Solo CDs

[jennafan]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 3:49am

I know this is going to come off mean, but I was wondering if anyone was disappointed when one of their favorite Broadway performers came out with a solo CD and in your opinion it wasn't great.

I'm a huge fan of Adam Pascal and have been for almost 10 years, but I can't stand his solo albums. I don't know what it is, but I couldn't find one good song on them and ended up giving the cds away. I just tried to watch his new video on here and the song went nowhere, and the video was boring.


Maybe I'm alone on this....

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 5:55am

I'm sure you are not.

The only cd I have of a b'way actor (and he's more west end, but American born...I think.) is John Barrowman. I love his voice, but hated the one cd I purchased. NEVER listen to it.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 6:44am

I have two candidates: Elaine Stritch's solo album made years ago is pretty hard to listen to, especially when she attempts to scat sing; Ella Fitzgerald she is not.

The other singer is Nancy Dussault who was prominent on Broadway in the 1960's. She is perhaps best known for appearing in DO RE MI and BAJOUR. Her solo album is awful except for one lone song: "Make Someone Happy" from DO RE MI, although John Reardon sings the song in the show.

[once a month]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:47am

I'm probably in the distinct minority, but I was completely disappointed with Patti at Les Mouches.

[Weez]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:56am

I liked Adam Pascal's first solo album, but haven't gelled with the second. John Barrowman is one of those performers who's great live but just doesn't work well on a CD.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:27am

I work at a magazine where nearly every solo CD from a Broadway star comes in for a review. I listen to most of them, and it's the unfortunate truth that the large majority of them are really not good.

They have the same songs over and over and over again and often feature the most sleep-inducing arrangements. The Victoria Clark and Kelli O'Hara CDs are particularly guilty of this. They turn terrific and dynamic performers into totally boring recording artists.

Or they go in a pop music direction, but pop music as it was 10 or 15 years ago. (The new Orfeh and Idina albums.)

But for the sake of positivity, there are some great albums. My favorites of the past couple of years are:

Jackie Hoffman at Joe's Pub
Lauren Kennedy - Here and Now
Kerry Butler - Faith Truth and Pixie Dust

The last Karen Mason was also quite good, although it was guilty of predictable song choices.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:32am

I liked Victoria Clark's CD, and it's definitely a CD I can listen to over and over, but I don't think it has quite the same dynamic quality that she has.

Kerry Butler's solo CD is so perfectly her, I think. it's sweet and quirky and she did an amazing job choosing songs that fit her voice well.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:16am

Ones that I enjoy:

ALICE RIPLEY
Norm Lewis
Manoel Felciano
Lauren Molina [her EP]
Bob Stillman

[Kelly2]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:19am

Orfeh's solo CD is, in my opinion, the only Broadway solo album that is radio-friendly and contemporary, but at the same time, doesn't sacrifice quality of music and writing. Then again, she had Andrew Logan and Toby Gad working on songs for her, which is a luxury most Broadway stars can't afford, so it makes sense that the end result was so far and beyond.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:30am

I'm really biased, but I think Patti's Matters of the Heart CD is one of the best solo CDs for a Broadway actor.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:45am

Definitely agree about Alice's solo CD Sondheim_Geek. It's actually probably my favorite CD in my entire collection. (Her stuff with her band is fun too!)

[Leia947]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:03pm

Just found this thread....

Agreed with the Adam Pascal thing. Love him, huge fan. Really, really liked the first album. Second album had a few okay songs, but for the most part was disappointing. His third one, with Larry Edoff? Horrible. Unlistenable in my opinion.

Also, Gavin Creel's solo album is extremely catchy and enjoyable. It's not what I expected and am loving every second of it. The only problem I'm finding is that some of the songs are a bit short, and kept wanting to hear more.

Was also thinking about picking up Anthony Rapp's solo album.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:32pm

Brian Stokes Mitchel's is pretty bad, the arrangements are so boring.
Daphne Rubin Vega's album is kind of a mixed bag, some of the songs are great others are hard to listen to.

[sally1112]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:40pm

I bought Adam's cd on ebay where the seller stated it was not at all what he anticipated. I like it, not love it, but I don't play it a lot.

