I'm sitting here right now, listening again to Emily Skinner's lovely self-titled solo album, and wondering to myself: what is the best solo album released by a Broadway star? What's the worst?
In addition to Emily, these are a few I've come up with for the best:
Melissa Errico, "Blue Like That" (of course) Alice Ripley, "Everything's Fine" Audra McDonald, "Way Back to Paradise" Rebecca Luker, "Anything Goes: The Songs of Cloe Porter" (is that the right title?) Emily and Alice, "Duets" (it's not a solo album, but still...) Betty Buckley, "Stars and a Moon"
Sherie Renee Scott -...Men I've Had Kristin Chenowith - (I forgot the name) Linda Eder - every one except Gold.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
*points to signature, grins and scurries away* <3 you, Adam.
I don't think I've heard one that's really bad. As much as I love Daphne Rubin-Vega, her music isn't really my style, but it's not bad, really. I love how much energy she has and puts into her music, so I definitely like her CD.
ETA - Justice, Kristin Chenoweth's is called "Let Yourself Go."
Louise Pitre's "All Of My Life Has Led To This" is absolutley incredible- one of my all time favorite cd's. She has a new one out, called "Shattered", which is sensational, as well - a real DIVA cd, full of torch songs.
"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "
I loved Idina Menzel's "Still I can't be still" and "Here". My favorite Linda Eder cd is "Its time". I love Kristin Chenoweths "Let yourself go" and can hardly wait until "Borrowed Angels" comes out in April.
"There will always be women in rubber flirting with me"
~Maureen, RENT
I hate to say it because I love her voice so much, by Judy Kuhn's July Styne album was very disappointing. No energy or intensity whatsoever. Compared to her vocals on "Chess" or "Les Mis" or anything else from that period, its hard to imagine that its the same singer.
Both of Adam's CDs are great...really shows him in his true element. He's a rock star. Jeremy Kushnier's is excellent, especially since it was produced independantly...the musicians are really good on it, and he writes very catchy songs.
And you think of all of the things you've seen, and you wish that you could live in between ,and you're back again only different than before...
After the Sky.
-Into the Woods (Jack)
Sherie Rene Scott- Men I've Had Lauren Kennedy- Songs of Jason Robert Brown Alice & Emily- Duets, Unsuspecting Hearts Liz Callaway- Anyhwere I Wander, The Beat Goes On, The Story Goes On Sally Mayes- Boys and Girls Like You and Me, Eric Michael Gilett- Cast of Thousands Emily Skinner- Emily Skinner Adam Pascal- Model Prisoner (haven't gotten Civilian yet) Audra McDonald- Happy Songs, How Glory Goes, Way Back to Paradise Kristin Chenoweth- Let Yourself Go Alison Fraser- Men in My Life Laurie Beechman- No One Is Alone Judy Garland- Over The Rainbow Amanda McBroom- Portraits Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway- Sibling Revelry Debbie Shapiro- The Alan Menken Album
Both of Adam Pascal's cd's and Matt Caplan- overtones.
Edit- I also agree about Heather Headley's album.
"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell
plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!
Idina Menzel's "Still I Can't Be Still" is quite possibly the best cd I own. Completely unique and intimate. Her solo work deserves much more attention than it gets.