Gypsy, Tramps, and Thieves

It was a good "New Release Tuesday."  So much that I have to report my musical/movie findings in 2 posts.

I will entitle this one "GYPSY, TRAMPS, and THIEVES!" *

*(this post has nothing to do with Cher... but I still thought this was a great picture!)

First... GYPSY...

The 2008 cast recording of GYPSY came out today, or as the cd says 

"PATTI LUPONE - GYPSY."

I saw this production in previews in March and as I already reported was not crazy about Ms. Lupone's performance.  I think there is something wrong with me because everyone (reviewers, crazy theatre fans...  "Maddy for Patti" -- I just made group up) are going crazy over her performance.  I just felt she was too self aware.  Rather than her becoming Mama Rose, it was Mama Rose as played by Broadway Legend Patti Lupone.  

What makes the show, and the reason why you should buy the recording is the performances of all the supporting actresses (the ones whose names are not bigger than the title of the musical.)

Laura Benanti (Gypsy Rose Lee) and Leigh Ann Larkin (Dainty June) are a revelation.  Their numbers on the cd are wonderful.  Leigh Ann Larkin MADE the show for me.  Her "Dainty June and Her Farmboys/Broadway" number is hilarious (even on the recording!) "If Momma Was Married" (my favorite number in this production) is WONDERFUL!  It feels totally reinvented to me.

Here are the two of them performing at a Tony preview concert.  (The video keeps annoyingly skipping, but it still is great footage.  Also check out an audio version.

I also loved "You Gotta Get A Gimmick" although I don't feel it totally transferred on cd (Miss Electra's scene stealing turn is very visual.)

Here's a HILARIOUS (and pretty darn accurate) imitation of Patti!

I don't mean to totally trash the very talented Ms. Lupone (love a lot of her recordings.)  She does have some nice moments... and a great thing about this recording is that she and costar Boyd Gaines (and Baby June and Louise) have recorded a handful of numbers cut from the original 1959 production.  Barnes and Noble also offers an additional disc of some incidental instrumental reprises and bits of dialogue.

TRAMPS...

Okay... so this came out last week, but I'm going with a theme here!  Season 1 of "Gossip Girl" is out on DVD and Season 2 begins on the CW next Monday!  This is DEFINITELY a guilty pleasure.  I only started watching this show at the end of the season, but I was hooked and caught up with all the drama during summer re-runs.

The "high school students" are nothing like I remember high school being like, and hopefully are not a representation of what school is like today.  Drugs, sex, rock and roll should be AFTER you take you SAT's!  Yet, it's a wonderful blend of over the top drama between pretty boys, "trampy" girls trying to change their ways, and other girls wanting to climb the social ladder to enter into "Tramp-dom." 

THIEVES...

The 15th Anniversay Edition of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" came out on DVD and Blu-ray today as well!  This is the wonderful tale of Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who "finds Christmas" and steals it.  Actually he tries to take over the duties of Santa, but the two holidays don't quite blend.

This edition has Tim's first stop-motion short "Vincent," the live action short (uncut) "Frankenweenie" and tons of extra features about the making of the film.  It also includes a digital version of the film for your ipod!  

Best of all you can watch it on Halloween AND Christmas!

EXTRA NOTE - 2 years ago they came out with a Special Edition Soundtrack with covers by Fall Out Boy, Fiona Apple, Panic! At the Disco, and even Marilyn Manson!  These are GREAT renditions!

and ANOTHER cover album "Nightmare Revisited" is coming out Sept. 30th with such artists as Flyleaf, The Polyphonic Spree, and Plain White T's.

Antique shopping...

When critics compare a jazz singer to Ella Fitzgerald, I'm either in audio love... or am extremely disappointed. 

In 2006 Robin McKelle released her debut "Introducing Robin McKelle" and I was a very happy man...

This album opens with a swingin' "Something's Gotta Give," turns "Bei Mir Bist Du Shon" into a Cha-Cha, and is wonderful until it closes with a delightful "On the Sunny Side of the Street."

Robin definitely is not an Ella knockoff, but her timber in certain songs echoes the great Miss Fitzgerald around the late 50's and 60's.

This week she released her sophomore album "Modern Antique," and I was in love again!  What a lovely second date!  The new album has a bit more of an edge to it but still has a great nostalgia quality throughout.  "Modern Antique" is a PERFECT title.  

Favorite new track for this "Cover Lover?"  .... a FABULOUS rendition of "Abracadabra" originally by The Steve Miller Band!

Hear selections from her debut here and from both albums on her myspace page.

Also here is a great review 0n the new album from allaboutjazz.com.

Thanks Robin for some wonderful music.  Can't wait for our third date!

OBAMA - The Musical!

Here is a great clip from "Don't Quit Your Night Job" an after hours sketch comedy review in New York.  It features four regular stars and a rotating cast of Broadway's Best.

