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Theater Related CDs |
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Jule Styne in Hollywood
Studio recording of various artists, conducted
by Aaron Gandy
Music Jule Syne
Lyrics by Harold Adamson, Sammy Cahn, Kim Gannon,
Bob Hilliard, Frank Loesser, and Bob Merrill |
Issued 2006
Running time 0:55 - 16 tracks
PS Classics PS-9638
List Price $18.98 |
Click here to buy the CD
 |
We normally concentrate on music you find
on stage, not on the silver screen. But how could we ignore a fabulous
collection of songs by the composer of
Gypsy, Funny Girl, Bells are Ringing, Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes and so many more sung by the stars of Broadway's Dance
A Little Closer, Hallelujah Baby!, Kiss Me, Kate, Ragtime, Side Show,
The Drowsy Chaperone,
The Full Monty, The Light in the Piazza,
The Music Man, Titanic and others just because the songs were written
for movies instead of Broadway? Hugh Panaro, who starred in Styne's last
Broadway musical, The Red Shoes, once complained that some in the
cast weren't impressed that they were working with Jule Styne - they didn't
know enough about what a genius he was. This disc could go a long way toward
fixing that. |
Contents: Studio recordings of: 10,432 Sheep; Blame My Absent-Minded
Heart; Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are; I Don't Want to Walk Without
You; It's Been A Long, Long Time; Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket; Saturday
Night (Is the Longest Night in the Week); That Ain't Hay; The Brooklyn
Bridge; The Lady Who Didn't Believe in Love; There's Nothing Rougher Than
Love; The Things We Did Last Summer; Time After Time; Winter Was Warm;
You Make Me Dream Too Much; and a Medley of Academy Award Nominees including
I've Heard That Song Before, I'll Walk Alone, A Change of Hear, It's Magic,
Anywhere and Three Coins in the Fountain.
The disc seems somewhat front loaded
with a string of knockout performances leading off. Kelli O'Hara's "Blame My
Absent-Minded Heart" sounds just like the featured number of a 40s radio
broadcast of favorites, Audra McDonald demonstrates a notable ability to
swing along with a big band on the specialty number "10,432 Sheep." Soon
Norm Lewis is the smoothest crooner on "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest
Night in the Week)" and Sutton Foster repeatedly blasts away at the first
word of the title phrase in "There's Nothing Rougher Than Love." You'll find gems in the middle and at the end as well. There's
Philip Chaffin's big band romp on "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are"
that may cause you to hit the repeat button a few times before you move on.
Not all the selections are likely to
be revived as standards, but even the least likely are interesting and
enjoyable. There's Klea Blackhurst swinging to a Cy Feuer chart (adapted by
Larry More) on a World War II buck up the morale on the home front song,
"That Ain't Hay (That's The U.S.A.)." There’s even a number that sounds like
it was tailor made for Bob Martin’s routine in The Drowsy Chaperone where he
introduces one song saying “ignore the lyrics – they aren’t the best but the
melody is first rate” - The song "The Brooklyn Bridge," written for
the 1947 movie "It Happened in Brooklyn" is a love song to the bridge set
to an infectious rhythm.
Among other delights are Leslie
Uggams sliding around the insidious melody of "I Don't Want To Walk Without
You" and Victoria Clark drawing out all the loveliness possible from the
sentimental ballad written for the television cartoon musical, Mr.
Magoo's Christmas Carol, "Winter Was Warm." There are some gentle vocals
with just piano - Eric Comstock on "It's Been A Long, Long Time" and Chris
Denny accompanying the always fabulous Sara Zahn on "You Make Me Dream Too
Much." With just a touch more backing, Jeff Harnar gives a jazz club style
rendition of "Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket," and The Lascivious Biddies
deliver a deliciously tasteful "The Lady Who Didn't Believe in Love." The
disc ends with two smashing performances, Brent Barrett's heart-felt "Time
After Time" with a dance band that could transport you back to a
country-club dance in the late 40s and Rebecca Luker's lovely voice
supported by David Loud's lone piano giving "The Things We Did Last Summer"
the feel of a deserted bar at closing time. |
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