Old Friend (from "I'm Putting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road")
Memory (from "Cats")
Perfect Strangers (from "The Mystery of Edwin Drood")
The Writing on the Wall (from "The Mystery of Edwin Drood")
Unexpected Song (from "Song and Dance")
Tell Me on a Sunday (from "Song and Dance")
When There's No One (from "Carrie")
Pirate Jenny (from "The Threepenny Opera")
Rose's Turn (from "Gypsy")
Surrender (from "Sunset Boulevard")
With One Look (from "Sunset Boulevard")
New Ways to Dream (from "Sunset Boulevard")
As If We Never Said Goodbye (from "Sunset Boulevard")
It'd be easy to argue that Betty Buckley has been the premier American Broadway diva of the '80s and '90s. It's strange, then, to realize how few of her important roles have been captured on cast recordings (with Cats the ... more »obvious exception). Thankfully, Buckley has recorded a string of albums for Sterling Records in the 1990s, and this collection of 14 songs from her stage career, Betty Buckley's Broadway, draws mostly from that series, plus two original cast recordings--Sherman Edwards's 1776 from 1969 and Rupert Holmes's mostly forgotten Dickens whodunit from 1985, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (with Cats again the notable omission). The result is a wide-ranging overview that includes the obvious choices from Cats and Sunset Boulevard, a number of live tracks, and two odd arrangements you'd never hear performed in a straight stage production--a smooth-jazz rendition of Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer's heartbreaker "Old Friend" and an uptempo take on Andrew Lloyd Webber's gorgeous ballad "Unexpected Song." Betty Buckley's Broadway is thus more uneven than a similar retrospective of Buckley's British counterpart, Elaine Paige, which covers some of the same territory but is more consistent in tone and able to draw on a number of original recordings. Buckley is a more powerful singer, however, and the live tracks are especially good, making this a fitting, if not perfect, tribute to a great Broadway star. --David Horiuchi« less
It'd be easy to argue that Betty Buckley has been the premier American Broadway diva of the '80s and '90s. It's strange, then, to realize how few of her important roles have been captured on cast recordings (with Cats the obvious exception). Thankfully, Buckley has recorded a string of albums for Sterling Records in the 1990s, and this collection of 14 songs from her stage career, Betty Buckley's Broadway, draws mostly from that series, plus two original cast recordings--Sherman Edwards's 1776 from 1969 and Rupert Holmes's mostly forgotten Dickens whodunit from 1985, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (with Cats again the notable omission). The result is a wide-ranging overview that includes the obvious choices from Cats and Sunset Boulevard, a number of live tracks, and two odd arrangements you'd never hear performed in a straight stage production--a smooth-jazz rendition of Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer's heartbreaker "Old Friend" and an uptempo take on Andrew Lloyd Webber's gorgeous ballad "Unexpected Song." Betty Buckley's Broadway is thus more uneven than a similar retrospective of Buckley's British counterpart, Elaine Paige, which covers some of the same territory but is more consistent in tone and able to draw on a number of original recordings. Buckley is a more powerful singer, however, and the live tracks are especially good, making this a fitting, if not perfect, tribute to a great Broadway star. --David Horiuchi
Betty Buckley's Broadway is a collection of Bettys' best!
Susan H | Peoria Heights, IL USA | 10/26/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After seeing Ms. Buckley perform twice over this past weekend, I have to say that there is nothing like seeing this tremendous talent in person. But, if you want a taste of Betty in some of her finest roles, then Betty Buckley's Broadway is a must-have! This CD is a collection of Betty's most memorable Broadway performances. Among them, He Plays the Violin from the original Broadway cast of 1776. What a flawless performance! And what collection of Betty Buckley's Broadway performaces would be complete without a recording of Memory, from Cats? Among the other selections are Perfect Strangers and The Writing on the Wall from Edwin Drood, and a rousing performance of Rose's Turn from Gypsy! But perhaps the best find for any Buckley fan, at least it was for me, are two songs from Ms. Buckley's performance in Sunset Blvd. These songs, Surrender and New Ways to Dream were previously released on a near impossible to find CD 'New Ways to Dream'. This CD was sold at Betty's performances of Sunset Blvd. Buy Betty Buckley's Broadway. Listen to Betty Buckley's Broadway. And, if you get the chance, PLEASE go see Ms. Buckley perform live. There's nothing like watching this great artist at work. She feels every word, every note she sings. Betty Buckley will take your breath away!!"
Betty's Greatest Hits
Timothy Moreland | NEW YORK, NY | 12/30/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Good overview of Betty Buckley's famous recordings. Most of the songs exist on other records though. If you own all of her CD's you already have most of these songs. Nevertheless, one Sunset BLvd recording does not exist for her listeners. THis is a great CD for anyone who is a newcomer to Betty's voice."
Buckley Triumphs
Timothy Moreland | 11/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fans of Betty Buckley, your prayers have been answered. At last, a CD which traces her career back to her show-stopping perfornance in the original 1776. From there its an emotional roller coaster ride through the shows which have made her a legend,including : Edward Drood, Carrie, Song and Dance, Gypsy and , unforgettably, Sunset Boulevard. For those of us who can't get enough of Ms. Buckley, this is an essential listening experience."
A FABULOUS VOICE, AND PERFORMER.
G. McDermott | Palm Springs | 07/13/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Betty Buckley best known to most Americans as Abbey Cunningham on ABCs family show "Eight Is Enough" (1976-81) don't know that she is wonderful broadway performer.Best known for her signature song "Memories" from the now defunct "Cats".Other great songs on this CD include from "Sunset Boulevard", "1776", "Gypsy" (w/Deborah Gibson), and one of my favorites "Song & Dance".Buckleys vocal range is absolutely astonishing with her crystal voice and performance you would swear you were right there in the audience listening to her live.A beautiful production of the many highlights of Buckleys broadway career."
Betty's Buckley, the greatest voice on Broadway
Music Maven | Southern California | 10/10/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Betty Buckley possesses quite possibly the greatest voice to ever resound in the Broadway Theatre. I would have given this CD a "5" had it not been for the inclusion of Cast Album tracks from 'Edwin Drood' - the material is certainly beneath Betty's capabilities. However, the live cuts from "Sunset Boulevard" more than make up for any misguided "Drood" choices. She is the definitive Norma Desmond - makes you wonder what Andrew Lloyd Webber was thinking when he didn't make Ms. Buckley his first choice for the role."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
