Good to Be Alive [CD-single]

Good to Be Alive [CD-single]

Track Listings

1. Good to Be Alive [Radio Mix]

Tracks:

Symphonic Sondheim: Sweeney Todd--orchestra, Jerry Hadley ("Johanna"), Eugene Perry,Herbert Perry ("Pretty Women")
Evening Introduction--Bill Irwin
Loveland/Getting Married Today--Ensemble, Jeanne Lehman, Mark Jacoby, Madeline Kahn
Waiting for the Girls Upstairs--George Lee Andrews, Michael Jeter, James Naughton/Love, I Hear--Michael Jeter/Live Alone and Like It--James Naughton
Someone Is Waiting--Richard Muenz/Symphonic Sondheim: Barcelona--orchestra
Being Alive--Patti LuPone
Good Thing Going--The Tonics
Losing My Mind/You Could Drive a Person Crazy--Dorothy Loudon
Our Time--Boys Choir of Harlem/Children Will Listen--Betty Buckley
Anyone Can Whistle--Billy Stritch
Water Under the Bridge--Liza Minnellli, Billy Stritch
Back in Business--Liza Minnellli, Billy Stritch, Ensemble

Tracks:

Symphonic Sondheim: Comedy Tonight--Bill Irwin, orchestra
Sooner or Later--Karen Ziemba
Pretty Lady--Mark Jacoby, Eugene Perry, Herbert Perry
Green Finch and Linnet Bird--Harolyn Blackwell
The Ballad of Booth--Patrick Cassidy, Victor Garber
Broadway Baby--Daisy Eagan
I Never Do Anything Twice--BETTY
With So Little to Be Sure Of--Jerry Hadley, Carolann Page
Not a Day Goes By--Bernadette Peters
Remember?--Ron Baker, Peter Blanchet, Carol Meyer, Bronwyn Thomas, Blythe Walker (Quintet)/A Weekend in the Country--Kevin Anderson, George Lee Andrews, Mark Jacoby, Beverly Lambert, Maureen Moore, Susan Terry, Quintet
Send in the Clowns--Glenn Close
Old Friends--Liza Minnelli
Sunday--Bernadette Peters, Broadway Chorus

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2006-08-06

This is a wonderful double CD of fabulous musical numbers performed by theatre greats and directed by a legandary musical director.

Simply the Best.......2005-06-29

First, to the person who criticizes the recording b/c of "Broadway Baby." Daisy Egan (who sings in in this recording) sounds like she's 10 becuase she IS young. She had just appeared on Braodway in Secret Garden and won a Tony for it. It's a joke...Broadway BABY...hello, it's a joke.

In a compilation of songs like this you're always going to have tracks that you prefer over others, but the majority of the renditions in this CD are great. This is simply one of the best collections of Sondheim out there. You get interpretations that span from "classical" (Green Finch), to bordering on insane (Anything Twice). This is to demonstrate how versatile this composer really is.

In my opinion, some of the best renditions are "Not a Day Goes By," "Anyone Can Whistle", "Girls Upstairs Medley," "Losing My Mind/Drive a Person Crazy," and "Weekend inthe Country." Makes me wish I had been there to witness it first hand.

If you love Sondheim and enjoy hearing Broadway performers, get this CD. A great recording.

Inconsistent, but mostly excellent.......2004-03-21

I am sure no knowledgeable person would deny how absolutely perfect all these songs are. However, the performances on this album are extremely inconsistent. It will go from an excellent rendition (Waiting for the Girls medley, Sunday, With So Little To Be Sure Of, Sooner or Later, Green Finch, Send in the Clowns, Pretty Lady) to the weird (I never Do Anything Twice), to the bad (Broadway Baby, Our Time). I still have absolutely no idea how they managed to butcher one of the best songs ever written--Good Thing Going--and turn it into smooth jazz elevator music. Why would they give Broadway Baby to someone who sounds like she's 10? That said, Liza Minelli, Glenn Close, Karen Ziemba, Dorothy Laudon and the "Waiting for the Girls" performers are all very good. And ending with Bernadette Peters and "Sunday" ends the set on a absolutley fabulous note.

