Fame the Musical (1999 Original American Cast Recording) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
First things first: You won't find "Out Here on My Own" or "Hot Lunch Jam" in Fame: The Musical. Unlike the Broadway version of its early-'80s counterpart, Footloose, this not-yet-ready-for-Broadway production doesn't migrate the movie (or its music) to the stage but merely uses the same subject matter as did the film and subsequent TV series--the dance, drama, and music students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts. In fact, the story is set in 1980-1984, right after the film's release, and one of the teachers laments, "We're the Fame school now. Ever since that movie came out." To help establish that distinction, Fame: The Musical has an almost entirely new set of songs by Steve Margoshes and Jacques Levy, though rest assured that you will at least get the title tune--twice, with a Latin groove. Reflecting the various backgrounds of its ensemble cast, the score offers samples of rap ("Tyrone's Rap"), soft-rock balladry ("Let's Play a Love Scene"), and gospel ("Mabel's Prayer")--all pleasant and serviceable, but unlikely to grab you the way Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford's movie soundtrack did (The story also only hints at the seedy underside of inner-city New York explored in the film.) As graduation nears, one character talks excitedly of the feeling of electricity coursing through her, but no, she doesn't break into "I Sing the Body Electric." That would be a little too much to hope for. --David Horiuchi

Fame the Musical (1999 Original American Cast Recording), Music, Steve Margoshes, Jacques Levy, Cast Recordings, Musical, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Showtunes / B'way

Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Average customer rating:

Very Funny!

Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Manufacturer: Ghostlight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2007-04-10

Tracks:

Another Curtain Goes Up
All I Ask (Is you love me)
Three Gorgeous Kids
big Titties
The Salesman That Got Away
Sittin' On The Fence
The Jackie Rogers Jr Show
Ba Ba Ba Ba Broadway
The Hello Boy
The Trumpet of Samaria
Step Brother To Jesus
Backstage Courtship
Married To Marty
Sniff Sniff
A Dry Martin - Straight Up With A Twist
Twelve Step Pappy
More, More, More
Would You Like To Star In Our Show?
I Came Just As Soon As I Heard
A Wicked Memorial
Michael's Song
Heaven, Heaven
Up Here In Heaven
A Big Black Lady Stops The Show
Finale
Lessons Learned
Glass Half Full
Frieda May's Lament

Amazon.com

Martin Short's 2006 Broadway show Fame Becomes Me is a love letter to old-school showbiz doubling as a send-up of self-serving celebrity memoirs. This "comedy musical" is obviously the work of someone who adores not only the golden age of Broadway but also that of a certain style of entertainment you may call vaudeville variety. The idea is that Short is looking back at his own life (with some liberties—if a celeb out there is not known for outrageous behavior, it's gotta be him) through songs and skits, and with the help of his own TV personae, such as Jiminy Glick and Ed Grimley. It helps that said songs were written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman: The cocreators of Hairspray can zippily pastiche everything from The Wizard of Oz to Wicked. For this supposed ego trip, Short has also surrounded himself with a crackerjack cast that includes MAD TV's chameleonic Nicole Parker, versatile funsters Brooks Ashmanskas and Mary Birdsong, and Carpathia Jenkins, who blows the roof off the joint with the self-explanatory "A Big Black Lady Stops the Show"-—a number that mocks the Broadway habit of hiring African-American belters for to deliver one song. In an ironic twist, Jenkins herself is woefully underutilized in Fame Becomes Me but at least she gets one of the two bonus tracks, "Frieda May's Lament," to herself. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

In the grand American traditions of musical theater, sketch comedy and shameless self-promotion comes Fame Becomes Me, Martin Short's uproarious new comedy musical that has critics in hysterics! In Fame Becomes Me, the "phenomenally gifted" Martin Short (New York Post) and his "superb" cast (USA Today) sing, dance and mercilessly mock others as they race through a whirlwind revue that's part variety show, part celebrity send-up and "the best time on Broadway!" (WNBC-TV). Featuring original music from the composer and lyricist of Hairspray and South Park, Fame Becomes Me is Broadway's most riotous party and you're invited!

