December 26, 2007

Backstage Stories
(Continuum - Hardcover Book)
Edited by Barbara Baker. A view behind the scenes into the jobs and personalities of people who work in the theatre - twenty-one backstage professionals are interviewed, from artistic director to wig maker, working in all kinds of theatres in Britain and the United States. Anecdotes and observations of working with people such as Alan Bennett, Judi Dench, Placido Domingo, Ian McKellen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Frank Loesser (Yale Broadway Masters Series)
(Yale Univ Press - Hardcover Book)
Thomas L. Riis' Concise look at Loesser’s life along with an examination of the totality of his works.

The Infinite Variety of Music
(Amadeus Press - Paperback Book)
New printing of 1996 book in which Leonard Bernstein shares his love and appreciation for music in all its varied forms. Also features the reproduction of five television scripts from Bernstein on the influence of jazz, the timeless appeal of Mozart, musical romanticism, and the complexities of rhythmic innovation. Also included are Bernstein's analyses of symphonies by Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Brahms, a reproduction of a 1957 lecture on the nature of composing, and a report on the musical scene written for New York Times after his sabbatical leave from directorship of the New York Philharmonic during the 1964-65 season.

The People vs. Friar Laurence - The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet
(Cygnetsong - new on CD)
Original 2004 California cast recording starring David Castellani, Beth Crosby, Sarah Gee, Bruce Green, Rick Hall, Hal Lubin, Nicole Parker, Michael John Ross, Amanda Swann, Phil Swann, Norm Thoeming, Ron West and Joe Zanetti. Phil Swann/ Ron West score. 18 tracks. Available at Footlight.com.

Songs From Sweeney Todd (Karaoke)
(Stage Stars - new on 2 CDs)
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16 songs; 32 tracks. Disc one contains the background tracks and guide vocals; disc two has the accompaniment tracks alone. This album is a re-recording in the original show key and show tempo. There are no on-screen lyrics or lyric booklet provided.

Tsarina - The Musical
(Djworks Music - new on CD)
2006 California cast recording of Deborah Johnson show. Deborah Johnson, Charlie Clark, Mike Anderson, Joyce Anderson, Phil Lollar, David Johnson, Lori Donato, Micah Pearsal, Melanie Smith. 20 tracks. Available at Footlight.com.

Wonderful and Surprising History of Sweeney Todd: The Life and Times of an Urban Legend
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Book)
By Robert L. Mack.

Young Frankenstein
(Universal Classics/Decca Broadway - new on CD)
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Original Broadway cast recording of Mel Brooks musical. Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley Sutton Foster, Andrea Martin, Christopher Fitzgerald, Fred Applegate. To be recorded November 12. Overture [written for the album], "The Happiest Town in Town," "The Brain," "Please Don't Touch Me," "Together Again," "Roll in the Hay," "Join the Family Business," "He Vas My Boyfriend," "The Law," "Life, Life" [includes the erse, cut in Seattle], "Welcome to Transylvania," "Transylvania Mania," "He's Loose," "Listen to Your Heart," "Surprise," "Please Send Me Someone," "Man About Town," "Puttin' on the Ritz" (Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin), "Deep Love," "Frederick's Soliloquy," "Deep Love" (Reprise), "Finale Ultimo." Bonus track: "Alone," cut in Seattle but recorded by Megan Mullally for the album. iTunes exclusive: "Transylvania Mania Blues" is a download-only iTunes exclusive, sung by Mullally backed by a jazz quartet.

You're Following Me! - Baby Jane Dexter
(new on CD)
Recording of Baby Jane Dexter's current cabaret show. Intro, "Superstar," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Got To Get You Into My Life," "Ring Baby Ring," "Sneakin' Up On You," "Damn Your Eyes," "You're Following Me," "Make Believe - The Very Thought Of You," "All I Have To Do Is Dream - Dancing On The Ceiling," "Transition Dialogue," "Love Potion #9," "The Wail Of The Reefer," "Candy Man," "You Really Got A Hold On Me," "Precious Pain," "Fools Rush In," "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart." Available at CDBaby

December 18, 2007

The Evil Dead (Ultimate Edition)
(Anchor Bay - on 3 DVDs)
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Sam Raimi's first film, and the basis for the Off-Broadway musical. Bruce Campbell, Betsy Baker, Hal Delrich, Ellen Sandweiss, Sarah York. Disc 1: widescreen version plus audio commentary - Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert; featurette - "One by One We Will Take You: The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead"; Disc 2: full frame version with audio commentary - Bruce Campbell; featurette - "The Evil Dead: Treasures From the Cutting Room Floor"; Disc 3: "Life After Death: The Ladies of the Evil Dead," The Ladies of The Evil Dead meet Bruce Campbell, "Discovering The Evil Dead," "At The Drive In," Make-Up Test, Unconventional trailer; TV spots; text/photo galleries.

Once
(Fox - new on DVD)
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2007 musical-romance story set in Ireland. Music by Hansard and Irglová. Wiltold Owski and Kate Haugh. Bonus material: audio commentary - John Carney, Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova; featurettes -"Making a Modern Day Musical" and "More Guy, More Girl"; musical commentary - John Carney, Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, trailers.

Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
(EMI - new on DVD)
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Los Angeles Opera's February 2007 production of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny featuring Audra McDonald, Patti LuPone, Anthony Dean Griffey, Robert Wörle, John Easterlin, Mel Ulrich, Donnie Ray Albert, Derek Taylor and Steven Humes. Telecast on December 17, 2007 on PBS as a "Great Performances" presentation. Directed by John Doyle.

Seascape: The Entire Appalling Business
(Overlook - Paperback Book
New printing of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning play.

Sweeney Todd (The original tale behind the legend)
(Oxford Univ Press - Paperback Book)
The first reprint of the original tale since it was serialized in The People's Periodical in 1846-47, first published under the title The String of Pearls. Introduction and explanatory notes by editor Robert Mack. Released 11/29/07.

Sweeney Todd Highlights Soundtrack
(Nonesuch - new on CD)
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Soundtrack for 2007 film, directed by Tim Burton and featuring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter,Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jayne Wisener, Jamie Campbell Bower, Laura Michelle Kelly, Ed Sanders, Anthony Head, Peter Bowles. Stephen Sondheim score. "No Place Like London," "The Worst Pies in London," "Poor Thing," "My Friends," "Green Finch & Linnett Bird," "Johanna," "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," "The Contest," "Wait," "Pretty Women," "Epiphany," "A Little Priest," "Johanna," "God, That's Good!," "By the Sea," "Not While I'm Around."

Sweeney Todd Deluxe Complete Edition Soundtrack
(Wea/Atlantic/Nonesuch - new on CD)
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Soundtrack for 2007 film, directed by Tim Burton and featuring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter,Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jayne Wisener, Jamie Campbell Bower, Laura Michelle Kelly, Ed Sanders, Anthony Head, Peter Bowles. Stephen Sondheim score. Opening Title, "No Place Like London," "The Worst Pies in London," "Poor Thing," "My Friends," "Green Finch & Linnett Bird," "Alms Alms," "Johanna," "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir," "The Contest," "Wait," "Ladies in Their Sensitivities," "Pretty Women," "Epiphany," "A Little Priest," "Johanna," "God, That's Good!," "By the Sea," "Not While I'm Around," Final Scene. Complete music for the film plus hardcover 80-page bound booklet with lyrics and photographs.

That's Entertainment! - Trilogy Giftset
(Warner - on HD-DVD/Blu-Ray)
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That's Entertainment, That's Entertainment Part 2, That's Entertainment III (previously released) and a bonus fourth disc entitled That's Entertainment: Treasures from the Vault, available exclusively with the giftset featuring more than five hours of extras including three great documentaries, premiere night coverage and salutes to the great behind-the-camera talents, TV specials, making-of featurettes, plus an extensive video jukebox of rare, star-packed musical outtakes from classic films, and more.

The Thing About Men Vocal Selections
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
Jimmy Roberts/Joe DiPietro score. Nine selections, including: "The Better Man Won," "Free, Easy Guy," "Make Me a Promise, Thomas," "Oh, What a Man" and more.

When Midnight Strikes
(new on CD)
UK Finborough Theatre cast recording of Charles Miller/Kevin Hammond musical. Shona White, Miles Western, Bradley Clarkson. Available at Dress Circle and CDBaby.com..

Vicious Circle: Mystery and Crime Stories by Members of the Algonquin Round Table
(Pegasus Books - Hardcover Book)
By Otto Penzler (proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City). Anthology of mystery and crime stories by the writers of the Algonquin Round Table.