"Celebration" is not strong enough a word.......2003-04-30

This review is by Crosley.

I have been a major Sondheim fan for quite some time, and I finally obtained a copy of this album. I was blown away by the excellent cast and phenomenal selection of music. It is obvious how much work went into this production, considering that this is the live recording of a one time show, and it's flawless. The songs cover all of his shows with the exception of "Passion," which was released 3 years after this show. Also, the shows for which he wrote only lyrics are ommited, like West Side Story, Gypsy, etc. Thus, you can find material from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Merrily we Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Assassins.

There are two striking things about this CD (besides the music and performers themselves). First of all, some of the songs are completely stylistically reworked. The most obvious are "Good Thing Going" and "I Never do Anything Twice." Both are traditionally very ballady with a piano accompaniment, but here they have been redone as jazzy tunes. The result is excellent. Such reworkings demonstrate that Sondheim writes music for virtually any style, and in these cases, across several styles. It's a great example of his variety. The other interesting thing is how many songs have overlapping melodies of songs from different shows. Case in point, "Our Time" and "No one is Alone" are sung seperately by the Harlem Boys Choir and Betty Buckley (the original Grizabella in Webber's atrocious "CATS," although Buckley was excellent) respectively, and then combined. Putting these two songs together offer different meanings to each, and the music is only enhanced. Another example, the trio of "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs," "Love, I Hear," and "Live Alone and Like It" are sung in that order, and then the latter two are combined. Again, the meanings of the songs change, this time in an almost narrative style, and offering different takes on love in the same montage. Lastly (at least for this review, there are more), Dorothy Laudon's (the original Ms. Hannigan in Annie) combination of "Losing my Mind" and "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" is brilliant. Those who are familiar with these songs will wonder how exactly they fit, but trust me, they do. She swtiches back and forth between melodies to create a number that starts poignant and beautiful, and soon moves to become uproariously funny. Both the song reworkings and overlapping melodies of unrelated songs are all for the better.

I recommend this recording to anyone wanting to get better acquainted with some of Sondheim's best work, or those already familiar who want to hear a tour de force of phenomenal music. It has been said that Sondheim is a masterful lyricist (which he is), but lacks real talent for music. This CD is the final proof that such critics are wrong. His music may take a few listenings to get into, contrary to Webber or Wildhorn, but unlike those two, he doesn't cater to the audience. He challenges them to think outside of traditional musical theater in a glorious repertoise of shows that reach for a smarter, more sophisticated form.

A maginificent evening, a magnificent album.......2001-12-16

There's something to be said for the first concert you ever see at Carnegie Hall. I was fortunate enough to have this be my first. This entire evening was devoted to his genius and the performers did not disappoint.

This wonderful double CD shows off the best and brightest of the musical theatre composer and it is, as one person put it, "an embarassment of riches." With songs from his finest works done in amazing arrangements (listen to that harmony in "We Had a Good Thing Going"!) combined with fabulous performers this is a Sondheim lovers delight.

My favorite song is, without a doubt, Dorothy Louden and her wonderful medley of "Losing My Mind" into "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" followed very closely by the recently departed Madeline Kahn singing "Getting Married Today."

Applause (Original 1970 Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating:

Applause for Applause!

Lauren Bacall !

Love it

Welcome CD edition of the original Broadway cast album

lauren

Applause (Original 1970 Broadway Cast)
Lee Adams
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Overture
Backstage Babble
Think How It's Gonna Be
But Alive
The Best Night of My Life
Who's That Girl?
Applause
Hurry Back
Fasten Your Seat Belts
Welcome to the Theatre
Good Friends
She's No Longer a Gypsy
One of a King
One Hallowe'en
Something Greater
Finale
Applause -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) (bonus track)
The Loneliest Man in Town -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) - bonus track
Smashing N.Y. Times -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) - bonus track
God Bless -- Charles Strouse (vocal and piano) - bonus track

Customer Reviews:

Applause for Applause!.......2006-07-13

I recomend this cd to all theater fans. Even the ones who love a great, toe tapping score. The song they sing in titled Applause can be seen in the Bonus Performances on the DVD titled Broadways Lost Treasueres. That is how I first heard of Applause. It was very entertaining!

