THREE NEW KRITZERLAND RELEASES - SONDHEIM, BACHARACH, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER

[bk]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 3:22am

Kritzerland is proud to present three new CD releases – three great live recordings of the all-star annual STAGE benefits:

BY SIDE BY SIDE BY SIDE BY SIDE BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM
The 23rd Annual STAGE Benefit Concert

BLAME IT ON BACHARACH
The 24th Annual STAGE Benefit Concert

THE PERFECT YEAR: THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
The 20th Annual STAGE Benefit Concert

The annual STAGE benefits have been going on for over twenty-five years now – they are always an exciting event, peopled with wonderful performers doing wonderful music. Several of them have been recorded live and released on CD, including the Kritzerland release of Schwartz, Schwartz, and Strouse. We are very pleased to present three never before released recordings.

The Stephen Sondheim concert features a glittering array of performers, including Len Cariou, Sally Ann Howes, Patrick Cassidy, Shaun Cassidy, Ann Hampton Callaway, Nancy Dussault, Betty Garrett, Randy Graff, Alice Ripley, Michelle Nicastro, Felicity Huffman, Marc Cherry, Valarie Pettiford, Charlotte Rae, Carole Cook, Rip Taylor, and many others, all performing the brilliant Sondheim songs from such classics as Follies, Company, A Little Night Music, Anyone Can Whistle, Merrily We Roll Along, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum, Into the Woods and more.

The Bacharach concert features an amazing cast, including Melissa Manchester, Stephen Bishop, Vicki Lewis, Donna McKechnie, Dave Koz, Marilyn Maye, Nancy Dussault, Stefanie Powers, Danny Gurwin, Justin Guarini, Catte Adams, Carole Cook, Jai Rodriguez, Valarie Pettiford and more, all singing such Bacharach classics as “Baby, It’s You,” “A House Is Not a Home,” “Alfie,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Blue on Blue,” “The Look of Love,” “Walk on By,” and, from Promises, Promises, “Half as Big as Life,” “Turkey Lurkey Time,” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and more.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Concert features a wonderful company of performers, including Tyne Daly, Bill Hutton, Valerie Perri, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Carole Cook, Dale Kristien, Franc D’Ambrosio, Ken Page, Terri Bibb, Karen Culliver, Mary D’Arcy, Anastasia Barzee, Reece Holland, David Burnham, William Katt, Brian Lane Green, Joan Ryan, Leslie Jordan, Valarie Pettiford, Kim Huber, Keith David, Nita Whitaker, Mary Jo Catlett, Sean McDermott, and many others, many of the performers appeared in the original companies of such Lloyd Webber classics as Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ, Superstar and more.


Recorded live, with all the vitality and excitement and, yes, sometimes roughness that goes with the territory. These were once-in-a-lifetime evenings and now they’re yours to enjoy on these CDs.

The Sondheim and Lloyd Webber albums are two-CD sets priced at 24.98 plus shipping. The Bacharach album is a single CD priced at $19.98 plus shipping. A portion of the proceeds goes to AIDS Project, Los Angeles, and other AIDS organizations. We’re pleased to offer a special sale price for those who wish to order all three titles. Just follow the link if you want to take advantage of the special deal.

CDs will ship by the fourth week of May – however, preorders placed directly through Kritzerland usually ship one to five weeks earlier (we’ve been averaging four weeks early). To place an order, see the cover, or hear audio samples, just visit www.kritzerland.com.

[xoffender45]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 11:00am

As usual, I'm VERY excited for these releases! But the covers are... how can I put this? ...Not your best. But again, thanks for these great releases!!

[sondhead]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 1:06pm

The rudeness of people is really astonishing sometimes.

Thanks bk for everything you do. Your label is clearly a labor of love. Your fans love it too!

Updated On: 4/14/12 at 01:06 PM

[bk]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 3:18pm

The three covers were all they had - all designed by BYRD, who did the original Follies poster. We felt it was necessary to use their designs as that's what these are.

[choitoy]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 3:27pm

I don't think xoffender was necessarily rude, they did express that they were excited by these releases (as am I), but I do concur that the covers do not look as exciting as they could be. xoffender only said that the covers were "not your best". S/he didn't slam the covers like I have seen some people slam some artwork (I remember some people were completely slamming "Lizzie Jones"s artwork, calling it garish, juvinile, etc. I actually didn't think the artwork for the show was all that bad.)

I know this could be for budget reasons, trying to keep them as cost effective as possible.

anyways, Thanks to Bruce for these. I have my pre-orders in for them already! I can't wait!

[tazber]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 3:41pm

Lol, your calling xoffender rude was far more impolite than his/her post.

I too am underwhelmed with the cover art. But it certainly won't deter me from purchasing this fine cds.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/14/12 at 3:56pm

I think for me the music is the important thing. Musically speaking it is definitely an embarrassment of riches. Thank you for all the work you do over at Kritzerland!

[bk]

Posted: 4/15/12 at 11:57am

It has nothing to do with best, unfortunately - these were required. We can only use what's provided - that said, BYRD is kind of a legend, so I don't mind them. :)

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/15/12 at 6:07pm

Very excited for these releases too--I know we have had some issues of opinion on here, but I am thrilled with what you help to get released. (I kinda like the covers, lol...)

[binau]

Posted: 4/15/12 at 6:08pm

Cannot wait to hear Alice Ripley's "Me and My Town".

[castlestreet]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 11:20am

Just ordered mine too- I can not wait to hear this- my three favorite composers of all time!

BTW Bruce- The Good Old Bad Days was really a fun CD- thanks again for all you do!

[bk]

Posted: 4/16/12 at 7:04pm

"Cannot wait to hear Alice Ripley's "Me and My Town"."

It's very Ripley-esque :)