Little Women CD Review

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 1:25pm

Ghostlight has released a stunning cast recording. The score itself is nothing fabulous but does have some wonderful, gushing numbers. It is the performances by the talented cast and the incredible orchestra that make this such a marvelous cast recording.

Remembering my time in the audience, I was stunned by the vocals. Maureen McGovern's too luscious numbers, "Here Alone" and "Days of Plenty" brought tears to my eyes and stunned the house into an eerie silence the night I was lucky to be a witness to her performance. This performance is redefined and luckily we have it forever on this wonderful recording. Both songs are gloriously recorded, performed, mixed, et cetera to give a beautiful, heart-wrenching sound.

Sutton Foster, who I didn't appreciate in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' thrilled me beyond words that night at the Virginia theater. Her performance is even more stunning on this cast recording, particuarly "The Fire Within Me" which I believe to be one of the best tracks on this beautifully done recording.

The rest of the cast shines as much on this CD as they did on the stage and, believe it or not, the score shines much more here than it did on the stage. The performances feel as if they're live with so much stunning emotion and passion.

A beautiful booklet with some stunning photos is attached. Beautiful work by Ghostlight and a nice way to get there name out there as they continue to grow. Look forward to more recordings from them!

[BroadwayBaby3]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 3:01pm

anyone know a place in connecticut where i can get the cd?? i cant find it anywhere!!!!!!!

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 3:05pm

I agree. This is one of the best sung cast recordings in recent memory - by everyone. The score may not be brilliantly original - it sounds to me in places as if Jason Howland is an Alan Menken fan - but it's highly suited to the nature of the piece and very evocative. It works.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 3:21pm

Nice review. I agree that it's a wonderful recording, and it does have that live energy to it. Unfortunately, some shows lose a bit of that energy on recording, but I think this one captured it very well.

And of course, though the score is nothing brilliant, it works, and I think it's quite charming. Definitely suited to the nature of the work as well.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 3:23pm

Hated the show, love the cd. Sounds great and I hope all of the cast recordings being issued by this company sound as good.

[timote316]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 4:46pm

This CD isn't at the top of my list to get (currently 'Light in the Piazza'), but its definately on there! Great review, makes me want to go and get the CD somewhere right now!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 5:13pm

Yeah CT, where's the CD? I tried to major electronics/music/movie stores on the Post Road in Orange/Milford with no luck, in addition to the mall.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:06pm

For any of you New Yorkers out there or anyone traveling to the city who wants to pick up a copy - I just got mine at Virgin for $15.99! Can't wait to listen to it.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 6:17pm

Love the show, and LOVE the CD !!!!

[kangaroo]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 7:08pm

My STUPID area doesn't have any places that is selling the cd! I know... I should have just ordered it from amazon.com but I was SO positive that somewhere was going to sell it. I went to the 5 places that I knew were the only places that would even sell OBCs or soundtracks... NONE! I checked through every single CD in Walmart, even though the lady told me they didn't have it. I was so angry, but don't you fear... I got it on amazon.com and ordered. I'm so stupid, I should have just done that in the first place, and next time... I will.

You've got to make a mistake to recitfy it... ~kangaroo

[Aryn007]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 7:29pm

How do you guys think it compares with Light in the Piazza? I can basically only beg my parents for one CD this time around and I can't decide which one I should shoot for.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 7:34pm

Piazza's a far better score.

[FrancisGumm]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 8:34pm

but this one sounds amazing!! who knows how L.P will come out? emcee, have you listened to the LW recording yet? you make it seem like its not that good and L.P is superior even though its not out yet

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 8:41pm

Yeah, I have the LW CD, and I think the sounds far better recorded than it did live, actually. The orchestra sounds like it's much bigger. I didn't find the Little Women score that great, or even that memorable when I saw the show, but it's very pretty, so yes, I DO have the recording.

When I say that Piazza had a better SCORE, I mean the music as I saw it in the theatre. It doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I haven't heard the (thusfar unreleased) CD. You don't need to have heard a CD to say something has a better score. And even if Piazza doesn't translate as beautifully to CD as Little Women did, that doesn't mean I can't still hold to my belief that the score is better. I've heard the Piazza score live, and I think that gives me every right to voice my opinion, which says that it is far superior, even if I haven't heard a professional recording of it.

You're getting confused between my opinion of the musical material as one entity and of the CD as another.

Updated On: 5/4/05 at 08:41 PM

[Aryn007]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:50pm

Thanks for your input :)

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:08pm

I just listed to it all the way through and WOW! This CD makes this show sound like a million bucks! You know, I did like LW, didnt love it, but didnt hate it as much as the critics did...but I honestly believe if this show had come out later it would have fared much better. I personally thought DRS was the best show of the year and I too love that CD, but if there was a Tony for best Cast Album (yes, I know theirs a Grammy) - thus far, it would be LITTLE WOMEN! Very, Very WONDERFUL JOB!

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:06pm

I am really enjoying the cd, but does anyone else think that Sutton screams out the last few lines of Astonishing? Not a fan of the song or her singing on the song.

I am LOVING Days of Plenty however. Anyone who has lost someone young can really relate to this song. Brings me to tears every time.

Hated the show, love the cd.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:32pm

I didn't like the show..
But the CD is great!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:48pm

I just listened to mine today...AND LOVE IT.
It is killing me that I didn't get tickets for this show while in NYC last month......

[Benzy92]

Posted: 5/6/05 at 4:52pm

I live in CT but got mine in the city two weeks ago at Colony.. huge price, but so worth it.


If you are near the Westport area in CT, look up the number for Sally's Place. Her cd store has every cast recording ever released!

[suddenlyseymour]

Posted: 5/7/05 at 10:54am

i just got my cd yesterday and i LOVE it! sutton is freakin fabulous, she can never make a bad cast recording she's so amazing. "the fire within me" and "astonishing"....WOW