Wonderful Town (1958 Television Cast) [Cast Recording] [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Leonard Bernstein and his accomplices Betty Comden and Adolph Green take obvious delight in paying tribute to the screwball 1930s in this story of two mismatched sisters in the Big Apple. Rosalind Russell (reprising her role as Ruth Sherwood in this 1958 television broadcast) adheres to a simple credo: if you can't sing it, sell it! And sell it she does: "One Hundred Easy Ways" is still relatively under control, but on "Conga!" she lets it rip and flattens everything in her path, Brazilian cadets and listeners alike. Comden and Green's gift for wordplay shines in songs like "Ohio," while Bernstein summons boundless, bouncy mayhem. Add gems like "A Little Bit in Love" and "What a Waste" to the mix, and you've got yourself a great little show. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Wonderful Town (1958 Television Cast), Music, Leonard Bernstein, Sydney Chaplin, Jaquelyn Mc Keever, Original Broadway Cast, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Rosalind Russell, Cast Recordings, Classical, Musicals, Original Cast Recordings, Show Tunes, Showtunes / B'way
Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Music From West Side Story And Wonderful Town And More
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Showstopping Showtunes!
 Dave Brubeck Quartet Plays Music From West Side Story And Wonderful Town And More
Dave Brubeck
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool JazzCool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
4-for-3 Jazz4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Dave Digs Disney
  2. Jazz Impressions of New York
  3. Jazz Impressions of Japan
  4. Jazz Impressions of Eurasia
  5. Jazz Goes to College

ASIN: B000002680
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Maria
  2. I Feel Pretty
  3. Somewhere
  4. A Quiet Girl
  5. Tonight
  6. What Is This Thing Called Love
  7. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
  8. Night and Day
  9. My Romance

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars ALL RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-02-28

A wonderful collection of Brubeck's broadway repotoire and music from West Side Story. Paul, Gene, Joe, and Dave shine here.

5 out of 5 stars Showstopping Showtunes!.......2001-08-30

This a little-discussed set from the mid-1960's showing The Brubeck troupe taking on Broadway tunes. The entire record takes one y surprise. "Maria" is usually done as a smarmy, sultry ballad but the Quartet ups the tempo and creates a delightfully swinging piece. "Night And Day" is also usually recorded as a ballad but DBQ bangs the song out in a rollicking adventure. One of the best treatments of "What Is this Thing Called Love" appears on this record. The song is done at a slow, lilting almost melancholy tempo when Dave enters. Paul Desmond truly has the best sound and his solo on this piece is one of all time best! It is a tremendous improvisation and the inventiveness and lyricism is breathtaking. The CD also showcases Joe Morello's peerless drumming technique. He is original and his drumming is never quite the same on each song is unique and dynamic. Brubeck's solos experiment with dissonance here and he takes very big risks considering these are beloved love songs. Overall the CD is a great listen and it features the talented Quartet at the height of it's powers. Buy it!
The Alamo: The Essential Film Music Collection
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • More expensive than the other Essential but worth it.
  • Excellent compilation of an important composer.
  • "film composer Dimitri Tiomkin gave his all and then some"
 The Alamo: The Essential Film Music Collection
Dimitri Tiomkin
Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Movie ScoresMovie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Tiomkin: Red River
  2. The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
  3. Way Out West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection, Vol. 2
  4. The Wild West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection
  5. Giant

ASIN: B00022MBNK
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

  1. Night Passage
  2. Tension At Table Rock
  3. High Noon
  4. The War Wagon
  5. The Wild Wild West: Main Theme
  6. The Wild Wild West: The Ballad Of Jim West
  7. Gunfight At The O.K. Coral
  8. Rio Bravo
  9. Rawhide
  10. Red River
  11. The Unforgiven: Across The Texas Panhandle
  12. The Unforgiven: The Need For Love
  13. The Unforgiven: Horse Ballet
  14. The Young Land
  15. Duel In The Sun

Tracks:

  1. The Fall Of The Roman Empire: Overture
  2. The Fall Of The Roman Empire: The Fall Of Love
  3. The Fall Of The Roman Empire: Pax Romana
  4. 55 Days Peking
  5. Land Of The Pharaohs
  6. Circus World (The Magnificent Showman)
  7. Dial M For Murder
  8. Strangers On A Train
  9. Giant: Main Title
  10. Giant: Love Theme
  11. Giant: The Jett Rink Theme
  12. The High And The Mighty
  13. Wild Is The Wind
  14. The Guns Of Navarone

Tracks:

  1. Cyrano De Bergerac
  2. The Well
  3. Friendly Persuasion
  4. Town Without Pity
  5. It's A Wonderful Life
  6. Tarzan And The Mermaids
  7. The Thing From Another World
  8. The Alamo: Overture/Prologue
  9. The Alamo: Davy Crockett
  10. The Alamo: Tennessee Babe
  11. The Alamo: The Battle Of The Alamo
  12. The Alamo: The Green Leaves Of Summer
  13. The Alamo: Finale

Tracks:

  1. Giant: This Then Is Texas
  2. Rawhide: Rawhide
  3. High Noon: Do Not Forsake Me
  4. Night Passage: Follow The River
  5. Giant: The Ballad Of Jett Rink
  6. Friendly Persuasion: Thee I Love
  7. It's A Wonderful Life
  8. Wild Is The Wind
  9. The High And The Mighty
  10. The War Wagon: The Ballad Of The War Wagon
  11. Rio Braco
  12. The Young Land: Strange Are The Ways Of Love
  13. The Wild Wild West: The Ballad Of Jim West
  14. The Wild Wild West: The Wild Wild West

Amazon.com

Dimitri Tiomkin was one of the most prominent composers of Hollywood's Golden Age and beyond, his career spanning a half-century and some of America's most classic films. This sprawling, four-disc anthology (its title a marketing nod to the modern remake of one of Tiomkin's notable collaborations with John Wayne) features new digital recordings of full-bodied performances by the City of Prague Orchestra and Festival Chorus, the most ambitious and comprehensive tribute to the composer yet attempted. There's something here for film score buffs (rarities like a suite from his sci-fi genre-defining Thing From Another World and the "Main Theme" for the pilot of TV's Wild, Wild West) and novice alike; indeed one could scarcely ask for a more complete overview of Tiomkin's robust orchestral oeuvre. Divided into four chapters, disc one chronicles how the Ukrainian immigrant concocted a rich Western film heritage (including such genre landmarks as Red River, High Noon, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Rio Bravo) from largely European traditions, while the next two CD's cover his rousing work for epics and thrillers of every stripe, and collaborations with Hitchcock, Wayne, Capra, Stevens and more. The concluding disc pays homage to Tiomkin the unlikely pop tunesmith, via his hit vocal themes to Rawhide, Wild is the Wind and High Noon's "Do Not Forsake Me." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars More expensive than the other Essential but worth it........2007-04-22

This is an excellent set of music of Dimitri Tiomkin's music! The 4th disc is short (at just over 30 minutes), but thats because it is just the vocal versions of tracks which appeared in instrumental form throughout the first 3 discs. Whenever you buy a silva screen compilation, the first thing you ask yourself is 'when were these recordings made' and 'do I have these tracks on other compilations? Thankfully, this set has TONS of new recordings, but there is some recycled stuff and they are as follows:

Dial M For Murder is from the 1993 History of Hitchcock Vol. I, while Strangers on a Train is from 1995's History of Hitchcock Vol. II.