Walmartopia
(new on CD)
Original Off-Broadway cast recording of Andrew Rohn score. Cheryl Freeman, Nikki M. James, Sarah Bolt, Bradley Dean, Stephen DeRosa, John Jellison, DeMond B. Nason, Andrew Polk, Pearl Sun, Scotty Watson and Helene Yorke. Available at CD Baby.

Young Frankenstein - pre-release download
(Universal Classics/Decca Broadway - )
Original Broadway cast recording of Mel Brooks musical. iTunes only this week, CD release on December 26. Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley Sutton Foster, Andrea Martin, Christopher Fitzgerald, Fred Applegate. To be recorded November 12. Overture [written for the album], "The Happiest Town in Town," "The Brain," "Please Don't Touch Me," "Together Again," "Roll in the Hay," "Join the Family Business," "He Vas My Boyfriend," "The Law," "Life, Life" [includes the erse, cut in Seattle], "Welcome to Transylvania," "Transylvania Mania," "He's Loose," "Listen to Your Heart," "Surprise," "Please Send Me Someone," "Man About Town," "Puttin' on the Ritz" (Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin), "Deep Love," "Frederick's Soliloquy," "Deep Love" (Reprise), "Finale Ultimo." Bonus track: "Alone," cut in Seattle but recorded by Megan Mullally for the album. iTunes exclusive: "Transylvania Mania Blues" is a download-only iTunes exclusive, sung by Mullally backed by a jazz quartet.

December 11, 2007

How to be a Working Actor, 5th Edition: The Insider's Guide to Finding Jobs in Theater, Film, & Television
(Back Stage Books - Paperback Book)
By Mari Lyn Henry and Lynne Rogers; Foreword by Joe Mantegna.

Parade
(First Night Records - new on 2 CDs/1 PAL DVD import)
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London cast recording of Jason Robert Brown score. Helen Anker, Mark Bonnar, Norman Bowman, Shaun Escoffery, Joanna Kirkland, Gary Milner, Steven Page, Malinda Parris, Matthew Price, Zoe Rainey, Celia Mei Rubin, Stephen Webb and Jayne Weisener. DVD to include interviews with book-writer Alfred Uhry and Brown with contributions from director Rob Ashford and the Donmar's artistic director Michael Grandage. Unconfirmed track list: "The Old Red Hills Of Home," "Dialogue," "The Dream Of Atlanta," "How Can I Call This Home?," "The Picture House," "What am I Waiting For?," "I Am Trying To Remember," "Dialogue," "There Is A Fountain / It`s Don`t Make Sense," "Lullaby," "Dialogue," "Something Ain`t Right," "Real Big News," "You Don`t Know The Man," "Dialogue," "Hammer Of Justice," "Twenty Miles From Marietta," "The Factory Girls / Come Up Into My Office," "Minola McKnight`s Testimony," "My Child Will Forgive Me," "That`s What He Said," "It`s Hard to Speak My Heart," "Closing Statement Cakewalk," "A Rumblin` And a Rollin`," "Do It Alone," "Pretty Work," "The Glory," "This Is Not Yet Over," "Minnie McKnight`s Reprise," "Feel The Rain Fall," "Where Will You Stand When The Flood Comes?," "All The Wasted Time," "Abduction And Hanging," "Sh`ma / The Old Red Hills Of Home." Also available at Dress Circle, Amazon UK and Footlight.com.

Regrets Only
(Dramatist's Play Service - Paperback Book)
Paul Rudnick play.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
(Titan Books - Hardcover Book)
By Mark Salisbury. Lavish, full colour hardcover official companion volume to the film will include a Foreword by Tim Burton, over 200 photos, concept drawings and production designs, extracts from the screenplay and interviews with the cast and crew.

Xanadu - Early Shipping
(PS Classics - new on CD)
Original Broadway cast recording. Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, Curtis Holbrook, Anika Larsen, Kenita Miller and Andre Ward. Produced by Jeffrey Lesser. "I'm Alive," "Magic," "Evil Woman," "Suddenly," "Whenever You re Away from Me," "Dancin'," "Strange Magic," "All Over the World," "Don t Walk Away," "Fool," "The Fall," "Suspended in Time," "Have You Never Been Mellow?," "Xanadu." To be recorded October 29. Shipping now from PSClassics.com. Street date January 8.

December 4, 2007

The Best American Short Plays 2002-2003
(Applause Books - Hardcover/Paperback Book)
Glenn Young, Editor. Plays include The Beauty Inside by Catherine Filloux; The D Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore by Laura Shaine Cunningham; Brown by Cherie Vogelstein; and everybody else by Scott Organ; Two Monologues for One Actor and a Dog by Murray Schisgal; Reunions by Billy Aronson; Captain Abalone by Adam Kraar; Classyass by Caleen Sinnette Jennings; Changing of the Guard by Amy Staats; Hermaphrodite by Annie G.; Sada by Bruce Levy; 5:15 Greyhound by Le Wilhelm; and My Red Hand, My Black Hand by Dael Orlandersmith.

Come What May - Roslyn Kind
(new on CD)
Re-release by singer/actress. "Perfect," "Living Colors/Meadowlark," "The Man That Got Away," "Can You Read My Mind," "Somebody Loves Me," "How Do You Keep the Music Playing," "Romance Medley:Smoke Gets in Your Eyes/Where R U/You've Changed," "Come What May," "At Times Like This." Available at CDBaby.com.

Decades Collection
(Sony/BMG - released on single DVDs)
These are not new transfers and have no new extras, but some are advertised as including "collectable booklet and CD). Films include: West Side Story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Twelve Angry Men, Fiddler on the Roof, Carrie, Guys and Dolls and Some Like It Hot.

Ford At Fox: The Collection
(Fox - new on 21 DVDs)
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21 John Ford films made for 20th Century Fox, from the '20s through 1952. The many bonuses include a new documentary and hardcover book. Click either link above for list of films.

Late Nite Comic 20th Anniversary Recording
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
To includes all cut songs and the performances of Brian D'Arcy James, Julia Murney, Karen Ziemba, Howard McGillin, Mary Testa, Liz Callaway, Chip Zien, Liz Larsen, Sal Viviano, Mario Cantone, Jason Graae, Paul Shaffer, Rupert Holmes, Tony Roberts, Daniel Reichard, Martin Vidnovic and Seth Rudetsky. Larry Hochman's original Broadway orchestrations.  Produced by composer/lyricist Brian Gari. Sales benefit the Actors Fund. Pre-ordering at CD Baby.

Love American Style - Season 1, Vol. 1
(Paramount - new on 3 DVDs)
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First 12 episodes. Guest should include: Penny Fuller, Michael Callan, Eddie Anderson, Flip Wilson, Jane Wyatt, E.J. Peaker, Larry Storch, Margaret O'Brien, Arte Johnson, Alice Ghostly, Dwayne Hickman, Barry Nelson, Bill Bixby, Connie Stevens, Sid Caesar, Richard Deacon, Phyllis Diller, Bob Crane, Patsy Kelly, Herb Edelman, Broderick Crawford, Red Buttons, Aldo Ray, Les Crane, Diane McBain, Judy Carne, Noel Harrison, Dennis Day, Jessica Walter, Carl Betz, Harrison Ford, Hans Conried, Norman Fell, Morey Amsterdam, Shelley Fabares, Kay Medford, Tom Smothers, Paul Winchell, Scatman Crothers, Shari Lewis, Cliff Norton, Jack Carter, Ruta Lee, Regis Philbin, Andy Devine, Peter Marshall, Lesley Warren, Jesse White, Ann Southern, Brandon de Wilde, Rosemary DeCamp.

Mary Poppins: Anything Can Happen If You Let It
(Disney - Hardcover Book)
By Brian Sibley, Michael Lassell. Reference about the show and the movie by Disney historian and friend of PL Travers. Released in UK as Practically Perfect in Every Way.

My Ideal The Definitive Collection - Margaret Whiting
(Jasmine Records - on 4 CDs)
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Comprehensive overview of Margaret Whiting's recording output from 1943-1957. 113 tracks on 4 CDs. Collaborations with Johnny Mercer, Bob Hope, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman, Dean Martin. In addition to great orchestral arrangements by Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Frank Devol and more. Track list can be viewed at the Jasmine site.

Naked Boys Singing - The Movie
(TLA - new on DVD)
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The all-singing, all-nude men perform seventeen songs, including "Gratuitous Nudity," "Perky Little Porn Star" and "The Naked Maid." To include bonus featurette "Nuts And Bolts." 95 minutes. Not rated.

New York, New York: 30th Anniversary Edition
(MGM - on 2 DVDs)
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1977 film with Robert De Niro, Liza Minnelli, Lionel Sander, Mary Kay Place, Dick Miller. Complete, uncut version. 163 min. Widescreen. Extras: commentary by director Martin Scorsese and others; deleted scenes; featurettes; interviews; photo gallery; storyboards; theatrical trailers.

