CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Titanic (1997 Original Broadway Cast)

by: Maury Yeston, Judy Blazer, Brian d'Arcy James

Release Date July 01, 1997
I'll admit it: I was coerced into participating in a local production of Titanic The Musical recently and while I never had, nor do I have any desires to perform on stage, I almost reluctantly fell in love with this incredibly moving story that involves an absolutely amazing musical score. I played Benjamin Guggenheim, who along with some of the most famous millionaires in the world (John Jacob Astor, George Widener and the Thayers, literally the Bill Gates and Donald Trumps of their day) died as the Largest Moving Object on the earth slipped beneath the waves, April 15th 1912.

First, one major difference between this re-telling of one of the greatest maritime disasters of all-time and others, there really isn't any two or three ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Babes In Arms (1989 Broadway Revival Cast)

from: New World Records

Release Date December 08, 1992
It was refreshing to hear these songs in their original form. I actually could make out the lyrics to songs like Where or When and The Lady Is a Tramp.I also love Johnny One Note and Way Out West (On Western Avenue). I listen to the CD over and over and over. I would recommend it to anyone.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Girl Crazy (1990 Studio Cast)

by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, John Mauceri, Lorna Luft, David Carroll, Judy Blazer, David Garrison, Vicki Lewis, Eddie Korbich, Stan Chandler

Release Date November 13, 1990
The recording is terrific (how can you miss with such material)and the booklet gives good background information.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Humoresque

from: Nonesuch

Release Date February 10, 1998
...it's all great. This fine album represents Nadja's tribute to the 1947 movie classic. The title cut opens and closes the disc...in between one finds a selection of fantastic encore pieces. Particularly fine is the "Carmen Fantasie", but the entire recording is a pleasure to listen to.

Nadja plays this music like she was born to it, and maybe she was. I can find fault with some of her concerto offerings, but the smaller pieces are always well done. Highly recommended....

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Bright Eyed Joy: The Songs of Ricky Ian Gordon

by: Audra McDonald, Dawn Upshaw, Todd Ellison, Judy Blazer, Ted Sperling, Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Jesse Levy, Lawrence Feldman, Darius de Haas

Release Date April 24, 2001
Ricky Ian Gordon is a very talented composer and poet, and the songs on "Bright Eyed Joy" display his magnificent gifts. There is not a contemporary composer who has his talent of fitting text to music, and the singers on this disc bring his compositions alive. Track 17, "Once I Was," will make you weep!

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Leonard Bernstein's New York

by: Leonard Bernstein, Dawn Upshaw, Judy Blazer, Mandy Patinkin, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Richard Muenz, Eric Stern, Orchestra Of St. Luke's

Release Date August 20, 1996
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.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The Busby Berkeley Album

from: Angel Records

Release Date October 11, 1994
This compilation of music is absolutely wonderful. True to the orginial versions, this contemporary remake evokes memories of great movies...movies with a moral and a story to tell. Most importantly is the song, "Remember My Forgotten Man". Seems to me, we who are removed from 1933 by almost three-quarters of a century, should hear the message therein and apply it to our time. How many Americans today are among the neo-Forgotten Man? Far too many!! The neo-Conservatives have created a new underclass, much like those Conservatives who laid the foundation for the Great Depression of 1929. They too have forgotten the "little guy". It is time for the "little guys" to rise up again and recapture our nation from the plutocrats, the neo-cons, and the vast military ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Bernstein Dances: Ballet Revue by John Neumeier

from: Deutsche Grammophon

Release Date July 14, 1998
Bernstein basically spent half his recording life at Clumbia, now Sony, and the other half at DG. Although the composer's Columbia years produced his best work as conductor of his own music, DG has triumphed with a greatest hits'greatest bits anthology. Everything on here has been well chosen and paced in such a way that you can listen form beginning to end and feel that you've been enriched.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

The Musicality of Rodgers & Hammerstein

by: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Ron Raines, Brent Barrett

Release Date July 16, 2002
I bought this CD because I want to get my hands on everything where Ron Raines is singing. He starts the CD with a beautiful rendition of OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING. Unfortunately, that is the only thing he sings. The other singers are good, too. I thought it was interesting to have Pat Suzuki sing BALI HAI. Her version is different from the original but very beautiful. All of Rodgers and Hammerstein's music is beautiful and sometimes moving and inspirational. Unless you own every R and H musical, buy this!

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Sitting Pretty (1990 Studio Cast)

from: New World Records

Release Date December 08, 1992
A superb recording of a long-forgotten Kern show. Very worthwhile.


Bolton and Wodehouse and Kern: The Men Who Made Musical Comedy