Three tracks originate from 1994's "Music From the Films Of John Wayne". They are "The High and the Mighty", "The Alamo - Overture" and "The Alamo - Green Leaves of Summer".


Red River is from 1996's "How The West Was Won: Classic Western Film Scores Vol. One".

The Thing From Another World suite is from the excelllent 1998 set "Alien Invasion: Space And Beyond II"

Many tracks first appeared on "Way Out West: The Essential Western Film Music Collection Vol. Two". They are: "Duel In The Sun", "The Alamo (Davy Crockett)", "Friendly Persuasion", "Giant (Main Theme)", "Gunfight at the OK Corral", "High Noon", "Rio Bravo", and "The Unforgiven (The Need For Love)".

The rest of the tracks are brand spankin new, and most are not available on other discs, so snag this one up in a hurry!

5 out of 5 stars Excellent compilation of an important composer........2004-07-16

This long overdue collection of Tiomkin standards and rarities is a must for any fan of symphonic music; albeit, for film or concert hall. As the liner notes clarify; these recordings are a real labor of love for James Fitzpatrick and the Silva Screen team. Tiomkin is; undoubtedly, one of the most difficult of composers to replicate. This recording comes extremely close to "hitting the nail on the head" particularly with tracks such as: "Across the Texas Panhandle" from the Unforgiven, The Entr'acte from Duel in the Sun, The Guns of Navarone, The War Wagon, and the main title and Jett Rink theme from Giant. This recording is a bargain, particularly for collectors who have sought after many of Tiomkin's composer conducted soundtracks (which are getting harder and harder to obtain). Listeners who enjoy this set should consider seeking out previous cd releases of the soundtracks to "The Guns of Navarone" (SONY, Varese Sarabande), "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (Varese Sarabande, PEG), "55 Days at Peking" (Varese Sarabande), and "The Alamo" :original soundtrack (still available on SONY-Legacy).

5 out of 5 stars "film composer Dimitri Tiomkin gave his all and then some".......2004-07-13

Silva America presents the ultimate in film music during the illustrious career of an icon and legendary composer of film scores ~ "Alamo:Dimitri Tiomkin Essential Film Collection/O.S.T", featuring some long forgotten 53 cues that sent chills and thrills into the pulses of world events ~ selections from a limited collectors edition that would make any "film-score-buff" green with envy.

Tiomkin was born in Ukraine, Russia [1894-1979] attended and graduated from St. Petersburg Academy[studied under the famed composer Glazunov] ~ had a degree in music as well as law ~ came to America in 1925, shown great interest for Native American music early in his film career.

Great fondness for "The Western" ~ "DUEL IN THE SUN" (1946) (Gregory Peck, Jennifer Jones, Joseph Cotton, Lionel Barrymore, Lilian Gish and Charles Bickford - one of biggest and successful epic Westerns ever, score & photography was simply breathtaking), "RED RIVER" (1948) (John Wayne, Monty Cliff and Walter Brennan - the Duke should have won an Oscar for his performance as the aging cantankerous cattle baron)"HIGH NOON" (1952)(classic film with Gary Cooper in his Oscar winning performance of Will Kane), "TENSION AT TABLE ROCK" (1956), "GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL" (1957)(Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp & Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday pulled this off with the help of the Main Theme), "NIGHT PASSAGE" (1957), "RIO BRAVO" (1959) (top box office leaders John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan and Ricky Nelson), "THE YOUNG LAND" (1959) (young Dennis Hopper), "RAWHIDE" (TV Series) (1959-66) (Eric Fleming as trail boss Gil Favor & Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates), "THE UNFORGIVEN" (1960) (Burt Lancaster, Audie Murphy and Audrey Hepburn), "THE WILD, WILD WEST" (TV Series) (1965-69)(Tiomkin's music never saw the light of day), "WAR WAGON" (1967) (John Wayne & Kirk Douglas starred) (beautifully melodic) ~ it's easy to see why Tiomkin loved Western lore.

Second disc contains The Epics ~ "LAND OF THE PHARAOHS" (1955) (Jack Hawkins as Pharaoh Cheops and a beautiful Joan Collins as his scheming wife), "55 DAYS AT PEKING" (1963) (Charlton Heston, David Niven and Ava Gardner is the all star cast), "THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE" (1964) (featuring Alec Guinness as emperor Marcus Aurelius), "CIRCUS WORLD" (1964) (John Wayne, Claudia Cardinale and Rita Hayworth under the big top) ~ next we Hitchcock Thrillers with "STRANGERS ON A TRAIN" (1951) (a masterpiece film featuring Robert Walker and Farley Granger are both very convincing as we learn, never talked to strangers on a train or anywhere), "DIAL M FOR MURDER" (1954) (tense moments come from Grace Kelly, Ray Milland and Robert Cummings - they don't get any better than this) ~ finally Drama and High Adventure with "HIGH AND MIGHTY" (1954) (another outstanding performance by John Wayne, as the co-pilot of an airline whistling the haunting theme), "GIANT" (1956)(another big epic film with Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Chill Wills show us what it's like to be a Texan, with oil and money), "WILD IS THE WIND" (1957) (Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnani and Anthony Franciosa), "THE GUNS OF NAVARONE" (1961) (World War II film featuring Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, David Niven and Stanley Baker on a small Greek Island trying to outwit the Germans and a very big gun) ~ some of Tiomkin's most inspiring themes rise to the surface.