Parade
(First Night Records - new on 2 CDs/1 PAL DVD)
London cast recording of Jason Robert Brown score. Helen Anker, Mark Bonnar, Norman Bowman, Shaun Escoffery, Joanna Kirkland, Gary Milner, Steven Page, Malinda Parris, Matthew Price, Zoe Rainey, Celia Mei Rubin, Stephen Webb and Jayne Weisener. DVD to include interviews with book-writer Alfred Uhry and Brown with contributions from director Rob Ashford and the Donmar's artistic director Michael Grandage. Unconfirmed track list: "The Old Red Hills Of Home," "Dialogue," "The Dream Of Atlanta," "How Can I Call This Home?," "The Picture House," "What am I Waiting For?," "I Am Trying To Remember," "Dialogue," "There Is A Fountain / It`s Don`t Make Sense," "Lullaby," "Dialogue," "Something Ain`t Right," "Real Big News," "You Don`t Know The Man," "Dialogue," "Hammer Of Justice," "Twenty Miles From Marietta," "The Factory Girls / Come Up Into My Office," "Minola McKnight`s Testimony," "My Child Will Forgive Me," "That`s What He Said," "It`s Hard to Speak My Heart," "Closing Statement Cakewalk," "A Rumblin` And a Rollin`," "Do It Alone," "Pretty Work," "The Glory," "This Is Not Yet Over," "Minnie McKnight`s Reprise," "Feel The Rain Fall," "Where Will You Stand When The Flood Comes?," "All The Wasted Time," "Abduction And Hanging," "Sh`ma / The Old Red Hills Of Home." Available at Dress Circle and Footlight.com.

Portraits and Observations: The Essays of Truman Capote
(Random House - Hardcover Book)
All of the essays published by Truman Capote. Published in October, 2007.

Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall
(Geffen Records - new on 2 CDs)
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Live recording of 2006 concert. Rufus Wainwright and 36-piece orchestra re-create Judy Garland's celebrated 1961 Carnegie Hall concert song-for-song. Arrangements by Stephen Oremus. Overture: "The Trolley Song/Over The Rainbow/The Man That Got Away," "When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)," Medley: "Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love," "Do It Again," "You Go To My Head," "Alone Together," "Who Cares? (As Long As You Care For Me)," "Puttin' On The Ritz," "How Long Has This Been Going On," "Just You, Just Me," "The Man That Got Away," "San Francisco," "That's Entertainment," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Come Rain Or Come Shine," "You're Nearer," "A Foggy Day," "If Love Were All," "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart," "Stormy Weather (Starring Martha Wainwright)," Medley: "You Made Me Love You/For Me And My Gal/The Trolley Song," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," "Over The Rainbow (featuring Kate McGarrigle)," "Swanee," "After You've Gone (featuring Lorna Luft)," "Chicago." iTunes bonus track: "Get Happy."

Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy! Live at the London Paladium
(new on DVD)
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Live February 25th, 2007 concert recording. Arrangements by on Charles & Christopher Jahnke. 31 songs. Guest appearances: Martha Wainwright, Kate McGarrigle, Lorna Luft. Conducted by Stephen Oremus. Unconfirmed song list: Overture: "The Trolley Song/Over The Rainbow/The Man That Got Away," "When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)," "Medley: Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love," "Do It Again," "You Go To My Head," "Alone Together," "Who Cares? (As Long As You Care For Me)," "Puttin' On The Ritz," "How Long Has This Been Going On," "Just You, Just Me," "he Man That Got Away," "San Francisco," "That's Entertainment," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Come Rain Or Come Shine," "You're Nearer," "A Foggy Day," "If Love Were All," "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart," "Stormy Weather (starring Martha Wainwright)," "You Made Me Love You /For Me And My Gal / The Trolley Song," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody," "Over The Rainbow (Kate McGarrigle)," "Swanee," "After You've Gone" (Lorna Luft), "Chicago," "Get Happy," "Hello Bluebird" (starring Lorna Luft), "Someone to Watch Over Me" (starring Martha Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle), "Everytime We Say Goodbye" (Kate McGarrigle), "San Francisco" (Reprise).

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
(Columbia - new on CD)
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Soundtrack for upcoming John C. Reilly "mockumentary" of a rock star. "Walk Hard," "Take My Hand," "(Mama) You Got to Love Your Negro Man," "A Life Without You (Is No Life At All)," "Let's Duet" (duet with Angela Correa), "Darling," "(I Hate You) Big Daddy," "Guilty As Charged," "Dear Mr. President," "Let Me Hold You (Little Man)," "Royal Jelly," "Black Sheep," "Starman," "Beautiful Ride," "(Have You Heard the News) Dewey Cox Died." iTunes version has extra tracks.

November 27, 2007

How Does the Show Go On
(Disney Editions - Hardcover Book)
By Thomas Schumacher and Jeff Kurtti. Introduction to the world of the Theatre, from the box office to backstage, and beyond. From one side of the book, the reader enters via the front door, where the people and activities of the "front of house" can be examined. From the book's other side, the reader enters the Stage Door, where the behind-the-scenes world of the "back of house" is revealed. Includes Costume Designer’s Sketchbook; authentic Playbill Program; Front of House: From the Street to the Stage Apron; Back of House: From the Stage Apron to the Stage Door; A Day in the Life of a Child Performer; Theater-Speak Glossary. 125 pages.

It's Christmas, of Course: Darlene Love
(Shout! Factory - new on CD)
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"Christmas All Over Again," "Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas," "Christmas Wish," "Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto," "Please Come Home For Christmas," "2000 Miles," "Christmas Is The Time To Say 'I Love You'," "What Christmas Means To Me," "Christmas Must Be Tonight," "Thanks For Christmas," "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," "Night Of Peace."

Keyes To Heaven - Remember Eben Keyes
(new on CD)
Mac Award Winners tribute to lyricist Eben Keyes. Composers Michael Cook, Ronald Gold, Bob Ost, Blair Weille. Singers Lisa Asher, Bill Daugherty, Karen Mack, Heather MacRae, Sue Matsuki, Carolyn Montgomery, Sidney Myer, Georga Osborne, Julie Reyburn, Steve Ross, Craig Rubano, Marcus Simeone, Thos Shipley.

LoveMusik
(Ghostlight - new on CD)
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Broadway cast recording. Recorded on July 15. Michael Cerveris, Donna Murphy, David Pittu, John Scherer, Judith Blazer, Edwin Cahill, Herndon Lackey, Erik Liberman, Ann Morrison, Graham Rowat, Rachel Ulanet and Jessica Wright. Recording is produced by Joel Moss. Kurt Deutsch is Executive Producer. Kurt Weill music with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson, Bertolt Brecht, Howard Dietz, Roger Fernay, Ira Gershwin, Oscar Hammerstein II, Langston Hughes, Alan Jay Lerner, Maurice Magre, Ogden Nash, Elmer Rice and Kurt Weill. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, additional vocal arrangements are by Milton Granger and conductor is Nicholas Archer."Speak Low" (lyrics by Ogden Nash), "Nanna's Lied" (lyrics by Bertolt Brecht), "Kiddush Song of the Rhineland" (lyrics by Ira Gershwin), "Klops Lied" (Meatball Song), "Berlin Im Licht" (lyrics by Kurt Weill), "Tango Ballad" (lyrics by Bertolt Brecht), "Alabama Song" (lyrics by Bertolt Brecht), "Girl of the Moment" (lyrics by Ira Gershwin), "Moritat" (lyrics by Bertolt Brecht), "Schickelgruber" (lyrics by Howard Dietz), "I Don't Love You" (lyrics by Maurice Magre), "Wouldn't You Like to be on Broadway?" (lyrics by Langston Hughes), "Alabama Song" Reprise, Entr'Acte, "Very, Very, Very" (lyrics by Ogden Nash), "It's Never Too Late to Mendelssohn" (lyrics by Ira Gershwin), "Surabaya Johnny" (lyrics by Bertolt Brecht), "Buddy on the Night Shift" (lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II), "That's Him" (lyrics by Ogden Nash), "Hosannah Rockefeller" (lyrics by Bertolt Brecht), "I Don't Love You" Reprise, The Illusion Wedding Show" (lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner), "It Never Was You" (lyrics by Maxwell Anderson), "A Bird of Passage" (lyrics by Maxwell Anderson), "September Song" (lyrics by Maxwell Anderson). November 27 store date. Available now at Sh-K-Boom.com.

