Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Oklahoma! - Alfred Drake
2. If I Loved You [From Carousel] - Jan Clayton, John Raitt
3. You'll Never Walk Alone [From Carousel] - Jan Clayton, Christine Johnson
4. There's No Business Like Show Business [From Annie Get Your Gun] - Ethel Merman, Jerry Orbach, Rufus Smith, Bruce Yarnell
5. Once in Love with Amy (Where's Charley?) - Ray Bolger
6. Some Enchanted Evening [South Pacific] - Ezio Pinza
7. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend (from "Gentlemen Prefer BLONDES")
8. Getting to Know You [From The King and I] - Gertrude Lawrence
9. Shall We Dance? [From The King and I] - Yul Brynner, Gertrude Lawrence
10. I Could Have Danced All Night [From My Fair Lady] - Julie Andrews, Philippa Bevans
11. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face [From My Fair Lady] - Rex Harrison
12. Party's Over (Bells Are Ringing) - Judy Holliday
13. Maria [From West Side Story] - Larry Kert
14. Tonight [From West Side Story] - Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence, Chita Rivera
15. Seventy Six Trombones - Robert Preston
16. Everything's Coming up Roses [From Gypsy] - Ethel Merman
17. Sound of Music - Mary Martin
18. Try to Remember [The Fantasticks] - Jerry Orbach
19. Camelot - Richard Burton
20. If Ever I Would Leave You [From Camelot] - Robert Goulet
21. Hello, Dolly! - Carol Channing
22. If I Were a Rich Man [From Fiddler on the Roof] - Zero Mostel

Disc 2:

1. Cabaret (Cabaret) - Liza Minnelli
2. People [From Funny Girl] - Barbra Streisand
3. On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever) - John Cullum
4. Impossible Dream [From Man of La Mancha] - Richard Kiley
5. Mame - Charles Braswell
6. Cabaret - Liza Minnelli
7. Aquarius [Hair] - Ronald Dyson
8. Send in the Clowns [From A Little Night Music] - Judy Collins
9. All That Jazz [From Chicago] - Chita Rivera
10. One [From A Chorus Line]
11. Tomorrow [From Annie] - Andrea McArdle
12. Don't Cry for Me Argentina [From Evita] - Patti LuPone
13. And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going [Dreamgirls] - Jennifer Holliday
14. Memory [From Cats] - Elaine Paige
15. Best of Times [La Cage Aux Folles] - George Hearn, Elizabeth Parrish
16. I Dreamed a Dream [Les Misérables] - Aretha Franklin
17. Music of the Night [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Michael Crawford
18. As If We Never Said Goodbye [Sunset Blvd.] - Elaine Paige
19. Seasons of Love [Rent]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2049 in Music
• Brand: Arista
• Released on: 1998-06-30
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

Customer Reviews

A WINNER FROM BEGINNING TO END
Over 50 years of Broadway magic comes blazing forth in this amazing comprehensive CD set. "Ultimate Broadway" lives up to its title, treating listeners to 40 of the most heart-stopping, thrilling, and sensational show-stoppers of the greatest shows the stage has ever seen.

Beginning with Alfred Drake's lusty "Oklahoma!," the show credited with revolutionizing the Broadway musical, we are taken along for a dazzling two-hour ride through Broadway history. There are the unforgettable classics: Ezio Pinza's magnificent baritone wrapping around "South Pacific"'s treasured "Some Enchanted Evening," and Gertrude Lawrence exuding charm with Yul Brynner over the musical question "Shall We Dance?" from "The King and I." There is Julie Andrews' soaring coloratura flying with "My Fair Lady"'s "I Could Have Danced All Night." The ethereal beauty of "West Side Story"'s "Maria" and "Tonight." Robert Preston crashing his way through "Seventy-Six Trombones" from his star-making performance in "The Music Man." The queen of the Broadway musical, Ethel Merman, turning into a paramount with "Gypsy"'s "Everything's Coming Up Roses." Mary Martin's plaintive paean to the most beautiful sound in all the world, "The Sound of Music." Robert Goulet shows why he will always be the penultimate performer of the love ballad "If Ever I Would Leave You" from "Camelot." And Carol Channing's unforgettable swagger into the Harmonia Gardens to the tune of "Hello, Dolly." The irrepresible Zero Mostel winking his way through "Fiddler On the Roof"'s "If I Were a Rich Man."

