Customer Reviews

Sweeney Todd: Highlights From The Motion Picture Soundtrack

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WHY would Nonesuch issue the film soundtrack of SWEENEY TODD in two single CD editions, this one containing most -but not all of the score in cheap generic packaging, and a deluxe edition that has all of it along with an 80-page booklet of lyrics.

Why would anyone waste his or her money on this shorter version?? This CD is missing the entire final sequence, the resolution to the story!

Get the deluxe edition, and if you can afford it, the complete original Broadway cast album to see how much was cut in the transition from stage to screen.

As near as I can remember I never saw the "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street Deluxe - Complete Edition" CD when I ordered this "Highlights" CD, because I would have wanted the whole thing. The differences between the two are not that much: the complete version has the Beggar Woman's "Alms Alms" linking Johanna's "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" and Anthony's "Johanna"; the Beadle and the Judge cover "Ladies and Their Sensitivities" before "Pretty Woman"; and the biggest addition is the 10-minute plus "Final Scene." Several of the tracks are a bit longer on the full version as well, so there are those minor differences as well, but the difference is not as significant as what exists between the 2-disc original Broadway cast album and its single disc of highlights. The irony is that I do not get to see the movie version any time soon because the company that manages the local theaters decided Paramount wanted too big of a slice of the ticket price, which is why the one movie I most wanted to see during the holiday break is not showing within 100 miles of where I live. So I have to content myself with the highlights soundtrack (at least until I track down a way of downloading the other tracks).

All things considered "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is my favorite musical, although it is really more of an opera. I read one review of the film that said nobody was going to think that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter would be the finest singers ever to essay the roles, but that their performances were perfectly suited for the big screen (in contrast to the Broadway stage). When I first saw "Sweeney Todd" performed on stage by a touring company the role of Mrs. Lovett was played by June Havok as in "Baby June," the big sister of Gypsy Rose Lee (see "Gypsy"). Havok's coming timing was honed in Vaudeville before Stephen Sondheim was even born, but she sang the role at least a whole octave lower than Angela Landesbury. Consequently, I am open to the idea that Depp is more of a tenor than a baritone. I also had occasion to direct a one-act version of the musical, without the music (change away a few of the rhymes here and there and the songs work as dialogue quite well). So when you listen to the opening track and do not hear anybody singing "Attend the tail of Sweeney Todd," it is a bit disconcerting, but it does set the tone for the drama to follow, even if much of what is being said is being sung.

For me the strength of the show comes at the end of the first act, which concludes with "Pretty Women," "Epiphany," and "A Little Priest," and those are the strongest part of this highlight album as well. Of course, hearing Depp growl his invitations to gentlemen to take a seat in his barber's chair only makes me what to see the movie even more, and I feel that the album will work much better as a reminder of what you see on screen rather than standing on its own merit as a soundtrack album. The same thing applies to Bonham Carter, whose "Worst Pies in London," "Poor Thing," "Wait," and "By the Sea" only reinforce the idea that these performances must be seen and not just heard (I really anticipate this being one of those musicals where you would rather listen to the DVD rather than the CD when you want to hear the songs again). There is little choice to judge Jamie Campbell Bower's Anthony Hope or Jayne Wisener's Johanna, because the primary focus here is clearly on Depp and Bonham Carter, with young Ed Sanders shinning as Toby on the album's concluding track, "Not While I'm Around" (putting him at the younger end of the adolescent spectrum was a good move). We only get a taste of Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin and Sacha Baron Cohen as Pirelli, but it is enough to know that Rickman is matching Depp in emphasizing the drama over the vocals and that Cohen knows full well he is stealing his scene as Pirelli. Did I mention that I really want to see this movie?

Most people who listen to this are very surprised by how good the singing was. I like this album, but if you're going to get it, spring for the full soundtrack. This one is just the highlights.

Not only is the "Highlights" disc missing some of the cues... it's missing any trace of spoken dialogue. This album is only the music track. The lack of dialogue in "Epiphany" flat out ruins it for me.