November 20, 2007

Andrea Marcovicci Sings Rodgers & Hart
(Andreasong - new on CD)
Andrea Marcovicci album of new cabaret show. "Where or When / Jupiter Forbid," "Sing For Your Supper," "A Little Birdie Told Me So," "If I Were You," "He Was Too Good To Me," "What's The Use? / Why Can't I?," "My Heart Stood Still / I Didn't Know What Time It Was," "This Can't Be Love / Thou Swell / I Could Write A Book," "Falling in Love With / It Never Entered My Mind / Little Girl Bl," "Everything I've Got," "Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered)," "To Keep My Love Alive," "Can't You Do A Friend A Favor ?," "My Funny Valentine." Available at CDBaby.com.

The Audience Book of Theatre Quotations
(World Audience, Inc. - Paperback Book)
By Louis Philips' book of theatre quotations.

Une Chambre en Ville
(Kritzerland - new on 2 CDs)
Complete Michel Colombier soundtrack from Jacques Demy 1982 film. Through-sung, in stereo. Limited edition of 1200 copies. Available at Footlight.com and Kritzerland.com.

Colma: The Musical
(Lions Gate - new on DVD)
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2007 film. H.P. Mendoza, Jake Moreno, L.A. Renigen, Sigrid Sutter.

Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Petula Clark
(Zone - Import CD)
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Compilation of 20 tracks from CBS sessions 1977 to 1979. Digitally remastered "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," "A Carousel," "I'm Not In Love," "Smiley," "I Really Didn't Mean To Write This Song Today," "When You're Gone," "What Am I Doing Here?," "Songbird," "You're My Destiny," "When The Going Gets Rough," "If You Leave Me Now," "Put A Little Sunbeam In Your Life," "Feel The Love Go Round," "Put It Back Together," "(Life Is) Just A Dance With Time," "Don't Stop The Music," "I Could Have Given You More," "Sheldon Bloom" (previously unreleased)," "I Couldn't Live Without You (Previously Unreleased)," "Put A Little Sunbeam In Your Life" (alternate version – previously unreleased). Deluxe packaging with 8 page booklet including rare photos and sleeve notes.

Doris Day Today
(MPI - new on DVD)
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Day's 1975 CBS-TV special. With guests John Denver, Tim Conway, Rich Little. Bonuses: Day's entire appearance on The John Denver Family Special (1974); rare 1940s musical film short of Doris with the Les Brown Orchestra; discography - Doris Day Album.

Enchanted
(Disney - new on CD)
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Soundtrack of Disney film. Idina Menzel, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, Amy Adams, Susan Sarandon, Timothy Spall. Original music by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. "True Love's Kiss" (Amy Adams/James Marsden), "Happy Working Song" (Amy Adams), "That's How You Know" (Amy Adams), "So Close" (Jon McLaughlin), "Ever Ever After" (Carrie Underwood (Record Version)), "Andalasia," "Into the Well," "Robert Says Goodbye," "Nathaniel And Pip," "Prince Edward's Search," "Girls Go Shopping," "Narissa Arrives," "Storybook Ending," "Enchanted Suite," "That's Amore" (James Marsden).

Grease: Pro Vocal Men's Edition Volume 32
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book with CD)
Lyrics, melody, and chord symbols for eight classic songs. The CD contains demos for listening and separate backing tracks so you can sing along. The CD is playable on any CD, but it is also enhanced for PC and Mac computer users so you can adjust the recording to any pitch without changing the tempo! Perfect for home rehearsal, parties, auditions, corporate events, and gigs without a backup band. "Alone at the Drive-In Movie," "Beauty School Dropout," "Grease," "Greased Lightnin'," "Rock 'N' Roll Party Queen," "Sandy," "Summer Nights."

Grease: Pro Vocal Women's Edition Volume 23
(Hal Leonard - Paperback with CD)
Lyrics, melody, and chord symbols for eight classic songs. The CD contains demos for listening and separate backing tracks so you can sing along. The CD is playable on any CD, but it is also enhanced for PC and Mac computer users so you can adjust the recording to any pitch without changing the tempo! Perfect for home rehearsal, parties, auditions, corporate events, and gigs without a backup band. "Alone at the Drive-In Movie," "Beauty School Dropout," "Grease," "Greased Lightnin'," "Rock 'N' Roll Party Queen," "Sandy," "Summer Nights."

Hairspray
(Warner/New Line - new on DVD)
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2007 film version of musical. John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, Nikki Blonsky, Taylor Parks, Paul Dooley, Jerry Stiller. Also available in Blu-Ray, full screen

Hairspray 2-Disc Shake & Shimmy Edition
(Warner/New Line - new on 2 DVDs)
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2007 film version of musical. John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, Nikki Blonsky, Taylor Parks, Paul Dooley, Jerry Stiller. Extras: 5 deleted scenes, including the never-before-seen musical number "I Can Wait"; "You Can't Stop The Beat: The Long Journey of Hairspray" documentary; Hairspray Extensions: Multiview Dance Experience; "The Roots of Hairspray" from Buddy Deane to Broadway!; audio commentary by Adam Shankman & Nikki Blonsky, and by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron; sing along lyric track' step-by-step dance instructions; trailer. Also available in a gift set edition, which includes mini locker with customizable stickers and exclusive tote bag.

Hairspray Soundtrack 2 Disc Deluxe Edition
(New Line Records - on 2 CDs)
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"Good Morning Baltimore" (Nikki Blonsky), "The Nicest Kids In Town" (James Marsden), "It Takes Two" (Zac Efron), "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" (Michelle Pfeiffer), "I Can Hear The Bells" (Blonsky), "Ladies' Choice" (Efron), "The New Girl In Town" (Brittany Snow), "Welcome to the 60's" (Blonsky and John Travolta), "Run and Tell That" (Elijah Kelley and Taylor Parks), "Big, Blonde & Beautiful" (Queen Latifah), "Big, Blonde & Beautiful Reprise" (Travolta and Pfeiffer), "(You're) Timeless To Me" (Travolta and Christopher Walken), "I Know Where I've Been" (Latifah), "Without Love" (Efron, Blonsky, Kelley and Amanda Bynes), "(It's) Hairspray" (James Marsden), "You Can't Stop The Beat" (Blonsky, Efron, Bynes, Kelley, Travolta and Latifah ), "Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)" (Latifah, Blonsky, Efron and Kelley ), "Cooties" (Aimee Allen ), "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" (Blonsky, Marissa Jaret Winokur & Rikki Lake). Includes extra songs ("I Can Wait" (Blonsky), "Breakout" (Chester Gregory), "Boink-Boink" (Arthur Adams), "Trouble on the Line" (Corey Reynolds), "Mr. Pinky's Theme"), alternate takes ("Mrs. Von Tussle Says" (Pattie Darcy and Marc Shaiman) "Save Your Applause 'Til The End" (Christine Ebersole) "Turn Back The Hands of Time" (Jenifer Lewis) "Timeless to Me" (Nathan Lane) "It Ain't Over Till The Fat Lady Sings" (Keala Settle) "It Doesn' t Get Better Than This" (Shaiman)), karaoke tracks ("Ladies' Choice," ""Welcome To The 60's," ""Run And Tell That," ""You Can't Stop The Beat," ""Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)"), video karaoke of the most popular songs, lyrics, video documentaries including "Zac Efron Becomes Link Larkin," collectable cards of the film's stars, commemorative sticker pack, online game, and "wallpaper."

High Fidelity Sheet Music
Songs from Amanda Green/Tom Kitt musical available at GreenPieceMusic.com.

Musicals of Boublil and Schonberg: Pro Vocal Women's Edition Volume 14
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book with CD)
Lyrics, melody, and chord symbols for eight classic songs. CD contains demos for listening and separate backing tracks so you can sing along. The CD is playable on any CD, but is also enhanced for PC and Mac computer users so you can adjust the recording to any pitch without changing the tempo. "Castle on a Cloud," "How Many Tears?," "I Dreamed a Dream," "I'd Give My Life for You," "In My Life," "The Last Night of the World," "Now That I've Seen Her," "On My Own."

Picture Incomplete
(Onemoe Music - new on digital download)

Trent Armand Kendell (currently in The Color Purple tour). One-man musical by Michael Polese.

Swing Sessions 2
(Sony BMG/Australia - new Import on CD)
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David Campbell album. "Witchcraft," "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps," "Lazy River," "Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody," "I've Got A Crush On You," "Route 66," "Summer Wind," "Begin The Beguine," "That Old Black Magic," "There Will Never Be Another You," "That's Life," "Danke Schoen," "One For My Baby," "King Of The Road." Also available at Footlight.com and Middle Eight Music.

Vaclav Havel: The Short Plays
(Smith & Kraus - Paperback Book)
Translated by Carol Rocamora. eight short plays of Vaclav Havel: including the acclaimed trilogy "The Vanek Plays," as well as four one-acts never before been translated into English or seen anywhere in the West.

