Customer Reviews

Essential Musicals

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Few people would deny Elaine Paige's multiple talents: she has been West End's leading lady for more than 30 years, creating and playing many memorable roles: Evita, Grizabella in `Cats', Florence in `Chess', Reno Sweeney in `Anything goes', Norma Desmond in `Sunset Boulevard', to name just few. Her strong stage presence and good vocals insured her durability in the world of the musical theatre and at the same time she managed to make good pop albums. The fruits of her rich career can be heard in her latest excellent 2-disc compilation released two years ago, `Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige'. After that, Elaine got her own radio show on BBC 2, presenting to the listeners some of the most memorable tunes from the past and present of the musical theatre. After the voting for the best British musicals of all time finished, Elaine decided to record this new album, by selecting the songs from the ones that found their way to the top according to the voters.

Since the selection of the musicals in question boasts with the titles like `Oliver!', `West Side Story', `Grease', `Sound of Music', `Evita', `The Phantom of the Opera', `Sunset Boulevard' and many more, this should have been an excellent album. Regrettably, that is not the case.

There are several problems one notices after giving it a full listen. One of the major ones is the orchestrations. Each of these musical numbers is given a new and different orchestration than the ones they had within their parent musical. Not necessarily a bad thing by itself, but here some of the numbers are barely recognizable, `Aquarius' from `Hair' being a good example. Not only that, for the most part they are produced in such a self-important manner that Elaine's voice becomes lost and unnoticeable amidst their sound. The effect could have been much bigger on a smaller and a toned down scale in this respect.

Elaine's vocals are not on the plus side on this album either. She delivers this whole set of songs in a totally lackluster manner, sounding predictable and as if doing all this out of pure habit. This is why Elaine's take on these songs leaves you feeling no emotion at all after hearing them. The only exception is a somewhat playful rendition of `I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair' from `South Pacific'. Unfortunately, one song does not make an album. It's really a shame, since some of these songs, like `You must love me' from the movie version of `Evita' or `Someone else's story' from `Chess', were an opportunity for Elaine to revisit some of the characters she played in the past.

This whole CD therefore comes as disappointment from someone who set her standards considerably higher during the past years. For all those who want to experience Elaine Paige at her best, I suggest to get her compilation `Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige'. Alternatively, if you are looking for a new CD from a musical theatre diva, try Patti LuPone's excellent new album `The lady with the torch', also available here at Amazon.

Like a few other reviewers, I was really looking forward to hearing this CD based upon the excellent song lineup Elaine had chosen. Her Centre Stage double CD is a treasure, and I could just hear Ms. Paige deliver some definitive versions of these great showstoppers. However, this is a rotten album; the arrangements are off-beat, discordant, and distracting. As the CD played through, I kept hoping the next track would be better, but each successive song was just as unpleasant as the one prior. We waited two or three years for this mess? Sad. This was a real missed opportunity to deliver a superior collection of classics. What a bomb.

I was so excited about this album. I love Elaine and never miss her radio show. I was prepared for her voice to be different as it's apparent she doesn't have the upper range she used to. The cover was gorgeous-however there are only a few gorgeous moments musically. I give it 3 stars for the songs I enjoyed and the fact that it's Elaine and anything less than 3 stars I can not give her. The bright spots for me were--Broadway Baby, You Must Love Me, I'm Gonna Wash That Man Outta My Hair, and All I Ask of You. The majority of songs on this album confused me. The arrangements did not sound as much original as they sounded like 80's muzak! I was really looking forward to her version of Bring Him Home as I've always thought a woman should record this song--but again the arrangement was odd and I found it a let down! I think it sad that at this stage of her career Elaine has recorded an album so definitely beneath her usual greatness. Side note--I saw her live in London and she sounded sooooo much better that she did on this album-particularly on If I Loved You and Someone Else's Story! That made me even more sad that we didn't get that Elaine here. Maybe she needs a new producer?

Elaine's first album of all-new recordings in 12 years is a special one. It marks her first collection of show songs since 1993's lovely "Romance & the Stage." It is also a reunion with Mike Moran, who produced 1988's "The Queen Album," her stunning tribute to the rock group Queen.

After such a long gap, "Essential Musicals" has a lot to live up to, and for the most part, it works wonderfully well. One should note that Elaine's style has changed a bit through the years. Her voice is still clear and vibrant and positively gorgeous when she uses her upper register. But she doesn't belt the way she once did, so there are few show-stopping moments here. On the other hand, the feeling and passion she injects into a marvelous "You Must Love Me" and a simple "All I Ask of You" are quite enchanting. The arrangements are clever, with an ethereal "Aquarius" being particularly noteworthy. One weird note: There's a fun reading of "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair," but it borrrows the arrangement (and even naming the titles of other "South Pacific" songs!) from the Liz Callaway version on her "The Story Goes On" disc. But Callaway's arranger (Alex Rybeck) doesn't get a credit here.

Apart from that oddity, the disc is quite appealing. It's especially great to hear Elaine rip into "Broadway Baby" with some of the old fire. But for the most part, this is a mellower Elaine, so do not approach this expecting a sequel to "Stages." Instead, on its own terms, it's a fine album, and an excellent addition to her sterling catalog.

