Xanadu on Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording 2007)
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Free Music Notes for Xanadu on Broadway (Original Broadway Cast Recording 2007)
Free Music Review: Great cast recording
Hit: 5 Stars
Love the music, its really good stuff. I saw the show on broadway and it was hilarious and fantastic, was thoroughly impressed!Free Music Review: A Tough Balancing Act...
Hit: 4 Stars
Although somewhat charming in it's own special way, "Xanadu" was truly an awful movie. Although the movie took "The Fall," the soundtrack launched 5 singles into the U.S. top twenty and was "Suddenly" a big hit "All Over the World." The soundtrack contains terrific music which has had many of us "Dancin'" for nearly thirty years. I find that the music has held up well over the years, almost as if "Suspended in Time" and must admit that "Xanadu" is one of the most played albums on my i-pod.
On a more serious note (sorry), it had to be difficult to produce the new Xanadu. Obviously, the producers couldn't take the plot of the original movie very seriously, but they were using the beloved soundtrack and needed to somehow update and incorporate the songs without losing the charm and "Magic."
Overall, I think that all involved have done an admiral job of balancing the kitsch with the art.
At first listen, I wasn't sure what I thought of the new "Xanadu." I was caught off-guard by the Monty Python-ish Australian accent ("The Ministry of Silly Accents?") of Kerry Butler. I was also disappointed that nothing seemed as moving as the original "Suddenly" by Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richards," and nothing seemed as delightful and timeless as the original "Whenever You're Away From Me" by Olivia and Gene Kelly.
However, after a few listens, the new 'Du worked it's "Strange Magic" on me, and I became quite enamored.
To me, the album seems just a tad silly when compared to the original soundtrack (duh), so I have had to try and just enjoy it on it's own merits.
The producers have been quite honest about the fact that this is not high drama. In fact, the soundtrack is fun, quirky, and literally has me laughing every time I hear it.
Kudos for the new song arrangements. Due to the lighthearted nature of the production, it took me a few listens to realize how brilliantly the arrangers have re-envisioned the original compositions.
Furthermore, and without exception, the cast is remarkably talented and performs the material to perfection.
It's not my favorite track, but I was particularly impressed by the vocals by Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman in "Evil Woman."
I have also decided that the singing ability and comedic timing of Kerry Butler are - if I might also temporarily pretend to speak Australian - Ace! The addition of some of her dialogue has become one of my favorite aspects of the recording.
However, I reiterate, all the vocals performances are excellent.
The new 'Du includes four songs not on the original soundtrack - "Have You Never Been Mellow," "Fool," "Strange Magic" and the above mentioned "Evil Woman." Probably because these numbers are by the same composers (John Farrar & Jeff Lynne) and originally performed by the same artists (Olivia & ELO) that brought us the original "Xanadu," their addition seamlessly enhances the new recording.
I have a suspicion that if I were to experience the Broadway show, and/or somehow forget the original performances from the movie, I would probably give this recording a 5 star rating. Fortunately for all of us, Gene Kelly is simply not forgettable. And in Xanadu, neither are Olivia, Cliff, or ELO.
If you are hoping for a faithful remake of the Xanadu Soundtrack, or a companion piece to it, you may be disappointed by the Broadway recording.
If you want something fun and (kind of) original, with some of the best music on Broadway - yes, I have heard more - I highly recommend this cd.
Free Music Review: Sharp Cast and Still-Catchy Songs Buoy a Clever Adaptation of the Infamous 1980 Musical Fiasco
Hit: 4 Stars
1980's Xanadu remains one of the most strangely conceived movies Hollywood has ever produced, a mishmash of surreal, forehead-slapping elements that never really congeal. Yet, no matter how big a failure it was on the big screen, it still has those inescapably catchy songs by the Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne and pop princess Olivia Newton-John's songwriting muse, John Farrar. It's obvious that playwright Douglas Carter Beane has a deep fondness for the midnight cult classic since his 2007 Broadway adaptation recasts a piece of excessive camp into a satirical comedy that uses all of the film's songs (plus a couple of related hits of the day) to punctuate the silly plot turns. I saw the breezy show in December and enjoyed it thoroughly against my better judgment.