November 13, 2007

Another Side - John Barrowman
(Sony/BMG - new import on CD)
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Album full of classic songs .. all of them having had a personal meaning or connection in the singer's life and career. "All Out Of Love," "You`re So Vain," "Always A Woman," "Time After Time," "Weekend In New England," "Every Little Thing," "If You Leave Me Now," "Your Song," "Please Remember Me," "Heaven," "Being Alive," "Feeling Good," "All By Myself." Also available at Amazon UK and Dress Circle

Between 41st And 54th - Harley Jay
(new on CD)
New album by Rent actor Harley Jay. "Fortune Favors the Brave" (Aida), "Those Magic Changes," "Why, God, Why?," "Heaven On Their Mind," "Grow for Me" (Little Shop of Horrors), "Grease," "Maria," "Giants in the Sky," "Bring Him Home," "Hair." Available at officialharleyjayfanpage.com.

Bloodhounds of Broadway
(Fox - new on DVD)
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Restored version of 1952 musical comedy film with Mitzi Green, Scott Brady, Mitzi Gaynor, Marguerite Chapman, Michael O'Shea. Extras: restoration comparison; documentaries "A New York State of Mind: Written by Damon Runyon," "Mitzi Gaynor: Impressions of the Fox Years," "Sharon Baird: Dancing as Fast as She Can"; pressbook, photos, trailers, lobby card galleries.

Busker Alley
(JAY Records - new on CD)
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2006 York Theatre concert. Recorded 11/14/06. Jim Dale, Glenn Close, John Bolton, Cristy Candler, Bob Fitch, Jessica Grové, Michael Hall, Elizabeth Inghram, George S. Irving, Noah Racey, Anne Rogers, Michael Lane Trautman, Diane Wasnak and Patrick Wetzel. Score by Richard and Robert Sherman. Opening, "Blow Us A Kiss," "Hula Love Song," "Never Trust A Lady," "When Do I Get Mine?," "Strays," "Mates," "What To Do With Her?," "He Has a Way," Busker Medley: "Moonlight In Brighton/Crazy Happy Tears/Funnybone/A Million Miles From You," "He Has a Way/She Has a Way," "Busker Alley," "When Do I Get Mine?" Reprise, "How Long Have I Loved Libby?," "Baby Me," "How Ling Have I Loved Libby?" Reprise, "Ordinary Couple/I'm On The Inside," "Tin Whistle Tune," "Mates " Reprise, "The 'New Show' Audition," "Where The Hell Is Home?," "Where Are The Faces?," "Paddle Your Own Canoe," "Charlie The Busker," Epilogue, "He Had A Way" Reprise.

Clint Eastwood Presents Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends
(Warner - new on 2 DVDs)
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Expanded version of recent 90-minute PBS special with extra material, including Tony Bennett Concert Performance at the 2005 Monterey Jazz Festival.

The Coast of Utopia: Voyage, Shipwreck, Salvage
(Grove Press - Paperback Book)
Tom Stoppard's trilogy in one volume, with an introduction by the author, and the definitive text used in the recent Lincoln Center run.

Dark Victory: The Life of Bette Davis
(Henry Holt and Co. - Hardcover Book)
Biography by Ed Sidov. 496 pages. Photos.

Free As Air
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
Original London cast recording of Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds score. Gillian Lewis, Gerald Harper, John Trevor, Patricia Bredin and Josephine Tewson. Since there was no overture, a piano selection of the score performed by Julian Slade is included as an introduction. Bonus tracks of other Julian Slade songs written while he was at Cambridge and as resident composer for the Bristol Old Vic Company.

Girl Next Door
(Fox - on DVD)
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Restored version of 1953 musical film. June Haver, Dan Dailey, Dennis Day, Cara Williams, Billy Gray. Extras: restoration comparison; press book, photo galleries, trailers.

Going My Way: Bing Crosby and American Culture
(Univ. of Rochester Press - Hardcover Book)
Editors by Ruth Prigozy and Walter Raubicheck. Study of the Crosby's art and of his centrality to the history of twentieth-century popular music, film, and the entertainment industry through scholarly and cultural perspectives. Contributors include Ken Barnes, Samuel L. Chell, Kathryn Crosby, Steven C. Crosby, John Mark Dempsey, Bernard F. Dick, Deborah Dolan, Michael Feinstein, Will Friedwald, Jeanne Fuchs, Gary Giddins, Peter Hammar, M. Thomas Inge, Malcolm Macfarlane, Eric Michael Mazur, Martin Mcquade, Kathryn T. Nicolson, Elaine Anderson Phillips, Ruth Prigozy, Walter Raubicheck, Linda A. Robinson, Stephen C. Shafer, David White, F.W. Wiggins.

Golden Boy
(Sony - new on DVD)
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1939 version of Odets play. William Holden, Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, Lee J. Cobb, Sam Levene. Extras include Ford Theatre TV episode, "Sudden Silence" from the mid-'50s; cartoon "The Kangaroo Kid"; comedy short "Pleased to Mitt You" starring Stooge Shemp Howard. B&W.

Heaven In My Eyes - Twiggy
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
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Previously unreleased album by Twiggy produced by Donna Summer and Juergen Koppers - featuring original songs by disco legends Pete Bellotte and Bruce Sudano. Recorded at Rusk Studios, Hollywood 1979. Includes four dance remixes.

In Her Own Write - Petula Clark
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
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Collection of Petula Clark compositions, encompassing her writing period between 1980 - 1995. Performed by Clark. 18 tracks on CD for the first time. Sixteen page booklet includes liner notes by Dee Shipman and Tony Hatch, and photos including previously unpublished shots. Six songs from film Pétain and two bonus tracks.

It's A Wonderful Life Collector's Set
(Paramount - on 2 DVDs)
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Classic 1946 Frank Capra film. James Stewart, Thomas Mitchell, Lionel Barrymore, Donna Reed, Ward Bond, Gloria Grahame, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen. Colorized and black and white versions, plus extras.

Jenna Esposito - 13 Men ... and Me!
(Good Fortune Records - new on CD)
New York based singer debut CD. Standards, pop selections and a new jazz/swing number, "Remembering September in July." Available at CD Baby.

Joanna Ampil
(Jay Records - new on CD)
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Think of Me" The Phantom Of The Opera (with Niklas Andersson), "On My Own" Les Miserables, "Easy To Be Hard" Hair, "The Last Night of the World Miss Saigon (with Simon Bowman), "All I Ask of You" The Phantom Of The Opera (with Niklas Andersson), "Out Tonight Rent, "The Old Apartment" I Sing!, "I Know Him So Well" Chess (with Julia Moller), "Bird Song" The Musical of Musicals, "Neverland" Peter Pan, "I Don't Know How To Love Him" Jesus Christ Superstar, "Daddy's Girl" I Sing!, "Without You" Rent (with Koit Toome), "Sun And Moon" Miss Saigon (with Niklas Andersson), "I Dreamed A Dream" Les Miserables, "If It's Only Love / Bring On The Night" Metropolis (With Graham Bickley). Dress Circle also will be selling signed copies of this CD.

Jonathan Whitton - Live At The Laurie Beechman Theatre
(new on CD)
"Watching The Show" (B. Ross & J. Keenan), "Sweet Dreams" (J. Bucchino), "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" (R. Adler & J. Ross), "And They’re Off" (W. Finn), "Lazy Afternoon" (J. Moross & J. Latouche), "Wicked Little Town" (S. Trask & J. Cameron Mitchell), "Now" (S. Alan), "Perfect Finite" (C. Miller & M. Campbell), "He Never Did That Before" (D. Barsha & M. Campbell), "It’s Too Late" (C. King), "Good Thing Going/Not A Day Goes By" (S. Sondheim), "I Can Do Better Than That" (J. Robert Brown), "We Live on Borrowed Time" (D. Friedman), "Streets of Dublin" (S. Flaherty & L. Ahrens), "Let Him Fly" (P. Griffin). Tracks to include "Sweet Dreams" (Bucchino), "A Little Brains, A Little Talent" (Adler & Ross), "And They're Off" (Finn), "Lazy Afternoon" (Latouche & Moross), "Good Thing Going/Not A Day Goes By" (Sondheim), "Streets of Dublin" (Ahrens & Flaherty), as well as Brad Ross' "Watching The Show," Scott Alan's "Now", and selections from Mark Campbell's Songs From An Unmade Bed. 21 tracks. Recorded live August 31, 2007. To be released at Laurie Beechman Theatre appearance. Available at CDBaby.com.

The Letters of Noel Coward
(Knopf - Hardcover Book)
Barry Day, Editor. collection of letters (most of them previously unpublished) both from and to Noël Coward; including George Bernard Shaw, T. E. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, the Churchills, Daphne Du Maurier, Greta Garbo, Ian Fleming, W. Somerset Maugham, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, Edith Sitwell, FDR, Gertrude Lawrence, and many more. 688 pages.

