The new release, which hit stores Oct. 16 on the Playbill Records/Sony BMG Masterworks Broadway label, has placed at #2 on the Top Heatseekers (Middle Atlantic) chart. "Betty Buckley 1967" is also #33 on the Top Heatseekers Chart and #19 on the Top Internet Albums Chart.
Buckley, who made her Town Hall solo concert debut Oct. 20 to a sold-out crowd, spoke with Playbill.com about her new recording, the first of her acclaimed solo discs to chart on Billboard. "I am blown away! I cannot believe this," said the award-winning actress. "When Richard Jay-Alexander kept saying, 'We're gonna chart,' I honestly thought it was some major positive thinking, but pie in the sky. I am amazed. But, honestly, this was Andrew [Gans'] idea, and Phil [Birsh] and Richard's vision. I am just along for the ride and totally shocked and so grateful. What a trip!"
"Betty Buckley 1967" is the first of two discs from Tony winner Betty Buckley that will be released by Playbill Records: the second, the brand-new "Quintessence," will arrive on Valentine's Day 2008.
"Betty Buckley 1967" was recorded by the Tony-winning Cats star in Fort Worth, TX, when she was 19. She was accompanied by musicians Charlie Baxter, John Monaghan and Wayland Smajstrala; T Bone Burnett engineered the recording. The 11-track CD reveals a voice whose beauty is second to none, one that is filled with optimism and joy.
"Betty Buckley 1967" is produced by Betty Lynn Buckley. Executive producers are Philip S. Birsh and Richard Jay-Alexander. Andrew Gans penned the liner notes. The complete track listing for "Betty Buckley 1967" follows:
"One Boy"
"C'est Magnifique"
"Quando Calienta El Sol" ("Love Me With All of Your Heart")
"They Can't Take That Away From Me"
"They Were You"
"Call Me"
"I Wanna Be Free"
"Where Is Love?"
"Who Can I Turn To?"
"My Funny Valentine"
"When I Fall in Love"
"Quintessence," due in February 2008, celebrates Buckley's 17-year working relationship with musical director and pianist Kenny Werner. Backed by a quintet of musicians, Buckley offers renditions of "Amelia," "Anyone Can Whistle," "Blame It On My Youth"/"I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," "Cry Me a River," "Dindi"/"How Insensitive," "Get Here," "Heart Like a Wheel"/"The Water Is Wide," "Like a Lover," "No One Is Alone," "So Many Stars," "Something's Coming," "Stardust," "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" and "Where Do You Start?" More details to follow.
Betty Buckley offered acclaimed performances in Sunset Boulevard, Carrie, Song & Dance, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1776 and Promises, Promises. She won a Tony Award for her performance as Grizabella in the Broadway production of Cats, and she starred on the London stage in Promises, Promises and Sunset Boulevard, earning an Olivier Award nomination for her work in the latter. Also a TV ("Eight Is Enough") and film (Tender Mercies) star, the actress-singer devotes much of her time to concert appearances around the world. Her solo CD, "Stars and the Moon: Betty Buckley Live at the Donmar Warehouse," was nominated for a Grammy Award and is available on the Concord Records label. The actress was also seen on the final three seasons of the acclaimed HBO series "Oz" as well as in the Lincoln Center revue, Elegies: A Song Cycle.
To order the "Betty Buckley 1967" CD, click here.
To order the limited edition vinyl LP of "Betty Buckley 1967," click here.