On disc three ~ as we continue with Drama and High Adventures "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" (1946) (James Stewart, Donna Reed, Thomas Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore and Ward Bond with wholesome warm and endearing themes from our favorite composer), "TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS" (1948) (in his 12th film as Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller still had what it takes to swim and defeat the man-god Balu - Weissmuller and Tiomkin the perfect combination for this Tarzan adventure), "CYRANO DE BERGERAC" (1950) (Jose Ferrer stars as Edmond Rostand's famous swordsman with a even more famous nose), "THE WELL" (1951) (intense cues give the film musical triumphs in final scenes), "THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD" (1951) (exciting Howard Hawks film with a score to match), "FRIENDLY PERSUASION" (1956) (director William Wyler shows the life and times of a Quaker family played by Gary Cooper, Dorothy Mcguire and Anthony Perkins during the American Civil War, very touching), "THE ALAMO" (1960) (big budget epic western with Big John Wayne it's producer, director and star as Davy Crockett with a haunting and never to be forgotten "The Green Leaves of Summer"), "TOWN WITHOUT PITY" (1961) (Kirk Douglas in a post-war Germany story, blends jazz themes with Tiomkin signature arrangements) ~ Tiomkin always made the difference when it came to scoring a film.

The last and final disc four ~ The Tiomkin Vocal Songbook featuring "This Then is Texas" (Giant), "Rawhide" (Rawhide), "Do Not Forsake Me" (High Noon), "Follow the River" (Night Passage), "The Ballad of Jett Rink" (Giant), "Thee I Love" (Friendly Percuasion), "It's A Wonderful Life", "Wild Is The Wind", "The High and the Mighty", The Ballad of the War Wagon" (The War Wagon), "Rio Bravo", "Strange are the Ways of Love" (The Young Land), "The Ballad of Jim West" (The Wild Wild West), "The Wild Wild West" (The Wild Wild West) ~ many were hit makers of the day and in the top ten.

Outstanding performances by The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Nic Raine, Paul Bateman, Mario Klemens - are the conductors), Crouch End Festival Chorus (David Temple - choir master), featuring vocals by Jason Howard and Keith Ferreira ~ hats off to James Fitzpatrick (producer), Reynold da Silva (executive producer), Olilvia Tiomkin Douglas, John Waxman, Rick Clark and Gareth Williams (associate producers) ~ all film producers and directors welcomed the legendary composer with open arms for their forthcoming projects ~ the "film-score-buff" collectors are ecstatic about this four disc release on the essential film music collection of DIMITRI TIOMKIN, the arrangements and performances are top notch inclusive of HDCD/Dolby Surround.

When listening to the music of a film, you had the feeling of the storyline, characters and convictions of the whole picture, they'll never be another to come this way again ~ Silva America has outdone themselves on this one, it is definitely a five star film score box set...gotta love it!

Total Time: 4-CD-Set ~ Silva America 811 ~ (7/13/2004)
Center Stage: Broadway 1947-1958
Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  • STREISSAND LIVE IN CONCERT 2006
 Center Stage: Broadway 1947-1958

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Morton GouldAll Works by Morton Gould | Gould, Morton | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Rodgers, RichardRodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by WeillAll Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Modern & 20th CenturyModern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Classical4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Soundtracks4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. A Time of Hope: Broadway 1935-1946
  2. Put on a Happy Face: Broadway 1959-1967
  3. Broadway Magic: Broadway 1968-1980
  4. Broadway Today: Broadway 1993-2005
  5. The British Invasion: Broadway 1981-1992

ASIN: B0007ZEO1E
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

  1. Shall We Dance?
  2. Ohio
  3. Luck Be A Lady
  4. The Ballad Of Mack The Knife
  5. There's A Small Hotel
  6. Once In Love With Amy
  7. The Yodel Blues
  8. Lazy Afternoon
  9. There Must Be Something Better Than Love
  10. You're Just In Love
  11. Now Is The Time

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars STREISSAND LIVE IN CONCERT 2006.......2007-05-15

CONTENT WAS EXCELLENT BUT THE CD HAD TOO MANY GAPS IN TRANSITION FROM EACH TRACK.
Leonard Bernstein's New York
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Disappointing
  • The Feel of New York
  • The next stop once you've heard the originals
  • Bernstein's New York, it's a wonderful town!
  • Great CD BUT...
 Leonard Bernstein's New York
Leonard Bernstein , Dawn Upshaw , Judy Blazer , Mandy Patinkin , Audra McDonald , Donna Murphy , Richard Muenz , Eric Stern , and Orchestra Of St. Luke's
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Ballets & DancesBallets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
McDonald, AudraMcDonald, Audra | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
1990s1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Classic Big BandClassic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Contemporary Big BandContemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
1990-19991990-1999 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. How Glory Goes
  2. Leonard Bernstein's New York / Mandy Patinkin, Dawn Upshaw, Donna Murphy
  3. Experiment
  4. Happy Songs
  5. Oscar & Steve

ASIN: B000005J40
Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

  1. Lonely Town
  2. Come Up To My Place
  3. What A Waste
  4. A Little Bit In Love
  5. Fancy Free: Danzon Variation
  6. Ain't Got No Tears Left
  7. Ballet At The Village Vortex
  8. Wrong Note Rag
  9. Story Of My Life
  10. Cab And Bedroom
  11. One Hand, One Heart
  12. Ya Got Me
  13. A Quiet Girl
  14. Balcony Scene (Tonight)
  15. Lonely Town Pas De Deux
  16. Somewhere
  17. West Side Story: Ballet Sequence From West Side Story
  18. Some Other Time
  19. New York, New York (Finale, Act II)

Amazon.com

Leonard Bernstein's New York is a cornucopia of tongue-in-cheek wit, unabashed romanticism, big-city loneliness, and intellectual irony. His well-known orchestral brilliance is beautifully represented under the stellar conducting of Eric Stern, but his underappreciated talents as a songwriter are what shine, elevating this recording to magic. The cast of American theater's best includes Mandy Patinkin wonderfully indulging his comic side; Judy Blazer and Donna Murphy, the shiniest lights on Broadway, demonstrating their extensive range as singing actresses; Audra McDonald making the difficult sound easy; and Richard Muenz and Dawn Upshaw singing elegantly. Most unforgettably pleasing are the trios "Ya Got Me" and "What A Waste." A great tribute to Bernstein's theater works. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2007-03-13

I agree that this is a great collection. But I have to wonder: Am I the only one who got a bum copy of the CD? The songs are all mixed up on my copy, as in, most of the tracks are mislabeled: "A Quiet Girl" is really "Tonight", The Balcony Scene, printed as "Tonight" is really "Somewhere". The list goes on.