Customer Reviews:

Very Funny!.......2007-06-12

I admit I didnt know much about this show, and was under the impression it was a one man show of sorts and just comedy, but its not at all. The songs are quite amusing and witty and the cast and Short are in top form. Capathia Jenkins is especially hilarious in her musical turns. Definitely a keeper for Broadway musical fans. If you enjoyed the score of Hairspray, you should enjoy this too. (same people). Why am I the only person reviewing this?

Fame the Musical (1999 Original American Cast Recording)

Average customer rating:

"Fame" the Musical, Not the movie.
Fame Rox
fame
THE BEST MUSICAL EVER!!!!!!
Excellent soundtrack, well worth the money.

Fame the Musical (1999 Original American Cast Recording)
Steve Margoshes , and Jacques Levy
Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Fame
Fame
Fame: The Musical (Vocal Selections)
Fame on 42nd Street (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast)
The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00000I0D9
Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

Pray I Make P.A./Hard Work
I Want To Make Magic
Can't Keep It Down
Tyrone's Rap
There She Goes!/Fame
Let's Play A Love Scene
Bring On Tomorrow
The Teacher's Argument
Hard Work (Reprise)
I Want To Make Magic (Reprise)
Mable's Prayer
Think Of Meryl Streep
Dancin' On The Sidewalk
These Are My Children
In L.A.
Let's Play A Love Scene (Reprise)
Bring On Tomorrow (Reprise)
Curtain Calls: Hard Work/Fame (Reprise)

Amazon.com

First things first: You won't find "Out Here on My Own" or "Hot Lunch Jam" in Fame: The Musical. Unlike the Broadway version of its early-'80s counterpart, Footloose, this not-yet-ready-for-Broadway production doesn't migrate the movie (or its music) to the stage but merely uses the same subject matter as did the film and subsequent TV series--the dance, drama, and music students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts. In fact, the story is set in 1980-1984, right after the film's release, and one of the teachers laments, "We're the Fame school now. Ever since that movie came out." To help establish that distinction, Fame: The Musical has an almost entirely new set of songs by Steve Margoshes and Jacques Levy, though rest assured that you will at least get the title tune--twice, with a Latin groove. Reflecting the various backgrounds of its ensemble cast, the score offers samples of rap ("Tyrone's Rap"), soft-rock balladry ("Let's Play a Love Scene"), and gospel ("Mabel's Prayer")--all pleasant and serviceable, but unlikely to grab you the way Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford's movie soundtrack did (The story also only hints at the seedy underside of inner-city New York explored in the film.) As graduation nears, one character talks excitedly of the feeling of electricity coursing through her, but no, she doesn't break into "I Sing the Body Electric." That would be a little too much to hope for. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

"Fame" the Musical, Not the movie........2004-12-31

As Carmen sings, this is not the movie, not the TV show, but the musical.

My son's school put this on 2 weeks ago and I am hung up on it big time. The script noted that this was not the movie, but I rented that and, basically, it was, with a few modifications. I don't have a problem wth that.

OK, so it dealt with "tough issues" differently, but, hey, no one died in the movie. Carmen did. And from an overdose. After being taken avantage of. OK?

I agree with some reviewers that the soundtrack (I have the '03 Broadway one) lets you relive the play. It does not recreate it. I have listened to it every day since I bought it (much to my son's dismay). And frankly, the white Irsih girl who played Mabel kicked *** twice as well as the woman from the B-way production. And the pro Tyrone was better. Life is like that.

Overall, the tunes are sung in a heartfelt manner and I would say that a person who has seen the play will enjoy the soundtrack.

Fame Rox.......2004-05-20

I think that this cd really rox it has almost all the songs from the real play. Its awesome. I like all the songs on ecspecially the song called lets play a love scene. I also like the song called Pray I make it to P.A. Ilove all the songs but those are the two I like the most!!!!!!!!!Again I think the cd ROX!!!yeah!!!

fame.......2004-04-14

I have just bought the orignal Fame c.d which I was really happy about.Does someone know if there is a c.d just with music from Fame? so that you can sing with the c.d.
Thanks

THE BEST MUSICAL EVER!!!!!!.......2003-11-10

This CD is one of the best out there. The music is outstanding and the voices are electric!! It diserves more credit than its given. GO FAME!!!!

