Sondheim Sings, Vol. 2: 1946-1960

Stephen Sondheim | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: P.S. Classics
• ASIN: B000B7HZL4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,712 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The second volume of Sondheim Sings is an even greater discovery than the first. While that was a fascinating glimpse into the composer's private recordings of early versions of very familiar songs, volume 2 goes back to 1946 (and earlier), when Stephen Sondheim was a precocious 16-year-old writing a show called By George (which, as legend has it, Sondheim presented to Oscar Hammerstein II, who told him, "It's terrible, and I'll tell you why," thus propelling an eventually brilliant career). The most familiar song to listeners will be "Do I Hear a Waltz," written as the title song of a show composed by Richard Rodgers, but "Pour le Sport" is a fun romp. Even more interesting are two wildly ambitious list songs, "A Star Is Born" and "Ten Years After," that suggest the young Sondheim's cleverness was almost matched by his fascination with popular culture. There's also some variation on the "living room tapes" theme, with a 1948 radio broadcast of an instrumental combo playing a lovely waltz, "How Do I Know?" that foreshadows his film score for Stavisky.

As a singer, Sondheim is closer to Glynis Johns than Bernadette Peters, but he has the enthusiasm to match his vigorous piano-playing. The private-home recordings sound remarkably good, and the booklet is amazingly detailed, providing exactly the historical background required for this type of material, all the lyrics, and annotations of every reference in the list songs mentioned earlier. And again, proceeds from the recording will go to Young Playwrights Inc., which Sondheim founded to support playwrights under 18. --David Horiuchi

Product Description

The second volume of PS Classics’ acclaimed SONDHEIM SINGS series, like the first, consists of newly remastered demos from the Tony, Grammy, Oscar and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer-lyricist’s private collection. Volume II covers the years 1946 to 1960 and includes rare songs Sondheim wrote in college, for early unproduced musicals, and for the amusement of friends and colleagues in the 1950’s.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Sondheads only, I assume..., December 19, 2005

By 

Dvarg (Drammen Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sondheim Sings, Vol. 2: 1946-1960 (Audio CD)

This recording is really great. But I doubt it has relevance for any other than us hard core fans.

Most of the songs are really good. Some are unexpectedly tuneful, some are literally breathtaking. Most are witty and touching, as one expects from Sondheim songs.

One highlight is the incredible list song A Star Is Born, which seems to go on forever and forever, constantly topping itself in inventiveness. It has to be heard to be believed!

I recommend this CD to people who are more than average interrested in Sondheim music. For people who ae not yet hard core fans of his, I recommend becoming one before purchasing this CD.

5.0 out of 5 stars Share this with a friend, December 12, 2008

By 

Lillerenee - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sondheim Sings, Vol. 2: 1946-1960 (Audio CD)

....if your friend is a musical theatre lover, and a lover of Sondheim. They will be crazy for it. It is simple, charming; and a recording of the roots that brought us so many of Sondheim's greatest hits later in his life.

9 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very intersting, but ..., November 14, 2005

By 

Terry Carroll "Broadway CD purchaser" (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sondheim Sings, Vol. 2: 1946-1960 (Audio CD)

Well, you'd never buy this for Stephen Songheim's singing voice! This probably should be the first volume of the series, since it has reviews of his earlier work, but the songs here are very obscure indeed. Almost all of them are student works, or works written for friends etc. They are really interesting to hear especially as a historical curiosity, (although I don't think I will be playing the CD again without skipping the cut "10 years old" which is basically just annoying).
I found that after a few hearings the cd really grows on you. It is not surprising however that these musicals in general were never produced, if these were the only performances heard by backers etc.
P.S. classics should consider having professional performing musicians perform the never before recorded songs to get a better idea of their merit.