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Wonderful Town (2003 Broadway Revival Cast) | 
| Artists: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Donna Murphy, Jennifer Westfeldt, Adolph Green
Label: Drg
Category: Music
List Price: $17.98
Buy New: $10.84
You Save: $7.14 (40%)
New (12) Used (8) Collectible (4) from $8.97
Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 56145
Format: Extra Tracks
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 12999
UPC: 021471299922
EAN: 0021471299922
ASIN: B0001BFDIW
Release Date: March 9, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Overture | | • | Christopher Street | | • | Ohio | | • | Conquering New York | | • | One Hundred Easy Ways | | • | What A Waste | | • | Little Bit Of Love, A | | • | Pass The Football | | • | Conversation Piece | | • | Quiet Girl, A | | • | Conga! | | • | My Darlin' Eileen | | • | Swing! | | • | Ohio (Reprise) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's 1953 collaboration in Wonderful Town doesn't lack for recordings, including two good studio casts from 1998 and 1999. Yet the uncommonly funny show hadn't received a proper Broadway revival until this 2003 production. As Ruth Sherwood, a role created by Rosalind Russell, Donna Murphy gives a glorious five-star star performance, and nowhere is it more obvious than on "Conga!" and "Swing," the latter a delirious spoof of 1950s Greenwich Village hipsterisms. As Eileen Sherwood, Jennifer Westfeldt doesn't have the crystalline pipes of Audra McDonald (from the 1999 album) but she gives a warm performance that comes across well on CD. The rest of the cast is studded with pros who take obvious delight in the show, and music director Rob Fisher polishes Bernstein's score to a gleam. Truly, Broadway doesn't get much better than this. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 A truly wonderful show March 10, 2004
I. Sondel (Tallahassee, FL United States)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
"Wonderful Town" is the 'original' musical adaptation of the play "My Sister Eileen" and features a great musical-comedy score by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Leonard Bernstein. Now, with this first ever Broadway revival, the fifty year old musical is being rediscovered. Donna Murphy is fast becoming one of Broadway's greatest stars. Her performance on this CD (and on the stage of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) is one of the most accomplished I've ever heard or seen. Under the musical direction of Rob Fisher, Bernstein's score sounds fresh and vital. The lyrics by the great Comden and Green are among their most inventive. The opening number - "Christopher Street" - is every bit the equal of (and some would say companion to) "New York, New York" from this team's earlier collaboration "On the Town." Whimsical and full of good intentioned high jinks, the score is populated with one character driven number after another. Among the highlights are "Ohio," "A Hundred Easy Ways," "A Little Bit in Love," "My Darlin' Eileen," "It's Love," "Wrong Note Rag" and the crazy-wonderful first act finale "Conga!" (which is terrific on this disc - but all the more memorable if you've seen the show - Murphy brings down the house). If you love musical comedy, don't skip this CD or this show.
'S Wonderful March 11, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This recording of the new Broadway revival is a must-have for anyone interested in the state of old Broadway. During the last few seasons, Broadway has been awash with mediocre revivals of mediocre musicals, most of which added nothing to the originals and failed at the boxoffice. While the current "Wonderful Town" isn't a smash with ticketbuyers, it deserves to find an audience and this CD shows why. The score is simply one of the quirkiest, funniest and most energetic delights in the annals of American musicals, and the current cast lights up the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (and this recording) with boundless razzmataz. At the center of this juggernaut is the euphoric Donna Murphy, who brings her own distinctive stamp and vocal finesse to a role that once seemed impossible to imagine without the incomparable Rosalind Russell. Well, Murphy has achieved the impossible, for she has made the familiar seem brand new and exhilirating. Just listen to "One Hundred Easy Ways...", "Swing" and, most especially, "Conga" to hear how much fun she's having. It's infectious. Murphy hits just the right notes, literally and figuratively, with the tough but tender character of Ruth. She's given fine support by a cast of mostly unknowns. The gentle Jennifer Westfeldt may not have the vocal heft of previous "Eileens" but she's right for the part and balances Ruth's cynicism with a lighthearted wistfulness. The always reliable Greg Edelman is a perfect foil for these ladies and adds a touch of whimsy to a part that could be, let's face it, just a wee bit boring. While the orchestrations are a bit thin on this recording (Broadway's current tendency is to run with fewer musicians), this is the most complete version of the score yet recorded and the production is absolutely pristine. It's a great addition to the revival mania that has overtaken the Great White Way. Buy the CD, then trek on down to the Hirschfeld Theatre for the wonderful "Wonderful Town."
A Thoroughly Wonderful "Wonderful Town" July 1, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The most recent of the Wonderful Town recordings - the cast album of the current B'way revival - has much to recommoned. Yes, Donna Murphy is great as Ruth, but she has expert support, and the orchestra is glorious! I saw the revival a fortnight ago, glorious, and this CD is a great document. It may not be Bernstein's best Broadway score, but hell, it is just fine, thanks: it is jazzy, upbeat, and does contain one (perhaps lesser known) standard: "A Little Bit In Love." Comden & Green wrote great lyrics: clevery, insightful, and intelligent. What an entertainment!
There's nothing more WONDERFUL than this show!!! March 11, 2004
T. Fanning (Canterbury School, New Milford, CT)
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
I've seen this show on Broadway 3 times so far...and I plan to go 3 x 3 x 3 more! It's just, well in a word...WONDERFUL! And the only other thing you need to know is that this cast recording captures the essence of the show and is the next best thing to seeing it live. Once you listen to it...and listen to it, and listen to it some more, you'll want to be in the audience of the Hershfeld theatre as soon as you can. The special bonus songs (songs from the show sung my it's creators Comden and Green), are also a delight. This show is pure fun, and truly wonderful!
Wonderful Town = Wonderful Recording March 29, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I am a complete lover of Broadway and musicals. However, my tastes lean toward the newer musicals or musicals with depth and meaning behind them, Kander & Ebb and Sondheim. I have never been a complete fan of the "old-school" musicals, and I was very hesitant to buy this CD. On a whim, I figured "what-the-heck," and boy, am I glad I did. Bernstein's music is fun and very catchy, and Donna Murphy rocks. I have never been a fan of hers, but I listened to her sing and had to double check the coverlet to make sure it was her singing. I couldn't believe how wonderful she was. While there is nothing deep about the story, 2 sisters moving from Ohio to New York City and finding love, it is sheer fun and the music, singing, and performances by all the actors bring this exuberant fun to life in this new recording. It's a definite addition to anyone's collection.
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