Customer Reviews

Sondheim: The Stephen Sondheim Album

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Does the world REALLY need another Sondheim compilation? Well, probably not, but Producer Bruce Kimmel's done enough of 'em to know how to do them well. For his new label's inaugural release, Kimmel's chosen to throw a pretty lavish set of arrangements, and an eclectic set of performers at a bunch of mostly well-known Sondheim numbers (at least for fans).

Two of the songs on this album get fascinating new imaginings: Lea Delaria throws some lovely jazz stylings into "Broadway Baby," and Dame Edna does some indescribable things with "Losing My Mind" (pronounced "leuuusing" by the Dame)... easily the "love it or hate it" track on the album.

Unfortunately, the album seems to suffer from overproduction... there's little of the dramatic arc which Kimmel so often effectively puts in his albums. Bryan D'Arcy James has a great voice, but his "Giants in the Sky" doesn't reverberate with anything that the song should evoke. Ditto (surprisingly) with Liz Callaway's "Everybody Says Don't". Brent Barret's "Make the Most of Your Music" (from the much-lambasted London "Follies") sounds delightful, however, as does the charming "A Moment With You" with Teresa Finimore and composer Andrew Lippa (who sings wonderfully), and Norm Lewis adds vocal warmth to "With So Little to be Sure of" and "Who Could Be Blue."

A screamingly funny hidden track moves the album up from a 3-star to a 4-star category. (If you get the album directly from the label, you also get a charming early not-available-anywhere-else song performed by Emily Skinner). Certainly not an essential recording, but a nice one to have.

I was very excited for The Stephen Sondheim Album. I'd loved Bruce Kimmel's previous compilation, The Stephen Schwartz Album, and I knew that this one was going to be just as great. The only difference was that I was heavily exposed to Sondheim before I got the album. This album did not disappoint me. The incredible mix of song and talent made this album enjoyable from the moment I stuck it into my C.D. player. I'd been anticipating certain songs, such as Michele Pawk's incredible and emotionally charged rendition of It Wasn't Meant To Happen, Dorothy Louden's I'm Still Here (very appropriate), and Dame Edna's beyond hilarious rendition of Losing My Mind, all from Follies, but many of the other songs on the album were pleasant surprises. My favorites included Andrew Lippa and Theresa Finnamore singing A Moment With You from Saturday Night (Sondheim's first show which was made into a smashing off-Broadway production last year), Brian d'Arcy James's Giants In the Sky from Into The Woods, and Christiane Noll's tear jerker rendition of Not A Day Goes By from Merrily We Roll Along (paired with You're Gonna Love Tomorrow from Follies). The bonus track is also something to die for. This was a great album for the new Fynsworth Alley label to start out with, and I'm looking forward to many more. Buy this C.D.! Even if you're not a Sondheim fan! After this, you'll be hooked.

Your critic writes that Dame Edna's incredible redndition of "Looooosing My Mind" is "The one skippable track" on this excellent compilation album. Fooey on your lame critic. I bought this album JUST FOR THAT ONE CUT! I enjoyed the entire album certainly, but Edna's magnificent ballad (Never have I been so ready to believe that the singer really is Loooosing her mind!) is the HIGHLIGHT of this melange. Your critic needs to acquire a sense of humor and some taste.