Customer Reviews

Songs From an Unmade Bed

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

 

 

I saw this show at the NYTW, and never dreamed that they would record it- but they did! And the recording is lovely. Michael Winther has such a fabulous voice- so smooth and expressive. Songs not to miss, IMO- "Perfect, Finite", "I Want to Go Out Tonight", "Spring". This is a lovely addition to any showtunes collection.

It's hard to say anything but, everything here is wonderful. The performer (excellent), the lyrics, and the music. This CD gets listened to time after time--the songs are sublime.

Having said that: the music is not always of the "hummable" type, if that is what you are after--there is a modicum of edgy dissonance, at times. And the subject matter is adult (although lyrics are almost never explicit--I can think of only one double entendre)--the personal reflections, often relating to sex, of a gay man. But many, of both genders, single and coupled, and of all sexual orientations, likely will find resonance with the music, or otherwise will find the inner personal reflections of another human being of interest.

With that caveat, highly recommended, at 4-1/2 stars. I think that many will be pleasantly surprised by this gem.

An edit, almost 3 years later: I'd raise the recommendation here to 5 stars at this point, and highly recommend and commend the singer, Michael Winther; he and his performance have brought great listening joy.

This is a marvelous song cycle--laugh-out-loud funny, heartfelt, touching, poignant. The lyrics are uniformly brilliant, and the outstanding work of eighteen different composers fits together seamlessly. Michael Winther's performance couldn't be better. The musical arrangements are beautiful. Overall, an extraordinary blending of extraordinary talent.

Campbell has created a work about gay love, relationships, and experiences that is as genuine as the best work about straight relationships. I cannot recommend this CD too highly.

SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED is one of my favorite discs to listen to when doing "mindless" tasks, or taking a walk (preferably not too close to other people, so I can sing along). It's especially nice to get to hear music from an array of new-ish composers in the mix, and the lyrics, by Mark Campbell, are wonderful. Friends who saw the show in New York raved about it, and I wish someone would do a production of it in my town. It would be a great showcase for the right singer/actor, and the orchestrations, while excellent, are modest enough in demand that they could probably be reproduced even by a relatively small theater company. Anyway, some favorite tracks (there are none I don't like): "Perfect, Finite"; "He Never Did That Before"; "The Other Other Woman"; "I Want to Go Out Tonight"; and "The Night You Decided to Stay."

Added August, 2010: Good news for North Texas folks or visitors: Dallas's Theatre Three will be presenting this show from September 3rd through October 3rd this year, in their downstairs (Theatre Too) series. Hope they do a good job with it. Anyone seen productions elsewhere?

I don't know how I heard of this CD, but I bought it. I agree with the other reviewers that the singer has a good voice, but a good voice is not enough to hold a show together. I find the songs depressing and weird. It sounds a lot like someone not happy with life and trying to cope by singing sad songs about bad things. In all honesty, I did like the one about "Where did he get that new routine" as the music was a bit jazzy, but still the lyrics were suspicious about him fooling around. I cannot imagine myself ever listening to this CD again. I am sorry I bought it.