So, who do I kvetch to? I'd like a copy that isn't a complete mishmash.

1 out of 5 stars The Feel of New York.......2007-01-09

Having spent most of my working years in NYC, I felt this CD brought the city to me. Bernstein has allways been a favorite.

5 out of 5 stars The next stop once you've heard the originals.......2007-01-09

As a tribute to Bernstein on Broadway, this CD is hard to beat. All the singers are stars but of a generation, ro two, beyond the originals. Naturally here's been a change of style, and these renditions are more knowing, sophisticated, and at times ironic than the originals. On their own, Donna Murphy, Dawn Upshaw, and Mandy Patinkin, among others, are masters of their craft, but I hope anyone who loves LB will also seek out the original cast albums for all of his musicals, or the clesest one can get (On the Town was remade in the Fifties). Those recordings cast a unique spel, but the next stop is this marvelous CD.

5 out of 5 stars Bernstein's New York, it's a wonderful town!.......2002-01-15

And speaking of "Wonderful Town," it's so nice to hear music from this least appreciated of Bernstein's musicals. "What a Waste," "A Quiet Girl" and Audra McDonald's enchanting "A Little Bit in Love" have never sounded better. Donna Murphy burns the house down with the torchy "Ain't Got No Tears Left," and has fun with Patinkin and Blazer on the raucous "Ya Got Me." "One Hand, One Heart" sung by Dawn Upshaw and Richard Muenz is movingly rendered, as is Patinkin's wonderful delivery of an all-time Bernstein favorite, "Some Other Time." My only comlaint? Where is "I Can Cook Too?" A terrific recording.

4 out of 5 stars Great CD BUT..........2000-07-02

I loved this CD, but there was some things that kept it fromgetting four stars. First Mandy Patkin, I loved him in Sunday in The Park With George, also I have a CD of him singing yiddish songs all good, but in this CD I just don't like him. Like in the song "Come Up To My Place" I didn't like his voice and I never could quite see him as the character for that song. Also I would have liked to see (well actually "hear") some more of the dance numbers or overtures, I realize the main point of the CD was all the singers they put together, but the real highlight of the CD for me was the sections from Fancy Free, and Ballet At The Village Vortex from Wonderful Town. Also I liked "One Hand One Heart" a lot. Overall I would get this CD if you like Bernstein or any of these musicals, it is good listen, just not outstanding.
Broadway: America's Music 1935-2005
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Broadway: America's Music 1935-2005

    Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by Morton GouldAll Works by Morton Gould | Gould, Morton | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by PorterAll Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Rodgers, RichardRodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by WeillAll Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Modern & 20th CenturyModern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
    The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
    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
    Menuhin & Grappelli Play...
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Most beautiful music
    		 Menuhin & Grappelli Play...

    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Duke, VernonDuke, Vernon | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by GershwinAll Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by PorterAll Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Rodgers, RichardRodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    Film ScoresFilm Scores | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    General ContemporaryGeneral Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    Vocal Jazz GeneralVocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    European JazzEuropean Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Modern & 20th CenturyModern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Menuhin & Grappelli Play Berlin, Kern, Porter & Rodgers & Hart
    2. The Very Best of Grappelli and Menuhin
    3. Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards
    4. Anything Goes, With Yo Yo Ma
    5. Jazz in Paris: Oscar Peterson-Stephanie Grapelli Quartet, Vol. 1

    ASIN: B0002Z83LG
    Release Date: 2005-02-15

    Tracks:

    1. Fascinatin' Rhythm
    2. Soon
    3. Summertime
    4. Embraceable You
    5. Liza
    6. A Foggy Day
    7. 'S Wonderful
    8. The Man I Love
    9. I Got Rhythm
    10. He Loves And She Loves
    11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
    12. They All Laughed
    13. Funny Face
    14. Our Love Is Here To Stay
    15. Lady Be Good
    16. These Foolish Things
    17. Laura
    18. April In Paris
    19. Autumn Leaves
    20. Autumn In New York

    Tracks:

    1. Cheek To Cheek
    2. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
    3. Change Partners
    4. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails
    5. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
    6. Heat Wave
    7. The Way You Look Tonight
    8. Pick Yourself Up
    9. A Fine Romance
    10. All The Things You Are
    11. Why Do I Love You?
    12. I Get A Kick Out Of You
    13. Night And Day
    14. Looking At You
    15. Just One Of Those Things
    16. My Funny Valentine
    17. Thou Swell
    18. The Lady Is A Tramp
    19. Blue Room
    20. Jealousy
    21. Skylark

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Most beautiful music.......2005-08-17

    This is happy music.
    Just plain happy, instrumental music.
    Highly recommend to everyone.
    Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful Town is a wonderful show
    • Light and lively musical comedy
    • a must-have recording for REAL Broadway fans
    • Leonard Bart-stein? Listen for yourself....
    • Quality over quantity
    		 Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
    Leonard Bernstein , Betty Comden , and Adolph Green
    Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    The Decca Records StoreThe Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
    PopPop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
    Broadway & VocalistsBroadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
    SoundtracksSoundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
    ClassicalClassical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
    All Blowout MusicAll Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
    More Titles at Least 25% OffMore Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. On the Town
    2. Wonderful Town (2003 Broadway Revival Cast)
    3. Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Audra McDonald, Kim Criswell, Thomas Hampson, Wayne Marshall, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
    4. Fiorello! (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
    5. Redhead (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

    ASIN: B00005O6KS
    Release Date: 2001-09-25

    Tracks:

    1. Christopher Street
    2. Ohio
    3. One Hundred Easy Ways
    4. What a Waste
    5. A Little Bit in Love
    6. Pass the Football
    7. Conversation Piece
    8. A Quiet Girl
    9. Conga!
    10. My Darlin' Eileen
    11. Swing!
    12. It's Love
    13. Ballet at the Village Vortex
    14. Wrong Note Rag
    15. Opening (from the original Decca recording of "On the Town")
    16. Carried Away (from "On the Town")
    17. Lonely Town (from "On the Town")
    18. I Can Cook Too (from "On the Town")
    19. Lucky to Be Me (from "On the Town")
    20. Ya Got Me (from "On the Town")

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Town is a wonderful show.......2004-10-25

    This is a terrific show. It has a famous composer, great tunes and a good, upbeat story. Why it has so thoroughly faded from memory is a question that puzzles me greatly.

    The orchestrations are attributed to another individual, but Bernstein must have taken some substantial role in their creation, for large parts of "Wonderful Town" resemble only one other musical, "West Side Story."