[jasonf]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:46pm

I'm pretty sure John Barrowman is Scottish.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:50pm

John was born in Glasgow, Scotland and then moved to the USA with his parents before he was ten. His career took off in London doing musical theatre back in the early 1990s starting as a replacement in Anything Goes opposite Elaine Paige.

He can do a very convincing Scottish accent but comes across as very much American

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:53pm

My favorites:
Christine Ebersole's "Live At Cinegrill", "Sunday In NY", and "In Your Dreams". All of her discs capture her personality and the songs selections are wonderful

Caroline O'Connor, "What I Did For Love" and "Stage to Screen" are both stunning. Why isn't she in NYC more?

Kelli O'Hara... I love the somber tone of her disc. It's haunting and gorgeous. I dont know if it is a reflection of her.

Patti LuPone...all of her discs are stellar, except Les Mouches, but I think she had little to do with that one.

Lea Salonga...I love her first CD "Lea Salonga" which was a stab at a pop career. It's arrangements are dated, but she nails all those power pop ballads.

Least Faves:
Sherie Renee Scott "Men I've Had"...I've tried many times and couldn't get into it.

Howard McGillin...not loving it.

Karen Murphy "Torch Goddess"...I loved her in White Christmas and bought her CD at the theatre. Couldn't get through it.

I think Kerry Butler's Disney themed album is a yawn...it's cutesy, but she might as well have released a kids album. Kerry has a great voice and could have showed some range on the disc, but instead played her impish ingenue completely going with type.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 1:58pm

I own about a dozen solo cd's and the only one I really love is Gavin Creel's GoodTimeNation. It is exactly what he says: just feel-good, sexy pop music. It's one of my most played albums right now, I can't wait for QUIET.


And I'll agree about Adam Pascal. I bought Blinding Light at one of his shows but I rarely ever listen to it.

[philly03]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 2:50pm

I have several solo CDs .. and agree: A lot of them aren't worth it for a full album unfortunately...

I really like Judy Kuhn .. but not really her solo albums which is a shame; her arrangement of "You'll Never Get Away From Me" sounds almost like it belongs in an elevator or something...just bizarre arrangement. Elaine Paige's "Encore" has some whacky orchstrations too .. not to mention she decided to do some duets .. all by herself?

Ones I do enjoy within "recent" times:
Linda Eder ("Broadway My Way," "It's No Secret Anymore" and "Greatest Hits" I think are her best!)
Lauren Kennedy (both of them!)
James Barbour (Is it called "Back from Broadway"? I think?!)
Natalie Toro

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 2:51pm

What's up with the Les Mouches hate? That's easily my favorite of Patti's solo albums.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 2:54pm

Jackie Hoffman has a solo CD? I am totally looking this one up!

If Kristin Chenoweth does another one I would love for her to record "Glitter and Be Gay" for a CD.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 3:03pm

Love Patti LuPone at Les Mouches. Awesome album.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 3:16pm

Though I love them both, Brian Stokes Mitchell and James Naughton have two of the most boring solo CDs I've heard. But John Barrowman's Music Music Music is one of the best. His duet of I Know Him So Well with Daniel Boys (another guy with a great solo CD) is the best arrangement of the song I've ever heard recorded.

And though they are not solo CDs, I never get tired of Alice Ripley/Emily Skinner Duets and Unsuspecting Hearts.

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 3:31pm

It appears as though I'm not alone in my dislike for Kerry Butler's CD. It's just there, it doesn't do anything for me and I'm a big fan of her voice.
I also didn't love Sherie Renee Scott's CD as much as I wanted to.

LOVE: Sutton Foster's, Kelli O'Hara's, and Lauren Kennedy's Here and Now.

and I'm buying Gavin's when I get home!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/6/09 at 3:38pm

I haven't bought Kerry Butler's album, but I have listend to tracks on itunes and the fact that she is doing a Disney album does not interest me at all. I do not want to hear ANYONE sing 'The Bare Necessities'!

I may be in the minority in this one, but I actually don't want to hear them sing original songs...just showtunes! So I welcome those type of albums!

I reccommend Joanna Ampil's album if you want to hear someone sing a variety of songs from musical theatre!