Sondheim: The Stephen Sondheim Album

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Another Stephen Sondheim tribute album? Yes, but this one has a few distinguishing points. Most notably, it's the first release from Fynsworth Alley, the label that producer Bruce Kimmel formed after he left Varèse Sarabande. Fortunately, he brought along his usual stable of Broadway veterans, including Liz Callaway, Alice Ripley, and Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski, singing both familiar and unfamiliar Sondheim tunes--among the latter is Brent Barrett's "Make the Most of Your Music" from the London version of Follies--and MTC Wild Party composer Andrew Lippa even makes a vocal appearance on Saturday Night's delightful "A Moment with You." The lightning rod of controversy is Dame Edna's half-sung, half-howled rendition of one of Sondheim's most tender ballads, "Losing My Mind." Kimmel has said that there was no point in a conventional take on the song because Dorothy Collins recorded the definitive version in the original cast of Follies. That's probably true; however, one could say the same thing about Yvonne De Carlo's "I'm Still Here," but that doesn't prevent Dorothy Loudon from posting an excellent (and fitting) take here. Regardless, even if Dame Edna's attempt at humor is an acquired taste, rest assured that it's only one skippable track on an hour-long disc of enjoyable Sondheim. --David Horiuchi

Tracks:

Putting It Together
If I Loved You
Something's Coming
Not While I'm Around
Being Alive
I Have Dreamed/We Kiss In A Shadow/Something Won..
Adelaide's Lament
Send In The Clowns
Pretty Women/The Ladies Who Lunch
Can't Help Lovin' That Man
I Loves You Porgy/Porgy, I's Your Woman Now...
Somewhere

Amazon.com

As its title indicates, this 1985 recording marked Barbra Streisand's return to her Broadway roots (significantly, she had dropped her pop-period Guilty perm and returned to straight hair). The CD contains a broad selection of show tunes, from Guys and Dolls's "Adelaide's Lament" to Sweeney Todd's "Not While I'm Around." But let's face it: this may also be one of Babs's most dated albums, due to typically '80s synthesizer-heavy arrangements that simply don't work with the material. Company's "Being Alive" is scarred by a preening alto sax, while West Side Story's "Something's Coming" features what sounds suspiciously like syndrums. But--and it's a pretty big "but"--Streisand sounds more buttery than ever ("Send in the Clowns" may be one of her finest '80s moments), so much so that she often manages to overcome the cheesy production. Now that's a singer. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Learning About Love While Yearning.......2007-06-09

C. Kenneth Burkholder, who via an understanding was at the time of the original release of this was Barbra's prospectve father-in-law and whose death has occurred, said of this "If I Loved You", "That's nice." The tragicomic rendition of part of Adelaide fascinatingly points out some dangers of stripping for pay.
Just past the beginning of creating "What Times Are," a musical by (a) pacifist(s) as well as an adaptation of my play "What Time Is It, Neil Armstrong?," which is a sequel to my novel "How Did That Sun Get Out," I am inspired by the yearning apparent in "The Broadway Album"--a yearning not for perfection but for worthwhile ways for people all over the earth and in space to spend time.

Great !.......2007-02-27

I bought the CD to replace my worn-out cassette tape, and I was pleased to find it has one more track -- Adelaide's Lament -- which I enjoyed. Nice to have another comic song to balance out the love songs. She brings out the beauty of these lovely tunes.

Number one .......2007-02-05

Barbra is the number one female ballad singer of all time. No one has her range of feeling, the sheer lyric power of her voice, her sometimes exaggerated but often poignant power to dramatically express feeling. She can create the chill down the spine with a small trill or with a wild unexpected crescendo. 'Broadway' is her first home, and acting a song as she sings it comes natural to her.
This is one of her finest albums.

she believes the hype.......2006-10-12

This is from the big-shot who thinks she can control a political party and tell fans what to think about issues despite being a high-school dropout. She's a good singer, but not the best. She basically needs to shut the eff up and sing. Hey, those are her words, right?

Lovely voice, lovely songs.......2006-08-02

This album contains the choicest of Broadway hits given an outstanding interpretation by the Streisand. Barbra's flawless voice moves up and down with ease as the melodies unfold. Perfect!

Average customer rating:

Dame Edna HIGHLIGHTS This Album
Yet another piece of brilliance.
A Definite Mixed Bag...

Sondheim: The Stephen Sondheim Album
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Sondheim Collection (Studio Cast Re-recordings)
Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute (1973 Concert Cast)
Send in the Clowns: The Ballads of Stephen Sondheim
Sondheim Sings, Vol. 2: 1946-1960
A Collector's Sondheim (Musical Compilation)

ASIN: B0000584Y1
Release Date: 2001-02-06

Tracks:

Make The Most Of Your Music (From The London Production of Follies) - Brent Barrett
Anyone Can Whistle (From Anyone Can Whistle) - Jane Krakowski
Everybody Says Don't (From Anyone Can Whistle) - Liz Callaway
Sorry/Grateful (From Company) - Guy Haines
Another Hundred People (From Company) - Alice Ripley
Broadway Baby (From Follies) - Lea Delaria
It Wasn't Meant To Happen (Cut From Follies) - Michele Pawk
Giants In The Sky (From Into The Woods) - Brian D'Arcy James
Children Will Listen (From Into The Woods) - Ruthie Henshall
Losing My Mind (From Follies) - Dame Edna
A Moment With You (From Saturday Night) - Andrew Lippa
So Many People (From Saturday Night) - Tami Tappan
You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Not A Day Goes By (From Follies/Merrily We Roll Along) - Christiane Noll
I'm Still Here (From Follies) - Dorothy Loudon
With So Little To Be Sure Of/Who Could Be Blue? (From Anyone Can Whistle/Cut From Follies) - Norm Lewis

