Sweet Smell of Success (2002 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Based on the Clifford Odets novella and the 1957 film of the same name, this show aims to be a savvy, sharp satire of the gossip industry. Yet more often than not, it's oddly mushy, and a couple of the songs are almost Frank Wilderhornian in their witless, elephantine scope. John Lithgow, who plays ruthless gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker, is not much of a singer, but Broadway has a history of nontraditional vocalists pulling through thanks to chutzpah, charisma, and interpretive chops--Elaine Stritch comes to mind. Lithgow isn't quite in that league, but he does a fine job nevertheless. And while Craig Carnelia's lyrics don't make much of an impression, Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) comes to the rescue with a score that's fairly swinging, even if it lacks the dark punch of Elmer Bernstein's score for the movie. A couple of variations on sultry ballads, "Don't Know Where You Leave Off" and "Rita's Tune," are notable. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Sweet Smell of Success (2002 Original Broadway Cast), Music, Marvin Hamlisch, Craig Carnelia, John Lithgow, Cast Recordings, Classical Music, Music Theater, Musical Theater, Pop, Showtunes / B'way

Average customer rating:

Fair, but a Few Notable Songs

Pretty good

SWEET SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

SWEET SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

Sweet Smeel of Success

Sweet Smell of Success (2002 Original Broadway Cast)
Marvin Hamlisch , Craig Carnelia , and John Lithgow
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000640NL
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

The Column
I Could Get You in JJ
I Cannot Hear the City
Welcome to the Night
Laughin' All the Way to the Bank
At the Fountain
Don't Know Where You Leave Off
What If
For Susan
One Track Mind
Break It Up
Rita's Tune
Dirt
I Could Get You in JJ (Reprise)
I Cannot Hear the City (Reprise)
Don't Look Now
At the Fountain (Reprise)
Finale

Amazon.com

Based on the Ernest Lehman novella and the 1957 film of the same name, this show aims to be a savvy, sharp satire of the gossip industry. Yet more often than not, it's oddly mushy, and a couple of the songs are almost Frank Wilderhornian in their witless, elephantine scope. John Lithgow, who plays ruthless gossip columnist J.J. Hunsecker, is not much of a singer, but Broadway has a history of nontraditional vocalists pulling through thanks to chutzpah, charisma, and interpretive chops--Elaine Stritch comes to mind. Lithgow isn't quite in that league, but he does a fine job nevertheless. And while Craig Carnelia's lyrics don't make much of an impression, Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) comes to the rescue with a score that's fairly swinging, even if it lacks the dark punch of Elmer Bernstein's score for the movie. A couple of variations on sultry ballads, "Don't Know Where You Leave Off" and "Rita's Tune," are notable. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Fair, but a Few Notable Songs.......2005-07-24

Based on a 1957 movie about the gossip industry, "Sweet Smell Of Success" falls a bit flat despite the pedigree involved.

Winner of the Best Actor Tony, John Lithgow ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels") marvelously stars as the quick-witted "newsman" (con man) in control of the city's gossip rag. Brian D'Arcy James ("The Wild Party", "Titanic") and Kelli O'Hara ("The Light In The Piazza") are also terrific.

Marvin Hamlisch's score is quite jazzy, but doesn't remotely compare to his brilliant "A Chorus Line". There are, however, a few notable songs.

Best tracks include:

At The Fountain
Don't Know Where You Leave Off
Don't Look Now

The show did not do as well as its title may suggest, but the score is not bad and worth a listen.

Pretty good.......2005-05-10

I like this cast recording, but just after I heard the song more than twice. At first I didn't like it but then I realized that maybe John Lithgow doesn't have a "Broadway singing voice" but he is dominating the whole cd because of his charm and power. Brian D'Arcy James is terrific to just in Wild Party or Brownstone. Buy it you won't regret it.

SWEET SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS.......2003-07-30

Yes, this is a very good Broadway recording of a show that has comedy, thriller, and romance twisted into one. All of the songs are sung well, and sound crisp and energetic as the live performance onstage.The Highlights of the CD are definately Brian D'Arcy James & John Lithgow. Though John Lithgow doesn't have a very strong voice, he makes up for it in the quick-witted humor and laid-back New Yorker character that he plays. Brian D'Arcy James has a very unique and powerful singing voice that will soften your heart and almost cause you to get chill bumps at the incredible "At the Fountain" & "At the Fountain (Reprise)". Other favorite tunes of mine include the fast-paced opener "The Column", "Welcome to the Night", "For Susan", "One Track Mind", and "Break it up". Overall, a very classy and enjoyable recording. If you are a Broadway fanatic, this CD is a must.

SWEET SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS.......2003-07-30

Sweet Smeel of Success.......2003-03-04

If you are wondering how anyone could write a musical in which John Lithgow plays the leading role - buying the original cast album (SONYCLASSICAL SK89922) will not help much with the answer to that one! The answer is to write a musical around John Lithgow, who is to musicals what a black-hole is to space. Hmmm...I'll bet the producers thought they had a 'concept' show going: the leading man doesn't sing! Oh my God it has a history all the way back to Rex Harrison and MY FAIR LADY - it's brilliant! We'll bring in John Guare to give him some gutsy scenes so he can show his acting chops, and surround him with Broadway dancers doing angular angst-ridden choreography! Remember Marvin Hamlisch? Well, his big ballads can bring a tear to any eye and the audience can have the added thrill of imagining what the hit singles from the show will sound like once Barbra Streisand records them!

My impression of the score: Lot's of talented singers (minus John Lithgow) sing lots of beautifully shaped notes with un-striking lyrics by the very underrated Craig Carnelia.

Lithgow's big 11 o'clock number "Don't Look Now" stands square in the con-man number tradition, like DAMN YANKEES' "Those Were The Good Old Days", but it isn't half as funny or original as its model. And it should have come in the FIRST act to set up Lithgow's character. It needs a second-act number to top it in order for the audience to really believe that the Lithgow character is carrying the show.

Lot's of ersatz Latin numbers.

Rated: C+, buy it only if you believe that the person with the most CDs when they die - wins!