Nonesuch should only have released the full soundtrack, not a "Highlights" disc that is missing several songs and the accompanying dialogue. When I sold my copy at a used music store, I noticed there were 4 other copies of the "Highlights" on the shelf, but no copies of the complete soundtrack. Looks like I'm not the only one who got gipped. The beauty part is, if you mistakenly buy the Highlights and open it (to play it), you can't return it. You'll have to shell out more cash to get the one you wanted in the first place (which is still ridiculously overpriced).

Who knew Jack Sparrow could sing? And sing so well? I love Johnny Depp. He is my favorite actor so it was a pleasant surprise to hear him sing and do it so well! The soundtrack is a must for any Sweeney Todd fans out there. The songs get stuck in your head. Very catchy tunes. JPK

I just LOVE Johnny Depp!!!!! This is a great movie, although it is very gorry! Johnny has a fantastic voice, as do all the actors that sing in the movie. I just loved all the songs, some even more than others. I looked in stores for the soundtrack, without any luck in finding the soundtrack. I typed in Sweeney Todd Soundtrack on my computer and it brought me to this fantastic website--Amazon.com and I found exactly what I was looking for and OH so, so much more than I could have ever dreamed. I play the soundtrack over, and over, and over again. It is truely an amazing soundtrack. Highly recommended.

I admit I have never seen the Broadway version of Sweeney Todd although I have heard some of the music. With that said I really enjoyed the music & was blown away that Johnny Depp can sing.

I keep reading reviews of Helen Bonham Carter voice being weak or beyond her abilities and some I have read have been down right mean. I liked her voice & thought she was wonderful as Mrs. Lovett.

My favorite track is A Little Priest. I laughed at it when I saw the movie & I love to listen to it now on the soundtrack. I recommend seeing the movie first. The sound track made more sense to me having seen the movie first.

My only complaint is Jayne Wisener. I was grateful she had only the one song (Green Finch & Linnet Bird) her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I actally was cringing during the movie.

I liked the movie but I like the soundtrack more. The movie was very bloody & gorry & I had to shut my eyes more than once. I have to admit though I want to see it again now that I know the music better.

If you are a Broadway snob you are not going to like this version much. If you like interesting music that tells a story, an incredibly sad story I'll admit, you will enjoy the music.

One more recomendation if you can get hold of the origional penny dreadful story of A String of Pearls Sweeny Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street from 1846 read it. It is a totally different story than the musical but I really liked reading the origional story.

i love this cd! if you haven't seen the movie, you'll still enjoy this cd, if you have seen the movie you'll love this cd. sound quality is great. the music follows the storyline and movie. fantastic!!!

have to admit I couldn't get into the latest collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp SWEENEY TODD. Visually I thought the film was classic Burton but the music? Well, that is another can of worms. I can't say I am fan of musicals especially Stephen Sondheim musicals. I decided that I would try to give the music another shot but I didn't want to spend money on the deluxe edition of SWEENEY TODD because there were good chances I wouldn't listen to the cd ever again, so I settled for the highlights edition from my library. For me the music ruined the film for me. It isn't to say that I thought the actors couldn't sing. I thought everyone in the cast did a good job, even the young cast members. I was quite impressed with Jayne Wisener (aka Johanna). She had quite a lovely voice. Unfortunately being able to sing couldn't improve the rancid songs. There were a few tracks I actually did like "Johanna", "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir", and "By the Sea" but overall I found most of the music totally devoid of a decent melody, and often lound and obnoxious.

When I first saw the movie, besides the great performances and story, I was blown away at the richer orchestrations. Absolutely gorgeous. The voices are good as well. Obviously, there are no out-of-the park voices here, but the actors perform them with conviction and nuance, appropriate to their interpretations in the film. I wish they included the brief instrumental interlude between "No Place Like London" and "Worst Pies in London", like they do in the Original B-Way Cast Recording, since it was performed great in film. This highlights version is a great addition to you Sondheim collection.