CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Everything Is Illuminated

from: Tvt

Release Date September 06, 2005
If you liked the movie, you'll love the soundtrack! This soundtrack also turned me on to the bands Gogol Bordello and Leningrad.

CD-Charts Position 2
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 3
Average Rating:

The Light in the Piazza (2005 Original Broadway Cast)

from: Nonesuch

Release Date May 24, 2005
... was my reaction to the music, a few numbers into the LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (when they still were playing the full overture). After performing for some months on a cruise ship - and bearing in mind what is said about how you enjoy your travels even more when you remember them - that's exactly what I said to a companion: it feels like travel.

There's not much to add to the favorable words elsewhere in these pages,but a few thoughts:

Some like barbecue, some like sushi, some like both. Good thing to remember when voting for President,by the way.

I will say that my favorite scores are those that keep growing on me (WEST SIDE STORY as well as THE MUSIC MAN) - and LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA reveals something new at every ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Follies in Concert (1985 Live Performance) + Stavisky Film Score

from: RCA Victor Broadway

Release Date October 25, 1990
I have very definite views on this - in other words, my word rules, ignore the others. Random thoughts - pay no attention to those who disparage Mandy Patinkin singing "Buddy's Blues." This is an album of brilliant pastiche songs, right? Patinkin is giving us the old vaudville, split week in Jersey, performance. Of course he's over the top! Outstanding. However - sorry, I love Barbara Cook, and it's a lovely rendition of "Losing My Mind," but no one, I repeat no one, does it like Dorothy Collins from the original cast. Dorothy Collins, the Hit Parade lady? Come on! Well, OK, I don't know how she did it, what she pulled up from inside herself, but it tears your heart out. The song belongs to her. "Beautiful Girls" is ... well, if you're a woman (or not!) I dare you ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Myths And Hymns (1998 Off-Broadway Cast, Originally Saturn Returns)

by: Adam Guettel, Todd Ellison, Audra McDonald, Darius de Haas

Release Date March 30, 1999
This is an amazing work of emotional, passionate, and very creative music. Its facinating melodies are very complex and its themes are powerful. This is a masterpiece of artful composition, but it is not a CD for those with frivolous tastes. It is very beautiful and involved music so if you dwell on the music of Hairspray or Grease, this is definately not an item for you, but if you really appriciate the true purpose of music then I am confident that you'll fall in love with Guettel's work!

CD-Charts Position 6
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!