    Rosalind Russell is the star here, and rightly so. She sings--or rather croaks--her material very well, indeed. Only in "Swing" is she overmatched by the musical requirements and even then she fights them to a draw.

    Edith Adams is very good, too, as Eileen. I think of her as Edie Adams, a sixties icon, wife of comedian Ernie Kovacs, mayhem-minded member of the Nairobi Trio and super-sexy pitchwoman for White Owl Cigars. I had no idea that she had also starred on Broadway. It was a pleasant surprise to find her here.

    The men in the lead parts sing in that typical Broadway growl: perfect diction and lousy tone. They are endearingly awful. And I mean that in the best possible sense.

    Five stars, no doubt about it!

    4 out of 5 stars Light and lively musical comedy .......2004-08-07

    The first cast album of WONDERFUL TOWN sounds even better than ever in Decca's latest remastering. The sound is still somewhat flat (as are all Decca albums from the 40s/50s) but the Decca engineers have worked wonders on the 50 year old tapes making them sound as good as possible. Rosalind Russell was a perfect choice to play the acerbic Ruth. She doesn't have much of a singing voice but the songs were tailored to her limited range and she makes the character come alive. Edith Adams sounds properly winsome as her sister Eileen. In the supporing roles, Jordan Bentley comes off best as Wreck, but George Gaynes makes for a ponderous, somehwat stuffy Bob Baker.

    In terms of album production, Decca eliminated the Overture and some of the dance music, and re-arranged "Christopher Street" to eliminate the spoken vignettes. Otherwise the score is presented in a faithful aural re-creation. The booklet offers a detailed synopsis to guide you through the score.

    The bonus tracks are six songs from ON THE TOWN originally recorded when that show was playing on Broadway. This is NOT the definitive recording of ON THE TOWN. For that you need the 1960 album avaialble on Sony. But, the excerpts heard here provide an enjoyable bonus.

    5 out of 5 stars a must-have recording for REAL Broadway fans.......2002-12-26

    This marvellous new re-issue of WONDERFUL TOWN is a must-have for Broadway buffs. In fact, this is really two albums in one, as it also contains the rare 1945 studio recording of ON THE TOWN as a bonus!

    The story is based on the play "My Sister Eileen", written by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov; as well as the stories written by Ruth McKenney. The play was later turned into a successful Columbia film starring Rosalind Russell (as Ruth Sherwood) and Janet Blair as Eileen. Several years later Columbia released a musical version (following the success of WONDERFUL TOWN) which starred Janet Leigh and Betty Garrett.

    WONDERFUL TOWN originally starred Rosalind Russell (repeating her film role) as Ruth and Edith 'Edie' Adams as Eileen. The cast also included George Gaynes (GIGI, 'Punky Brewster') as the romantic male lead.

    The score by Betty Comden and the late Adolph Green is gorgeous, and features the comical "100 Easy Ways", the lilting "A Little Bit in Love" and the showstopping "Conga!" and "Wrong-Note Rag".

    No Broadway-recording collection is complete without the original cast of this landmark musical.

    This re-issue from the superb Decca Broadway range also includes the rare 1945 set of ON THE TOWN, which featured original cast-members Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Nancy Walker singing their songs from the show, with Mary Martin singing "Lonely Town" and "Lucky to Be Me".

    Highly-recommended.

    5 out of 5 stars Leonard Bart-stein? Listen for yourself...........2002-09-23

    Leonard Bernstein never erred on the side of subtlety, and this original-cast album contains two of his most enjoyable essays in musical near-mayhem: "Christopher Street" and "The Wrong Note Rag." The former is vastly like the theme music to "The Simpsons," and the listener can decide for himself how much of a coincidence this is or isn't. "The Wrong Note Rag" uses the tritone of the scale and a varied meter to make life difficult for the singers and anyone trying to count along. Unlike so many send-ups of the 1920s, this song ingenioulsy captures the musical and lyrical feel of novelty numbers like 1924's "Fascinating Rhythm"--or, better yet, the slightly later "Crazy Rhythm." A parody of the 1920s that shows any sense of the 1920s is a rare item, indeed. "Wonderful Town" is an interesting, enjoyable, and valuable historical piece, and I can only imagine what later performers did with it. I don't want to know.

    5 out of 5 stars Quality over quantity.......2002-05-19

    Yes, the original 1953 cast recording of "Wonderful Town" may not be the most complete cast recording of the hit musical BUT I would wholeheartedly reccommend this CD over any other version. Why? Because of its original cast members and its original orchestrations! Rosalind Russell is peerless as Ruth Sherwood (I consider her version of "One Hundred Easy Ways" one of the funniest songs in musical theatre history) and Edie Adams shines through radiantly. Listen to her sing "A Little Bit In Love" to understand what I'm talking about. Also, the original orchestrations gtive this CD more vibrance than any of the later incarnations INCLUDING the 1999 studio recording, which to me sounds too mechanical and the British orchestrator doesn't seem to get the rhythms right. The original cast recording is A MUST for the true theatre fan, abridged score or not
    Unsung Musicals - The Ultimate Collection
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Great gems from musicals that dissapeared
    • some gold mixed with dross
    		 Unsung Musicals - The Ultimate Collection

    Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Unsung Musicals II (Studio Cast)
    2. Unsung Sondheim
    3. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    4. Unsung Musicals (Studio Cast)
    5. Lost in Boston, Vol. 4

    ASIN: B00005K9SG
    Release Date: 2001-06-05

    Tracks:

    1. Smile (from "Smile") (Hamlisch-Ashman) - Harry Groener et al.
    2. Hero (from "Babe") (Menken-Ashman) - Debbie Gravitte
    3. Didin't Leave It Here (from "Brownstone") (Larson-Rubins) - Kristine Fraelich and Jolie Jenkins
    4. Starfish (from "La Strada") (Lawrence-Charnin) - Judy Kuhn
    5. Sherry! (from "Sherry!") (Rosenthal-Lipton) - Christine Baranski and Jonathan Freeman
    6. Smashing New York Times (from "A Broadway Musical") (Strouse-Adams) - Jason Graae
    7. Silverware (from "We Take the Town") (Karr-Dubey) - Lee Wilkof and Timothy Jerome
    8. Hundreds of Hats (from "Diamonds") (Sheffer-Ashman) - Jason Workman
    9. At the Same Time (from "Freaky Friday") (Rodgers-Forster) - Tammy Minoff and Patrick Levis
    10. When It Happens to You (from "The Red Shoes") (Styne-Stryker) - Lynne Wintersteller
    11. Lawyers (from "A Broadway Musical") (Strouse-Adams) - Gregory Jbara and Lee Wilkof
    12. At My Side (from "Welcome to the Club") (Coleman-Hotchner) - Sally Mayes and Michael Rupert
    13. In a State (from "A Wonderful Life") (Raposo-Harnick) - Brent Barrett
    14. Disneyland (from "Smile") (Hamlisch-Ashman) - Jodi Benson
    15. Reveille Sun (from "Here's Where I Belong") (Waldman-Uhry) - Glory Grampton
    16. The Memory of Tonight (from "Arthur, The Musical") (Skloff-Kauffman-Crane) - Carolee Carmello and Gregg Edelman
    17. Stomp the Blues Away (from "Honky Tonk Nights") (Valenti-Allen-Campbell) - Melba Joyce et al.
    18. New Words (from "One, Two, Three, Four, Five") (Yeston) - Liz Callaway

