Just Around the Riverbend [From Pocahontas] - Stephen Michael Schwartz, Menken, Alan
West End Avenue [Magic Show]
Blame It on the Summer Night [From Rags] - Stephen Michael Schwartz, Strouse, Charles
Colors of the Wind [From Pocahontas] - Stephen Michael Schwartz, Menken, Alan
No Time at All [From Pippin]
With You/Gifts of Love (From Pippin/The Baker's Wife)
Stranger to the Rain (From Children of Eden)
Meadowlark [From "The Baker's Wife"]
Fathers and Sons [From Working]
Chanson [From the Baker's Wife]
In Whatever Time We Have
Out There [From the Hunchback of Notre Dame] - Stephen Michael Schwartz, Menken, Alan
When You Believe [The Prince of Egypt]
It'd be easy to excuse anyone for thinking that Stephen Schwartz only writes religious musicals. After all, his most famous show is still Godspell, and his works surfacing most prominently in 1998 were the revival of Child... more »ren of Eden and the DreamWorks film The Prince of Egypt. The Stephen Schwartz Album covers a wide range of work, however, including all of the above, earlier major works (Pippin, The Magic Show, and The Baker's Wife), and his Disney films with composer Alan Menken, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. (The Disney films and Rags are the only shows represented for which Schwartz wrote lyrics but not music.) This all-new 1999 recording features a number of talented artists from the Varèse Sarabande stable, including Christiane Noll, Susan Egan, Kristin Chenoweth, and Guy Haines. While many of these songs might be heard to better effect elsewhere, the album is a consistently good 65-minute package of gems, and especially noteworthy is the composer's own moving rendition of "Fathers and Sons." Schwartz also provides the song-by-song liner notes--a nice touch. --David Horiuchi« less
It'd be easy to excuse anyone for thinking that Stephen Schwartz only writes religious musicals. After all, his most famous show is still Godspell, and his works surfacing most prominently in 1998 were the revival of Children of Eden and the DreamWorks film The Prince of Egypt. The Stephen Schwartz Album covers a wide range of work, however, including all of the above, earlier major works (Pippin, The Magic Show, and The Baker's Wife), and his Disney films with composer Alan Menken, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. (The Disney films and Rags are the only shows represented for which Schwartz wrote lyrics but not music.) This all-new 1999 recording features a number of talented artists from the Varèse Sarabande stable, including Christiane Noll, Susan Egan, Kristin Chenoweth, and Guy Haines. While many of these songs might be heard to better effect elsewhere, the album is a consistently good 65-minute package of gems, and especially noteworthy is the composer's own moving rendition of "Fathers and Sons." Schwartz also provides the song-by-song liner notes--a nice touch. --David Horiuchi
"THE STEPHEN SCHWARTZ ALBUM highlights the best moments of this proflic writer of musical theater, including PIPPIN, THE MAGIC SHOW, CHILDREN OF EDEN, and his Disney efforts. However, what makes this collection so strong are two important elements: the sweeping orchestrations and the excellent performers. The compilation of performers represent the present and future of the musical theater, including Susan Egan, Emily Skinner, Alice Ripley, Christiane Noll, and Brian D'Arcy James. Furthermore, their wise interpretations of Schwartz classics are complemented by dazzling orchestration work which highlights the most musical qualities of this lyricist and librettist. Schwartz's work is earthy and emotional. It is best representated by Marin Mazzie's dazzling interpretation of "With You/Gifts of Love," Laura Benati's "A Beautiful City/Day by Day," and the love duet "In Whatever Time We Have." However, the most surprising track offers Schwartz's own rendition of his personal "Fathers and Sons" from WORKING. His performance brings the lyric and the emotion of this excellent song to the surface. Considering Schwartz is the musical mastermind behind 30 years of musical theater, maybe his wise performance may not be so surprising after all."
Great Album, Great Singers!
Robert Lopez | California | 02/23/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I found the STEPHEN SCHWARTZ ALBUM to be a great collection of songs with incredible singers. The few songs I could do without are "Beautiful City", "Corner of the Sky", "Stranger to the Rain" & "Colors of the Wind", but the rest are incredible. Christen Chenoweth of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, sings "Lion Tamer" with vibrant youth and sincerity. Silly to say but after hearing her I really believe she wants to be one! Christaiane Noll (Jekyl & Hyde, Ain't Nothin But the Blues) surprises with her heartfelt "Just Around the Riverbend". Listen for the last note which is belted, unlike the disney version. What can I say about Alice Ripley? (of Side Show, Les Miserables) Her voice is absolutely phenomenal. She turns the fairly easy "West end Avenue" into a belt song. Just listen. Marin Mazzie (Ragtime, Kiss Me Kate) Enchants with her golden voice with a combination of 2 songs, "With You / Gifts of Love". Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret) sings the belt song "Meadowlark" with finesse but falls short to Patti LuPone's rendition (Who sing's it better?) but it is a good one at that. Now a real treat is to hear Stephen Schwartz sing himself. "Fathers and Sons" always brings tears to my eyes. Emily Skinner (Side Show, Jesus Christ Superstar) sings "Chason" with style and ummph. She has a certain way of singing that grabs your attention. A great duet with Brain D'Arcy James (Titanic) & Luba Mason (Jekyll& Hyde) "in Whatever Time We Have" although Brian seems to outshine Luba at times. I'm not familiar with Jason Daniely but listen to how unbelieveably long he holds the note at the end of "Out There"! The same goes for Ann Marie Milazzo. Who are those two? Anyway, great album, for those who appreciate divas and belters, it's a sure winner."
Wonderful Compilation
acting4aliving | New York | 10/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Varese Sarabande has a wonderful history of compilation albums of Broadway composers. Sadly, Varese Sarabande itself is now history (but look for Bruce Kimmel, VS producer, and his new label, Fynsworth Alley). While many of Kimmel's albums are noteworthy, none quite reach the heights attained by the Stephen Schwartz album. Nearly every song on this wonderful CD is perfect. I specifically enjoyed Christiane Noll's incredible version of "Just Around the Riverbend" from Pocahontas, Jason Danieley's impressive "Out There" from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Marin Mazzie's beautiful medley "With You/Gifts of Love." On the whole, this CD is a winner, from the performers to the musical arrangements. And special credit must be given to the CDs tributee, Stephen Schwartz, for writing such beautiful music and lyrics."
You'll love it in just no time at all
Lauren Halvorsen | Connecticut United States | 12/31/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The work of the brilliant Stephen Schwartz is celebrated on this enjoyable compilation CD. Stand-out tracks include Laura Benanti's vibrant rendition of "Beautiful City/Day By Day" from GODSPELL, Alice Ripley's phenomenal "West End Avenue" from THE MAGIC SHOW, and Susan Egan's soaring performance of the powerful "Meadowlark" from THE BAKER'S WIFE. The CD also features the talents of Broadway newcomers of veterans alike - the seasoned Dorothy Loudon, THE FULL MONTY star Emily Skinner, Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth, the husband and wife team of Marin Mazzie and Jason Daniely, and the famed composer himself. The reason I have this CD 4 stars was due to the poor arrangement of "Corner of the Sky" - normally a powerful song, hear it simply drags. Still, one track should not discourage anyone from purchasing this incredible collection of the some of the best songs ever written."