Customer Reviews

The Alan Jay Lerner Album

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This album was recorded over a year ago, and Fynsworth Alley has been promising it for months, constantly pushing back the date. But now that it is finally out, it is more than worth the wait. If you have heard Barrett's previous Kander and Ebb Album, or heard him on the cast albums of Dance a Little Closer, Brigadoon, Grand Hotel, etc., you know already that he is one of the greatest theatre performs around. He sings and acts each song on this album to perfection. And the choice of songs will surprise anyone who knows Lerner only from Camelot and My Fair Lady. There are songs here with music by Kurt Weill, John Barry, Charles Strouse, and Burton Lane, as well as Friedrich Loewe. Two songs from the seldom-heard score to Lolita, My Love hilite the album, as well as a duet with Lauren Bacall that you will find yourself playing over and over. The first track is the best version of "Come Back to Me" from On a Clear Day that I have ever heard. Although Fynsworth Alley has been promising a bonus track if you buy from their website, it seems that all pressings contain all the tracks recorded. Let us hope that the label will continue in the direction set by this album and their earlier releases, rather than trying for the generic pop dance fans that they have been targeting with the Matt Zarley album. A Brent Barrett album a year would be good, if some other label doesn't snap him up after hearing this one.

This CD serves Brent Barrett well, allowing him to move from soft and sensual to wild and hammy to pensively melodic. Most of the songs here you won't know, as Brent wisely eschews the well-known (no CAMELOT songs here) for the obscure songs just waiting to be discovered. Gems such as the jaunty-'til-it's-almost-over-the-top "Headin' for New Orleans" from the unproduced HUCKLEBERRY FINN, and the stunning songs "Anyone Who Loves" and "There's Always One You Can't Forget" (both from DANCE A LITTLE CLOSER) show a virtuoso at his peak, emotionally and musically.

Of course, the familiar are here too, with a blazing version of "They Call the Wind Mariah," and a delightful "I Remember it Well" with the legendary Lauren Bacall, combined with the sweet "You Haven't Changed at all."

Musically Brent is near perfection, but what amazes is the intelligence behind his approach to all this music (actually, not so amazing, as anyone who has seen Brent perform live knows.) This is certainly not a run-of-the-mill CD put out by someone with a cavalier approach to the music of Broadway (I won't name names here!) but a thoughtful, romantic and scintillating blend of lovely songs old and new.

Alan Jay Lerner wrote great lyrics that were more complex than most lyicist's. It is great to have a whole album sung by a great singer, Brett Barrett. One of my favorite songs is SHE WASN'T YOU from ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER. I don't know why it did not become more popular. There are songs that did not make it to show albums. This is a very enjoyable and relaxing album.

