Today, more revisionist CD reviews based on questionable listings in The Theater Mania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings:
A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE
(Original Broadway Cast)
TM rating: Two stars
My rating: Five stars
This recording is, quite simply, one of the all-time underrated gems in musical theater history. The show was profitable in its original run, but it's pretty much forgotten these days. The plot-less first act takes place at the Graumann's Chinese Theater, and is basically a wonderful collection of songs performed by the ushers. There's not a bad number in the entire lot, but my favorites include "Just Go to the Movies," "Best in the World," "Nelson," and "Doin' the Production Code." All but the last are by Jerry Herman, who was brought in to perk up the score. The second act is a fictional Marx Brothers movie, and the parodies and homages are dead on. Simply put: you must own this disc.
I LOVE MY WIFE
(Original Broadway Cast)
TM rating: One star
My rating: Three stars
For some reason, this is one of those CDs that I go back to again and again. I'm not saying it's a great show. The late Cy Coleman was overall a tunesmith par excellence, but this isn't his best effort. And Mark Bramble's lyrics at times are too clever for their own good. But for some reason, I just love this recording. The show is very much a product of its time: the plot revolves around two couples planning a wife-swapping orgy, and one look at the song titles gives you a sense of the show's tone: "Sexually Free," "Everybody Today is Turning on," "Love Revolution." Score highlights include the lovely country ballad "Someone Wonderful I Missed" and the classic "Hey There, Good Times," which admittedly has absolutely nothing to do with the show. Overall, it's a quirky show that I'm inexplicably drawn to.
MOVING OUT
(Original Broadway Cast)
TM rating: Five stars
My rating: Not recommended
I find this TM review absolutely dumbfounding. Five stars?! Think about it: whom is this recording for? Surely not for Billy Joel fans, who would undoubtedly prefer Billy doing the actual singing. For that matter, why would anyone want to listen to 60+ minutes of Billy Joel covers? This is the most pointless cast album since Contact. Movin' Out is a similarly visual show the appeal of which lies not in Michael Cavanaugh's admittedly distinctive performance. Yes, I own it. But I have a disease; I have to own every cast album I can get my undiscriminating little hands on. It's no wonder you see used copies of Movin' Out is used records stores everywhere.
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