Track Listing

1. Something's Coming - All-4-One
2. Boy Like That - Selena
3. Maria - James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Michael McDonald, David Pack
4. Prologue/Jet Song - Brian Setzer
5. Tonight - Wynonna Judd, Kenny Loggins
6. Cool - Patti Austin, Bruce Hornsby, Mervyn Warren
7. Somewhere - Aretha Franklin
8. America - Natalie Cole, Sheila E., Patti LaBelle
9. I Feel Pretty - Little Richard
10. One Hand, One Heart - Tevin Campbell
11. Gee, Officer Krupke! - Def Jef, The Jerky Boys, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Salt-N-Pepa
12. I Have a Love - Trisha Yearwood
13. Prelude to the Rumble - Chick Corea
14. Rumble - Chick Corea, Steve Vai
15. Prelude to Somewhere
16. Somewhere - Phil Collins

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61304 in Music
• Released on: 1996-01-30
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

A Performers [ Get together ] of West Side Story
It's hard to imagine how anyone can improve on the music of West Side Story. Every song track holds it's own on popular music charts. Yet, in this particular CD, there's a refreshing way to enjoy the classic sounds of West Side Story in a popular culture. "The Songs of West Side Story", is performed by a line-up of American's best pop-performers singing the entire repertoire. Actually, the various styles performed on this CD can push the traditionalist's envelope, so to speak, as performers like Kenny Loggins and Wynonna sing "Tonight"; or, my very favorite, Little Richard performing what could (or should) be his theme song, "I Feel Pretty". If there's one song worth the entire price of the CD, it's Selena signing "A Boy Like That", a salient testimony to the loss of youth and innocence, as her own life was senselessly cut short with almost the same vengeance used by the West Side gangs during their rumbles. This CD is one of my all time favorites. On the impressive play list are 16 top pop artists who, "Somewhere" along their career paths were just plain lucky enough to sing along with Leonard Bernstein.

Bad outweighs the good
I totally agree with many things said by previous reviewers. The songs should be in order, and this IS a HIGHLY uneven CD. But, some gems shine through the muck.

This CD makes it clear that Brian Setzer was born to play the "Jet Song." Chick Corea and Steve Vai give a pulse-pounding "Rumble," adding a sort of '80s jazz/rock sound to the epic excitement of the instrumental piece. The Jet parts are played by Vai's Monsters and the Sharks' by Corea's Elektric Band, and so it becomes more of a musical duel. Phil Collins shines on "Somewhere," and although I don't care for Aretha's version, some will find it quite nice. I would have liked it if they'd sung it together.

"A Boy Like That" was Selena's final recording. It takes the song in a sort of New Jack/Latin direction, and surprisingly, it works with flying colors, giving her a canvas to work vocal wonders on. For jazz fans, "Cool" will be the obvious favorite. Patti Austin's silky voice and the smooth arrangemnt, with Branford Marsalis' soprano sax taking over the main riff, makes for good relaxation and even better listening.

Overall, it could have been a much better effort, and some songs REALLY baffle listeners who wonder why they're there (the rap of "Gee, Officer Krupke" is a disgrace, and Little Richard screeching "I Feel Pretty" scarred me for life), but it's worth at least borrowing it from someone or checking out from the library to make Mp3s of the good tracks.

Stellar Multi-Artist tribute to Leonard Bernstein, Sondheim
David Pack (Ambrosia), studied under Bernstein. This is his heartfelt tribute to the master. Completely rearranged versions of WSS are hip, funky, and very current. Songs like "Something's Coming" and "Rumble" are edgy and reflective of today's streets. Similarly, "Officer Krupke" with SaltNPepa, Def Jef et al is alarmingly updated and ironic (yeah, they did RAP in 1957). In contrast, absolutely beautiful renditions of "Tonight" by the powerful voices of Wynonna Judd and Kenny Loggins bring tears as well as Trisha Yearwood's "I Have a Love". Aretha Franklin's "Somewhere" is stylistically all Aretha. And sadly, Selena's last performance, but beautiful, "A Boy Like That". And wow, Patti LaBell, Natalie Cole and Sheila E pounding out "America"! versus the jazzy harmonies of Patti Austin, Mervyn Warren & Bruce Hornsby singing "Cool", fantastic. And you just gotta laugh when you hear Little Richard do "I Feel Pretty", just enjoy it. This is not a soundtrack, but each artist's interpretation of the moving and beautiful works of Bernstein and Sondheim. Thank you David Pack.