Miss Spectacular: The Concept Album

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's a testament to the clout of artist Jerry Herman (Mame, Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles) that he can get Faith Prince, Christine Baranski, Michael Feinstein, Debbie Gravitte, Karen Morrow, and Steve Lawrence to sing on a "concept album" of his unproduced show Miss Spectacular. Not only that, but the singers are backed by a huge orchestra instead of the usual small ensemble that so often makes this type of recording sound cheap. But while Larry Blank's orchestrations are luscious as can be, the synopsis is inane even by musical-theater standards (Midwest girl goes to Vegas looking for fame and fortune), and the songs feel as if they could have been written in 1952, 1988, or anytime in between. Whether you'll call them dated or timeless depends on your mood. The "Finale" even feels like a Simpsons parody of a Broadway show's take on Vegas. The recording's saving grace is that the pros in the cast could sing the yellow pages and still make you want to buy an orchestra seat. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Miss Spectacular: The Concept Album, Music, Jerry Herman, Michael Feinstein, Faith Prince, Christine Baranski, Davis Gaines, Debbie Gravitte, Steve Lawrence, Cast Recordings, Music Theater, Musical Theater, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Soundtracks & Film Scores
Miss Spectacular: The Concept Album
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Miss Spectacular
  • Herman's BEST!
  • Not At Top Of The Game.....But still wonderful
  • No other music but Mr. Herman's!
  • Mixed Bag, But Still Pure Show Biz
 Miss Spectacular: The Concept Album
Jerry Herman , Michael Feinstein , Faith Prince , Christine Baranski , Davis Gaines , Debbie Gravitte , and Steve Lawrence
Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000066RKW
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. "Miss What's Her Name"
  3. "Las Vegas"
  4. "Ziegfeld Girl"
  5. "Sarah Jane"
  6. "Ziegfeld Girl" (reprise)
  7. "Where in the World Is My Prince?"
  8. "No Other Music"
  9. "I Wanna Live Each Night"
  10. "Miss Spectacular"
  11. "My Great Dream"
  12. Finale
  13. Exit

Amazon.com

It's a testament to the clout of artist Jerry Herman (Mame, Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles) that he can get Faith Prince, Christine Baranski, Michael Feinstein, Debbie Gravitte, Karen Morrow, and Steve Lawrence to sing on a "concept album" of his unproduced show Miss Spectacular. Not only that, but the singers are backed by a huge orchestra instead of the usual small ensemble that so often makes this type of recording sound cheap. But while Larry Blank's orchestrations are luscious as can be, the synopsis is inane even by musical-theater standards (Midwest girl goes to Vegas looking for fame and fortune), and the songs feel as if they could have been written in 1952, 1988, or anytime in between. Whether you'll call them dated or timeless depends on your mood. The "Finale" even feels like a Simpsons parody of a Broadway show's take on Vegas. The recording's saving grace is that the pros in the cast could sing the yellow pages and still make you want to buy an orchestra seat. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Miss Spectacular.......2007-07-16

Spectacular score -- a great little unproduced show that deserves a staging but until then this concert CD will have to do. It proves Jerry Herman is still at the top of his game.

5 out of 5 stars Herman's BEST!.......2003-05-12

For so long I haven't been sure if I wanted to buy it. Today I did. And boy am I glad!
For so long 'Mame' has been my favorite Jerry Herman musical with a song like 'If He Walked Into My Life Today' (that makes me cry). Today, 'Mame' has some serious competition. This show really IS spectacular!
If you loved MAME, if you loved LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, just get it. You *won't* regret it.

4 out of 5 stars Not At Top Of The Game.....But still wonderful.......2002-11-20

You come away from this "concept album" realizing that more
songs are needed, and listening to "Steve Lawrence" sing
"Las Vegas" is a cross between "New York, New York," and
a generic "Sinatra" tune. Yet there are several wonderful
numbers that have the "Jerry Herman" magic! Yet, I still feel
this is just the beginning for a future show, it there is to
be a show. A minor work at this point, but not if you're a
"Jerry Herman" fan! And I'm a fan!

5 out of 5 stars No other music but Mr. Herman's!.......2002-11-18

Miss Spectacular is absolutely spectacular! Jerry Herman makes a fabulous comeback into the world of musical theater with hilarious songs like "Where in the world is my prince?" to his traditionally beautiful ballads like "No other music". Miss Spectacular wins all around, and leaves you satisfied. Mr. Herman is an absolute genius.

4 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag, But Still Pure Show Biz.......2002-09-08

If "music fan from MA" wants to be taken seriously, he should refrain from using ALL CAPS in his reviews, as most people take this as the equivalent of SHOUTING IN PUBLIC. (Or should I say SCREAMING?). The use of both upper and lower case allows the writer to express the subtleties of their thoughts and words, where a shill YELLS AT THE CROWD TO DEMAND THEIR ATTENTION TO THE PRODUCT THEY ARE HAWKING.

Thanks to JM for the intelligent review that explains how the show was meant for Vegas, not Broadway. Good to know! However, the plot could still use a lot of work. However we don't buy a Herman album for the script, but the songs. And these are wonderful--if you like pastiche. Herman is no Sondheim. With Sondheim you get layers of meaning in songs like Broadway Baby or One Last Kiss, but the songs in Miss Spectacular are like eating a big piece of cake in one bite. Nonetheless, all of the elements are in place. Incredible orchestrations, fabulous performances (Steve Lawrence's smoothly professional renditon of Las Vegas is worth the price of the album...well, when discounted), belly laughs, gooey sentiment, flashy toe-tappers. I say give it a try. But a 5-star production of Follies or La Cage aux Folles, it ain't.

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