Lauren Bacall !.......2005-07-09

Based on the classic movie "All About Eve", Lauren Bacall won a Tony for her performance in this great musical.

Best tracks include:

But Alive
Applause [Bonnie Franklin of "One Day At A Time" fame!]
Something Greater

Not all the songs are great, but totally worth the buy!

Love it.......2004-04-01

Love the CD ( I have had the vinyl recording ever since it came out), but wish it could be released on Video or DVD(does anyone out there know if this will ever happen?). I saw the television production with Lauren Bacall and Larry Hagman back in the early 1970's and saw an amateur production of it here in Melbourne as well and having always loved the whole concept of the movie, I feel that it transferred well to the stage.

Welcome CD edition of the original Broadway cast album.......2004-01-17

First... a request to people reviewing stage cast albums, Several reviews refer to these recordings as "soundtracks."

WRONG!!!!

"Soundtrack" recordings are records/cds transfered from from movies ONLY.

Live theatre does not use pre-recorded "soundtracks" - the casts perform live on stage and these "original cast recordings" are made in recording studios and designed for home listening.
PLEASE.... maintain your credibility by using the correct term!

************

Finally, after years of negotiation Decca Broadway is making the 1970 Tony winning musical APPLAUSE avaialble on Cd. Was it worth the wait? Well, yes and no. APPLAUSE is one of those late 60's musicals adapted from a hit play/novel/movie and offering lots of glitz and energy to cover up the deficiencies of the show itself.

Star Lauren Bacall provided the "star" quality though she has no real singing voice but as an actress she rises above it bringing the character to vivid life. Len Cariou sings well as Bacall's boyfriend but has very little to do.

Bacall gets the key gems and with two major exceptions any of the numbers in which she does not appear can be ignored. The first exception is the lively title song - a tribute to the power of applause. It has almost nothing to do with the plot but still stopped the show nightly. The other,is a dramatic soliloque for Penny Fuller in the (virtually) non-singing role of Eve: "One Hallowe'en." This is Eve's big moment to really show her true colours and Fuller makes the most of it. Missing from the recording - becasue it is a dialogue scene - is the following moments when Eve recieves humiliating comeuppance.

The original Lp release was done by ABC records and had an annoying "boxy" sound quality that has not been corrected on the cd. The very short selection has been filled out with demo recordings by composer Charles Strouse and a couple of the cut songs sound quite interesting. Packaging is up to Decca Broadway's usual high standards.

lauren.......2003-12-04

i have a copy of this recording on LP, and have enjoyed it for approx 25 yrs. couldn't wait for the cd. bought it the first time i saw it.
i am wondering if anyone has seen the tv production of APPLAUSE starring LAUREN broadcast circa 1974 on tv? and is there any possibility of obtaining a copy on anything? the production was FANTISTIC, to say the least!!!

Average customer rating:

Gosford Park Sound Track
Better than the movie
I don't mind the repeating themes, but the CD is too short!
Excellent Mix
One the best soundtracks out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gosford Park (2001 film)
Patrick Doyle
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005UNCB
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

Waltz Of My Heart
Mr. Parks
Gosford Park
Bored To Sobs
The Shirt
And Her Mother Came Too
Walking To Shoot
No Smoke Without Fire
Scherzo In G
I Can Give You The Starlight
What A Duke Should Be
Inspector Thompson
Pull Yourself Together
Life Goes On
Secrets To Hide
Only For A While
Rather A Pasting
Love Jam
Why Isn't It You?
The Way It's Meant To Be
Carpe Diem
Good Luck
Your Boy's Alive
The Land That Might-Have-Been

Amazon.com

Thematically, director Robert Altman's career sometimes seems an endless series of left turns into the unexpected; the one constant has been a rich and rewarding attention to the intricacies of character development and interaction. Composer Patrick Doyle underscores Gosford Park's Merchant-Ivory/Agatha Christie/Altman-wit fusion and '30s British upper-class setting with a score that's period spot-on, character-rich, and often sadly evocative. Doyle's restraint is masterful, often leaning on piano, accordion, and small string arrangements that emphasize the characters' intimacies and the film's drawing room settings. Key to the story are a handful of prewar songs by Ivor Novello (who's also a character in the film), ranging from the sprightly humor of "And Her Mother Came Too" and "What a Duke Should Be" to the romantic schmaltz of "I Can Give You the Starlight" and "Why Isn't It You?" The latter is performed here at the piano (and, remarkably, live before the cameras) by Jeremy Northam. Leavened by a small jazz ensemble and a few darkly ominous cues, Doyle's score is an understated gem. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Gosford Park Sound Track.......2007-03-30

