I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes a high quality show.

5 out of 5 stars Caroline Don't Change!!!.......2007-01-05

I traveled from DC to NY twice to see this production in 2004. Trust me...What you hear on this CD is what I saw and heard in the Theatre!! I agree with the previous reviewers in that this musical is years ahead of it's time. Years from now it will be mentioned along with Sondheim works and Dreamgirls as musicals that were on the cutting edge of musical theatre!!!

5 out of 5 stars Magnificent.......2006-12-22

I haven't seen the production but as much of the story, including dialogue, is sung, and the full score is presented on the CD, this is the next best thing to being there. I DO NOT agree that the show is ahead of its time. It continues the wonderful tradition I was afraid would die with Sondheim. A tradition of the intellectual musical. It has tremendous depth - emotional, intellectual, musical. If you haven't seen the show I'd advise that you read the lyrics as you listen, otherwise its somewhat difficult to follow, but BUY IT. Like Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Company and Sunday in the Park with George you'll hear something new every time you listen.

5 out of 5 stars AMAZING cast album, AMAZING show!.......2006-12-15

i LOVE this show. Tonya Pinkins is phenomenal as Caroline, and Anika Noni Rose is likewise as wonderful as Emmie. Its a shame that Caroline, or Change came out when it did - it was up with some hard competition that year, what with Wicked coming out as well. I think had Tonya not been up against the amazing, not to mention my IDOL Idina Menzel, she would have taken home the Tony, hands down. I think the show was also ahead of its time, meaning Broadway probably wasn't ready then, or, in my opinion, now for a show of this magnitude, but man! what an amazing show indeed. definitely in my top favorite shows. I would recommend this show to just about anyone.

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