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Artist:
Jeff Marx
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Robert Lopez
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John Tartaglia
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Stephanie D'Abruzzo
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Avenue Q
Avenue Q will only fuel the frustration of those who think that Broadway has given up on sophisticated entertainment geared to adults. "Whatever happened to Cole Porter's witty rhymes and mature subject matter?" they'll say. Well, it's hard to deny that Avenue Q's main frame of reference is Sesame Street and that its humor can be very broad--yes, there's profanity and puppet sex. But the show also displays heart ("The More You Ruv Someone" typically begins with "Why can't people get along?") and a pretty satisfying zany streak. Musically, the score is rooted in 1970s pop, with nods to the aforementioned Sesame Street. The excellent cast, dominated by John Tartaglia and Stephanie D'Abruzzo, does it justice, milking the humorous numbers for all they're worth and finding pathos in the more straightforward ones. Not bad for a childish show. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
List Price: $18.97 |
Our Price: $9.89 |
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Artist:
Barbara Cook
List Price: $17.98 |
Our Price: $11.31 |
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Like Wicked, this show is a girl-friendly extravaganza; the main difference--and it's a big one--is that the score of Legally Blonde is better. Based on the hit Reese Witherspoon movie, the zippy, frothy show tells the story of SoCal, pink-loving sorority girl Elle Woods, who enrolls at Harvard Law and goes on to prove that appearances can be deceiving. The opening number, "Omigod You Guys," gives an idea of what the Broadway-pop score by Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy--The Musical) and Nell Benjamin is up to, embracing its over-the-top cheer with goofily infectious energy. Sure, a couple of numbers feel a bit derivative (the show with the witches has "Popular," this one has "Positive"), and the Celtic detour ("Ireland") is rather puzzling, but overall the songs are firing on all cylinders. Just check out the use of a marching band on "What You Want" for instance. Laura Bell Bundy (Amber von Tussle in Hairspray) is a charming Elle, and she delivers numbers such as "So Much Better" with the requisite elan. But this is not a one-woman show, and Bundy is surrounded by a crack team, including the endearing Christian Borle as Elle's love interest Emmett, power-...
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Our Price: $10.59 |
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For right-minded buyers of the reissued Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack, the odds of disappointment are about as remote as Miss Piggy's chances with Kermit. If you loved the movie, you will love the loopy mayhem of the Muppet Brass Buskers ("Good King Wenceslas"), the cartoonish malice of the black-hearted misanthropes Marley & Marley ("Marley & Marley"), and the hope-swollen harmonies of Tiny Tim and Family ("Bless Us All"), Muppeted here to hilariously humble effect. If, on the other hand, your interest in this disc has more to do with its inclusion in the way-narrow Christmas-record-for-kids category--if the spirit of the season doesn't extend, for you, to the magic of the Muppets--you may want to keep browsing, as it's a soundtrack first (overture, instrumentals, and all) and a Christmas CD second. That's not to suggest you're stuck with an un-fun disc should it land on your holiday stack without a prior screening, though. Miles Goodman's score sweeps and inspires, and certain tracks--"One More Sleep 'til Christmas" and "Fozziwig's Party"--are future classics. (Note to the right-minded: After a misstep on the original release, Martina McBride's version of "When Love is...
List Price: $12.98 |
Our Price: $9.24 |
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Artist:
Various Artists
List Price: $19.98 |
Our Price: $9.24 |
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Artist:
Various Artists
Putumayo delivers the perfect package of soulful jazz and blues to liven up the holiday season. A Jazz & Blues Christmas offers a memorable array of classic holiday songs by jazz and blues legends and lesser-known artists. B.B. King opens the album with "Christmas Celebration," a rollicking, up-tempo tune cheerfully punctuated with bursts of brass from an energetic horn section. Ray Charles tells the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to a soulful beat. Ramsey Lewis plays "Here Comes Santa Claus," simulating the ring of sleigh bells on the upper registers of his keyboard. And, young Canadian chanteuse Emilie-Claire Barlow offers a new take on the old holiday favorite "Santa Baby." With other exceptional tracks by rhythm and blues veteran Riff Ruffin, iconic blues crooner Charles Brown, jazz vocalist Topsy Chapman and the traditional New Orleans jazz band, The Dukes of Dixieland, A Jazz & Blues Christmas is sure to join Putumayo's other collections New Orleans Christmas and Christmas Around the World as Yuletide classics.
List Price: $15.98 |
Our Price: $10.61 |
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Artist:
Sarah Brightman
Sarah Brightman Photos ...
List Price: $18.98 |
Our Price: $7.98 |
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Artist:
Eartha Kitt
UK compilation for the alluring vocalist who still packs 'em in on the cabaret circuit, best known as the scariest Catwoman on TV's 'Batman' and for her signature hits 'Sanata Baby' and 'C'est Si Bon' both of which are included here. Additional tracks include, 'Just An Old Fashioned Girl', 'I Want To Be Evil', 'Mack The Knife', 'My Heart Belongs To Daddy' and 'Love For Sale'. 18 tracks in all. 2000 release. Standardjewel case.
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Artist:
Disney
From Tarzan to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, from Mulan to Lady and the Tramp, this CD and the two others in the series feature more than 60 years of Disney musical magic! Each volume contains 20 songs--all original recordings from Disney films, television, and theme parks--as well as complete song lyrics, beautiful artwork, and liner notes by film critic/historian Leonard Maltin.
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Artist:
Tony Bennett
Perfecting the art of excellence for over six decades, with 105 albums selling over 50 million copies, Tony Bennett has come to represent the essence of elegance, tradition and artistic accomplishments. Tony celebrates his 80th birthday recording Duets of his greatest hits with today's greatest artists: Bono, Michael Bublé, Elvis Costello, Celine Dion, Dixie Chicks, Billy Joel, Elton John, Juanes, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, John Legend, Paul McCartney, Tim McGraw, George Michael, Sting, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, and Stevie Wonder. More from Tony Bennett ...
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