Customer Reviews

Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris (1995 London Revival Cast)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

IT WAS NICE TO SEE A NEW VERSION OF THIS COMPILATION COME OUT SOME TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AFTER THE OFF-BROADWAY VERSION FIRST MADE ITS MARK. THE LONDON CAST HAS PASSION BUT DOES NOT QUITE HAVE THE TALENT OF THE ORIGINAL CAST. LIZ GREENWAY HAS THE RIGHT LOOK, BUT HER VOICE LACKS THE POWER AND THE RICHNESS OF ELLIE STONE'S. HOWEVER, THE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT IN THE NEW VERSION IS AS GOOD AS, OR BETTER THAN, THAT FROM THE ORIGINAL. I AM GLAD TO HAVE THIS LONDON RECORDING, BUT I REGRET THAT THE ORIGINAL VERSION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN CD OR CASSETTE. SOMEONE COULD MAKE A BUNDLE IF THEY COULD FIND A WAY TO REINTRODUCE THE OFF-BROADWAY VERSION.

I've tried for years to get the original cast recording on CD, but finally gave up and ordered this one. The vocals are inconsistent--some very good, some poor. But the lyrics are still moving, and it's worth buying just to listen to Brel's sometimes cynical, sometimes sentimental, always moving views on liife. I find that I like it more each time I listen to it.

Looking for the original with Elly Stone. Will be returning to my 33 1/3 to get the full appreciation of this wonderful music experience. Does AMAZON offer with Elly Stone either on CD or Tape. Got to have the real thing not an imitation.

We purchased the newest release CD of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, but also have the original album and there is very little comparison. At one time, we also had the original off broadway musical video but lent it to someone years ago and can't find one now. Any suggestions?

I agree with the opinion of one of the guest reviewers. I have the original cast records of Jacques Brel... with Elly Stone. She is THE voice to beat, and this re-release does not do that. I was about to check out the rest of my records, but without an Elly Stone CD replacement of Jacques, looks like I'll have to do 33 1/3 for a while!

I came upon the CD of "Jacques Brel is Alive..." and snapped it up, my head filled with the glorious sounds/interpretations of the original cast recording. To say the group in London fails to even approach the soul, gusto, poignance and power of the original cast is to say that an anthill is not a prelude to the Himalayas. Alas. What a waste of effort and energy...Brel's, i.e. I came to Amazon hoping that the original recording might have been digitially re-mastered for CD. Alas, again.

Anyone who has ever heard the original cast album produced by BMI with Elly Stone, Mort Shuman, Shawn Elliott, and Alice Whitfield, will never be able to listen to this terrible remake. Gone is the mystic, haunting quality beauty of the original. Sound quality is harsh and the perforances are dry and emotionless.

I don't know if the original album is available anymore, but if you can find it, I wouldn't settle for this one. It does not do justice to Brel's music.

This recording would be useful for singers planning to perform Brel, as a warning of what to avoid when singing these exquisite songs. Glibness and unnecessary flourish - no matter how talented the voice - as well as the attempt to put too much of a personal "stamp" on Brel, are deadly mistakes. The songs of Brel communicate beautifully for themselves if the singer is grounded in emotional directness and authenticity.

After reading the reviews of this CD, I am extremely disappointed. I have the original cast on CD and was expecting to order one for a friend.I now discover that the Elly Stone, et al version is apparently not available. I'm not sure whether to go ahead and order this one or to wait and hope that the fantastic version will again be available. Please, someone out there, let me know if anyone can still obtain a copy of the first CD !

If you have heard the LP records of the original cast, this performance simply does not match up. The music is powerful and the songs are especially evocative, but the singers, particularly the female singers, simply do not have the vocal intensity to match the music. And the instrumental accompaniment is limited as well. All in all, it is a pallid evocation of the original.