Excellent soundtrack, well worth the money........2003-08-02

People seem to think that the Fame soundtrack was better. All I can say, and please excuse me for it: what are you on? I have seen both the play, performed very well by people in Fairbanks (you rock, ppl!) and the movie. And everyone in my family agreed that the movie cannot possibly compare with the play.
I will admit that the title song is one of the best songs in the world. But it's not like they took it out of the play. And while Out Here On My Own had a very pretty tune, in the lyrics department it could not hope to compare with songs like Teacher's Argument or In LA.
Frankly, there were three good songs in the movie and one that has a good dance scene to it but is not really worth listening to. Of those three good songs, one is in the musical and the other two, while still good, just aren't enough to make me agree that the movie soundtrack could ever compare to this soundtrack.
Some people say that the play doesn't touch on important issues like the movie does, and perhaps that is true. But that, it seems to me, is irrelevant while discussing the music, as the music in the movie wasn't about any issues any more than the music in the play is. Another concern is that the lyrics are simplistic. Well, so are the lyrics in the movie. And so are the lyrics to most Abba songs, and most Tatu songs, and most songs in other musicals, say, the Music Man or to some extent Oklahoma and Showboat. Does that make us like them less? You want good lyrics, you go watch something with Sondheim or Cole Porter lyrics.
My favorite song on this would probably be Lets Play A Love Scene. Although Fame, Teacher's Argument, and Bring On Tomorrow are excellent. I rather liked In LA, although I maintain that the person in Fairbanks did it better. I Want To Make Magic was very good on this CD, although the song usually sets my teeth on edge for some strange reason. While I dislike the song Can't Keep It Down, I have no complaints about the singer's voice.
All in all, this would have to be one of my favorite soundtracks. You want deep lyrics? Go somewhere else (but not to Fame the Movie). You want beautiful and often amusing tunes? Here's a good place to look.

DRG 25th Anniversary Show Stopping Performances

Average customer rating:

Great compilation
A disappointment

DRG 25th Anniversary Show Stopping Performances

Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

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
Babes In Arms: I Wish I Were In Love Again - Christopher Fitzgerald Jessica Stone
Pal Joey: Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered - Patti LuPone
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Nunsense: I Just Want To Be A Star - Christine Anderson
Louisiana Purchase: Wild About You - Debbie Gravitte & New York Voices
Oil City Symphony: Beaver Ball At The Bug Club - Mike Craver/Mark Hardwick/Debra Monk/Mary Murfitt
Falsettoland: The Baseball Game - Michael Rupert/Chip Zien/Faith Prince/Janet Metz/Heather MacRae/Stephen Bogardus
Very Good Eddie: Isn't It Great To Be Married? - Virginia Seidel/Spring Fairbank/Charles Repole/Nicholas Wyman
The Fantasticks: A Perfect Time To Be In Love - Harvey Schmidt
Call Me Madam: You're Just In Love - Tyne Daly/Lewis Cleale
Taking My Turn: Fine For The Shape I'm In - Margaret Whiting/Marnie Nixon/Cissy Houston
A Party With Betty Comden & Adolph Green: The French Lesson - Betty Comdon/Adolph Green
The Madwoman Of Central Park: Better - Phyllis Newman
Greenwillow: Never Will I Marry - Anthony Perkins
Song Of Singapore: I Can't Remember - Loretta Swit & Company
Tintypes: Elite Syncopation/I'm Goin' To Live Anyhow, 'Til I Die - Lynne Thigpen
I Love My Wife: Someone Wonderful I Missed - Joanna Gleason/Ilene Graff
The Good Companions: The Pleasure Of Your Company - Malcolm Rennie/Christopher Gable
Forbidden Broadway 20th Anniversary: Liza One-Note - Christine Pedi
Meet Me In St. Louis: The Trolley Song - Donna Kane & Ensemble

Tracks:

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