Fortunately, the original cast recording fully captures the clever, kitsch-driven shenanigans of the stage production. The leads are fresh and talented - Cheyenne Jackson plays sidewalk artist Sonny Malone as a big, clueless doofus, while Kerry Butler channels Newton-John's contrite purity and Aussie twang as his ethereal muse Kira/Clio. They display both full voices and sharp comic timing for the familiar songs, for example, when they transform the treacle of "Suddenly" into a hilarious duet complete with Butler's pitch-perfect, faux-Gibb breathiness. Her spot-on versions of "Magic" and "Suspended in Time" are as much a tribute to Newton-John's plaintive style as they are integral to the storyline.
When not providing background vocals, Mary Testa and expert scene-stealer Jackie Hoffman hilariously wreak havoc on the young lovers, while comically belting out ELO's "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic" as the jealous muses Melpomeme and Calliope. Playing Gene Kelly's twilight role of Danny McGuire, Tony Roberts duets sweetly with Butler on the jazzy duet, "Whenever You're Away from Me". While the title tune provides the inevitable finale, it's really Newton-John's gauzy pop hit "Have You Never Been Mellow?" that is turned upside down by the game cast as they trade the sentimental verses with ham-fisted irony. Purists may disavow this cleanly recorded disc in favor of the production-heavy original soundtrack, but this version has too much genuine spirit and wit to ignore.
Free Music Review: XANADU DOES"
Hit: 4 Stars
"Xanadu" was notorious for being perhaps the worst movie of the 1980s. The only worthwhile thing about it was the music half written by Jeff Lynne of ELO(Electric Light Orchestra) and the other half by John Farrar whose muse was Olivia Newton John who coincidentally played a muse in the ill-conceived film. The principal culprit in the movies downfall was the screenplay which was dumb and played straight by the actors.
The Broadway version actually opened to favorable reviews and the main culprit for its success is the book which is still dumb but this time the actors, the book adapter and the director embrace the dumb, nay they celebrate the dumb and spin the show into a delightful if lightweight delight.
This time the songs are sung by the actors instead of by ELO on the soundtrack and Kerry Butler and
Cheyenne Jackson are great and old-pro Tony Roberts has a nice role as Danny a forties crooner once assisted by Kerry Butlers Kira.
The CD contains a few numbers not on the movie soundtrack including "Have You Never Been Mellow" a Olivia Newton John oldie and perhaps a slight nod to her since she was the original Kira. The music from the movie was always the best thing about it but now they sound even better on this CD and i bet the songs along with the zany stage antics are absolutely joyful. I had planned to see the show -now that I have the cast recording i really, really plan to see the show.
Free Music Review: The improbable comeback of "Xanadu"
Hit: 4 Stars
Broadway play: 4.5 Stars; Original cast recording: 3.5 Stars
Let me state upfront that I absolutely loved the 1980 original movie soundtrack, featuring 5 John Farrar-penned Olivia Newton-John on Side 1 and 5 ELO tracks on Side 2 including the ELO/Olivia title track on Side 2. The movie was horrible, but the music was great. Fast forward to 2007 when the news came that Xanadu was being worked into a Broadway musical. Well, I was skeptical, but no more. I was in New York recently on a business trip, and jumped on the chance to see it. Somehow the play works great where the movie didn't and it was a guilty pleasure all over for me.
"Xanadu on Broadway" (14 tracks; 43 min.) is the original Broadway cast recording featuring Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson. This features the 10 songs of the original album, plus 4 added tracks, 2 ELO songs worked into the story line ("Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic") and 2 John Farrar songs, including the oldie but goodie Olivia hit "Have You Ever Been Mellow". In all, this is a terrific cast recording, with the best songs for me being "Suddenly", "Evil Woman" and, best of all, "Suspended in Time".
The running time of this album is just 43 min. and that gives you an idea how they had to stretch it out to make this into a Broadway musical (which is 90 min.). But in all, this recording is a great memento to the fabulous experience that "Xanadu on Broadway" was.