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Great gems from musicals that dissapeared.......2004-11-30

    Songs from 1987's "Smile" make this well worth the price. The previously unreleased material from the late, great Howard Ashman deserves to have it's moment in the spotlight.

    Also, there's Judy Kuhn's beautiful performance on "Starfish", Christine Baranski's vampy turn on "Sherry".

    Finally, there's" New Words" from "One, Two, Three, Four, Five". This show has been restaged, by small theatre groups, under the title "History Loves Company". "New Words" is by far the best number of this show and Liz Callaway's voice fills with love as she sings this lullaby.

    For a consummate musical theatre fan who's heard it all, this disc is a refreshing look at what has been lost over the years.

    3 out of 5 stars some gold mixed with dross.......2003-12-21

    Some of these songs desrve to be unsung. But then you get a showstopper like Sherry and you wonder how could this show have flopped? That number alone makes this cd worth purchasing.I also enjoyed Marvin Hamlisch's toe tapping title song - Smile.There are also a few other lovely melodies which makes this cd a nice addition to a Broadway collection.
    Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Simon Rattle (1999 Studio Cast)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • A crossover Wonderful Town far from Broadway
    • Kim Criswell and Audra McDonald as the Sherwood sisters!
    • TOPS!
    • An addicting recording
    • Absolute perfection
    		 Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Simon Rattle (1999 Studio Cast)
    Adolph Green , Betty Comden , and Audra McDonald
    Manufacturer: EMI Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Bernstein, LeonardBernstein, Leonard | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    McDonald, AudraMcDonald, Audra | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    RevivalsRevivals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    Traditional Vocal PopTraditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Happy Songs
    2. Build a Bridge
    3. Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
    4. On the Town
    5. Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Audra McDonald, Kim Criswell, Thomas Hampson, Wayne Marshall, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic

    ASIN: B00000K4EL
    Release Date: 1999-09-14

    Tracks:

    1. Overture - Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Sir Simon Rattle
    2. Christopher Street - Rodney Gilfrey/London Voices/Simon Halsey
    3. Ohio - Audra McDonald/Kim Criswell
    4. Conquering New York - Kim Criswell/London Voices
    5. One Hundred Easy Ways - Kim Criswell
    6. What A Waste - Thomas Hampson/Kim Criswell/Rodney Gilfrey/Karl Daymond
    7. A Little Bit In Love - Audra McDonald
    8. Pass The Football - Brent Barrett
    9. Conversation Piece - Audra McDonald/Rodney Gilfry/Thomas Hampson/Karl Daymond
    10. A Quiet Girl - Thomas Hampson
    11. Conga! - Michael Dore/Kim Criswell/London Vocies/Simon Halsey
    12. Entr'acte - Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Sir Simon Rattle
    13. My Darlin' Eileen - Timothy Robinson/Robert Fardell/Lynton Atkinson/Michael Dore
    14. Swing! - Kim Criswell/Michael Dore/London Voices/Simon Halsey/Lunton Atkinson/Simone Marshall...
    15. Quiet Incidental - Audra McDonald/Kim Criswell
    16. Reprise: Ohio - Kim Criswell/Audra McDonald
    17. It's Love - Audra McDonald/Thomas Hampson/London Voices/Simon Halsey
    18. Ballet At The Village Vortex - Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/Sir Simon Rattle
    19. Wrong Note Rag - Kim Criswell/Audra McDonald/London Voices/Simon Halsey
    20. Reprise: It's Love - Audra McDonald/Thomas Hampson/Kim Criswell/Brent Barret/Rodney Gilfry/Karl Daymond...

    Amazon.com essential recording

    Leonard Bernstein's collaboration with Betty Comden and Adolph Green on Wonderful Town is one of his great Broadway triumphs, filled with memorable music and great lyrics. And the screwball tale of two fish-out-of-water small-town sisters in NYC (based on the play My Sister Eileen by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov) still sounds comical and fresh, despite the fact that it was written in the '50s and set in the '30s. Up until now, the 1958 television cast recording was the disc to have: a slightly embellished version of the original cast recording starring Rosalind Russell. The strong cast on this 1999 studio recording is every bit as impressive. Audra McDonald shines as Eileen during "A Little Bit in Love," Kim Criswell is a fine Ruth (though less memorable than Russell), and Thomas Hampson--a baritone best known for his work on the opera stage--is great as Ruth's gruff editor, Bob Baker. Simon Rattle's orchestrations are grand, yet quirky, a perfect match for Bernstein's score. It's easy to recommend a disc that has so many great vocal moments: "Conga!," "My Darlin' Eileen," "Conversation Piece," and "Pass the Football" (sung by Brent Barrett), to name a few. --Jason Verlinde

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars A crossover Wonderful Town far from Broadway.......2005-10-07

    Maybe we need some background checks here: Have any of these other reviewers actually been to a musical? On Broadway? Or anywhere in America?

    Simon Rattle startled Berlin by taking this same Wonderful Town to the Philharmonie as a gala performance. HOw in the world did they react? This performance is not much like real Broadway. Listen to just a few moments of the original cast recording with Rosalind Russell or the current NY revival with Donna Murphy, and you'll sense how many fish are out of water here.

    Rattle does the best, conducting with real verve and an almost-good-enough grasp of the Boradway-swing idiom Bernstein was writing in. Eveyrone else is too obviously trying to sound like something they're not. Audra McDonald is a too-throaty Eileen, Kim Criswell an edgy, noisy Ruth, Thomas Hampson a stiffly operatic editor, Robert Baker. Altogether, this CD is an energetic but ersatz attempt to take Broadway where Broadway don't want to go.