Since the release of this wonderous collection of classic songs and peerless performances I have come to realize that Brent Barrett is the finest male vocalist on the planet but for some strange reason the shallow music industries best kept secret...opening with a very unique original version of the done to death "Come Back To Me", this great singer makes this song fresh and exciting and flows into a glorious "In The Broken Promise Land Of Fifteen" that takes one on a journey to another time and place as does a magnificent definitive "They Call The Wind Maria" sung with lots of stirring passion and vocal greatness. A quite and reflective "I"ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face" starts with just voice and guitar and softly builds into a gorgeous ballad and makes this standard a new listening experience...a rousing and wild "Headin' For New Orleans" raises the roof and at this point one really wishes this experience was also on a DVD concert as this guy must be incredible on stage and is currently in Las Vegas in the lead of "Phantom" through December 2006 and has got to be deeply soulful and incredibly great...hopefully more CD's will be coming and a concert in Los Angeles would be awesome!!! "Green Up Time" is dreamy and romantic and a classy duet with legend Lauren Bacall is a winner on par with legendary pairings of the past and a duet collection from this great singer would be amazing...duet partners ideally would include Tony Bennett, Liza, Barbra, Maureen McGovern, Andrea, Roberto, Renee, etc. and this could be a collection that would put this singing wonder up where he belongs! "Economics" is a great vocal tour-de-force with a cooking arrangement...romantic longing and a splendid vocal make "She Wasn't You" a revelation and a wonderful listening experience...a hot cooking latin rhythm and an intoxicating vocal are showcased in "I Left My Hat In Haiti" and never has the classic "Too Late Now" sounded more beautiful and moving and is another example how this singer blends with other great voices to create a memorable listening experience that is nothing less than extraordinary. A great artist in any media always saves the best for last but this tremendous singer starts the finale in the last four songs...and what finales each are!!! "My Last Love/Let's Go Home" is another wonderous musical treat in a collection that is a total magical musical tour-de-force that is rare for true lovers of great music and great singers...the great Garland would have gone crazy doing a duet with Brent and been magnificent but it is too bad this couldn't have happened. Hauntingly brilliant and memorable is the brilliant "There's Always One You Can't Forget" and this passionate vocal stays long after it's over...this is what really great singing is all about and really rare...a magnificent performance in every way and the ultimate...2 AM brilliance. This is a hard act to follow but "Anyone Who Loves" is engrossing and moving and the closing "Tell Me, Tell Me" is a light and airy ending but for me the finale is the incredibly great "There's Always One You Can't Forget" which once experienced here you never can forget! Thank you Brent Barrett for your brilliance in making this one of the greatest musical experiences of a lifetime...please encore!!!

Having scored big with his Kander and Ebb Album, Barrett has moved on to another legend of the musical theatre, Alan Jay Lerner. Encompassing many shows, including My Fair Lady, On A Clear Day, Paint Your Wagon, and Dance a Little Closer, the songs are a combination of beautiful melodies, witty lyrics, and a powerhouse voice. Joining Barrett for duets are Tami Tappan and the incomparable Lauren Bacall. Having just stared in London's Kiss Me Kate and rejoined Broadway's Chicago, Barrett has affirmed his status as a matinee idol and star- and any fans of his and musical theatre will want to listen to this album on the street where you live.

I just cannot praise this album enough. Long awaited since The Kander and Ebb album, I just love it. Too Late Now, track 11 just send shivers down my spine. The duet with Lauren Bacall is delightful. Keep up the good work Brent, your voice is one in a million. I just cannot keep this CD off my player. Anyone who is a Brent Barret fan -----BUY IT WITHOUT FAIL. Cannot wait for the next CD by Brent Barret, truly a great artist.

Barrett is one of the best leading men in NYC! This CD is what sustained me until my first exposure to this gem, Kiss Me Kate came out on DVD! I should warn the ladies to sit when listening it could be dangerous to your health. Because after having this wonderful CD for six months it still makes my knees at certain points!! I especially enjoy his renditions of Come Back to Me, They Call the Wind Maria, She Wasn't You, Anyone Who Loves and the unknown: Tell me, Tell me!! And after seeing him perform live in Camelot i wish he had included a few of those lovely songs! I can't put in words just how much I love this beautifully sung CD! It goes with me everywhere I go! Now if I could get his Kander and Ebb CD life would be great!

While Mr. Barrett's voice is as gorgeous as ever, this CD is not a collection of musical theatre classics pulled from the original scores, as performed in the actual shows. Here are more jazzed up, contemporary versions, which sound good for what they are, but will leave customers who expect a more classic interpretation of the famous works a little disappointed.

Brent's voice is absolutely incredible! Anyone who loves a good singer MUST listen to all Brent's songs. This CD is Excellent!

Anyone Who Loves Great Singers Singing Great Songs Will Love This Cd!! Mr. Barrett Has A Glorious Voices That Is Used To Great Effect On This Recording Of Alan Jay Lerner's Wonderful Songs!! Especailly Touching Are His Versions Of "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face", "She Wasn't You", "Too Late Now", "You Haven't Changed/I Remember It Well" W/The Magical Lauren Bacall & "Anyone Who Loves" All Are Sung With Depth & Feeling!! Please Enjoy!! I Know I Am!!!