I have always loved Elaine Paige from the time I first heard her on the concept album of Chess (which is brilliant)to the recently released Center Stage (another brilliant collection). I also had a rare opportunity to see Elaine in Sunset Blvd in NYC. On each subsequent album since Chess she has always "blown me away" but I was not ready to see her live and was truly awe struck by her incredible vocal ablilties and stage presence.

Essential Musicals has been long-awaited by fans who were growing weary of "best of albums" and needed something new from Ms. Paige.

The selection of songs is quite good. I don't mind the subdued vocals because she can and has pulled it off beautifully before.

However, the orchestra drowns out Elaine's voice and she ends up taking a back seat to them -- which to Elaine's fans that should not be allowed.

Didn't anyone listen to the final cut of this collection and maybe realize that the orchestra's volume is set on 8 and Elaine's is on 2?

I will always love and purchse anything Ms Paige records because I am a devoted fan. But I gotta say this album leaves me really cold.

I am sad and hope I dont have to wait another decade for something truly new by Ms. Paige.

I just got this CD and my initial reaction is why were previous reviewers so harsh?! I think it is a wonderful CD. Yes, the arrangements may not be traditional, but how many recordings of the same song arrangements by various artists do we need? I think she is putting her twist on some standards and the result is refreshing. No one has mentioned her version of Edelwiess which is absolutely terrific! Very similar to the arrangement Linda Eder did a few years ago. If you are an Elaine Paige fan or just a fan of a great vocalist, this CD is well worth it!

I listened to this CD more than 10 times after I bought it. I think Elaine's voice is still fine and sweet. She takes a different approach to these songs, more lyrical rather than dramatic. She chooses to use head voice to articulate high notes and the songs sound light and tender. But the lacking of big musically dramatic moments has certainly disappointed fans. I think the main problems here are the arrangement is too pop-like, and some songs sound like ballads in the 80's. When listening to them one can hardly relate those songs to the original musicals. Hope Elaine will never choose the same producer again in future, and hope it won't take long before another all-new material CD of hers is released.

I've been an admirer of Elaine Paige for years. Her voice and interpretation of music has always astounded me. I was very excited to order and receive this newest CD from her.. and I must say.. from the minute I put it on until the minute it finished, I was sadly disappointed.

I agree with a previous reviewer that this is quite a different approach for Elaine, both with voice and orchestrations.. and to be honest, they don't work at all for me.

This is a much quieter Elaine than what most of us are used to. The only song where she really lets out her belting voice is the last track "Broadway Baby" from Follies. Most of her other singing is in her head voice only.. I kept wanting to say "Sing out Elaine!"

The orchestrations are something that really bothered me. While I don't mind a new take on a song, these don't work. I think the combination of her quiet, mellow tone, plus the new take on the orchestrations are a bit too much of a change for my ears.

Be sure before you purchase this CD, that you either listen to some clips (when they become available) and realize that this is a different Elaine than you're used to hearing. I'm sure some will love it, but it just wasn't what I expected to hear from her.

To all the obviously difficult to please folks who wrote the negative reviews on this site, I have to say a big thank you. I'm sure the negative comments helped sway buyers away from a pricey import (it did me for a while) and made this a less-then-big seller. Less popular releases go for lower prices in the Amazon marketplace and thanks to you guys I was able to get a great deal on this (on Amazon, of course). Now I get to enjoy this thoroughly awesome album without having to miss lunch for a couple of days. To the critics I respond that you are right about one thing - the recording quality of the voice is a bit variable and not always on top (mostly in the first three tracks) - but the voice itself and the performance always are. It may not always be Elaine at full lung power in every cut (but there is plenty here), but she still delivers masterful and highly enjoyable performances of these classic showtunes. And as for the unconventional arrangemens, I find them a big part of the album's creative charm. I'm listening to it now as I write and I haven't been bored with it yet. These tunes have all been done a lot of times, and in a lot of ways. Taking a new twist on the presentation is not necessarily a bad thing; I myself enjoy hearing familiar songs that are getting a bit worn taken in new directions. Bring Him Home as a quiet, guitar-strumming, wistful song instead of a bombastic eleven o'clock number; If I Loved You with just the slightest modern doo-wop feel; Edelweiss as an etheral electronic trance-inducing chorale - what's wrong with that? They all work, and beautifully. And, they are fun. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair as a big-band sister act tune is a standout. Elaine finalizing her Evita performance by doing the one Evita song she never got to sing, "You Must Love Me," is traditionally arranged - and nothing less than exquisite. Something's Coming and Broadway Baby are also great fun (Can you be a true Elaine fan and resist that final belt?). Get this one where the deals are before more good reviews show up and the price goes up.

We think Elaine is one of the best, if not the best, stars of musical theater; however the arrangements and music on this CD do not do justice to her voice or the songs she sings. Elaine should stay with what she does best. Buy it only if you must have everything Elaine Paige. Buy 'Sweet Memories' for the true Elaine.