Customer Reviews

"Five Guys Named Moe:" Original Broadway Cast Recording

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Broadway musical is a tribute to Louis Jordan and the music he created. “Five Guys Named Moe” follows the blue soul of Nomax, a [person] who was just dumped by his girl. Help to get his life on the right track, and his girl back, comes in the form of five guys who appear out of his radio. No-Moe, Eat-Moe, Big-Moe, Little-Moe and Four-Eyed-Moe are the “soulful serfs of song” who take Nomax under their wing.

All six of these performers are great singers with incredible talent, and are backed by wonderful sixtet led by Reggie (Reginald Royal) on piano. Although there are some serious songs on this album like, “What’s the Use of Getting Sober (When You’re Gonna Get Drunk Again”, “Azure-Te (Blues In Paris)”, and “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” this show is mostly fun songs performed with high-energy. The cast interacts with the audience throughout the show calling upon them to sing along, pulling audience members out, and even forming a conga line through the house.

This is an hour of good music, catchy lyrics and a plan old good time. The only thing that detracts from this recording is the fact there is no visual aspect of what is happening during the show. You can hear the gags, but cannot see them. During “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” you miss one of the characters wearing a giant chicken suit while dancing on a table, and you miss a great tap routine during “Reet, Petite and Gone”. Although the dancing and sight gags go unseen, this is still a great album that will chase the blues away.

High energy performance, excellant harmonizing. If you are into the new swing music, this is the one try. Amazing how fresh the music still is today.

Hope that I get to see the play sometime. The music is excellent. Got turned onto Louis Jordan quite by accident this Veteran's Day when our local NPR affiliate played "GI Jive" on the radio. I looked the song up at the first opportunity and now I'm hooked on Louie Jordan. This collection is one of the most positive, fun-loving CD's I've heard since Keb' Mo'. It's a sure fire mood lifter!

I picked this CD up after watching a snip of "Caldonia" on a Best of Broadway show on DVD. I loved the catchiness of the tune and ordered the CD right away. I am going to do this review as strictly a review of the CD, not the show itself (which I have yet to see in its entirety)

The Good:
1- The entire cast is comprised of excellent, heartfelt singers, as one should expect in a Broadway show
2- The music did not overpower the vocals as is the case in some cast albums.
3- A lot of dialogue was included before the songs.
4- There are a LOT of songs on a single CD, you have over an hour worth of entertainment with your purchase

The Negative:
1- If you have not seen the show, then this comes across as just another blues/soul CD with very little story to string it together
2- I would have preferred more musical accompaniment. In the live show what they had was probably perfect, but it's a bit toned down for me in the car.
3- Very few of the songs were catchy, when I got out of the car after listening to this CD, I went back to humming "Whatever Happened to my Part" from Spamalot.
4- Unless I looked in booklet, I couldn't tell which Moe was singing, so my ability to try to pull a story out of it was even further hampered.

On the whole this is a good fairly mellow CD. You won't catch yourself speeding in your car as you listen to it (which I have a problem with while belting out "Gypsy"). I think though, to fully appreciate this CD, you have to see the show. One seen, this may become one of my top CD's but as it stands alone it's only mediocre in comparison to the rest of my Musical Collection.

The music is great. This CD recording of the Broadway cast has all the zeal and energy the music had in the play.

I really enjoyed this CD. If you enjoy jazz style music, you're sure to like this disc. I want to see the show now.

Amazing vocals and some really fun songs by an American master who, unfortunately, has slipped into obscurity. Good stuff!

I love this soundtrack and I've never even seen the show! Can't wait until it's revived in my area!

Bright, lively songs. I'd like to see this if it ever comes to Toledo. My only minor complaint is the mixer didn't pay attention and the volume needs adjusting several times to either hear what's going on oe saving your eardrums.

More fun than the law allows! Another reviewer mentioned that it is unfortunate that you don't have the visual to go along with the music, (unless you've seen it, as I have) but it still reaches out and grabs nearly everyone I've played this CD for. The most recent fan? My four-year-old daughter :) A great one to sing along with once you know the words.