Customer Reviews

The All Night Strut! (1997 Studio Cast)

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

 

 

The songs are all great...just take a look at the list. If you had to try to boil down this era of popular music into one short show, this shows pulls it off pretty darn well. The songs are all delightful, from well-known gems to more obscure pieces. The singers are very good too, with their harmonious voices putting new spins on some songs.

The only weakness is that the soundtrack only features piano, bass & drum. When a theatre group presents the show, they get the music for these three instruments, plus some brass and woodwind, for a much fuller sound. I miss that on the CD. But otherwise, it's a blast!

These are songs from the days when you could understand the lyrics. Some were silly, some deeply romantic, and some remind us how we used to cope with war and turmoil. They are very lively and the performers really catch the mood of the 30s and 40s. A 13-year-old neighbor borrowed my copy and I couldn't get it back so I had to buy another. When the group performed locally, a local newspaper critic who is a nasty curmudgeon couldn't find anything bad to say about them and even admitted to leaving the show with a smile on his face. The disc is an excellent representation of their show.

The melodies and rhythms are strong and the trio of musicians behind the two men and two women singers give a wonderful blend of the kind of harmonies performed in the first half of this century.

I think the original cast recording - from Cleveland Ohio's Playhouse Square Association - may still be available. Look into it - If you like this recording, you might want to hear the original cast that actually created the clever vocal arrangements that made this show swing.