Here is Norm Lewis (currently King Triton in "The Little Mermaid") as Obama singing "Change."

Speaking of "change," here is Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson  singing a stunning rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come."  

Cheyenne can currently be seen in "Xanadu." He also was in "All Shook Up" and this summer's "Damn Yankees" at New York City Center.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My JONAS Brother!

This post I'd like to take a look at SIBLINGS making music together.  Here are two new releases and an old favorite.

Yes, you may be sick of them even before you've heard a note.  Their faces are plastered all over teeny-bopper magazines, back to school supplies and clothes, and the Disney Channel.  Their acting in the Disney Channel movie "Camp Rock" was pretty awful.  (This comes from a guy who admits he is super pumped for "High School Musical 3")

Yet their new cd release "A Little Bit Longer" is pretty darn good.  Often compared to "Hanson," these guys write their own music and play their own instruments.  On this new album they still appeal to Teeny-Bopper USA, and yet have advanced musically.  Traces of bands like Maroon 5 and Fall Out Boy can be found throughout the cd.  There's even a wonderful Jack Johnson-esque toon called "Love Bug."  It's a fun up-tempo album except the very touching title track written by youngest Jonas Nick about his battle with diabetes.

Here's the music video from the first single "Burnin' Up"

 

Here's a funny video of them meeting "the Queen of England" last year!

Another really cool sibling band is "The Bridges."  They are comprised of three sisters, one brother, and one cousin.  Produced by Matthew Sweet, they are heavily influenced by groups like Fleetwood Mac and the Mama's and the Papa's.  My favorite thing about this group is their amazing "sunny" harmonies.

Here is the music video from their single "Pieces."

Here is a short video of them rehearsing vocals...

Speaking of amazing harmonies, one of the best examples of sibling harmonies at their best can be found on the album "Sibling Revelry" by cabaret stars Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway.  This is one of my favorite live albums and an amazing cabaret album.  Liz has been in many broadway shows and has a beautiful clear soprano sound, Ann was in "Swing" and is an amazing jazz chanteuse.  She also wrote the theme song for "The Nanny" which she and her sister sang!  Their blend together is absolutely amazing.  They both have numerous solo albums where the other duets on a track.  This is their only full duet album.

Here are two videos of them singing a "Super-Long Medley" of all the songs their friends said "two sisters should sing."  This footage is from a Rosie Family Cruise.  A similar version is on their album.

O.K. this blog is getting a little long... I wanted to talk about Rufus Wainwright and his sister Martha, but I'll wait until another time.  Besides, I could write a whole post on Rufus. 

However, I can't end until I give a shout out to the amazing sound of the Carpenters. Here is some amazing live footage from early in their career shot during an Australian concert.

Speaking of siblings, my sister (who is a wonderful singer) is about to have a baby!  Her due date for their first child is in about a week and a half.  I'm super excited!  Uncle Michael is ready to spoil the baby with all kinds of music.  Look out Osmonds, a new family band may be in the making.

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

The BAD BOYS of Summer 2008

1. THE JOKER - Heath Ledger gave an absolutely brilliant performance in The Dark Knight.  A very different take from Jack Nicholson's iconic turn in 1988.  Loved that this incarnation didn't have a back story... he was just crazy.  Also loved that his makeup was described as "War Paint."

(Did NOT love Christian Bales "Batman Voice.")

2. DR. HORRIBLE - Joss Whedon (Buffy/Firefly) has created a brilliant Sci-Fi web musical called "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog."  It stars Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Waitress), Felicia Day, and the brilliant Neil Patrick Harris.  I have loved Neil's voice since hearing him in the concert version of "Sweeney Todd" a few years back, but he outdoes himself here as the lovable  Super-Villian-In-Training Dr. Horrible.  (He also was on Broadway "Assassins" and was in "Rent.") You can purchase the 3 part mini-musical on i-tunes.  Each section is about 15 minutes.  It will be the best $3.99 you spend this summer.

 

Check it out HERE.

Here's a the official preview.



Here's my favorite number.

They are releasing a soundtrack and a dvd with a musical commentary later this year!

and finally...

3. The SINGING of Pierce Brosnan - SORRY!  Mamma Mia was a slight disappointment.  It meant well, but I really think it should have been adapted by someone other than the stage director.  Meryl Streep was very likable and really gave her all, but the staging and overall tone of the movie needed to be more campy in my mind.  It's a hard balance because there also is the  story of a mother and daughter that should be very touching.  THAT worked for me because of the performances of Meryl and Amanda Seyfried, but Pierce should NOT have been singing... when he started warbling the audience I was with burst into laughter.  That totally takes you away from the movie.  Besides some of Meryl's numbers, I thought the film REALLY worked when the cast was messing around over the credits in their Abba-esque outfits.

I know a lot of people are loving the movie.  It was fun, but I just wanted much more.