The original music is creative and very listenable. It is typical of popular music of the 1930s. This CD is highly recommended to those people who enjoy music from the 1920s and 1930s.

Better than the movie.......2004-12-08

Many people, I believe, buy a soundtrack because they are mesmerized by the movie and want to extend the experience by listening to something that reminds them of it. But "Gosford Park" is hardly that kind of movie. It is brilliant and atmospheric as it analyzes the British class system, but that's hardly the kind of thing that wins the heart. The soundtrack of this movie was my favorite CD from last year, and the reasons I liked it had nothing to do with the movie.

Why is this music so compelling and winning?

First, it is fun to discover the marvellous talent of Ivor Norvello. His music is half of the charm of the soundtrack. Some songs are funny ("Her mother came too"), some beautiful ("I can give you the starlight") and some poignant ("The land of might have been"). I had not encountered Norvello before this film. Jeremy Northam's perfect delivery of Norvello's songs would not leave me after I'd seen the film. Days later, I found the songs had taken up residence in the back of my head, insisting that I go back to the soundtrack to make them a permanent part of my musical life.

Second, there is the charm of the orchestral music composed by Patrick Doyle. Sometimes people wonder "why aren't they writing beautiful classical music any more?" Well, they are. It goes into soundtracks, however, rather than being commissioned by orchestras. The test for the quality of Doyle's compositions is that you don't need to refer to the film to appreciate this music. It simply charms and intrigues us with its own merits.

My third reason for loving this CD is too personal to mention here.

I give this CD my highest personal recommendation.

I don't mind the repeating themes, but the CD is too short!.......2004-06-08

Unlike many reviewers here, I didn't buy the CD to hear the Ivor Novello songs or Jeremy Northam's voice. I actually liked the instrumental tracks, and never actually thought I'd like to listen to something played on an accordion.

However, Mr. Doyle's music portrays the lethargy of the snobby Upstairs very well to the contrast of the relative energy of Novello's songs, which the Downstairs servants enjoy, but the Upstairs people can't stand.

My dislikes about the CD include the female singer who can't really sing and the length of the CD. Some of these cues are only about a minute long. WHY pay so much money for such a short CD??? Why not add more music??

Overall though, if you liked either Doyle's music or Novello's songs (hopefully the listener will like both), it's a CD worth getting.

Excellent Mix.......2003-04-23

I fell in love with this soundtrack when I watched Gosford Park in the cinemas.

Sometimes period music, sometimes mystery music, sometime personal music. Jeremy Northam's songs are simply delicious and I love hearing them.

I liken the style (not type) of mix to You've Got Mail.

Heaps of fun and lovely to listen to.

One the best soundtracks out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2003-03-06

When I saw the movie at the theater I kept thinking I've got to have the soundtrack to this movie because it is so beautiful. I also really enjoyed the sung songs 6.And Her Mother Came Too, 10.I Can Give You The Starlight, 11.What A Duke Should Be, 16. Only For A While, 20. The Way It's Meant To Be, 24. The Land That Might-Have-Been!! I think that Patrick Doyle did a wonderful job of scoring this movie the just fits right in with it all, I only wish there was more to listen to!! I highly recommend this album to everyone who liked the movie and people who love great soundtracks, you will not be sorry if you buy this!!!!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Truly appreciated!!!
Forgotten Soul Legend

