Customer Reviews

A Little Bit of Broadway

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album showcases Julie Andrews at her best, singing Broadway music as it is meant to be performed. Julie has always been my second favorite singer of all time (second only to Judy Garland) and I also had the pleasure of seeing her live in concert in the late 80's. This album reminds me of why I have always held her in such high esteem. All the songs are beautifully orchestrated and Julie's voice is in top form--expressive and enchanting. Her high notes are perfect and seem to float on air. Although there are no selections from "The Sound of Music" here, this album gives the opportunity to enjoy her music from many other shows. It is a shame that popular music today seems to exclude the beautiful soprano voice in favor of annoyingly loud voices with very limited ranges. Thank goodness for recordings such as this one that feature the female voice at its best. Truly, Julie Andrews is on a very high pedestal that few today can come close to touching.

The range that Julie Andrews has in this album is nothing short of astonishing; note the build in "I Feel Pretty" about 45 seconds into the cut. All of the tracks are very good, with a nice mix of song styles ("Burlington Bertie From Bow"). For anyone who enjoys this album, I would recommend listening to Rebecca Luker.

While this album is only a compilation of other early Julie Andrews recordings, it captures Julie at the height of her singing career and some of her greatest performances of lesser known songs that she sang. "I Feel Pretty" and "How Are Things In Glocca Morra" are absolutely beautiful, as well as a number of her broadway/television hits (selections from Cinderella, MFL, and Camelot). Whether you're a Broadway fan, a Julie fan, or both, this album is a MUST!!!

This album contains some of her lesser-known songs. The songs from Cinderella are especially enchanting. These recordings show Julie at her best, girlish, optimistic self, which is the Julie I love the most. Her voice is clear, pleasing, expressive and melodic.

I purchased this CD because it had on it a relatively obscure song (Burlington Bertie) that I had been searching for for use by my Senior Theatre. The song is delightful and the songstress, of course, does her usual professional best.

Me and my sister got this from the library and we couldn't turn it off. "How Can I Wait" is a romantic, fun song, and another good one is Julie's rendition of "I Feel Pretty". "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is my all-time favorite. You have to get it!

Julie Andrews remains one of the greatest sopranos the world has ever known; and I doubt that we'll ever see another quite like her. Julie gave blood to please her adoring audiences and they loved her for it. Although she does not sing much these days we can continue to enjoy her numerous fine albums on CD and even vinyl. This particular CD gives us a fine assortment of sixteen numbers from Broadway shows.

The track set begins with "In My Own Little Corner" from Cinderella. Julie sings this to perfection; and the flutes at the beginning create a beautiful musical flourish to begin the number. Julie's voice was never better; and I think you will like "In My Own Little Corner" very much. "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story follows; the musical arrangement uses the percussion well as Julie sings with all her heart. What a great voice! Julie sings joyfully of how pretty she feels especially now that she is in love; and "I Feel Pretty" sparkles like a rare gem in her competent care.

"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" has that ragtime flavor to the melody; and Julie delivers this flawlessly. Julie handles the tempo changes for her vocals like a graceful swan. Listen also for a fine male chorus to bolster Julie's performance of "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon."

"Wouldn't It Be Loverly" appears to be taken from the original cast recording of My Fair Lady that starred Julie Andrews alongside Rex Harrison. Julie gives what is easily the definitive rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly." What a treat! Julie's character sings of how she wishes she could lead a life of luxury. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" reverts to that ragtime beat; and Julie sings this with a certain panache that I rarely enjoy. I predict that you will enjoy "Alexander's Ragtime Band" very, very much.

"How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" comes from Finian's Rainbow; this romantic ballad shines like gold as Julie sings this perfectly. "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" comes from Too Many Girls; and Julie performs this lovely, romantic ballad as only she could. Julie sings of what a wonderful time she had when she met her one true love.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end; and the CD ends with the marvelous "I Could Have Danced All Night" which again comes from the original cast recording of My Fair Lady. Julie's performance is memorable, to say the least.

The liner notes include good artwork; and we get an informative essay about Julie and her career as well. There are also black and white photos of Julie both alone and with others recording the numbers for My Fair Lady. Excellent!

Julie Andrews remains one of the greatest entertainers of the entire twentieth century. Her three octave soprano voice was unrivalled; and this CD gives her fans a solid collection of show tunes sung by Julie. People just getting familiar with Julie's talents would do well to get this CD, too.

Enjoy!

All of Julie Andrews' ealier album are hard to find now, except for the Original cast recordings such as "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot". This one is consisted of these original cast album and the albums hard to find. You can hear the young, and fresh voice of Julie Andrews. My favorites are "I feel pretty" and "How can I wait?" I think this one is very recommentable.

This record on vinyl was often on the hifi in my house in the 60s when I was growing up. I recently read Julie Andrew's memoir and decided to buy some of her music. I don't have to tell you that she has a crystal clear tone. The interpretations are sensitive, nothing even suggesting the raspy blues of some artists. But there is a lot of emotion there.

The only reason I don't give this one five stars is that only six songs from the late 1961 Columbia LP "Broadway's Fair Julie" made the transfer. That whole album was a winner, but "Baubles, Bangles and Beads", "A Little Bit in Love", "How Are Things in Glocca Mora?", "I Feel Pretty", "How Can I Wait" and "I Didn't Know What Time it Was" represent it well. Joining those perfectly sung, arranged and orchestrated numbers are two songs from the original London cast recording of "My Fair Lady" and two from "Camelot" and those four also deserve a place here. There are also two nice tunes from a live TV musical version of "Cinderella" from 1957. The other four tracks are less distinguished, with the weakest being "Burlington Bertie from Bow" which is a music hall rouser that seems out of place amid all these glorious love ballads. That minor quibble aside, this is a hugely satisfying album if you want the star of "Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins" represented in your collection with the kinds of lyrics she did superbly until throat problems damaged her ability to sing in the 1990's.