I finally got mine in the mail Friday. It is a well produced album. Thanks to both the synopsis (helpful to me as I never saw the movie and I haven't been to New York yet this summer) and the album production, the story and characters come through with clarity.
The opening (and closing) number is the best thing in the score but there are many enjoyable tunes and some clever lyrics. The only stunt that doesn't work is Grandma Rose's sudden break into rap. Its joke worthy of SNL but it doesn't belong in a show like this. Still one can easily skip that track.
Kudos to Sony/BMG for the excellent packaging which includes all the lyrics. The decision to record the cast and band separately seems sound and adds to that 80s pop feel of the album.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
