Category: (Music)
21 new, starting at $29.24
8 used, starting at $26.00
Missing TracksReviewed by Gobo, 2010-01-09
Here are the tracks that are only availalbe on the single disc
sampler version of this set The Best of Broadway - The American
Musical (PBS Series)
5 Oklahoma from Oklahoma
8 America from West Side Story
13 Cabaret from Cabaret
Of course this five disc version has many many more tracks than the
sampler but the above three are only on the sampler.
Great set though!
A Wonderfully Eclectic Collection Well-Worth the MoneyReviewed by Atticus, 2009-10-24
BROADWAY-THE AMERICAN MUSICAL was originally, I believe, a PBS
Documentary that can now be purchased on DVD. I haven't seen any of
the PBS Show. However, I am a huge fan of Broadway shows and music.
I am a firm believer that the best music of America can be sewn
across the tapestry of Broadway: here we have Sondheim and
Streisand, Armstrong and Astaire, Merman and Martin, Berlin and
Buckley. Listen to this music and you'll hear the music of America
itself.
Okay, enough of my philosophical observations on Broadway. I
already know that you love Broadway music. If you don't, you would
have stopped reading before the end of the first paragraph. The
question you want answered is this: I want a set of great Broadway
music that I'll love; some that I know, some that I don't. Is this
the set that I should buy?
The answer is: yes.
This set is brilliant, and well-worth the money you'll spend for
it. That amount of money is quite a bit. However, with five CDs,
109 songs, and a twenty-something page booklet that is interesting
and well-written, you will feel very satisfied with your
purchase.
Quick, now, look back to the first paragraph and reread the names
listed there. All of those were taken straight from this CD
collection, and there are lots more besides those. I still haven't
gotten to Jolson, Rivera, Andrews, Orbach, Grey, Lansbury, Mostel,
or Channing (plus more). Initially, with this set, you will be
overwhelmed with all of the great names and great music. It helps
if you listen to it in order (Disc One before Disc 3, etc.), since
all of the songs (excluding the first, GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY,
which opens every Broadway set) are in chronological order. Listen
to a song, and then read the annotation in the book. It will help
you comprehend why this song, and the musical it belongs to, are
important in Broadway history.
Or, you could just listen for enjoyment.
There are tons of beautiful songs here that I will cherish for the
rest of my life: "Memory" from Cats, "Hello, Dolly!" from, well,
Hello Dolly, "Open a New Window" from Mame, "Try to Remember" from
The Fantasticks. Believe it or not, I had never heard any of these
songs in their entirety before I purchased this set. Just think of
what I was missing!
Of course, there are some slight disputable errors. There is
nothing here from RAGTIME or ASPECTS OF LOVE. And, a couple of
songs are sort of unnessecary (I could have done without "I Enjoy
Being a Girl" from FLOWER DRUM SONG, 1958.) However, there are many
gems I would have overlooked if I had purchased a less
comprehensive set: songs like "Luck Be a Lady" from GUYS AND DOLLS
or "The Party's Over" from BELLS ARE RINGING.
Overall, this is the set to have. It is a bit pricy, but the money
is well worth the many hours of memories and pure enjoyment.
Appreciate the magic of Broadway!
Could Have Used More ShowsReviewed by Catherine Goltz, 2008-06-08
Of course there should have been much more. I remember there been a
Metropolian Opera series called CAST ALBUMS- 100 YEARS that was put
out for a limited time only and had like five volumes.
As Peter Filichia noted they left out SHE LOVES ME, BRIGADOON and
SWEENEY TODD. Also nothing from PACIFIC OVERTURES, BIG RIVER,
CHESS, CRAZY FOR YOU, JEKYLL & HYDE, TITANIC, THE SCARLET
PIMPERNEL, FOOTLOOSE- THE MUSICAL, THE FULL MONTY,
URINTOWN...
But they couldn't have put it all. I would have done without Lee
Remick's
"Anyone Can Whistle", because the show was a flop. I guess because
it was Sondheim's first "serious" show...
B'way The American Musical so-soReviewed by Matthew F. Mazza, 2008-02-17
The first three discs were only OK. I had forgotten how much better the later Broadway musical recordings were. The last two discs were very good, maybe because I could relate better to the shows or perhaps the productions were better.
Fabulous for any Broadway-loverReviewed by sesu, 2007-01-29
Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.
