Fire In Boomtown [Live]

Amy Lowe | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 28, 1998)
• Original Release Date: January 28, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Emphasis
• ASIN: B00000ADHT
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,141 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Legend Of Mrs. O'Leary

2. Chicago's A Boomtown

3. Mud, Wood, Drought, Blunder & Wind

4. Testimony

5. The Telegraph

6. The People

7. Tuesday Morning

8. A New Dream Is Born

Editorial Reviews

From Parents' Choice®

A sterling mix of music, commentary, theater and history as Amy Lowe and Megan Wells recount the story of The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. First, they dispatch the legend, captured in that catchy song ("One Dark Night") that vilified Mrs. O'Leary and her lantern-kicking cow for the raging inferno that destroyed an entire city. They paint a vivid picture of a city that grew far too fast, with far too little planning and they sing chillingly of the "Mud, Wood, Drought, Blunder & Wind," conditions that led to the devastation. Most poignantly, Lowe and Wells interweave their haunting song, "Listen to the Wind," with eloquent testimony from actual eyewitnesses to the tragedy. The pair wind up this well-researched, beautifully performed piece of historical, musical theater on an uplift, commemorating the losses and the hardy souls who survived to rebuild their lives and their city. A 1999 Parents' Choice® Gold Award.

Reviewed by Lynne Heffley, Parents' Choice® 1999

Product Description

Through narrative and song, Amy Lowe and Megan Wells bring the story and lives of the people of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining and educational musical!, July 8, 2009

By 

Lisa A. Crawley (Newark, DE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fire In Boomtown (Audio CD)

Okay, so who would think about writing a history of the Great Chicago Fire, set to music? And who would think this was great entertainment. Well, Amy Lowe and Megan Wells are the creative powers behinds this recording, and my family and I are some of the people who have found it fascinating and enjoyable. We have had TV's in our cars, but our family prefers recordings of music, short stories, and books for both short and long trips. I didn't want the kids to rely on TV for short trips around town, and too much TV on long trips made the kids cranky. Plus the adults were forced to listen to the same movies over and over. So we worked our way through the local library and a few things became family favorites that we purchased for ourselves. The songs in "Fire in Boomtown" are enjoyable, the tragedy of the event is dealt with accurately, but did not upset our young kids. The story ends with an homage to the pioneer spirit that allowed the residents to regroup and rebuild. If all history lessons were this entertaining , we'd all probably still be in school!

5.0 out of 5 stars A real winner, November 12, 2007

By 

L. Jezek (Chicagoland, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fire In Boomtown (Audio CD)

We got this at a library sale and immediately loved the combination of music, history, and and little humor! My 10-year-old daughters, myself & my parents all enjoyed the folk-style music, with clear lyrics and catchy tunes. The two artists portray several characters and banter back and forth in an entertaining style, while presenting a general history of the city of Chicago and events leading up to and during the fire itself. I highly recommend it. It's a unique find - disguising education as entertainment!