Customer Reviews

Dreamgirls (1982 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This came out as an LP when I was a freshman in high school and still gets regular play as an upgraded CD on my player today. It wasn't until I actually saw the Broadway musical that I realized how truncated this version was. The recent live release with Audra McDonald, Lillias White and Heather Headley rectifies that problem by including all of the missing material but it's still not as fresh and fiery as the original cast recording.

From the cowbells leading into Move (You're Stepping On My Heart) to the harmony of Hard to Say Goodbye My Love, this recording hits all the right notes. Jennifer Holliday is superb as are Sheryl Lee Ralph and the woefully underutilized Loretta Devine. All three women have gone onto varying degrees of success in television and music but it's pure magic here. These three could have given any real life female singing group a run for it's money. With the recent success of Chicago the movie, there are rumors that Dreamgirls might finally make it to the big screen. Too bad the studios didn't do it when Holliday, Devine and Ralph were all still young enough to play the roles they originated.

Let's not forget the Dream Guys either...Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks, Obba Babatunde and Vondie Curtis Hall. Like the women, the men have had varying degrees of success although Harney seems to have disappeared. Fake Your Way to the Top and Steppin to the Bad Side will have you moving.

This is the CD to get.

With the interest in the film version, a new generation of listeners will eventually discover that `Dreamgirls' has a rich legacy in American theater and pop music. If you're one of those who was wondering what the original `Dreamgirls' sounded like you've come to the right place. Although this original Broadway soundtrack has nowhere near the amount of songs contained on the film soundtrack, its principle compositions are included in this concise yet unforgettable piece of American music.

Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine as the original `Dreamgirls' deliver the energy and enthusiasm authors Henry Kreiger and Tom Eyen intended. On the masculine side Ben Harney, Cleavant Derricks anchor the funky `Steppin' To The Bad Side', while Obba Babatunde tenderly pleads for unity in `Family'.

While you'll appreciate all of the fine vocals on the 1981 Broadway score, the focus of this album is Jennifer Holliday. `Dreamgirls' owes its' longevity in large part to the devastating God-given talents of Ms. Holliday. She won the Tony award for Best Actress playing `Effie' and her performance on the shows' signature song `And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going' is one of the finest moments ever recorded in American music. Few, if anyone, in Broadway or in the music industry have ever had the passion, power and presence Jennifer Holliday displayed as the original Dreamgirl.

[...]

And I am telling you, you will love this! DREAMGIRLS is a fictional story of the rise and rise of a sixties crossover girl group (parallels to Diana Ross and the Supremes are purely coincidental, wink wink). This is one of the all-time great musical scores-if you love Motown, you will love this CD. The entire cast-Jennifer Holliday, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Obba Babatunda, many more-is superb. So why only 4 stars instead of 5? They recorded less than half the score! The show is practically an opera, and more than an hour of great music is missing from this recording. Of all the shows being re-recorded nowadays, this is the one that most deserves a double CD complete recording. Theatre lovers everywhere: write your congressman and demand a DREAMGIRLS reunion concert!! Until then, this CD is pure joy.

If there was ever a show that should be recorded 'live' on CD and on DVD/Video as other shows are currently doing this is the one. Just to witness the magestic might of Jennifer Holliday proclaiming 'And I Am Telling You', to see Sherryl Lee Ralph, Obba Babatunde etc performing the songs as they should be (the FULL score) would be worth the price of the DVD/Video. Come on Geffen as you (I believe) have the rights, give the world and fans of true musical theatre something to sing about. We're waiting.

The Dreamgirls. If only there were such a group. Some speculate that the show was modelled after the Supremes. Whether or not, the songs are incredible and the vocalists are amazing!

Jennifer Holliday lends her powerful pipes to this album. She is accompanied by the divine Loretta Devine and the legendary Sheryl Lee Ralph. The highlights on this CD truly belong to the women.

Mmemorable songs on this CD include: "Dreamgirls," "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "I Am Changing," "One Night Only" (The best one on the CD) and "Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love."

I absolutley loved this recordings because nothing beats the original. Nothing compares to Jeniffeir Holliday's Move Your Steppin on My Heart or Sheryl Lee Ralph's DreamGirls. I love this recording but I wish it was the whole show. I'd just die to hear the cast perform Heavy or It's all over. I wish they also had The Dreams Opening Act 2 Medley. I just know Shery Lee was superb. I also wish that instead of the people they chosed for the concert cast they'd gotten the orginal cast since they are all still alive and well. Maybe they'll have a reunion cast album .I read somewhere Jennifier Holliday said that "they aint through", so that's hope.

It is unfortunate that so much of the score has gone unrecorded, what was an untirely sung show is reduced to 40 some minutes of music. Dreamgirls is a wonderful piece of theater but in your home the songs have a tendency to sound very similar. This isn't how the score is written but with out the linking material and with everything shortened...it blends more than is intended. With that said, there is little in Broadway history or music history for that matter that can match the pure brute strength of Jennifer Holliday's voice. Her "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." is not a song but an act of war. She rips the tears out of your eyes and never ceases to be amazing. Well worth it for Ms. Holliday's Tony Winning performance. If you enjoy "And I'm Telling..." check out My Favorite Broadway: Broadway's Leading Ladies...there's no match for Jennifer in live performance.

Okay, the recording is a good collection of songs from the musical. Though there have been some complaints that the book isn't strong, this CD certainly stands well. However, it isn't the whole musical. Dreamgirls has stunning music, and in reality, it is a hybrid opera-musical (much like Sweeney Todd).

Nevertheless, it is worth buying for the power song, And I Am Telling You, sung by Jennifer Holliday. Holliday sings which such force that this song can be considered one of the best stage songs because of it's power. It leaves the listener exhausted, yet mouthing the simple, moving lyrics. It's not a quite song, which makes Holliday's acheivment all the more conspicuous. A truly brilliant song.

Plenty of credit is given to Jennifer Holiday for her classic song (no doubt). Yet, I want to be the one to add that Sheryl Lee Ralph is also a great singer. Her voice is so clear, pure and smooth throughout the entire soundtrack. It's impeccable and I love it! She really delivers that "sanitized" soulful voice that helped to bring soul music into mainstream America. Check out "Hard to Say Goodbye my love and Dreamgirls! Yes!

With the film coming out this Christmas, Dreamworks has done a great job getting people to hear the wonderful music from this show using Hollywood big hitters (Beyonce, Eddie, Jamie) & fave newcomers (Jennifer Hudson). I know that I will never be a big fan of the new singing styles but I am glad that these young ladies will be introducing this music to a new generation. Diana Ross introduced me to Billie Holiday when I was a child and Natalie Cole educated me about jazz standards singing her dad's classics. Beyonce & Jennifer will be doing the same thing for the young people of today and hopefully they will be interested in hearing how the pioneers sang these songs beautifully back in the day.

This soundtrack is definitely one to own!

P.S.

And shame on anyone who perpetuates the belief that this story is not based on the history of Motown and the Supremes. Did anyone sue?

I was disappointed with this CD. If you're looking for ALL the music from the show, this is NOT the CD you want. Get the concert version. 6 or 7 of the songs aren't even on the CD! However, some of the vocals on this CD were a lot better than those on the concert version.