    4 out of 5 stars Kim Criswell and Audra McDonald as the Sherwood sisters!.......2004-07-08

    This is one of the better cast albums of WONDERFUL TOWN, though nothing tops the original '53 recording with Rosalind Russell. Still, time marches on and there have been several superb Ruth's in recent years, including the fabulous Kim Criswell.

    Criswell has the perfect brassy voice to sing the scores of Broadway's golden classics (she's also luminous on the '91 studio album of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN), and she fits the material of TOWN to a tee. Her spin on Ruth is well worth your time and money, especially her fetching "100 Easy Ways" and showstopping "Conga!". And, as with the ANNIE GET YOUR GUN album, she's once again paired with Thomas Hampson, who plays Ruth's love interest Bob Baker (he played Frank opposite her Annie Oakley).

    Audra McDonald is likewise the perfect Eileen, perhaps offering up the definitive "A Little Bit in Love", and proves she's a comical cutup with "My Darlin' Eileen" as well as "Wrong-Note Rag". Brent Barrett is sadly under-used in the role of football-mad Wreck.

    Conductor Simon Rattle gives the album a cracking pace which never slackens or drags. A top studio album which is enlivened no end by its perfectly-realised cast.

    5 out of 5 stars TOPS!.......2001-06-09

    If you need one reason to buy this super cd, let it be for Leonard Bernstein's brilliant music---his only score to win a Tony Award. (That's right: neither "Candide" nor "West Side Story" won a Tony.)

    The lyrics of Betty Comden and Adolph Green are some of their best. The witty duo came back to Broadway for this show, their first reunion with Bernstein since the success of "On The Town" almost 10 years before. They had very recently written the wildly successful "Singin' In The Rain" in Hollywood and with "Wonderful Town" they (& the entire creative team) conquered New York City.

    This CD, to my mind, is a heck of alot better in almost every way than the original cast recording which starred Rosalind Russell. Russell, of course, could not sing and although her role is heavy on comedy and light on music, Kim Criswell comes off better: she is funny & touching as well as caustic and light-handed as well as tough. Russell sounds angry and almost sullen throughout...also quite mature. Add to this, the fact that Criswell has a sensational singing voice. As her love interest,Thomas Hampson, one of our finest operatic baritones, knows exactly how to lighten his voice to sing musical comedy and does it beautifully. On the Russell CD, George Gaines merely sounds old and terribly fancy, like a serious singer who is slumming. Although Edith Adams is fine as "Eileen," Audra McDonald (a 3-time Tony winner, herself) is even better in the role of the girl that all New York City wants to woo. Brent Barrett brings his gorgeous voice, as well as comic skills to his one song as the football-playing dunce, "Wreck."

    The sound on this 1999 recording is superb. The conductor, Sir Simon Rattle, throws himself into Bernstein's score with verve and shows exactly how much he loves American jazz and Broadway.

    There are many comic numbers, all of which hit the mark, but I must mention that "A Little Bit In Love" and "A Quiet Girl" and "It's Love" have got to be three of the sweetest, cleverest, most charming "love" songs in any musical. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

    5 out of 5 stars An addicting recording.......2001-02-22

    I was browsing through the cd selection at my library when I came across this one. I have always liked Leonard Bernstein but for some reason had never connected him with this musical. His name and Thomas Hampson's caught my eye and I decided to try it out. I'm so glad I did! The songs are marvelous, really bringing out the whole comical aspect of the story. I had never heard of any of the performers (with the exception of Thomas Hampson, whose voice I just love) but was so impressed with their renditions of their characters. Kim Criswell's throaty voice sounds just like you would think Ruth would feel about life in general; Audra McDonald has a sweet optimistic view in her songs; Brent Barrett is hilarious in "Pass the Football" (I laugh every time I hear it--he is so expressive); and Thomas Hampson's beautiful baritone is perfect in "What a Waste" and "A Quiet Girl". The supporting singers are great, too. I have listened to this cd over and over. I just can't seem to get enough of it! The recording itself is very good, clear and detailed, and I was delighted with the booklet with the full lyrics. Altogether very good; I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys musical theatre.

    5 out of 5 stars Absolute perfection.......2000-05-31

    I had the awesome good fortune to see this program performed in London last summer with all these stars and under the baton of Simon Rattle. It was a magical evening, all of which is captured on this fantastic recording. The cast does a marvelous job of passing the terrific energy of Berstein's music along to the listener. And the lyrics are a delight. Although this particular show is not as well-known as other classics by Bernstein et al, it well deserves a place among the standards. 'What a Waste' is a delightful surprise, and 'A Quiet Girl' is quite moving. Audra McDonald sings like an angel, and her rendition of 'Little Bit in Love' is simply lovely. Despite the perfection of the voices and the lyrics, one of the highlights of the recording is Bernstein's jazzy and sensual 'Ballet at the Village Vortex.' Wow! Overall, this is just a terrific recording that brings back memories of a magical night -- imagine 200 people doing a 'Conga' line through the Royal Albert Hall -- that energy comes through on this recording.
    Wonderful Town (2004 Broadway Revival Cast with Brooke Shields)
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Good Piece but...
    • The very underrated Brooke Shields
    • Great music! Great fun!
    • Brooke Shields is the new girl in "Town"...
    • Brooke Shields arrives in a Wonderful Town...
    		 Wonderful Town (2004 Broadway Revival Cast with Brooke Shields)
    Leonard Bernstein , Betty Comden , Brooke Shields , Adolph Green , and Jennifer Hope Wills
    Manufacturer: Drg
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by BernsteinAll Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Musical TheaterMusical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. Wonderful Town (2003 Broadway Revival Cast)
    2. Wonderful Town (Original 1953 Broadway Cast)
    3. Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Audra McDonald, Kim Criswell, Thomas Hampson, Wayne Marshall, Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
    4. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
    5. Wonderful Town: Vocal Score

    ASIN: B0006SSRGA
    Release Date: 2004-12-07

    Tracks:

    1. Overture
    2. Christopher Street
    3. Ohio
    4. Conquering New York
    5. One Hundred Easy Ways
    6. What A Waste
    7. A Little Bit in Love
    8. Pass the Football
    9. Conversation Piece
    10. A Quiet Girl
    11. Conga!
    12. My Darlin' Eileen
    13. Swing
    14. Ohio (Reprise)
    15. It's Love
    16. Ballet at the Village Vortex
    17. Wrong Note Rag
    18. Finale
    19. Ohio, It's Love, Quiet Girl
    20. Wrong Note Rag

