Company - A Musical Comedy (1970 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Company - A Musical Comedy (1970 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Delightful
Hit: 5 Stars
So what if this doesn' t feel like a Major Sondheim production? It's such a perfectly realized musical, a marriage of form and function. No one provides better musical "characters" than Sondheim, with each of these players given an inventive, melodic, and utterly catchy tune that captures who they are, and hooks you completely. This particular recording features a dynamite performance by Elaine Stritch (on Ladies Who Lunch) and elsewhere. The second performance of Being Alive is nice, but not essential.
Free Music Review: Still a Masterpiece, Over 30 Years Later
Hit: 5 Stars
"Company" stands the test of time as one of the greatest pieces of musical theatre ever produced, and the cast album preserves the most innovative element of the show, its glorious score by Stephen Sondheim. The music has not dated at all, and it still has a great deal of wise (if a bit cynical) things to say about negotiating the relationship minefield. The dazzling lyrics, the gorgeous music-- Sondheim's score has improved with age, and his melodic gift comes of age in this show.The perfect cast was assembled for this great show. The great Dean Jones sings wonderfully, despite the pain of his ongoing divorce (perhaps because of it). His version of "Being Alive" is raw and fantastic. As a point of comparison, Larry Kert's cut of this song is included on the CD, and sounds great (rest in peace, Larry).
The phenomenal supporting cast includes the immortal Elaine Stritch, whose glorious foghorn of a voice fills "The Ladies Who Lunch" with whiskey-soaked rage and sarcasm. Beth Howland's dizzy "Getting Married Today" still dazzles (interesting bit of trivia-- this show introduced her to her long-time love, Charles Kimbrough). Pamela Myers' "Another Hundred People" is theatrical magic. The mixture of acting singers (like Sondheim stalwarts Teri Ralston and Merle Louise) and singing actors (Barbara Barrie, for example) gives the recording a witty, gritty edge. And the ensemble's performance of the wonderful title number and "Side by Side by Side" is peerless.
This is a great show-- and this is an important recording. The meticulous clean-up of the master for the CD is thorough and well done. For anyone who likes musical theatre and who wants to collect and listen to the seminal works, this must be on your list.
Free Music Review: A Sondheim masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
COMPANY is one of the greatest musicals to emerge from the 70's, which proved to be a rather thin decade for Broadway and the musicals.COMPANY is a "concept musical" in the best sense of the word, where the songs act more as vignettes than form a scene-to-scene story. The cast, headed by Dean Jones and Elaine Stritch, has never been truly bettered.
Dean Jones, in his brief time as Bobby, displayed for the first time his rich and beautiful singer voice. After years playing the goofy leads of Disney comedies like "The Love Bug", "Monkeys Go Home" and "That Darn Cat", Jones was established as a Broadway star to be reckoned with. His renditions of "Someone is Waiting" as well as the life-affirming "Being Alive" are fantastic.
The supporting cast is headed by Elaine Stritch as Joanne, the sardonic older woman who sings the masterpiece "The Ladies who Lunch" (still yet to be equalled). Beth Howland, as kooky Amy, sings the difficult patter-sing "Getting Married Today" with gusto. Pamela Myers, in her Tony-nominated role as Marta, sings a mean rendition of "Another Hundred People". The rest of the cast; Barbara Barrie, Charles Kimbrough, Merle Louise, Charles Cunningham, Teri Ralston, George Coe, Steve Elmore, Charles Braswell, Donna McKechnie, Susan Browning, Cathy Corkill, Carol Gelfand, Marilyn Saunders and Dona D. Vaughn; all sing with gusto.
Stephen Sondheim certainly created what is considered one of his most polished and questioning scores; including "Barcelona", "Have I Got a Girl For You", "Sorry-Grateful", "Poor Baby" and the dance arrangement for "Tick-Tock", which provided a showcase for the galvanising dance talents of Donna McKechnie (who would go on to create the role of Cassie in the original cast of A CHORUS LINE).
Free Music Review: This show is the reason I worship Sondheim
Hit: 4 Stars
Incredble recording. Though I'm a bigger fan of the 1995 revival cast regarding, this is where it all began. Sondheim's lyrics are truly amazing. the feelings and emotions that they invoke make this musical stand out and take its place amongst the best and most important shows in history.Free Music Review: Bobby Baby
Hit: 5 Stars
Company, in my opinion, is the greatest musical ever written. The music is incredible, and the book is perfect(something that made me detract a star from Follies). Dean Jones is superb, but ELAINE STRITCH RULES!!! She is AMAZING in Ladies Who Lunch. I have memorized most of the songs, including Being Alive and Another Hundred People. Another Hundred People is probably my favorite song, but Side by Side by Side is 2nd. BUY THIS CD! If not for the songs, just get it to hear Elaine Stritch. BUY IT!