Customer Reviews

Marry Me A Little (1981 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

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

 

 

One of the greatest Sondheim musicals of all time! I recommend this to any lover of the great Stephen Sondheim.
A never-ending track list of his greatest, rare numbers with a gentle, soothing and lulling piano accompianent. Although some here have complained about only the piano, I believe it makes the album even better than some of his others. You can actually enjoy the rhapsody of a piano and a singer without the overpowering orchestra in musicals like SWEENEY TODD. Sometimes a piano and a singer make things all the more beautiful.
With two of my favorite songs, "There Won't Be Trumpets" and "Marry Me a Little", this album has some songs you've heard on other Sondheim albums, like SATURDAY NIGHT and ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, this is a compilation of his earlier numbers with a romantic plot of a loving couple who seems to last forever... but, like many, face the ups and downs of love. Ending with a touching rhapsody, "Who Could Be Blue?", MARRY ME A LITTLE is one of Sondheim's finest masterpieces. Your collection will not be complete without this piece of genius.

Judging by previous reviewers, this seems to be a very under-appreciated CD. Yes, the piano accompaniment can be a little off-putting at first (especially in the more densely harmonic songs like "Silly People"), this CD is still worth buying for the beauty of these songs. So Craig Lucas isn't a top-notch singer/actor. His voice is certainly pleasant enough, and I love his "Uptown/Downtown" and "Happily Ever After." Suzanne Henry is also more than acceptable, shining on "So Many People" and "Can That Boy Fox-Trot."

After a person listens to this CD, he'll probably want to see the show. And isn't that the ultimate goal of all cast albums?

The songs are hard to find, but the recording is mediocre. These people are not the greatest vocal talents in the world, and ocassionally they come off harsh. Then there is the piano. Some of these songs are quite energetic, and the piano does not do them justice. It is really quite boring sometimes. There are some high points though. "The Girls of Summer", "Bang", "Saturday Night", and the title song. Buy it you are a Sondheim completeist, or a fan who likes the obscure Sondheim, rather than "Send in the Clowns".

This is very good. Even though I own the 2000 cast recording of 'Saturday Night', The remaining is highly enjoyable, especially the songs cutout of 'Company'. All in all, A very good recording, despite previous reviews.

I bought this after seeing it performed at my hometown university. Sure, there are songs where you agree that they should have been cut from their respective shows, but there are several that stand alone and are worth the price of admission: "All Things Bright and Beautiful", "Bang!", and "The Girls of Summer" rank among these. The two performers do very well and hold one's attention throughout. Also, though I am usually a proponent of show orchestras being as large and lush as possible, I do not agree with the complaints of other reviewers about the lone piano accompaniment. I think this show would be overwhelmed by 20+ musicians. It might be fun for someone to try a small chamber wind orchestration someday, but I think the piano suits the presentation very well. A pleasure to hear these songs this way.

I listened to this album today for the first time in a long time. I really enjoyed revisiting it. I saw the original, low-budget revue in a very small off-Broadway theater. It was never meant to be a big show, and the recording reflects this simplicity. I'm glad the show was even recorded. I like the piano accompaniment here because the Sondheim lyrics are crystal clear and witty. The songs aren't the usual ones found on many Sondheim compilations.

Sondheim has always struck me as a very sophisticated composer, of both lyrics and music. In this album of piano and two voices, the complexity
of his work is pared down to essentials. As a lover of solo vocal music, I find this work to be especially appealing, not because the singers are classical vocalists, but because they are singing in the expressive and somewhat coarse style of Broadway. It is so easy to visualize Sondheim himself sitting at the piano, playing while these two young people take turns and sing together so many richly penned tunes.

For those who think of Sondheim as primarily a lush orchestrator or catchy tune writer, this collection will give them a chance to experience the boldness, inventiveness, and thickly accompanied harmonies that go into making each song a jewel.

If you like the piano in Sondheim, you should also check out 'Follies', a collection of Sondheim songs performed by the Terry Trotter jazz trio. Or better yet, purchase one of Sondheim's collections of the printed piano music and learn a few of them yourself!

Someone said once that he's never heard a good song that was cut from a show. Well Sondheims' cut-outs are the exception.This is a must have album for Sondheim fans. No orchestra, but wonderful songs. It's hard to believe these songs were cut from Sondheim shows. This CD should be a part of every sondheim fan's library.

Marry Me a Little has some really wonderful pieces that the avid Sondheim listener will recognize in later shows. Especially appealing, was the song "What more do I need?". The brilliant lyrics presented in this song will spark a familiar view of life in the city. Also, the title song, "Marry Me a Little" (which was later revived in the hit musical "Company") is a very thoughtful look at relationships and committment. Other notable songs this listener particularly enjoyed were "Bang", "Saturday Night" (a personal favorite) and "So Many People". This original cast recording is a precocious Sondheim at his best. Although, the later works are much more sophistocated, this first presentation of Sondheim is a very auspicious and entertaining work. I highly enjoyed it and recommend it highly to not only Sondheim fans but all listeners!!!

I am a Sondheim fanatic. Having said that, I will now go on to say that "Marry Me a Little" is one of the worst Sondheim recordings I have ever heard. The synopsis to the CD said that Sondheim was reluctant to put on a revue that contained songs cut from other shows. If only he had trusted his instincts in this case! Musically the songs are underorchestrated and the lyrics are gloomy. "Happily Ever After" contains many lyrics that are later included in "Being Alive;" yet while "Being Alive" celebrates marriage, both the good and the bad, "Happily Ever After" is just downright nasty. "Bang" and "Marry Me a Little" are used more effectively in "Putting it Together." "Pour le Sport" is affected and stilted. I looked at the date of the CD and saw that it was recorded only a month before "Merriy We Roll Along" which I consider to be one of the finest Sondheim recordings available. Every artist has works which are not up to standard; the "Marry Me a Little" CD should be dismissed as one of those.