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 INCREDIBLE!! Mar 21, 2009
I only have one beef with the CD, and that's the sound quality. ITs not that obvious except in 1 or 2 songs. Should that keep you from buying the cd? Absolutely not! I don't think she performs the best on Tell me on a sunday, I'd say listen to Sarah Brightman's version for that. But the rest will have you smiling, laughing, and give you so much enjoyment that you'll forget about life's stresses.She definitely keeps things original, although the sound quality could be better the quality of the music itself is beautiful so I can't even imagine giving this soundtrack less than a 5!
Peters : Singer / Actress... In Equal Measure Feb 18, 2008
First the bad news.
- Peter's English accent isn't the best. A point that would normally drive me crazy, were she not so good in every other way, since I'm a stickler for authenticity. But she IS good. VERY good.
- "English Girls." Added expressly for the American palette. There are some valid observations about the endearing quality of foreign colloquialisms. But I think the song is obvious and uninteresting.
- They did *not* take out "You Made Me Think You Were In Love," This number always felt like clutter. It may be I just don't like the song.
- "The Last Man In My Life" was replaced with "Unexpected Song." God knows why. It's not a bad song mind you, but I find it less moving, with fewer surprises musically and lyrically.
Now the good news.
No one can deliver "Unexpected Song" like Peters. Seriously, it's worth it for the last soul-quaking note alone.
- Mercifully they cut "I'm Very You, You're Very Me" from the score. I found it mind-numbingly insipid.
- While some of the rewrites may be too "trying-oh-so-hard-to-be-British" for it's own good, others, as someone pointed out, are for the better. Here Emma is better grounded. She comes to the US, not only for her dead beat (no pun intended) drummer boyfriend, but also to pursue a career as a hat designer. I don't think that's in the Webb version. Since creatives of every stripe come to NY in droves, to break into their respective arts, it rings true. And we do get some humorous mileage from it.
- "Tell Me On a Sunday" is slowed down considerably. The fact that she lands it fully, is only testament to Bernadette Peter's powerful gift as an actress and a singer. It takes both to do the song this way. Were she off by a hair, you'd hear it. But she isn't. It's absolutely sustained.
- "Nothing Like You've Ever Known." To me this is the most interesting change. Instead of the original sentiment...
"I wanted to spend more time than twelve till two, loving you," which is admittedly affecting...
we get...
"When you go, I'll cry no tears.. for a love without tomorrows suits me fine now."
It depicts a different truth. The sickening, post breakup feeling that ones blood has turned to ice. And to risk feeling anything, is to risk freefalling into agony. This is not an attempt to replace a old shattered love with a new one. That would allow for hope. It's a naked attempt to feel nothing. And it draws on a more complex constellation of emotions. It also makes Emma more rounded and human. And it sets up her subsequent fall from grace. Which makes it that much sweeter, when she recaptures her innocence at the end.
Like "Sunday' Peters delivers. She makes even the state of numbness raw and powerful.
I think the Marti Webb production is equally fine. They're both emotionally truthful, so it may come down to taste. Some may prefer Webb's more understated delivery, and she'll bring you to your knees with "The Last Man In My Life." I like both interpretations and I think they're both valid. Buy them both if you can. You might want to steer clear of the Brightman version however. She's more of a singer who *acts,* and for my money, does neither as well or expressively as the other two.
Amazing performance Jan 25, 2007
A recording of an amazing performance with Bernadette Peters. Although many artist have done the performance of Song & Dance (Marti Webb, Sarah Brightman etc), Ms Peters excelled herself in this part and really conveyed the role of the woman's experience, the ups & downs, of a new gal in NYC!
Highly recomended.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Outstanding Recording Of One Woman Singing and Acting Her Heart Out Sep 09, 2006
I've read many reviews complaining of the sound quality of this recording. Am I missing something? I think the recording is excellent. You can hear every word that comes out of Bernadette's mouth. Now, onto the show itself. It's brilliant. It's an acting and singing tour 'de force. One can either choose to listen to the entire recording from beginning to end, and get a great story set to exceptional music. This is where one can enrapture one's self in her Tony winning performance. If you aren't interested in the story, you can enjoy this for the many showtune standards sung with extreme passion by Miss. Peters, including "Take that Look Off Your Face," "Tell Me On A Sunday," and "Unexpected Song." If you've read this review, don't hesitate to get this ultimate recording of the show, before it's out-of-print.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Good material, Bad recording Apr 09, 2006
I bought this album after I had seen Bernadette Peters singing "Second Letter Home/Unexpected Song" on Hey Mr. Producer concert. She really blows me away at the concert so I thought I need to get the cast recording.
Well, I can say that I'm a bit disappointed with the album. The sound quality is not so well-balanced. And frankly, listening to Bernadette Peters's voice alone for almost an hour can be a bit annoying sometimes. I do love the music from the show though. I think the problem is that all the energy from the show didn't transfer well on to the CD. I think this is a show that need to be seen to be enjoyed and that's why Miss Peters won her Tony Award for it. Maybe, just maybe, if the show was recorded live like the London Cast recording with Marti Webb, it might sound a bit better... Who knows?
Not to be discouraged, this album still has some great songs like "Unexpected Song" "Come Back with the Same Look in Your Eyes" "Take That Look off Your Face" and "Tell Me on a Sunday". There's this one song called "English Girls" that has the same melody as Whistle Down the Wind's "Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts"
Overall, I don't actually hate the album and I like the lyrics in this one better. But I still find myself listening to the Original London Cast more often. So my recommendation is that get the 2-CD London Cast with Marti Webb first. The live recording makes it more energetic and it comes with the whole second act instrumental music which is good as well.
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