Customer Reviews

Grease - The New Broadway Cast Recording (1994 Revival)

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

 

 

This recording is much better than the movie version that everyone knows. The movie's soundtrack is good, i will admit that. But this recording sounds so much more energized for the new generation of music lovers! The cast is great and they DO NOT sound like "chippettes"! They sound like teenagers, and they should, they are supposed to be seniors in high school. This cd also has a great deal more music than the movie did. Rosie O'Donnel may not be able to sing, but she does know how to make people laugh at her jokes. She is perfectly cast as Rizzo. The supporting cast is impressive. Especially Billy Porter's(teen angel) gospel version of Beauty School Dropout. Enjoy this cd as i did! P.S.---i am proud to be the first person to review this cd with more than 2 sentences!

I find this music too commercialized. The real flavor of the original Grease is lost to the bubblegum sound of the songs. I've listened quite a few times and I just can't get into it. The sound just doesn't have the edge of the Original Grease. And Rosie O'Donnell needed more time in the vocal studio working on singing vowels and supporting her breath. Buy the original!

Everyone loves Grease, myself included. It's practically an American tradition. However, it's also one of the most overdone musicals. This CD added so much excitement to the show, and reminded me of why I loved Grease in the first place. (Before I saw it and heard it 900 times) Rosie O'Donell doesn't have the best voice in the world, but it's certainly charming and not even slightly painful. Susan Wood has a fabulous voice as Sandy. Some standout songs are "Those Magic Changes", "Since I Don't Have You", and "Freddy My Love". Marty is played and sung by Megan Mulally who many know from Will and Grace. Get this CD: if you love Rosie O'Donell or Megan Mulally, if you want to know the real version of Grease, or if you want an upbeat fun to listen to Broadway CD. Don't get this CD: if you aren't a musical lover and just like Grease, or if you are expecting an amazingly profound story.

I'm not sure why this album got so many poor reviews. After sitting in the fourth row for this performance when it came to Seattle, I have nothing but fond memories!
This is not the movie album, if you want the movie album, then please buy the movie album with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. But, if you're looking for a Broadway cast album and all of the energy of extremely talented young performers then purchase this one.
And don't miss the song Magic Changes - fabulous performance, will give you chills.

I bought this CD the other day and listened to it once. I can tell you know that I'm auctioning it off on eBay now.

This CD is not what I expected it to be. I have the original 1970s cast album which is fantastic. This CD is just annoying. Rosie's vocals drive me crazy, thank goodness they released the Brook Shields version. The new orchestrations bother me, especially the "Shakin' At the High School Hop." Not to mention the "Alma Mater" and "Alma Mater Parody" have been totally erased from the show. "We Go Together" is NOT the "Alma Mater." "Greased Lightnin' Reprise" was obviously written for Rosie, and it's annoying. One thing that surprised me was Hunter Foster. I normally LOVE him, but his "Mooning" drives me crazy. One last thing: Whose idea was it to have Ms. Lynch and Eugene sing "Born To Hand Jive"?

One of the positive things is Susan Wood as Sandy. Her Sandy is definitely what saves this show. With the addition of "Since I Don't Have You" is awesome. Samuel French has the original for theatrical companies to do, but they've included this song. Aside from Wood, Megan Mullally is an AMAZING Marty. These two save the whole friggin' show. I also love the gospel "Beauty School Dropout." Amazing.

I wish they would have kept the show as it was. It's over the top and too fancy. I recommend buying the original cast album over this one.

This terrible, badly conceived revival was an insult to the very adventurous, very raw original production of Grease, a show that paints an incredibly accurate picture of a pivotal moment in American history when rock and roll was giving birth to the Sexual Revolution. You'd never know it from this revival, but Grease is not a silly, brainless 50s parody -- it's a smart, insightful, fairly alternative piece of theatre (inspired in many ways by HAIR), and this awful 90s revival missed everyting that's special about Grease, robbing it of its muscle, its attitude, its rawness, and its thrilling, subversive, over-sexed energy. If you want to hear what Grease SHOULD sound like, if you want to hear the real sound of early rock and roll, get the original 1972 recording. That's Grease.

This CD offers a variety of music better than the poular movie version that everyone knows!!!

This was a great album, but I had a few problems with it.
Beauty School Dropout sounded to hip. What happened to the chourus like in the original version? The Alma Mater wasn't the Alma Mater it was just We Go Together. Born to Hand Jive was also nothing compared to the original.

Wow after reading the bad reviews I was really suprized! I am producing a production of Grease and this recording was just what I was looking for! It's High energy is what makes it so fun! I especially like the reworking on Beauty School Dropout, and the Finale was amazing! My only problem was with Greased Lighnin' and Born to hand Jive, they wern't as fun as the were on the original cast album. Other then that I was smiling the whole time!

To start off, I will say that this CD was somewhat of a disappointment. This is not the Grease that everyone grew up with. If you didn't know the story going in, you'd have no idea that this is supposed to be from the 50's. I will however commend them on the fact that the people on this CD sound like what they are... seniors at a high school. They really do look 17. With the minor exception of Rosise O' Donnel as bad girl Betty Rizzo the cast is in fine form here, including a young Megan Mullally of "Karen Walker from Will and Grace Fame" singing the part of Marty. The only songs that were truly ruined for me were "Born to Hand-Jive" and, sadly "Beauty School Dropout" It is also worth noting that this is NOT the movie version, and sounds nothing like it. My personal belief is that it pales in comparison. But don't compare them. Now if you want the REAL Grease, get the original 1972 Recording (the orginals are usually better) but if you're looking for something more modern, this is the better choice. Just remember to skip over "Since I Don't Have You." I'm not sure what happened to Susan Wood's (Sandy) gorgeous soprano. She's practically yelling to get to the notes, and it just doesn't sound great.

BOTTOM LINE- This Grease is the word... almost