Little Edie Live! A Visit to Grey Gardens
(CreateSpace - new on CD)
April 22, 1976 with college journalist Walter Newkirk and Edie Beale. 72 minutes. Released 11/1/07.

New York Theatre Walks: Seven Historical Tours from the Lower East Side to Times Square and Beyond
(Applause - Paperback Book)
Howard Kissel's series of seven self-guided walking tours not just of the theatre district but of the East and West Village, the Lower East Side, and the Upper West Side. One follows the career of Irving Berlin, "Adolph Green's Daily 'Commute,'" Includes many Broadway anecdotes, and serves as a guide to the theatrical past lying behind the sights one passes on a regular basis. Photography by Brent C. Brolin.

Once Upon a Time - Julie Andrews
(Sepia Records - new on CD)
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Early Julie Andrews recordings, beginning with "The Polonaise," possibly her first commercial recording. "Polonaise From mignon, "Je Veux Vivre," "Come To The Fair" (With Ted Andrews), "Ah! Vous Dirai - Je Mama," "The Wren," "Jack And The Beanstalk" (With Archie Andrews), "The Boy Friend," "I Could Be Happy With You" (With John Hewer), "Sad Is The Life Of A Sailor’s Wife," "When You’re In Love" (With Everett Sloane), "Once Upon A Long Ago," "Wouldn’t It Be Loverly," "I Could Have Danced All Night"; 5 tracks from Tell It Again – Songs Of Sense & Nonsense, her 1957 album of traditional children’s songs and riddles.

La Vie En Rose: The Extraordinary Life of Edit Piaf (Extended version)
(HBO - new on DVD)
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2007 film. Gerard Depardieu, Marion Cotillard, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner, Clotilde Courau, Catherine Allégret, Marc Barbe, Jean Paul Rouve, Sylvie Testud. Bonus featurette included.

The Rob Landes Trio Plays the Music of George Gershwin
(RLT Productions - new on CD)
Live recording of the trio's performance of Gershwin songs, some with vocals. Includes the rarely recorded "Blah, Blah, Blah." Available at CD Baby.

With a Song in My Heart
(Fox - on DVD)
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Restored 1952 biofilm of singer Jane Froman with Susan Hayward (dubbed by Froman), David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Thelma Ritter. Extras: restoration comparison; isolated music score; press book, photos and trailers.

November 6, 2007

Actors' Yearbook 2008: The Essential Resource for Anyone Wanting to Work As an Actor
(A&C Black - Paperback Book)
Editors Andrew Piper and Simon Dunmor.4th edition of comprehensive reference guide to acting for television, film, and theater. Lists contacts and addresses for all sections of the acting world, from agents to production companies, and articles with insight to the profession.

Andréa Burns: A Deeper Shade of Red
(PS Classics - new on CD)
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Andréa Burns' debut album blends two worlds - the Broadway sound she inhabits and the female singer-songwriter sounds of her childhood - bringing a fresh take to pop hits and theatre standards (including Bernstein, Sondheim and Adler & Ross). In addition to orchestrations by Larry Hochman and Jason Robert Brown, the album also features a new song written for Andréa by "In the Heights" composer Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Barry Manilow - The First Television Specials
(Rhino - on 5 DVDs)
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Box set of television specials which originally aired from 1977 to 1988.

Dezemberlieder (December Songs)
(Anything Goes Records - new on CD)
Pia Douwes sings Maury Yeston's songs. Sung in German. Available at Footlight.com.

Elisabeth - Die Legende Einer Heiligen
(Media Mentis - new on 2 CDs)
Original 2007 German cast recording of Dennis Martin / Peter Scholz musical. Sabrina Weckerlin, Chris Murray, Kristian Vetter, Mara Dorn, Christian Schone, Jesse Garon and Armin Kahl. Sung in German. Available at Footlight.com.

Ethel Merman: A Life
(Viking Adult - Hardcover Book)
Biography by Brian Kellow.

Help!
(EMI/Capitol Video - on 2 DVD)
Remastered, remixed version of Beatles' film. Extras: 1965 U.S. Radio Spot Easter egg; "making of" documentary; restoration and memories featurettes; behind the scenes footage; missing scene. Deluxe Version includes extra extras: reproduction of Richard Lester's script; lobby cards; poster.

Historical Dictionary of the Broadway Musical
(Scarecrow press - Hardcover Book)
By William A Everett and Paul R. Laird. Desk reference with Chronology, introductory essay, bibliography, and 900 dictionary entries on Broadway shows, playwrights, directors, producers, designers, and actors.

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Laura Bell Bundy
(LAB Records, LLC - on CD)
Laura Bell Bundy, the Bluegrass Area Jazz Association and Wayne Bell perform Christmas favorites. Sales benefit Kreative Kids Foundation. Recorded in 2006.

Jonathan Sings Larson
(PS Classics - new on CD/DVD)
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Performances by the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer-lyricist-librettist Jonathan Larson. 16 tracks, with selections from Rent and tick, tick ... BOOM! and Superbia plus half a dozen rarer items dating back to 1984. Also included will be a special four-track DVD, with performances from Larson's Nov. 25, 1991 appearance at New York's Village Gate.

Kids' Musical Theatre Audition - Girls Edition
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book with CD)
Songbook edited by Michael Dansicker includes "Baby Face," "Button Up Your Overcoat," "I Always Knew," "I've Got No Strings," "My Buddy," "Never Never Land," "Somebody Loves Me," "Who Do You Love I Hope," "Won't You Charleston With Me," "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile."

Lauren Kennedy: Here and Now
(PS Classics - new on CD)
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Lauren Kennedy's second album takes on the newest crop of composers and lyricists shaping Broadway and popular song, in all-new arrangements. Songwriters include Andrew Lippa, David Kirshenbaum, Georgia Stitt, Matthew Sklar & Chad Begeulin, Joshua Salzman & Ryan Cunningham, and Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich - plus two songs (and several charts) by her frequent collaborator Jason Robert Brown.

Leading Ladies Collection - Vol. 2
(Warner - on 5 DVDs)
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A Big Hand for the Little Lady (Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Burgess Meredith, Paul Ford, Charles Bickford and Kevin McCarthy), I'll Cry Tomorrow (Susan Hayward with bonuses M-G-M Parade TV-series excerpts with Susan Hayward & George Murphy; vintage M-G-M newsreels covering the film's premiere; March 6, 1956 MGM Top Awards; two classic Vitaphone musical shorts starring the real Lillian Roth), Rich and Famous (based on John Van Druten's play Old Acquaintance; Jacqueline Bissett, Candice Bergen, Meg Ryan (debut) with bonus vintage featurette: On Location with Rich and Famous), Shoot the Moon (Diane Keaton and Albert Finney, with commentary by director Alan Parker and screenwriter Bo Goldman) and Up The Down Staircase (Sandy Dennis). Digitally remastered in 16x9 (preserving their original theatrical aspect ratios), also available individually.

A Maysles Scrapbook: Photographs/Cinemagraphs/Documents
(Steidl/Steven Kasher Gallery - Hardcover Book)
Maysles brothers (Grey Gardens, Gimme Shelter, Salesman) retrospective with information from original film negatives, plus hours of outtake film, numerous stills, production notes and personal and business letters. Images from both major and lesser-known films are reproduced, alongside significant writings by Albert Maysles and others (many published for the first time). Includes contributions from D.A. Pennebaker, Richard Leacock, Elliot Erwitt, Bruce Davidson and Norman Mailer, and an introduction by Martin Scorsese.

Million Grains of Sand, A - 2007 Original Cast Recording
(new on CD)
Gareth Peters score. Based on The Prince and the Pauper. Gareth Archer, Freddie Clues, Jack Coates, Daniel Corp, Lydia Costello, Siobhan Duplock, Anita Ellis, Jess Helling, Charlie Horton, Harry Horton, Amy Kirkup, Laura Kirkup, Payton Lazarus, Mathew Leask, Ylenia Mallia, Emily McNeill, Grace Meredith, Charlotte Pask, Hannah Pask, Kerry Sclater, Leah Stock, Josh Richardson, Paige Richardson, Kaileigh Waite, Ryan Watson and Alex Wheeler. Available at Dress Circle.

Rebecca
(HitSquad - new on 2 CDs)
Original 2007 Live Vienna cast recording of Sylvester Levay / Michael Kunze score. Uwe Kroger, Wietske van Tongeren, Susan Rigvava-Dumas, Carsten Lepper, Carin Filipcic, Kerstin Ibald, Andre Bauer, Norberto Bertassi, Kai Peterson and Oliver Mulich. Sung in German. Available at Footlight.com.

