Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey - Grease: A New 50's Rock 'N Roll Musical - The Original Broadway Cast Album
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Free Music Notes for Grease: A New 50's Rock 'N Roll Musical - The Original Broadway Cast Album
Free Music Review: I've found my Grease
Hit: 5 Stars
just heard the original Broadway cast soundtrack of Grease, and I couldn't believe it. It was so funny, so original, so interesting. lol, they should really make a movie out of this.
Don't get me wrong--I'm not quite that pretentious, yet--I always liked Grease; I was an American teenager for crying out loud. I played Jan in our school's production, and felt very cool for doing so. But, having the soundtrack on cassette for years, the only songs I've ever consistently listened to are "Those Magic Changes" sung by the Sha-Na-Nas, "Beauty School Dropout", and "Stranded at the Drive-In" (so wonderfully silly). And I could never figure out what was so "monumental" about the score as a whole.
So, by accident, my library gave me the original Broadway cast (I was trying to get the movie soundtrack for the Sha-Na-Nas numbers) and I gave it a listen. It was so freaking funny. All these years, it never occurred to me that Grease was supposed to be good for more than a few chuckles. I actually laughed out loud at the songs. I was in a constant state of "Oh. Ooooohhhh. I see. Oh. Well that's interesting. Wow."
I never knew that a lot of the songs in the background of the movie are full numbers in the musical; I know they did that in Cabaret, as well, but it really bugged me with this one (well okay, "don't tell mama" being cut out of Cabaret the movie bugged the hell out of me.) And, as much as I love the Sha-Na-Nas version of "Those Magic Changes", the character Doodie's rendition of it in the original musical totally made me get a crush on him now, which never would've happened with the movie's Doodie. All of the characters who are secondary in the movie are actually more well-rounded than the leads, who seem more like the joke-characters in the musical.
Interesting how, with much fewer instruments, and sillier intros into the songs, the numbers actually feel more realistic and spur-of-the-moment. It was a really original musical when it came out.
Anyway, it's one of those soundtracks (and this is how I gage Broadway for personal reference) that really made me want to live in that universe where people spontaneously break into musical numbers; or, if not spontaneously, then after being given a nice walk-in line like "But what if we can't pull it off?" or "I just love him so much."
I now have a Grease to call my own.
Free Music Review: Love it!
Hit: 5 Stars
We have been trying to get our drama teacher to let us do Grease for years (way before I even went to the school) and this year she's finally letting us.
I've always been a fan of Grease whenever it would come on TV I'd watch it and sing to the songs and I always wanted to be Sandy. But, by listening to the soundtrack I've changed my mind into trying out for Marty because "Freddy, My Love" is, in my opinion, the best song on the soundtrack, the only problem, it's an alto song and I'm a soprano.
Anyway, enough about my life, let's talk about the album. As I said before I've always been a Grease fan, but this version has made me love it even more. This original version is way better than the movie version, the songs seem to fall into place better than in the movie (because they were written for the play of course). Actually, the songs NOT in the movie are the best songs in the play, other than "Freddy, My Love" there are "Mooning" sung by Roger and Jan at a picnic, "Raining on Prom Night" (replaced by "Hoplessly Devoted to You" in the play, Sandy sings this song in her room instead of going to the dance as she did in the movie), "Alone at a Drive-in Movie" (replaced by "Sandy" in the movie, basically, it says the same thing as "Sandy" does), and "All Choked Up" (replaced by "You're the One That I Want", I'm kinda glad it was replaced because I like "You're the One That I Want" better).
I hope this helped you, it probably didn't because of all the personal anecdotes I had to put in there. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's a good album and worth buying if you're a Grease fan.
Free Music Review: The Quintessential Grease
Hit: 5 Stars
As a high school theater director, I have taught this musical and this cast recording is the best resource for anyone who really wants to enjoy this show the way it was intended to be enjoyed. While some of the songs written specifically for the movie are absent from this recording, the original line-up is mostly intact (the only noticeable deletion is the "Beauty School Dropout (reprise)", which in the movie was used as the final verse of the song).
The singing in this original Broadway cast recording is very well done. The vocal performers handle the material very well considering there is a lot of falsetto parts in the guys (a lot of which was cut from the movie version). The orchestra does an outstanding job (especially the 1st tenor sax player's solo lines on "There Are Worse Things I Could Do"). The cover art contains the musical's original artwork and is colorful and fun with great liner notes and photos.
I own almost every recording of Grease there is (this one, '94 cast, '95 cast, '07 cast, London cast, movie soundtrack) and I have found this one to be my favorite, by far. If you are planning to perform Grease with a theater troupe, this is THE ONLY version that matches the original musical as it is the ONLY version that uses the original orchestrations and vocal lines.
And, if all that isn't enough ... you can't beat the price of $7.98! This is a steal! Buy now and be extremely satisfied. After 35+ years, the original Grease is still the word.
Free Music Review: Grease, Grit and Parody
Hit: 5 Stars
At some point in the early 1970's, nostaglia for the 1950's started running out of control. At a time when America was dealing with many social changes, somehow the decade of the 1950's became yearned after for
fun, innocence, rock and roll, and postwar prosperity. The realty being it was a decade that also included
economic issues, open descrimination, and very tame music (the name "the quiet generation" was there for a reason).
Grease came to life as a parody of the 1950's nostaglia craze, and it painted a truer, grittier portrait of the late 50's at an urban high school. The movie that came out in 1978, and the Broadway revival of the 90's whitewashed the story, and cleaned up the language so much the original Broadway musical got lost in the shuffle.
The great score is lead by Adrienne Barbaue, Barry Bostwick, and Carol Demas, and a number of songs never made it to the film, including Those Magic Changes, and Freddy My Love. Yes, in the 1950's there still was a draft!. Adrienne's character of Rizzo steals the show with her numbers, Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee, and There Are Worse Things I Could Do, finally the "Bad Girl" is allowed to be human. Summer Nights, It's Raining On Prom Night, and Rock N Roll Party Queen speak to the teenager that remains in all of us.
Enjoy this very real trip into the late 1950's
Ken
Free Music Review: Best recorded Grease I've yet heard, bar none.
Hit: 5 Stars
People who love the movie: Come on, level with me- who ever heard of string sections in 50's rock??? This CD contains the music as it was intended: simple, fun music with few instruments (keyboard, guitar, bass gtr., drums, saxes at times), just like an actual band.The vocalists on this CD are obviously older than high school age, but this is a necessary compromise. They do a great job, though, of being just sort of average-Joe singers in a band.
Sadly, yes, it doesn't contain Shakin' at the High School Hop; the later recordings of the show that have "this song" have it in a significantly altered form. Perhaps there will be a re-release of the CD at some point with the missing track restored.
Overall, a great CD to listen to when you just need simple, fun music. Essential for anyone who's putting on the show.