E. Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen - The Wizard Of Oz: 1998 Cast Recording (Madison Square Garden Cast)
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Free Music Notes for The Wizard Of Oz: 1998 Cast Recording (Madison Square Garden Cast)
Free Music Review: This show was awsome! I saw it live back in 1998...
Hit: 5 Stars
I saw this show live at MSG when it was running back in 1998, Mickey Rooney was so funny. He did a great job, and knowing Judy Garland was the original Dorothy, she would have loved the way he did it. Jessica Grove did a good job, she sang with a sweet tone, her acting ability was good, but could have been better when delivering her lines. Eartha Kitt, did awsome as the wicked Witch, I know some of you might not know her, but during her number "Jitter Bug", she did her Cat perring sound from when she played Catwoman. Back from when she appeared on the 1960's batman tv show. She did it in a spunky way but she still had her nasty side. She gave her character her own attitude twards the wicked witch. The rest of the cast did great, the Scarcrow and Tin Man was great but I did not like how he did his voice it kind of sounding too feminine. I don't know if anyway know Ken Page who played the lion, was Oggie Buggie in Nightmare Before Christmas. That's what it said in the program book. The special effects were out of this world, even the yellow brink road changed colors in a different scene. There was something I did not get until the end, the begining and the end were black/white just like in the movie. That really amazed me. The tornado was crazy, wind everywere even in the audience and the witch flying all over was great, and it kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time. At the end of show was a touching moment when the whole cast sang "Somerwhere over the Rainbow" as there closing number. This show was great from start to finish, recently I just was Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby over this past christmas, it was really a wild ride this was also a classic that is one of my favorites but thats another review for later on. MSG, makes good shows for kids and adults so "There's no business like show bussinss", and it keeps you coming back for more... SJFree Music Review: How could it be better than this?
Hit: 5 Stars
When I was cast as one of the Three Crows (among other things) in my high school's production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, I decided to buy this recording, because I had heard bits and pieces at auditions and it seemed fresh and new, not like carbon-copies from the musical. I was so surprised by it's wonder that I'm still listening to it (even though the show's over!).This is one of the BEST WIZARD OF OZ recordings and the cast members take the well-known music of Arlen and Harburg and make it as entertaining as it could possibly be. The first high point of the recording is Jessica Grove's rendition of "Over the Rainbow," though it's true that this song will always belong to Judy Garland, Grove provides some nice competition! The fun did not stop as I moved on in the recording and encountered the beautiful voice of Judith McCauley as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.
Some other high points on the soundtrack include "If I Only Had a Brain" (with the not-often-heard introduction sung by the Three Crows), "Poppies," "King of the Forest," "Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead! (reprise)," with a short "Winkie Rap" sort of thing interplayed into that song, and, of course, the never-before-released "The Jitterbug" sung by the truly wicked Eartha Kitt. What a fun song! One of the best parts, though, is Judith McCauley's singing of the introduction to Over the Rainbow...
"When all the world is a hopeless jumble, / And the raindrops tumble all around, / Heaven opens a magic lane. // When all the clouds darken up the skyway, / There's a rainbow highway to be found / Leading from your window pane / To a place behind the stars / Just a step beyond the rain..."
This is truly a powerful recording and one of the best that THE WIZARD OF OZ has ever seen.
Free Music Review: Toto-ly Enchanting!
Hit: 5 Stars
This 1998 Cast recording of The Wizard of Oz will steal your heart. Mickey Rooney is charming as the title role and Eartha Kitt is a menacing and sexy witch. Jessica Grove' (Dorothy), only 16 when she recorded the album, has a beautiful voice. She sings Over The Rainbow with a pure and sweet voice, and with such ease. Her performance, onstage as well as on the album, wipes out any memory you may have of Judy Garland's performance. Ms. Grove' is sure to have an extremely promising career...get the album so you can say you heard her when! Ken Page (Lion), Lara Teeter (Scarecrow), and Dirk Lumbard (Tinman) bring you into the story with their perfect portrayals of Dorothy's beloved friends. My kids love this album, my parents love this album, and I obviously LOVE this album!Free Music Review: "The Wizard of OZ" is as magical as ever!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I just saw the touring cast at Washington, D.C. a few days ago and I was astonished. This show totally wipes away the visions of the movie and takes a new life of its own. Earth Kitt works wonders as The Wicked Witch of the West. Though Eartha Kitt is no longer with the show (but is on the CD), Lilliane Montevecchi tops Eartha's performance. Mickey Rooney is so delightful and Jessica Grove makes everybody forget that there was once a young actress named Judy Garland. Ms. Grove is very attractive and very talented. She should go far in life. This CD captures the magic that is the American fairy tale. Our only fairy tale. . .The Wizard of OZ.Free Music Review: Not Quite Perfect
Hit: 5 Stars
The singers in this new recording are all right. especially Eartha Kitt, who delivers an enchanting version of "The Jitterbug." But the music is patchy throughout, and not as fun to listen to as the 1988 LONDON CAST REVIVAL version. Ken Page is an actor who matches Bert Lahr's "LION" but Jessica Grove (Dorothy) tends to stress incorrect syllables at times. The sound is closed in, and Mickey Rooney sounds as if he's speaking into a fan.If you want the right "Oz" CD, get the 1988 LONDON CAST SOUNDTRACK or, of course, the MOTION PICTURE SOUNTRACK DELUXE EDITION.