Grey Gardens CD first listen(EVER)

[colbol2005]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 5:15pm

Just listened to it for the first time.

I expected a "challenging" score, a sort of "modern opera". !! Instead I find the love child of Kander, Ebb, Sondheim, and Jerry Herman. I LOVE IT.

Finally a hummable, AND intelligent score. God bless la Chiusa, et al, but at last we have a new, exciting musical that doesn't make "Nixon in China" sound like "Mame".

Accepted, maybe, on listening alone, it needs a few more ballads, but, gosh, those composers can write a good "tune", and some damn fine lyrics. Can't wait to see it.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 5:25pm

i got the cd too and it's been glaring at me on the desk BEGGING to be played. aside from the one performance i saw of it at the Drama Desk Awards, i've not heard anything from it. i'm waiting to actually SEE it before i listen to it :) i usually love musicals better when i wait...

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 5:27pm

I've totally fallen in love with the score.

And, if you see the movie first it's even more fun.

[colbol2005]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 5:35pm

Glad you like it too. With this in mind,re styles, similar composers, what is "Spring Awakening" like? Or any of the other "new" scores coming in the next few months. (I realise they are not going to be like Grey Gardens), but are they "tuneful" or "challenging", for want of a better phrase. "Grey Gardens" or "See What I Wanna See"?

[fflagg]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 6:20pm

GG is a wonderful experience on CD and on stage.

I hope that the show can stick around when it opens on Bway; I am concerned that the show is being downgraded to 'gay' entertainment. This is a show that needs careful publicity handling; it is not a perfect show, but it is funny, witty, and ultimately moving. It is NOT silly garbage like KIKI AND HERB or pretentious like PIAZZA.

When Barbra comes to town in a month will she venture out of her hotel to see this show and record "Another Winter in a Summer Town" or "Will You"? Or God forbid be funny again and sing "Jerry Likes My Corn"? If only.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 6:30pm

Only if Babs can get it on TDF or TKTS

Will try & see it the weekend we spend in the city @ the end of October

Updated On: 9/4/06 at 06:30 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 6:32pm

I'd like Barbra to record "Hominy Grits".

[fflagg]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 6:34pm

Or a ballad version of "Vitamin L".

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 7:18pm

i went to barnes and noble to get the cd today, and found out they didnt have it
to my even great dismay, i found out i dont have any more money left on my gift card which i was going to get it with, so yeah...no getting it for a looooooooong time

glad its amazing...i could be listening to it right now
*sigh*

[fflagg]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 7:24pm

can u buy it online?

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 7:29pm

well, i only have like $14 on my gift card in the first place, and any other extra money i earn goes to my dad (i owe him $100 in debts :P)
so, yeah, i have to wait till i pay off all my debts, or christmas

[sally1112]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 7:35pm

Mine arrived in the mail a few days ago and I have listened to nothing else. It is beautiful!
I did not see it off Brodaway, but I will be seeing it on Broadway.
I did see the docu. and I think what they have done is amazing, smart, and beautiful.

If this cd is not part of your collection, go and get it.
Updated On: 9/16/06 at 07:35 PM

[istoleatv]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 8:26pm

there are so many wonderful songs on the cd! i have listened to it everyday since it arrived in the mail. I have so many favorites, but I love "The 5:15" and "The House We Live In" As well as all the ballads. It's just magical!

[Lorelai]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 1:49pm

I also adore this recording. "5:15" is great, as is Hominy Grits". But I must admit that I adore "Around the World" and "Another Winter...". Cannot wait to see it again when it comes to Broadway.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 2:01pm

I've only listened to half of it, but I didn't care for it. I'm sure I will like it far better after I've actually seen the show.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 2:11pm

What I find striking is how well the performances come through the recording. Everyone is simply wonderful. I think Gettelfinger is much better than I had heard. When she speaks I got confused because she sounds so much like Ebersole. I cannot wait to see this.

[show2n2]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 7:59pm

Hey guys,

Not sure if this has been posted or not, but there are some AMAZING pics from the first run of the show at the yahoo Grey Gardens Group.

You probably have to join the group, but "Jerry" apparently is a member and posts there from time to time.

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/greygardens/

There are on the 2nd page of Photos under greygardensmusical. Big Thanks to the original poster...realsaigonlee

Enjoy & remember....

JERRY LIKES MY CORN. :)

Updated On: 9/5/06 at 07:59 PM

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 8:25pm

Jerry likes my corn, too...

I love that song)

Shocking on the recording how Gettelfinger comes across so close to Christines voice. In the theatre the connection didn't work. I assume that's why she wasn't brought on to the Broadway production.

I loved the show off-Broadway. Can't wait to see the new changes.

Get the DVD of the documentary. It's amazing how much of it is part of the score. Even the first act!

Even the poster will make sense...

[show2n2]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 8:27pm

I'm with you Tom. After seeing the documentary, I understand more of the CD. Wish I could see the show.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 8:39pm

Hate to ask, show2n2, but why can't you see the show? (and it better be good!! )

Kidding. Back in the 80's the documentary was part of my film class. The film changed the way documentaries have been done since. Reality TV owes much to this movie.

My question will be: do you need to have seen the documentary to enjoy the show?

[show2n2]

Posted: 9/5/06 at 8:42pm

alas, i'm out west :)

Uhhh, having seen the docu helps, but I'm sure the show explains most of what you need to know.

I, like many, have become a fanatic of GG. Can't believe I had never heard about it until this year. oy`
Updated On: 9/5/06 at 08:42 PM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 7:21am

Be on the lookout for the sequel, THE BEALES OF GREY GARDENS.
It's more original footage that never made it to the original documentary, and it will make you love Little Edie even more.

Though after seeing it, I really disliked Big Edie.

Updated On: 9/6/06 at 07:21 AM

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 7:26am

i still need to get that cd. my friend from school (sarah hyland) is on the cd.

funny story... yesterday was the first day of school and she had a rehearsal at 11. and she will every day until the show opens. so she's not going to have any of her afternoon classes until after the show opens lol.

that sucks.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 8:43am

FINALLY this CD showed up on Yahoo Music and I downloaded it last night (along with [Title of Show]).
now, who knows how this score works within the libretto; there's been plenty of dissection of that and I will reserve judgment until I've seen it onstage.
However, I find the score quite fascinating upon first listening and, frankly, Christine Ebersole is glorious. Her voice is, quite simply, incredible. In another time and place, she'd have been an above-the-title star everywhere she went if for nothing else than her singing. To hear tell, though, her performance is once-in-a-lifetime and I hope it adds up to the performances that are indelibly stamped in my mind.