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ON THE RECORD: Holiday Gift List
By Steven Suskin
10 Dec 2007
Reissues
The stream of reissues has slowed down, in part because most of the likely suspects have already been brought back into print (and in many cases remastered more than once). This year saw the appearance of three important titles from the piano bench of Mr. Sondheim. Sweeney Todd [Masterworks Broadway 82876-68639] ranks high on the list of all-time great cast recordings, and has received the finest remastering of the group. Sunday in the Park with George [Masterworks Broadway 82876-68638] and Into the Woods [Masterworks Broadway 82876-68636], too, are considerably improved and offer far more clarity than the original LPs.
A number of British musicals have come along as well. Of these, Grab Me a Gondola [Sepia 1101] is perhaps most worthy of interest. The score is of the negligible '50s style; a couple of the songs are good, while some are so — well, not good — as to make entertaining listening. This CD makes the list, in part, due to the inclusion of selections from the UK transfers of Broadway's Wonderful Town and Pal Joey. The latter brings us the Vera Simpson of Carol Bruce, which is well-worth seeking out. (Ms. Bruce died just after this CD was issued, and was apparently flattered by the attention it brought her.)
Solos with Friends
This year's list ends with not two or four but five CDs from PS Classics. These are led by a recently-released trio from contemporary musical comedy leading ladies: Victoria Clark: Fifteen Seconds of Grace [PS-755], Lauren Kennedy: Here and Now [PS-752] and Andréa Burns: A Deeper Shade of Red [PS-756]. All are special in their own separate ways, and all feature show tunes by some of our younger, present-day songwriters. A little-known present-day songwriter also came out with her own album, this ordinary thursday: The Songs of Georgia Stitt [PS PS-748]. Ms. Stitt is a very special composer, and her CD is quite a find. Finally, Jessica Molaskey — in tandem with that banjo-pickin' husband of hers, John Pizzarelli — brought forth her fourth CD, Jessica Molaskey: Sitting in Limbo [PS Classics PS-751]. The first three Molaskey-Pizzarelli specials have been featured on past holiday gift lists, and this year's entry handily earns the same accolades.
(Steven Suskin is author of "Second Act Trouble," "A Must See! Brilliant Broadway Artwork," "Show Tunes" and the "Opening Night on Broadway" books. He can be reached at Ssuskin@aol.com)
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