The Scarlet Pimpernel
(Felsenbuhne Staatz - new on CD)
Original 2007 Austrian cast recording of Frank Wildhorn/Nan Knighton score. Markus Neugebauer, Elisabeth Sikora, Werner Auer, Stefan Bischoff, Peter Kratochvil, Oliver Roitinger, Michael Konicek, Alexander Voss, Felix Rank, Marco Maurer and Elisabeth Heller. Sung in German. Available at Footlight.com.

Sitcoms: The 101 Greatest TV Comedies of All Time
(Black Dog & Leventhal - Hardcover Book)
By Ken Bloom & Frank Vlastnik (Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time). Each chapter features photos, many rare and behind-the-scenes, along with cast lists, artists' biographies, "off-set" tidbits, critical commentary, and all of the relevant statistics. Special features cover such topics as famous unseen characters, sitcom pets, spin-offs, sitcoms made from movies, and many more.

Starfish & Coffee
(new on CD)
New Jasper Kump CD, recorded at his shows at the Laurie Beechman Theater this past winter. 12 live songs (three of Kump's original songs) and one bonus studio track. Available at CDbaby.com.

Tanz Der Vampire - Das Jubilaumskonzert (Dance of the Vampires - 10th Anniversary Concert)
(HitSquad - new on CD)
Original 2007 Vienna 10th Anniversary Concert cast recording of Jim Steinman/Michael Kunze musical. Thomas Borchert, Lukas Perman, Marjan Shaki, Gernot Kranner, Tim Reichwein, Thomas Bayer and Suzan Carey. Sung in German. Available at Footlight.com.

The Tony Awards Songbook
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book)
60 songs representing the "Best Musical" winners form 1949-2007. "All I Ask Of You," "Applause," "Baubles, Bangles And Beads," "Being Alive," "Believe In Yourself (If You Believe)," "The Best Of Times," "Cabaret," "Circle Of Life," "Comedy Tonight," "December 1963 (Oh, What A Night)," "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," "Forget About The Boy," "Hallelujah, Baby," "Heart," "Hello, Dolly!," "Hello, Young Lovers," "Hey There," "I Believe In You," "I Dreamed A Dream," "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face If I Were A Bell," "The Impossible Dream (The Quest)," "The Joint Is Jumpin'," "Kiss Of The Spider Woman," "A Little Bit In Love," "Look Who's In Love," "Loving You," "Lullaby Of Broadway," "Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now," "Mama, Look Sharp," "Mama Who Bore Me," "Measure The Valleys," "Memory," "Moonfall," "Mr. Monotony," "Never Met A Man I Didn't Like   ," "No Moon," "Not While I'm Around," "Purpose," "Put On A Happy Face," "Razzle Dazzle," "River In The Rain," "Seasons Of Love," "Send In The Clowns," "So In Love," "Some Enchanted Evening," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "The Song That Goes Like This    ," "The Sound Of Music," "Sunrise, Sunset," "'Til Him," "Till There Was You," "Tomorrow," "Unusual Way (In A Very Unusual Way)," "What I Did For Love," "When Did I Fall In Love," "Who Is Silvia?," "With Every Breath I Take," "With One Look," "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You."

Victoria Clark: Fifteen Seconds of Grace
(PS Classics - new on CD)
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Victoria Clark's debut album, a blend of Broadway standards (including Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin and Jerry Herman), contemporary fare and art songs, all fully orchestrated. Music direction by Ted Sperling; charts by Sperling, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Alex Rybeck, Jeff Klitz and David Loud.

Zagatsurvey 2008 New York City Pack
(Zagat Survey - Paperback Book)
Includes the 2007 New York City Shopping Guide, 2007 New York City Restaurant Guide, 2007/8 New York City Nightlife Guide and 2008 New York City Gourmet Shopping & Entertaining GUide, featuring over 1,750 top food and entertaining resources.

October 30, 2007

Bare
(new on 2 CDs and 1 DVD)
Studio recording of Jon Hartmere & Damon Intrabartolo musical. Keili Lefkovitz, Jason Ryterband, Joel Echols, Matt Doyle, James Snyder, Jenna Leigh Green, Judith Hill, Christopher Johnson, Kara Maguire, Nils Montan, Carmel Echols, Anna Rose. Produced by Deborah Lurie and Casey Stone. Vocal director is Eric Anderson. Orchestrations and arrangements by Deborah Lurie. Reflects changes since the 2004 Off-Broadway production. DVD: "Navigate This Maze" documentary of the making of the bare album, including interviews with performers and producers, and footage from the studio recording sessions; footage from 2000 to present day, including interviews with creators, producers, and performers from the LA and NYC productions. A portion of the proceeds be donated to the Trevor Project. Available at barethealbum.com.

Brass Diva: The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman
(Univ. of California Press - Hardcover Book)
By Caryl Flinn. "Mining official and unofficial sources, including interviews with Merman's family and her personal scrapbooks .. unearths new details of Merman's life ..."

Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood (or Oh Wolf, Poor Wolf)
(Jef Films - new on DVD)
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1965 ABC television special (presented by GE) with Cyril Ritchard as Lone T. Wolf, Liza Minnelli in the title role, Vic Damone as the Woodsman, Eric Burdon and The Animals as the Wolf Pack. Original score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill. Script by Robert Emmett.

Kids' Musical Theatre Audition - Boys Edition
(Hal Leonard - Paperback Book with CD)
Songbook edited by Michael Dansicker includes "Button Up Your Overcoat," "Half the Battle," "High Hopes," "I've Got No Strings," "Join the Circus," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," "My Best Girl," "Proud of Your Boy," "Real Live Girl," "Who Do You Love I Hope."

Merry From Lena
(DRG Records - on CD)
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Reissue of Lena Horne holiday album, previously on United Artists. Jingle All the Way," "Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas," "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!," "Little Drummer Boy," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Silent Night," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Thinking Shakespeare
(Spark - Paperback Book)
By Barry Edelstein. Practical advice about how to make Shakespeare's words feel spontaneous, passionate, and real. Based on Edelstein's twenty-year career directing Shakespeare's plays. Released April 2007.

Vernon and Irene Castle's Ragtime Revolution
(Univ Press of Kentucky - Hardcover Book)
The story of the most famous and influential dance team in the world. By Eve Golden.

October 23, 2007

PS Classics new issues (in stores November 6) now available and on sale at PSClassics.com: Andréa Burns: A Deeper Shade of Red, Lauren Kennedy: Here and Now and Victoria Clark: Fifteen Seconds of Grace for $39.95; or those three plus Jonathan Sings Larson for $49.95.

At Last
(Miranda Music - new on CD)
Marcus Simeone debut CD. Ballads, pop songs and American classics. Musical director Barry Levitt and his quartet. Live recording from The Encore.

Baby Loves Broadway
(Varese Sarabande/Fuel 2000 - on CD)
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Some tracks are instrumental and some are sung by (unknown) studio singers.

Back to Bacharach - Michael Ball
(Universal - new on CD)
UK release. "The Look of Love," "Make It Easy on Yourself," "Alfie," "Arthur`s Theme (The Best That You Can Do)," "One Less Bell to Answer," "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "This House Is Empty Now," "This Guy`s in Love with You," "You`ll Never Get to Heaven," "Reach Out for Me," "What The World Needs Now." Available for Order at Amazon UK and Dress Circle

Broadway Gold
(Univ Classics/Decca Bwy - on CD)
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Compilation of newly remastered tracks from the label's cast albums: "The Song That Goes Like This," "Touch Me," "Mamma Mia!," "Defying Gravity," "Everything Old Is New Again," "High Flying, Adored," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Adelaide's Lament," "Bali Ha'i," "Green Eggs and Ham." Eleventh track, demo recording of "The Lorax," is available with the album download only at iTunes [still looking for iTunes link].

Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols For a Cure Vol. 9
(new on 2 CDs)
Annual holiday CD with songs performed by Broadway/Off Broadway cast members. Benefits BC/EFA. Putnam County Spelling Bee "'Twas the Night Before the Spelling Bee," Altar Boyz "The Innkeeper's Lament," Avenue Q "At the North Pole Global Warming Surfin' Party," The Broadway Boys "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," Chicago Mozart's "Alleluia," A Chorus Line "Broadway Holiday," The Color Purple "Angels We have Heard on High," Curtains "Monotone Angel," Dr. Suess' The Grinch TBA, The Drowsy Chaperone "Drowsy on Christmas," Grease "Up on the Housetop"/"Jolly Old St. Nicholas," Hairspray "Christmas in Baltimore," Jersey Boys "Dominick the Donkey," Legally Blonde "Christmas Makes the Whole World Warmer," The Lion King "The First Noel," The Little Mermaid "Joy to the World," Les Miserables "12 Days of Christ-Miz," Mamma Mia "My Gift," Mary Poppins "Two English Carols," Monty Python's Spamalot "It was Simple Then," Naked Boys Singing "Coventry Carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," Phantom "Following a Star," Rent "Go Tell It on the Mountain," The Ritz TBA, Rosie's Broadway Kids "This Little Light of Mine," Spring Awakening "What Child is This?," Wicked "Jingle Bells," Wicked (1st National Tour) "Mary's Lullaby," Xanadu "Away in a Manger," Julia Murney & Max Von Essen "O Holy Night." Available now at BCEFA.org

Feeling Good/Lena In Hollywood
(DRG Records - on CD)
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Lena Horne twofer; albums previously on United Artists.

