Tele-VISION OF LOVE (DVD edition)

It's been a little while since my last post.  Life has been a bit crazy busy... and I'm going on vacation for a few days!  So... I wanted to write a quick post.  

There have been some AMAZING new releases of TV on DVD in the past couple of weeks including three of my favorite new shows of last year.  This week PUSHING DAISIES and CHUCK came out.  Last week ELI STONE was released.  All three were debuted last year and all three start up soon.  If you missed them now is the perfect time to catch up so you can watch season 2.  You can check out my previous post on PUSHING DAISIES and ELI STONE... and here's a little taste of CHUCK season 1.

Also, one of my favorite movies this past year was the documentary YOUNG@HEART.  This also came out on dvd this past week.  Check out my review of it here.  There are a few flaws in this movie (they try to create cute music videos which don't quite match the tone of the film.)  However, the subject matter is wonderful and extremely moving.  Funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring... I highly recommend this film.

Much more to talk about...  I'll be back in a few days.

Happy Emmy week! 

Dr. Horrible's Spring Awakening.

So much of the music business has changed with the internet the past few years.  These days, digital is king.

I have always loved buying the actual compact disc.  I like to hold the CD in my hands.  I like to look through the linear notes.  I'm usually opening the CD as I leave a store even if I don't have immediate access to a player.  Fighting with the annoying sticker at the top is like unlocking a jewel case treasure chest leading you to a wonderful musical discovery.  When I was little I remember being so excited when a local bank said it was offering  FREE CDs!  (I of course was immediately disappointed once I was properly informed what kind of CD they were offering!)

With hesitation, this past year I've made a gradual switch to downloading (legally) from online.  It's usually a lot cheaper and you have it instantly.  Also, more and more artists are releasing exclusive tracks and even albums online.  I will never completely switch digital.  I still love buying vinyl AND I also work in a music department!!!  Plus, there are certain types of music that I still "need" on the CD format.  These include favorite artists that I already have a collection of and Broadway Cast Recordings (I want the libretto.)  These I will copy into my i-Tunes library and add to my ipod.  

However, I have found some great music online.  Let me know or leave a comment if you are interested in more info on some of these (LEGAL) sights.  I can get free downloads for recommending a friend...  (I promise that isn't the purpose of this post!)

The purpose is to tell you about two exciting new releases that came out this past Tuesday exclusively on i-tunes.

First is the "Official" soundtrack to the blog-tastical musical "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog."  Check out my past post about this wonderful piece of entertainment.  The creator Joss Whedon is set to release the dvd (with the soundtrack and specially written musical commentary!) before Christmas.  For now, this is the only way to get the soundtrack (besides inferior bootleg versions that fans have released online.)

The other wonderful release is from an i-tunes series called "i-Tunes LIVE from SoHo."   The cast of the Broadway sensation "Spring Awakening" performed selections from th show at the Apple Store in SoHo.  The songs sound wonderfully raw on this live recording.  They are performed by composer Duncan Shiek, original cast members, as well as "Weeds" star Hunter Parrish (who has gotten great reviews as the current "Melchior" and sounds wonderful on "Left Behind.")  

This is the first Broadway show that has been featured on the i-Tunes series.

In other "Spring Awakening" news.... 

Much like "Wicked: The Grimmerie" (a book about the making of the Broadway musical "Wicked"), "Spring Awakening" has also released a book.  It is called "Spring Awakening: In The Flesh."  It's designed to look like an old vandalized book and contains photographs, costume and set sketches, drafts of the songs, and the entire libretto.

Finally...

Kyle Riabko (who was "Melchior" before Hunter Parrish joined the cast) is currently starring in the touring production.  He has been performing as a singer/guitarist professionally since 15 and has an awesome debut CD.  Check out his website for his great music.  

Here's a different take on the haunting "Left Behind" that he performed this summer at Joe's Pub in NYC.  

Help Wanted...

Labor Day post - part 3 (last one!)

Although there are many comedies about the work force, here's a little favorite gem of 1997 called "Clockwatchers." 

This indie film stars Toni Collette, Parkey Posey, Lisa Kudrow, and Alanna Ubach (amazing cast!) as 4 temps working in a mundane office.  The movie is awkwardly funny (ala "the Office") while also showing a sadness and loneliness in Toni Collette's character as she tries to figure out what she wants to do in life. 

Here's the preview.

9 to 5

Labor Day Post - Part 2

I'm very excited for the debut of Dolly Parton as a musical theater composer! 

 "9 to 5 - The Musical" is about to start previews in LA and is scheduled to open on Broadway at the Mariott Marquis next March.

Here is the WONDERFUL CAST - 

MEGAN HILTY (Glinda in "Wicked") plays Doralee Rhodes (the Dolly Parton role)

STEPHANIE J. BLOCK (Elphaba in "Wicked" and "The Boy from Oz") is divorcee Judy Berny (the Jane Fonda role) 

MARC KUDISCH ("Millie" and the revivals of "Assassins" and "Bells are Ringing") is Franklin Hart Jr. - the sexist boss.

...and for the first time in a Broadway Musical...  ALLISON JANNEY ("Hairspray" film, the West Wing) as Violet Newstead (the Lily Tomlin role.)

Here a couple of clips about the show.

CAN'T WAIT!

To tide you over until then you HAVE to check out an AMAZING cover of "9 to 5."  It's by bluegrass sweetheart Alison Krauss (who used to sing backup for Dolly) and is featured on a Dolly Tribute Album called "Just Because I'm A Woman - Songs of Dolly Parton"

Also here's a great documentary called "For The Love of Dolly" about fans who cannot live without Dolly in their life.

Work It!

Happy Labor Day!  

There have been many movies, shows, and songs about finding a job, losing a job, loving or hating your job, and even taking your job and shoving it!

And... a broadway musical that is perfect to talk about this Labor Day...

Based on Studs Terkel's collection of interviews of real working people... the 1978 musical "Working" celebrates everyday working men and women.  With songs by James Taylor, Stephen Schwartz, Craig Carnelia and others, the show is a series of monologues and songs about all the work force.

In 1982, American Playhouse broadcast an all star cast performing the musical.  Here are a couple of selections.

Here is Patti LaBelle singing about "Cleanin' Women"

Here Rita Moreno sings about being a waitress... telling us "It's an Art."

This past year we saw a WONDERFUL "re-working" (pun intented) of the show by the Asolo Rep Theatre in Sarasota, FL.  

It may have a possible transfer to broadway.  They reduced the cast to just 6 performers... and updated the songs including some new ones by Lin-Manuel Mirana who wrote and stars in the current Broadway hit "In The Heights."  The coolest thing about the show is that the set had 2 levels of dressing rooms and the orchestra on a third level.  The actors were "working" throughout the show.  Coming into the theater you saw them stretching, warming up, getting into costume, putting on their mic pack and throughout the show you saw costume changes assisted by the stage manager.  After the show they bowed and went back to their onstage dressing rooms and the audience went on their way.  Here is a promo from that production.  It has a brief clip of one of my favorite songs from the show "Just a Housewife"

The original 1978 soundtrack and the 1982 televised production are available on cd and dvd.  Hopefully the new production will get a possible broadway transfer.  I know that it is going to be in San Diego next year.

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!