The Brain From Planet X (2006 Original Los Angeles Cast) [Cast Recording]

Bruce Kimmel (Composer), Kevin Spirtas (Performer), Alet Taylor (Performer), Lauren Rubin (Performer), Cason Murphy (Performer), Merrill Grant (Performer), Benjamin Clark (Performer), Egbert Bernard (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Kritzerland
• ASIN: B000N8UZKE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,419 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Main Man Brain Plan, February 27, 2007

By 

J. Earles "Jaynrand" (Mooresville, INDIANA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brain From Planet X (2006 Original Los Angeles Cast) (Audio CD)

There are movies (and movie genres) that seem naturals for the stage. There are some that have made the leap to Broadway (or off or near or way off) - that should have been left on the screen ("Urban Cowboy" and "Footloose" are a couple that come to mind in an embarrassment of riches). That being said, "The Brain From Planet X" is one of the naturals. You don't have to be familiar with the source material, although your enjoyment of this disc - and presumably the show - will be increased if you are.

With nods to "The Man From Planet X", "The Brain From Planet Arous", and "Plan Nine From Outer Space" and winks to others including "Invaders From Mars" and "The Thing", this musical is still nothing if not original.

Because its authors Bruce Kimmel (music and lyrics) and David Wechter (book - with Kimmel) know their stuff, the audience is in for a treat! IF the cast is in on the joke, it's not funny. Time and again spoofs fail because they are self-consciously funny...they KNOW. There is difference in knowing what you are spoofing and doing it justice and on the other hand making fun of your source material to show your superiority to it. The former makes the audience love you, the latter can turn an audience off. They are there to see something they love being treated with respect.

"The Brain From Planet X" succeeds - at least as far as I can tell in the recording. The photos in the booklet and the reviews seem to validate my thought.

As the story goes: a typical Southern California town is invaded by a flying saucer. As usual, the saucer and its inhabitants including the title Brain are in the vanguard of an invasion force. Of course having lived on Planet Earth all my life, I am hard pressed to know what invaders from space find so damned attractive, but that's a story for another day.

In a musical - and even more important in a cast album - it is the songs and the voices that count. And "The Brain From Planet X" is blessed in both departments. The orchestrations of Kimmel's tunes by New York based Larry Moore are clever and catchy. The lyrics propel you from character to character and situation to situation with no filler.

Recorded by the cast from Los Angeles City College that includes both professionals and students, this CD is great to take in your car. The professional include Kevin Spirtas, Alet Taylor, and Lauren Rubin. Their solo turns and duets are tons of fun. When Rubin (as a Donna Reed type wife) is zapped and "taken over" and tells Spirtas (as a Carl Betz type husband) that 'Things Are Going to Be Changing Around Here', you can't help but laugh.

When Merrill Grant (as a Shelley Fabares type daughter) can't wait to be bad and tries to convince her Maynard G. Krebs type boyfriend Rod (Grady Williams) to go along with her - well the 'Good Girl/Bad Girl' dichotomy is given a sweet voice.

Invaders Yoni (Taylor), Zubrick (Cason Murphy), and The Brain (Egbert Bernard) will NOT be halted from their Plan!!! Each of them shine in various numbers. 'The Plan' and 'The Brain Tap' are musical gems. The solo efforts of these three 'The Brain's Song' (Bernard), 'I Need An Earthman' (Taylor), and 'All About Men' (Murphy) on this disk will make you long for a local production of "The Brain From Planet X" so that you can get a ticket or better yet AUDITION to be part of it.

With lots of BIG numbers and a built in appeal to a growing audience, this one is a keeper.

The spirits of Allison Hayes, John Agar, Sally Fraser, Arthur Franz, and so many others (here and gone) hover around this show. Keep watching the skies.

If you have a brain you know by now you must buy "The Brain...."

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun!, February 28, 2007

By 

drama lover (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Brain From Planet X (2006 Original Los Angeles Cast) (Audio CD)

I didn't see the show, but I love this CD! Lively, funny, upbeat. So often we really like a couple songs on a CD, but aren't crazy about the others. In this case, all the material is excellent. I liked the whole CD immediately; it didn't need to grow on me. Not just one or two songs, but ALL of them. And talk about catchy! After listening to the CD just a couple times I found the tunes going through my head while doing other things. "What is that?" Well, it was The Brain from Planet X. I really think these are some of the catchiest songs I've ever heard. Listen to it once and you'll see for yourself.

The cast is wonderful. I particularly like the Brain (Egbert Bernard) himself, Zubrick (Cason Murphy), and Yoni (Alet Taylor). You must hear Yoni sing "I Need an Earthman." GREAT!

Everyone associated with this production has reason to be proud. It is top-notch all around. If you enjoy musicals, you'll LOVE this.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One swell CD!, February 27, 2007

By 

Michael P. Barnum (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brain From Planet X (2006 Original Los Angeles Cast) (Audio CD)

I had the pleasure of seeing the original stage production of the sci-fi comedy musical spoof THE BRAIN FROM PLANET X on my last trip to L.A. when I found out a CD cast album was to be released I was ecstatic and managed to wrangle myself an early copy (I couldn't wait for the official release!). This CD is a treasure, particularly for those who love the sci-fi classics (and not so classics) of the 1950s like Plan 9 from Outer Space and Invaders from Mars or who enjoyed MST3K's song filled spoofs. The lyrics on this album are bright, well written, funny and you will soon find yourself singing along to each and every one. Best bets are Merrill Grant's GOOD GIRL/BAD GIRL, THE PLAN (which makes me laugh every time), and THE BRAIN'S SONG (sung by Egbert Bernard as the titled character)...each tune is finger snapping and foot tapping good. Two songs deserve special mention, the funny ALL ABOUT MEN simply for the smooth singing of Cason Murphy (who was absolutely hilarious in the play) and the fantastic Alet Taylor song I NEED AN EARTHMAN. Former soap star Kevin Spirtas shows he has quite a voice in his songs as well, and my next purchase will have to be one of his CDs. Whether you have seen the play or not you will enjoy this OCR...it is just so dang much fun to listen to! And if you should have the opportunity to see the play...I recommend it highly as well!