Frank London: A Night in the Old Marketplace
(Soundbrush - new on CD)
Frank London lyricist Glen Berger's twenty-one unique songs for Alexandra Aron's theatrical adaptation of the legendary 1907 Yiddish play by I.L. Peretz. Mixes Jewish music, jazz, classical, rock, and world beats with a dose of Kurt Weill and Tom Waits. Susan McKeown, Manu Narayan, Lorin Sklamberg, They Might Be Giants, Craig Wedren, Jane Kelly Williams and more. Released April, 2007. [see our review of the current Philadelphia production.]

Inside Inside
(Dutton - Hardcover Book)
By James Lipton. "Backstage" look at Inside the Actors Studio and the life of James Lipton.

Not Quite an Ingenue - Neva Small
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
2007 album from Neva Small "A Cockeyed Optimist (South Pacific), "The Girl With Too Much Heart (The Prince of Grand Street), "Wait Till We're 65 (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever), "My Funny Valentine (Babes in Arms), "Short John (Doctor Blues), "Tea For Two (No, "No, "Nanette), "Half Of April, "Most Of May," "Riverboat Shuffle," "Portrait," "By The Lake In Central Park," "Job Application," "Peach Ice Cream (FJasmine Adams), "Fiddler On The Roof Medley," "Not Quite An Ingenue (duet with puppet), "In My Daughter's Eyes," "I Go On (Mass). Available at Footlight.com.

Philadelphia - The Musical
(new on CD)
2007 UK Studio Cast Recording of musical about a café in London. Score by Manchester based composer James Eccleshare. Sean Hargreaves, Vicki Forrester, Sophie Elliot, Daniel Whitehead, Nicole Thomason, Tom Kirk, Arran Kent, Craig Nixon, James Barber, Emily Cookson and Jonny Pryor. Available at Dress Circle.

Songs My Mother Taught Me
(First Night - new Import CD)
Import at CD Universe 
Lorna Luft album from her one woman show at the Savoy Theatre, London. "Lorna/Minstrel Girl," "I Feel A Song Comin' On," "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby (With A Dixie Melody)," "Mother Daughter Medley," "Chicago," "The Man That Got Away," "Come Rain Or Come Shine," "Born In A Trunk (medley)," "Shining Star/Over The Rainbow," "Carnegie Hall Overture," "Hello Bluebird." Also available at Amazon UK and Dress Circle (they also offer signed copies).

Soul
(DRG Records - new on CD)
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Lena Horne album which includes previously unreleased singles from United Artists.

October 16, 2007

Absolutely Fabulous: White Box DVD
(Warner - new on DVD)
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Last of the show to be released in the U.S. Includes 2004 Christmas Special with Nathan Lane, Miranda Richardson, Laurie Metcalf and Sir Terence Conran. Also, extras: ""How to Be Absolutely Fabulous" (28 minutes), "Ab Fab Moments" (78 minutes) and "French & Saunders: Modern Mother and Daughter" (8 minutes). Also included in Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Everything Complete Collection 9 disc set.

Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln
(Original Cast Records - new on CD)
Original York Theatre Cast Recording starring Carolann Page, Bertilla Baker, Edwin Cahill, Ken Krugman, Joy Lynn Matthews and Daiel Spiotta. Carmel Owen score.

Betty Buckley 1967
(Playbill Records/Sony BMG Masterworks - new on CD)
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Never before released recording made in Ft. Worth when the singer was 19 years old. Produced by Betty Lynn Buckley. Executive producers are Philip S. Birsh and Richard Jay-Alexander. "One Boy," ""C'est Magnifique," ""Quando Calienta El Sol" ("Love Me With All of Your Heart"), "They Can't Take That Away From Me," ""They Were You," ""Call Me," ""I Wanna Be Free," ""Where Is Love?," ""Who Can I Turn To?," ""My Funny Valentine," ""When I Fall in Love."

British Musicals of 1957 Highlights
(Must Close Saturday Records - new on CD)
Selections from the film version of The Good Companions, excerpts from the London cast Harmony Close, four songs by Joan Heal from Grab Me a Gondola cast album and selections from Free As Air by the Peter Knight Singers.

Broadway's Best At Pops
(WGHB - new on DVD)
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Compilation from PBS's long-running Evening At Pops with complete performances by Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, Kristin Chenoweth, Pearl Baily, Bonnie and John Raitt, Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Gregory Hines, and others that weren't on the PBS broadcast, plus interviews with John Williams, Michael Feinstein, Barbara Cook, and more. 76 minutes.

Florence Foster Jenkins: A World of Her Own
(VAI - new on DVD)
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Documentary written, produced and narrated by Donald Collup of socialite-singer Florence Foster Jenkins, on whom the play Souvenir is based. Includes rare archival images (most of which haven't been seen for 60 years), reminiscences from people who knew her and interacted with her and audio interviews with Marge Champion, Alfred Hubay and Daniel Pinkham (who attended her infamous 1944 Carnegie Hall concert). Released August, 2007.

Free Again! - Megan Mullally & Supreme Music Program
(Hep-Ur-Sef, Inc. - new on CD)

"Up a Lazy River," "Down By the River," "St. James Infirmary," "Wind and Rain," "I Cannot Justify," "Shakedown on 9th St.," "Talk to Me," "Awaiting You," "For the Good Times," "You Took Advantage of Me," "Ave Maria." Band includes Greg Kuehn, Stuart Mathis, Joe Berardi, Doug Livingston, Piotr Jandula, Larry Williams and Nick Offerman. Available at CDBaby.com.

Free As Air
(Must Close Saturday Records - new on CD)
London cast recording. Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds score. Gillian Lewis, Patricia Bredin, Gerald Harper, John Trevor Tracks. Includes orchestral dance music from the show by Tommy Kinsman and His Band, and Slade's own piano selection. Sound restoration by Alan Bunting.

The Jazz Singer 80th Anniversary
(Warner - on 3 DVDs)
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1927 Al Jolson film. Restored and remastered from earliest surviving nitrate film elements and original Vitaphone sound-on-disc recordings. Extras: commentary by film historians Ron Hutchinson and Vince Giordano; collection of rare cartoons and shorts: "I Love to Sing-a" classic 1936 WB parody cartoon directed by Tex Avery, "Hollywood Handicap" classic M-G-M short with Al Jolson appearance, "A Day at Santa Anita" classic Technicolor Warner Bros. short with Al Jolson & Ruby Keeler cameo appearance, "Al Jolson in 'A Plantation Act' "1926 Vitaphone short made a year prior to The Jazz Singer, "An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee" 1947 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast starring Al Jolson (audio only) Al Jolson Trailer Gallery; all-new feature-length documentary "The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk," two rarely-seen Technicolor excerpts from Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929 WB film, most of which is considered lost); studio shorts celebrating the early sound era: "Finding His Voice" (1929 Western Electric animated promotional short, produced by Max Fleischer), "The Voice That Thrilled The World" Warner Bros. short about sound, "Okay for Sound" 1946 WB short celebrating the 20th anniversary of Vitaphone, "When Talkies Were Young" 1955 WB short looking back at the early talkies, "The Voice from the Screen" 1926 WB 'demonstration' film explores the Vitaphone technology and, looks at the making of a Vitaphone short; over 3 1/2 hours worth of rare, historic Vitaphone comedy and music shorts; rarely seen behind-the-scenes; photo cards; lobby card reproductions; original release Souvenir Program book reproduction; booklet with vintage document reproductions and DVD features guide; reproduction of post-premiere telegram from Al Jolson to Jack L. Warner.

Julian Slade
(Must Close Saturday Records - new on CD)
Tracks from The Music of Julian Slade from early Julian Slade works, sung by Eleanor Drew, James Cairncross, Harry Dawson, John Neville and Jane Wenham; selections from the score for The Duenna; and the first issue of the Cambridge cast album of Lady May

Frank Sinatra: The Family Album
(Little, Brown and Company -