It's Good to Be Alive

Manufacturer: Camden/Wave
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000063JU8
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Hold On Be Strong
Its Good To Be Alive
Faithful To The End
Love Will See You Through
Say You Love Me
(Its Alright Now) Think Ill Make It Anyhow
If You Didnt Love Me (Dont Go Away)
Living Is All That Matters
Love You Forever
Bula Jean
On The Road Again
One More Day
Love Can Be Found
Let My Life Shine Part I
Let My Life Shine Part II
Secret Lady
Holding On To Love
Girl I Love You
Only While It Lasts
Say You Love Me One More Time
Love Will Make It Better
Hold Out For Love
Love Is On The Way
She Has Eyes For Me
Saved By Love
Beauty And The Beast
No Need To Say Goodbye
No Price
Love Is All I Need
You Against You

Album Description

3 albums on 3 CDs, featuring It's Good To Be Alive, On The Road Again & Love, Music & Life. Slimline double jewel case housed in a slipcase. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2003-09-01

I had been searching everywhere for "Bula Jean". My mother had it on album when I was a young girl. It was one of my favorite songs then and it remains a favorite today. I would rank DJ Rogers up there with Donny Hathaway (who I also enjoy). He is soulful and I think that most people that enjoy Donny would enjoy DJ as well. Try it, you'll love it!

Truly appreciated!!!.......2003-02-28

This is certainly a long time looking for me. All of these albums have been loooong out of print. And right now in the golden age of Neo-soul it definitely needs to be heard again. The man had a chemistry of soul, and gospel that was definitely unique and inspiring. Not too many people have gotten away with doing both so well in the 70's. He most definitely deserves a spot right next to Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, and Marvin Gaye. I grew up on these albums, so it is a pleasure to have them back in my own personal collection, to show people where this movement "really" started.

Forgotten Soul Legend.......2002-05-28

To cut a very long story short, D.J. Rogers is one of the greatest Soul/Gospel singers in the world. This collection compiles his 3 classic RCA albums on one fantastic cd.
If that's not enough for you then look high and low for his 4 ARC/Columbia albums and find out why D.J. inspired everyone from Jennifer Holliday to Charlie Wilson to Will Downing.
Better still his son D.J. Rogers is about to release his first album on Motown.

Average customer rating:

Good to Be Alive
Evelyn Forever
Manufacturer: Airplay Label
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000056WWY
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Tracks:

Drunk Tank
Imagine My Surprise
Indecision
Good to Be Alive
Everything
I Know a Girl
Precious Time
Little Girl
Wasted
Purple Flowers
Maybe
Champagne

Average customer rating:

What an amazing record!
rocks!

It's Good to Be Alive
Busytoby
Manufacturer: Parasol Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Sparrow, Somehow You Know
The Band
Ms.Thripp
Hey Hali
Big Big Brother
Dear Momma And Poppa
I Been Waiting
Greenwood Ave., Jonathan Lane
Just You And Me Know Who
The Very Strange Rabbit
The Fateful Day
House On A Hill
Maia And Leaves
A Quiet Night At Home
The Day We'll Meet A Cloud
Why It's Good To Be Alive

Customer Reviews:

What an amazing record!.......2004-03-20

Being a loyal "Wolfie" and "The Like Young" of course I would love this addition from Joe and Amanda. However, this record is extremely raw with so many hooks, you really have to be insane not to let this record stay in your CD player for a long time...it's good to be alive!

-"you know I'd buy you anyday".
Jason.

rocks!.......2002-03-02

since there are no reviews for this, i guess i'll say something.... this rocks!! buy it, i guarantee you'll like it if you like anything cheerful. if you listen to this cd all the way through and are not a little bit happier, you probably aren't human. all the songs are about love and positive things, and it's generally a very good uplifting twee album. yay!

Average customer rating:

To Be Alive Is Good(Anos 80)

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00011CXSA
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Album Description

European pressing features a total of 17 tracks including 'Titicaca', 'Coracoes A Mil', 'Estrela', 'Serafim', 'Quatro Modos' and more. Warner. 2006.

Average customer rating:

Celebrate Live

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000CECE12

Product Description

1.need a little magic.2.good to be alive.3.no one's got the right.4.the way i love you.5.dirty old man.6.daddy's little girl.7.look into my eyes.8.celebrate yourself.9.beautiful maui.10.driving a cab in kihei.11. my friend

Average customer rating:

It's Good To Be Alive
DJ Rogers
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BRIWS4
Release Date: 2004-01-01