Wicked: 5th Anniversary Special Edition [CAST RECORDING]

Wicked

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 28, 2008)
• Original Release Date: October 28, 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Decca Broadway
• ASIN: B001G788Q4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,026 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A COLLECTOR S MUST HAVE!
The 5th Anniversary Special Edition (complete with rare photographs and a special WICKED history timeline) contains two CDs and two companion booklets. CD1 is the Grammy award winning original cast recording. CD2 features 8 NEVER BEFORE HEARD bonus tracks, including newly recorded pop duet by superstars LeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem; pop recording by WICKED star Kerry Ellis arranged and produced by Queen's Brian May; A rare song cut from the initial backers "workshop" of WICKED, performed by original workshop actress Stephanie Block and composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz on the piano; tracks from the German and Japanese language productions of the show. Companion booklet includes wonderful photos and new essay by Stephen Schwartz.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This CD is positiveley.....emerald!, October 28, 2008

By	Ari Magen (elkins park PA) - See all my reviews

This contains 2 discs. The first disc is the Original Broadway Cast,which won a Grammy Award. The music and lyrics were composed by Stephen Schwartz. The cd features Idina Menzel as Elphaba, Kristen Chenoweth as Galinda, Norbert Leo Butz as Fiyero, and the rest of the Wicked Cast.

The second disk has 8 tracks. LeAnn Rimes, Delta Goodrem, Kerry Ellis, Stephanie J. Block, and Idina Menzel; lend their voices to 3 remixed Wicked songs. 1 recording, Making Good, featuring Stephanie J. Block, is a never before heard original audio of her singing a song while working with Stephen Schwartz.Idina Menzel sings a fantastic remixed version of Defying Gravity that will give you chills.

The rest of the songs are from the German cast recording (As Long As Youre Mine, No Good Deed) and the Japanese cast recording (Dancing Through Life, Popular). Hearing these beloved songs translated is quite entertaining.

The case is beautifully redesigned with new pictures and a new booklet in addition to the original booklet. It also has a Wicked time line on the case chronicling the musicals last 5 years.

This is A MUST for any die hard wicked fan!!!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the driver saw Green and thought it meant Go., November 6, 2008

By	Papichulo (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I downloaded the new songs from iTunes since I already own the album and didn't want to have two copies. Also with the iPod I never really look at CD booklets anymore. I'll be talking about the new songs on Disc 2

1. "For Good" is a beautifully redone here with LeeAnn Rimes and Delta Goodrem. I've never heard of the latter singer but she sings very nice. I could hear this song on Adult Contemporary stations around the country. This version does not stray much from the original Broadway version.
2. "I'm Not That Girl" is sung by Kerry Ellis. This version is more "rocky" with a guitar and drum heard throughout. An extra line at the end of the song "I'm gonna pray that maybe someday I'll be that girl" I'm not sure how I feel about that. I suppose as a stand alone track it works, but in the musical, Elphaba does not believe her and Fiyero could be together at that point.
3. "Making Good" by Stephanie J Block the original Elphaba before she was let go and replaced by Idina, and then later rehired. This song is an early version of "The Wizard and I" (One of My Favs) in fact the last verse is almost exactly like "The Wizard and I." It's simply Stephanie and the piano. It's a great song and nice to hear what it originally came out as.
4. Tracks 4-7 are in other languanges, the music is exactly the same as the original cast CD
8. "Defying Gravity" is a remix is taken from a Maxi CD Single released by Idina Menzel, it's available here at Amazon (1 radio mix and 5 remixes!). The remix is nice, but Idina's vocals were re-recorded and in my opinion don't have as much oomph as the Broadway musical vocal. Also it does NOT feature the adorable Kristin. But if you want to dance this track is very danceable.

Can't wait til they make a movie of this wonderful Musical. I saw it in Chicago August 2006 and liked it so much I got a part-time job at the theater just so I could see it over and over and over again. For me Kristy Cates, Kristoffer Cusick and Stacie Morgan Lewis are THE cast of Wicked.

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend, June 2, 2009

A Kid's Review

Product was as described. Have thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack and looking forward to seeing the production soon. Highly recommend even whether seeing the production or not.