I Don't Wanna Be Married (I Just Wanna Be Friends)
Manhattan Madness
The Investigation
New York's Encores! series pursues its excavation of nearly forgotten musicals with this wonderful 1932 chestnut from Irving Berlin. Moss Hart's dementedly screwball book uses the frame of a show within the show to juxtapo... more »se references to both the top and the bottom of the heap as the Depression hits America. But of course entertainment is primordial throughout: As Berlin puts it in the determinedly hopeful "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee," "Trouble's just a bubble,/And the clouds will soon roll by." The songwriter is at the top of his game here--this CD is wildly entertaining from beginning to end?-and his command of the styles of the day is stupendous. He effortlessly goes from the gently acidic "Two Cheers Instead of Three" to the fevered love letter to a city that is "Manhattan Madness," from the operetta spoof "Crinoline Days" to "Torch Song," which sends up the tropes of the nominal genre (and is perfectly delivered by Felicia Finley, whose small part in The Wedding Singer had not prevented her from stealing the show). As is the case with Encores!, the cast?-including musical-comedy experts Judy Kaye, Lee Wilkoff, and Walter Bobbie?-is superb, and the large orchestra does justice to the period arrangements. --Elisabeth Vincentelli« less
New York's Encores! series pursues its excavation of nearly forgotten musicals with this wonderful 1932 chestnut from Irving Berlin. Moss Hart's dementedly screwball book uses the frame of a show within the show to juxtapose references to both the top and the bottom of the heap as the Depression hits America. But of course entertainment is primordial throughout: As Berlin puts it in the determinedly hopeful "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee," "Trouble's just a bubble,/And the clouds will soon roll by." The songwriter is at the top of his game here--this CD is wildly entertaining from beginning to end?-and his command of the styles of the day is stupendous. He effortlessly goes from the gently acidic "Two Cheers Instead of Three" to the fevered love letter to a city that is "Manhattan Madness," from the operetta spoof "Crinoline Days" to "Torch Song," which sends up the tropes of the nominal genre (and is perfectly delivered by Felicia Finley, whose small part in The Wedding Singer had not prevented her from stealing the show). As is the case with Encores!, the cast?-including musical-comedy experts Judy Kaye, Lee Wilkoff, and Walter Bobbie?-is superb, and the large orchestra does justice to the period arrangements. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
CD Reviews
Can't face the liner notes
R. Burnett | SoCal | 07/06/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It is always terrific to have another "Encores!" recording; if one includes the Broadway transfer of "Chicago" this makes the thirteenth CD. The usual talent onstage and off are apparent, but the score this time seems distinctly second-rate Berlin (which is still better than first-rate most everyone else). There is a sameness to the tunes and flatness in orchestration that is not apparent in, say, "Louisiana Purchase." Worst of all, though, is the sloppy packaging by the usually impeccable DRG: the tracking goes wrong midway (cuts 6 and 7 are linked together, throwing all subsequent numbering off); songs that are solos as presented are listed with multiple artists (e.g., "Crinoline Days," etc) and vice versa ("Soft Lights & Sweet Music"); an entire verse is left off of the libretto to "Crinoline Days;" and there are textual errors throughout ("I needed a faithful lover/And..." rather than "lover/Who." Not quite a glittering diamond, this is more of a rhinestone disc."
Excellent recreation
E. C Goodstein | Northern CA United States | 08/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Kudos to all involved for resurrecting this work. If not a masterpiece along the lines of 'Annie Get Your Gun' or 'Call Me Madam,' still some wonderful, fun moments-- & great to have
anew a show by George Kaufman as well. Also fascinating that it anticipates
'The Producers' in plot, and the corruption farce still resonates in a way.
I think it's well cast too-- esp. the young lovers & Judy Kaye, if not in her
very best voice, still is effective in the 'Margaret Dumont' sort of role.
One of my favorite '07 show music albums."
A New Highlight
Arne Jansson | Stockholm, Sweden | 10/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This vintage Berlin musical bristles of tunes and snappy lyrics. The old master is at his most satirical and with a cast of true pro:s it's a pure delight to listen to."
CHE BELLO! BRAVO MAESTRO FISHER !!!
Oppicelli Ernesto | 08/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"CHE BELLO! BRAVO MAESTRO FISHER !!! YOUR ''FACE THE MUSIC'' IS A PERFECT JOY AND ANY BROADWAY FAN OUGHT TO RUN AND BUY IT. IT'S A MUST OR, USING IRVING BERLIN WORDS, ''IT'S GOOD, SO GOOD, YOU BET THAT IT'S GOODY, GOODY GOOD''. THESE CDS, IN THEIR ORIGINAL EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL ORCHESTRATIONS, RECONCILE WITH THE AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE THAT, PERHAPS, HAS FORGOT TO BE DELIGHTFULLY RICH IN ELEGANCE AND SPIRIT. ROB FISHER OUGHT TO BE INCESSANT IN GIVING US CDS AS ''FACE THE MUSIC'' AND I WONDER HOW LONG WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER HAPPY TIME LIKE THIS. MAY I SUGGEST THE RELEASE OF A 'COLLECTION' WITH ALL THE EARLY RODGERS & HART MUSICALS? THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SCORES!!! WOW!!! THE SAME WITH THE EARLY HUMOUROUSLY FUNNY WORKS OF JEROME KERN. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS ... IN THE MEANWHILE ''THANKS, MAESTRO FISHER, I CONTINUE BEING DEVOTED TO YOU AND THANKS FOR MAKING ME SO HAPPY WITH YOUR WORK ... BETTER: WITH YOUR ARTISTIC POWER ''.
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1