The Musical of Musicals (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Eric Rockwell (Artist), Joanne Bogart (Artist), Craig Fols (Artist), Lovette George (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B0001EFV6S
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,548 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Introduction/Melodrame

2. Oh, What Beautiful Corn

3. Scene From 'Corn!'

4. I Couldn't Keer Less About You

5. I Don't Love You

6. Scene From 'Corn'

7. Follow Your Dream

8. Dream Ballet

9. Sowillyquey

10. Clam Dip

11. Scene From 'Corn'

12. Daylight Savings Time

13. Corn Finale

14. Welcome To The Woods

15. The Ballad Of Jitter

16. Jitter's Oath

17. Scene From 'A Little Complex'

18. Birds

19. Getting Away With Murder

20. Billy-Baby/A Melody?

See all 48 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very funny IF ..., October 19, 2004

By 

Paul A. Gerard (Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Musical of Musicals (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Really top notch musical satire is someone like Sullivan (of Gilbert and) taking off Mendelsohn, or Wagner, or even Handel. The music is not just funny as a parody, it is also a really good example of that style of music, which would stand up quite well if you had never heard the "original". There are moments (my favourite one is "Corn" - a wonderful parody of "Oh what a beautiful morning") where this one comes quite close. Generally, however, most of the music itself is really very ordinary - and is funny (often hilariously funny, I must add) only if you happen to be familiar with what is being laughed at.

The non-musical satire is also very amusing (although many of the jokes are in the "so-bad-it's-good" category, including some absolutely dreadful puns). But again, the point of the joke always lies (sometimes quite deep, too) in the work being satirised. I wonder how many people pick items like "My own little corner" (from the Rodgers and Hammerstein television musical from the fifties, "Cinderella").

The whole exercise is great fun - at least for one or two listenings, and at least for us musicals fans. It is a shame that the humour is so relentlessly "in", and that the music is not of a higher overall standard in itself, as opposed to just being clever parody. I can't help wondering (or wandering) what anyone not familiar with musical comedy in general, and the "musicals in particular" involved would make of it. Very little, I suspect.

For the rest of us - how about a sequel? Without mentioning any names, there are stacks of other composers and lyricists who thoroughly deserve to be satirised!

Hopefully the music would be of a more consistently high standard, and there would be just a little more humour you didn't have to be a musicals buff to get the point of, though.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best time I've had in a theatre in my life!, October 2, 2004

By 

Linda Unger "musicality" (Medford, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Musical of Musicals (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

And that's saying something, since I work in a musical theatre. I saw the show, and had to buy the CD, it is just too hilarious. Never a dull moment, it never drags. If you know anything about the five composers, you can't help but giggle. Absolutely dead on satire!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT - but only if you know your stuff, March 7, 2004

By 

Jason Flum "critical teacher" (East Windsor, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Musical of Musicals (2003 Original Off-Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

Hola, Aloha, Hello. This CD is absolutely hilarious - but only if you really REALLY REALLY know your musicals. Case in point - I consider myself a pretty well-versed (no pun intended) fan, but I don't particularly like Jerry Herman's shows. As such, I didn't find that section all that funny. The other four sections, however, had me completely cracking up. I have never heard so many allusions thrown into one segment as with the Rodgers and Hammerstein piece. Strains of melody appear and disappear faster than the Phantom in a sewer, so you really need to listen closely. I'd make a "specific overture" about not Sending in the Clones here, but it would just be redundant. If you smiled at all while reading this, buy the CD - you won't be disappointed. So long, farewell....