Search - Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Rosalind Russell :: Wonderful Town (Original Broadway Cast)

What a find!

Sarah Dreher | Amherst, MA USA | 04/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Early Bernstein, Rosalind Russell sings, what could be better? This wonderful classic '50's musical is based on the book "My Sister Eileen," one of the funniest books to come along -- even now. I consider myself fortunate to have seen the original cast of WT, have cherished the album. The music is a delight. Dated? Aren't we all?"

Leonard Bart-stein? Listen for yourself....

Lee Hartsfeld | Central Ohio, United States | 09/22/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Leonard Bernstein never erred on the side of subtlety, and this original-cast album contains two of his most enjoyable essays in musical near-mayhem: "Christopher Street" and "The Wrong Note Rag." The former is vastly like the theme music to "The Simpsons," and the listener can decide for himself how much of a coincidence this is or isn't. "The Wrong Note Rag" uses the tritone of the scale and a varied meter to make life difficult for the singers and anyone trying to count along. Unlike so many send-ups of the 1920s, this song ingenioulsy captures the musical and lyrical feel of novelty numbers like 1924's "Fascinating Rhythm"--or, better yet, the slightly later "Crazy Rhythm." A parody of the 1920s that shows any sense of the 1920s is a rare item, indeed. "Wonderful Town" is an interesting, enjoyable, and valuable historical piece, and I can only imagine what later performers did with it. I don't want to know."

O-H-I-O

Donald | Ohio | 01/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is probably not the best and most complete recording available fo the show. However, it does feature Rosiland Russel and the rest of the OBC, which is a major plus. The score has many hightlights, the strongest being "Ohio" (which I think should be the Ohio state song, but that's a whole different issue). Bernstein's music is definatly not bland or forgettable, and Comden-Green's lyrics are witty and all in all enjoyable, as best demonstrated in "One-Hundred Easy Ways" in which Rosiland Russell's character describes how to lose a man. There are some duds in this show, the biggest example being "Swing" which , aside from cheezy lyrics and an overal bland melody, does not make one want to swing dance. If this number were stronger--it certainly has potential--and if the recording and liner notes were more complete, this would easi ly be a 5-star recording. Unfortunatly, that isn't going to happen, so you'll have to setlle in order to enjoy this great score done by the original cast."