Amazon.com

Another Stephen Sondheim tribute album? Yes, but this one has a few distinguishing points. Most notably, it's the first release from Fynsworth Alley, the label that producer Bruce Kimmel formed after he left Varèse Sarabande. Fortunately, he brought along his usual stable of Broadway veterans, including Liz Callaway, Alice Ripley, and Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski, singing both familiar and unfamiliar Sondheim tunes--among the latter is Brent Barrett's "Make the Most of Your Music" from the London version of Follies--and MTC Wild Party composer Andrew Lippa even makes a vocal appearance on Saturday Night's delightful "A Moment with You." The lightning rod of controversy is Dame Edna's half-sung, half-howled rendition of one of Sondheim's most tender ballads, "Losing My Mind." Kimmel has said that there was no point in a conventional take on the song because Dorothy Collins recorded the definitive version in the original cast of Follies. That's probably true; however, one could say the same thing about Yvonne De Carlo's "I'm Still Here," but that doesn't prevent Dorothy Loudon from posting an excellent (and fitting) take here. Regardless, even if Dame Edna's attempt at humor is an acquired taste, rest assured that it's only one skippable track on an hour-long disc of enjoyable Sondheim. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Dame Edna HIGHLIGHTS This Album.......2002-08-04

Your critic writes that Dame Edna's incredible redndition of "Looooosing My Mind" is "The one skippable track" on this excellent compilation album. Fooey on your lame critic. I bought this album JUST FOR THAT ONE CUT! I enjoyed the entire album certainly, but Edna's magnificent ballad (Never have I been so ready to believe that the singer really is Loooosing her mind!) is the HIGHLIGHT of this melange. Your critic needs to acquire a sense of humor and some taste.

Yet another piece of brilliance........2001-06-10

I was very excited for The Stephen Sondheim Album. I'd loved Bruce Kimmel's previous compilation, The Stephen Schwartz Album, and I knew that this one was going to be just as great. The only difference was that I was heavily exposed to Sondheim before I got the album. This album did not disappoint me. The incredible mix of song and talent made this album enjoyable from the moment I stuck it into my C.D. player. I'd been anticipating certain songs, such as Michele Pawk's incredible and emotionally charged rendition of It Wasn't Meant To Happen, Dorothy Louden's I'm Still Here (very appropriate), and Dame Edna's beyond hilarious rendition of Losing My Mind, all from Follies, but many of the other songs on the album were pleasant surprises. My favorites included Andrew Lippa and Theresa Finnamore singing A Moment With You from Saturday Night (Sondheim's first show which was made into a smashing off-Broadway production last year), Brian d'Arcy James's Giants In the Sky from Into The Woods, and Christiane Noll's tear jerker rendition of Not A Day Goes By from Merrily We Roll Along (paired with You're Gonna Love Tomorrow from Follies). The bonus track is also something to die for. This was a great album for the new Fynsworth Alley label to start out with, and I'm looking forward to many more. Buy this C.D.! Even if you're not a Sondheim fan! After this, you'll be hooked.

A Definite Mixed Bag..........2001-02-08

Does the world REALLY need another Sondheim compilation? Well, probably not, but Producer Bruce Kimmel's done enough of 'em to know how to do them well. For his new label's inaugural release, Kimmel's chosen to throw a pretty lavish set of arrangements, and an eclectic set of performers at a bunch of mostly well-known Sondheim numbers (at least for fans).

Two of the songs on this album get fascinating new imaginings: Lea Delaria throws some lovely jazz stylings into "Broadway Baby," and Dame Edna does some indescribable things with "Losing My Mind" (pronounced "leuuusing" by the Dame)... easily the "love it or hate it" track on the album.

Unfortunately, the album seems to suffer from overproduction... there's little of the dramatic arc which Kimmel so often effectively puts in his albums. Bryan D'Arcy James has a great voice, but his "Giants in the Sky" doesn't reverberate with anything that the song should evoke. Ditto (surprisingly) with Liz Callaway's "Everybody Says Don't". Brent Barret's "Make the Most of Your Music" (from the much-lambasted London "Follies") sounds delightful, however, as does the charming "A Moment With You" with Teresa Finimore and composer Andrew Lippa (who sings wonderfully), and Norm Lewis adds vocal warmth to "With So Little to be Sure of" and "Who Could Be Blue."

Customer Reviews:

HARD TO BE FIRST PERSON TO REVIEW.......2003-09-11

I searched under Special Album and got thousands of entries. Assad didn't bring this up though I don't know if I looked up under both popular and classical. Jobim had just too many hits. Finally I looked under GHA, the guitar record company and bought two Raphael Fays CDs Impressions Andolouses and La Nuit Des Gitans. When there was a lull in the ND thunder and lightning, I returned to GHA, and the third item was A Very Special Album. It showcases the talents on guitar of ten young guitars, with Wang Yameng as the only woman. Sergio & Odair Assad were good in Cronica de casa assaassinada. Raphael Fays was excellent in his Improvisation. Philip Catherine & Sergio Assad's Arthur Rainbow were also good.

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