Elton John And Tim Rice's Aida (1999 Concept Album) [CAST RECORDING]

Elton John (Performer), Craig Young (Performer), John Bradbury (Performer), Philip Dukes (Performer), Simon Fischer (Performer), Wilfred Wilson Gibson (Performer), Christopher Hooker (Performer), Peter Lale (Performer), Martin Loveday (Performer), Anthony Pleeth (Performer), Mary Scully (Performer), Katie Wilkinson (Performer), Clem Clempson (Performer), Juliana Gallagher (Performer), Shawn Pelton (Performer), Andy Snitzer (Performer), Roger Frisch (Performer), Sabina Thatcher (Performer), Merilee Klemp (Performer), Laura Sewell (Performer), Jill Dell'Abate (Performer), Julien Barber (Performer), Jeanne LeBlanc (Performer), Ann Leathers (Performer), Diane Lesser (Performer), Caryl Paisner (Performer), Paul Peabody (Performer), Stacey Shames (Performer), Mark Shuman (Performer), David Finck (Performer), James Taylor (Artist), Jimmy Johnson (Artist), Juliet Haffner (Artist), Regis Iandiorio (Artist), Tony Kadleck (Artist), Elena Barere (Artist), Virgil Blackwell (Artist)

Product Details

• Performer: Elton John, Craig Young, John Bradbury, Philip Dukes, Simon Fischer, et al.
• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B00000IFTH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,326 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Following hot on the heels of their enormously successful collaboration for The Lion King, Elton John and Tim Rice have once again culled their talents to create another Disney contemporary musical, based this time on Verdi's opera Aida. The album, recorded by some of the biggest talents of pop, country, and R&B, features songs from the stage show, which recounts the well-known tale of a love triangle further complicated by slavery, royalty, and the armed forces. John duets to great effect with country crooner LeAnn Rimes, the enchanting Janet Jackson, and the lovely Lulu of To Sir with Love fame. Lush and lively, the soundtrack hits a hoot of a (decidedly not highbrow) high point with the infectious pop of the Spice Girls warbling the merits of undergarments on "My Strongest Suit" ("Always wear underwear/Anytime, anywhere"). Lenny Kravitz funks things up with "Like Father Like Son." Shania Twain's husky emoting makes a fine pop ballad of the brief "Amneris' Letter." "Not Me" chronicles the goodness of love as Boyz II Men coo dreamily, their harmonies nestling into John's sumptuous score. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great CD... Depending On What You're Looking For, March 26, 1999

By	M. Yee (Caifornia, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have to be honest... I bought this CD with the high hopes that it might come across more as a *cast album* that just happens to feature popular artists, as opposed to a soundtrack-ish hodgepodge of musical artists performing songs. While--to my personal disappointment--it was more the latter than the former, I have to give much credit to the CD as an album. Great Elton John songs are captured on the disc with an impressive list of pop genre performers (including Sting, Janet Jackson, James Taylor, and Boyz II Men) and a couple of singers from the actual stage show run (Heather Headley and Sherie Scott).

My main gripes have to do with my wish for an actual cast recording. While I knew that this wasn't going to be anything near a cast recording, I still hoped it wouldn't come across too "pop-ish". So, if you're like me and prefer pure Cast Recordings, you might want to wait until the cast recording is actually released. But if you're curious about the material in this coming-soon-to-Broadway stage show, then buy this CD. Great performances abound, that's for sure.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For What It's Worth, March 24, 2000

By	Mark S. (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

I've seen Aida in its try-out period in Chicago, twice. I love the show and had to have the music. However, this concept CD is nothing like the music heard in the show. I enjoy the CD because it is the only way I can hear the music, but I can't wait for the cast soundtrack to come out. If I hadn't seen the show I probably would like the CD better than I do.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What show were you watching Alan?, March 20, 2000

By	Mark (New York) - See all my reviews

I hope to not turn this into a dueling reviews page, but I too saw the March 16 preview of AIDA on Broadway and cannot fathom Alan's response, particularly in light of the overwhelming audience response to the passion and power of the performers. The music for the stage version is significantly stronger than this album, but I feel that comparing live theater and a concept album is a ridiculous endeavor. If this brings more people to the theater and gets more people interested in Aida, more power to it! I have never witnessed the cheering and ovation I saw during this performance. The cast album is expected in June. I would wait for that to get a true feel for the power of Heather Hedley, Adam Pascal and Cherie Rene Scott.