    Amazon.com

    Wonderful Town is a terrifically fun musical, but do you really need this recording? The answer will be yes if you fall within one of these two categories: (a) You collect recordings of the show and must own them all or (b) you're a huge fan of Brooke Shields. The actress replaced Donna Murphy in the lead role of the 2003 Broadway revival, and did a creditable job bringing Ruth Sherwood to gawky life during her five-month run. Shields performs over the same instrumental tracks you can hear on the revival's prime recording. (Jennifer Hope Wills replaces Jennifer Westfeldt as Eileen Sherwood; the rest of the cast is unchanged.) From a purely vocal point of view, the switch wasn't an upgrade--Murphy is among Broadway's best stylists after all--though Shields is far from being an embarrassment. She may not have the technique, but her comic gusto is winning. Still, this CD remains for completists only. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Good Piece but..........2006-12-16

    This show is nice, very broadway. The music is nice, lyrics fun, and whole show a nice piece. It isn't something I would listen to over and over which is why it's only getting three stars, but it isn't something that I won't play from time to time. Of the two recordings I have (this one and the 2003 revival) there are MINISCULE differences, but I would say the 2003 revival is the better of the two (and cheaper). I like Donna Murphy's character over Brooke Shields. Good CD for collectors and new broadway listners alike. Fav Song: "Conga"

    5 out of 5 stars The very underrated Brooke Shields.......2005-05-27

    I had the pleasure to actually see Brooke in Wonderful Town on it's closing week, 3 times!!! The most touching was the closing night's performance when her husband actually brought their daughter to the theatre and handed her to Brooke on the stage for a few minutes.
    I was lucky i saw her performance all 3 times from right in the front row!!! It was just an amazing experience!
    When i bought the Cd, just before seeing the first performance i was quite disappointed in it, but when i actually saw it the same night i was fascinated by it!!! On stage she sang with all her heart and emotions and that counts more than having big pipes...althought her role doesn't require a necesseraly good singer but she did a marvelous job with it! Just seeing her belting out that last note in One Hundred Easy Ways was just amazing! She actually can sing! (Although just listening to the Cd might be not enought to judge that)
    In the numbers Conga and Swing she was also just fascinating!
    It's just a shame she has been overlooked at the Tony awards this year, at least a nomination she would have deserved!
    Nothing compares to seeing her live and every time i listen to the Cd, the emotions what i felt sitting in the theatre watching this fascinating woman working hard right in front of me and displaying an acting range which she never got a chance to proove in movies.
    Althought eventually she performed the same play but all 3 times i saw it she always made it fresh and new and Ladies and Gentleman that IS A SIGN OF A REAL ACTRESS!!!!

    5 out of 5 stars Great music! Great fun!.......2005-03-31

    I had the pleasure of watching Brooke Shields and Jennifer Hope Willis on Broadway, and I was thrilled to get the album with the cast I saw! Even though I had already purchased the 1999 studio recording of the show, I had to have this one, and I have not regretted it. Both Brooke and Jennifer were great in the show, and so was Gregg Edelman. And yes Brooke can sing, and she was very funny, perfect for the role of Ruth (and she was there!). It would be hard to get in front of Boradway audiences night after night as she did, giving the performance she did, if she could not sing. Her dedication was much appreaciated by lovers of this and all other shows on Broadway. Enjoy the recording!

    4 out of 5 stars Brooke Shields is the new girl in "Town"..........2005-03-01

    This is a re-jigged edition of the 2003 Broadway revival recording of WONDERFUL TOWN, featuring 2004 replacements Brooke Shields and Jennifer Hope Wills as Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, respectively. In one of those rare occurances where 2 different recordings exist for a single revival, it's great to be able to compare Shields and Wills with their predecessors (Donna Murphy and Jennifer Westfeldt). Brooke Shields gamely brings her own spin to the role of outspoken self-reliant Ruth, and her "100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man" is full of comedy and mirth. Jennifer Hope Wills has a glowing and lilting soprano voice which suits the numbers of Eileen to a tee. The rest of the cast remains the same (only the tracks of Shields and Wills are new, the rest recycled from the 2003 album). Not essential if you were satisfied with the Donna Murphy effort, but one can never have too many recordings of this heavenly score.

    5 out of 5 stars Brooke Shields arrives in a Wonderful Town..........2005-01-07

    In 2004, Donna Murphy recieved heavy criticism for her lack of attendance in the Broadway Revival of the classic show Wonderful Town. In September Donna left the show, and the show was left in shambles. The Weisslers new stunt cast for the role of Ruth was a shocker to many. They casted Brooke Shields in the role, previously on Broadway in Grease and Cabaret (recieved mixed reviews in both). Once Brooke started in the show, it was a breath of fresh air for the revival. The critics loved Brooke, and gave her stellar reviews.

    We all know Brooke isn't much of a singer, but in Wonderful Town she really tries. As stated before the role dosen't call for a singer. Donna Murphy could almost be considered a miscast for this role, because of her amazing vocals she used in the role, didn't really fit the character. Brooke gives a vocal performance similar to the original Ruth, Rosalind Russell. I think Brooke sounds pretty damn good on the harmony in "Ohio", with the new Eileen Jennifer Hope Will's. She gives a comedic "One Hundred Easy Ways", and she gives a great "Conga", and "Swing". Ofcourse, the vocals Donna Murphy gave sounded wonderful, and were a joy too listen to. Brooke gives a very comedic and fun Ruth, and her vocals aren't as dissapointing as some are saying.

    This new recording with Brooke Shields and Jennifer Hope Wills should not be missed, it's a great addition in your "Wonderful Town" collection. Brooke and Jennifer are a delight. See them in the Broadway Revival before it closes Jan 30.

    Music:

    1. A Collector's Sondheim (Musical Compilation) [Cast Recording] [Soundtrack] [Box set]
    2. A Stephen Sondheim Evening (1983 Concert Cast) [Cast Recording] [Live]
    3. A Twinkle In Your Eye
    4. ABC (Adler, Bock, Coleman) [Soundtrack]
    5. Alan Jay Lerner: American Songbook Series/ Smithsonian Collection of Recordings
    6. An Enchanted Evening: The Music of Broadway
    7. Annie Get Your Gun (Original 1946 Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]
    8. Aspects of Love [Cast Recording]
    9. Bernstein - Wonderful Town / Simon Rattle (1999 Studio Cast) [Cast Recording]
    10. Billion Dollar Baby (Revival Cast) [Soundtrack]

    Music

    Music