Chicago - A Musical Vaudeville (1980 Australian Cast) [Cast Recording, Import]

George Spartels, Jack Webster, Fred Ebb, Chicago (Related Recordings), John Kander, Nancye Hayes, Geraldine Turner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording, Import
• Label: Universal/Polygram
• ASIN: B00000J9VG
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #915,797 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. A Little Bit Of Good

2. All I Care About

3. All That Jazz

4. All That Jazz (Reprise)

5. Cell Block Tango

6. Class

7. Funny Honey

8. I Can't Do It Alone

9. Me And My Baby

10. Mr. Cellophane

11. My Own Best Friend

12. Nowadays

13. Overture (From Chicago)

14. Razzle Dazzle

15. Roxie

16. We Both Reached For The Gun

17. When Velma Takes The Stand

18. When You're Good To Mama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Australian Talent, January 25, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Chicago - A Musical Vaudeville (1980 Australian Cast) (Audio CD)

Geraldine Turner OAM shines in the original Australian cast recording of "Chicago". Her gutsy, delicious presence give this production an exciting edge. Turner was recently seen in Cameron Mackintosh's production of "The Witches of Eastwick" in Melbourne as Felicia Gabriel, and also in Melbourne Theatre Company's production of "Inheritance" by Hannie Rayson.

4.0 out of 5 stars a fine recording, June 4, 2003

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Chicago - A Musical Vaudeville (1980 Australian Cast) (Audio CD)

This is the 1981 original Australian cast of CHICAGO, directed by the late and lamented Richard Wherrett. The quality of the recording is average and is really only for die-hard fans of the musical and completists.

Nancye Hayes and Geraldine Turner play Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, respectively, and they are excellent performers. Particularly-memorable are Hayes' "Funny Honey" and "Roxie"; and Turner's "When Velma Takes the Stand". Turner's "All That Jazz" oddly does nothing to me.

Judi Connelli, as Matron 'Mama' Morton, is easily the best performer here. Her "When You're Good to Mama" is a powerhouse rendition, and the best aside from Marcia Lewis' rendition on the 1996 Broadway revival album. Also, her hilarious duet with Geraldine Turner in "Class" is worth the price of the CD all by itself.

Terence Donovan and George Spartels are both adequate, though hardly surprising, in their respective roles of Billy Flynn and Amos Hart. J. Webster's Mary Sunshine is the weakest of the cast, and is the worst-sung Mary Sunshine I have heard on CD. Even so, the role is one of the hardest ones to perform in the musical.

This is an average recording, and it makes me wonder why the original Australian revival cast headed by Caroline O'Connor and Chelsea Gibb wasn't made. A little disappointing, but redeemed by the superb trio of Nancye Hayes, Geraldine Turner and Judi Connelli.

4.0 out of 5 stars the often forgotten cast recording, February 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Chicago - A Musical Vaudeville (1980 Australian Cast) (Audio CD)

aa fantastic rendidtion of the show in its original form. Geraldine Turners 'all that jazz' is Superb-my favourite version, and Nancye Hayes is a Brilliant Roxie, and Judi connelli (and all the critics agree) is the best Matron Mama Morton there is! This is a definate for any true Chicago fan!