And that's just the first side.

Barbra Streisand becoming Barbra Streisand with "People," her showstopper from "Funny Girl." John Cullum's glorious "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever." Richard Kiley's faithful knight Don Quixote, vowing his eternal conquest for "The Impossible Dream" as the "Man of La Mancha." "Mame," the irrestibly catchy title tune of the 1966 smash. Liza Minnelli, who was not in the original Broadway production, but who thrills with her sensational rendition of the title song from the 1972 film soundtrack of "Cabaret." Judy Collins, another performer not in the original cast of "A Little Night Music," but who is intensely moving with her rendition of Stephen Sondheim's popular hit "Send in the Clowns." Before Catherine Zeta-Jones electrified movie audiences with "All That Jazz," Chita Rivera smirked and cackled it to fantastic effect in "Chicago." "One," the unforgettable production number from "A Chorus Line." Andrea McArdle with "Tomorrow" from "Annie." "Memory" from "Cats"...Michael Crawford's haunting "The Music of the Night" from "Phantom of the Opera." Elaine Page stepping in for Glenn Close with a rhapsodic "As If We Never Said Good-bye" from "Sunset Boulevard." And the undying "Seasons of Love" from "Rent."

The classics are well represented, but there are also many delightful sides to this musical feast. Ray Bolger's inimitable "Once In Love With Amy," from "Where's Charley?" is an old-time treat, along with Carol Channing gnashing her way through "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." There is also a pre-"Law and Order" Jerry Orbach, waltzing through the lilting "Try to Remember" from "The Fantasticks." There is the spinning "Aquarius," as originated in "Hair," the divine Patti LuPone in the performance of her career as "Evita," pleading "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." Jennifer Holliday's jaw-dropping "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from 1982's "Dreamgirls." And there is Aretha Franklin shining with "I Dreamed a Dream" from the epic "Les Miserables."

This is not only the perfect collection of Broadway memories, but it is a wonderful introduction to the genre for newcomers. And they will be as intoxicated and enchanted by these glorious performances, all beautifully preserved on these sharp, clear soundtracks. There is something for everyone here: from the sentimental theatergoers of years past to the new generations finding a whole new world through the musical theater. Trust me: for theater buffs, this is the only Broadway CD you'll ever need. And for the rest of you: welcome to a wonderful, wonderful ride.

Outstanding introduction to musical theater
This is a wonderful collection of songs, some of which aren't heard very often any more (especially the delightful "Once In Love With Amy" which was previously unavailable on CD). It makes for a great intro to the genre, and I'm pleased that it has prompted other listeners to explore further.

As others have mentioned, the biggest plus to the discs is using original casts for all but two cuts (Judy Collins' "Send In The Clowns" and Arethra Franklin's horrid "I Dreamed A Dream"). Sure, there are excellent shows that aren't represented, but people need to realize that BMG/Arista is only going to include the songs that are already in their catalogue rather than negotiating rights from other labels. Even with that limitation, it's definitely worth owning.

Outstanding collection of 50 years of Broadway hits
A 2-disc set worthy of its "ultimate" title, this compilation pleases casual and serious musical fans alike. It's a great introduction to over 50 years of Broadway hits, and it captures the spirit and change of American musical theater through the twentieth century - from Rodgers and Hammerstein's pioneering "Oklahoma!" to Jonathan Larsen's ground-breaking "Rent," and every hit in between. This collection not only allows you to sample the great shows and songs but also the premiere recordings. Featured artists include Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Julie Andrews, Chita Rivera, and Elaine Paige among many other brilliant stars. Most tracks come from the original Broadway cast recordings, with some surprises. Aretha Franklin has a smoky, and stunning, rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables."

There are too many notable performances to list them all, but among the standouts are: "Oklahoma" - Alfred Drake, "There's No Business Like Show Business" - Ethel Merman, "Some Enchanted Evening" - Ezio Pinza, "Shall We Dance," - Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner, "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" - Rex Harrison, "Tonight" - original cast of "West Side Story," "Seventy Six Trombones" - Robert Preston, "Camelot" - Richard Burton, "If I Were a Rich Man" - Zero Mostel, "The Impossible Dream" - Richard Kiley, "All That Jazz" - Chita Rivera, "Tomorrow" - Andrea McArdle, "Memory" - Elaine Paige, "Music of the Night" - Michael Crawford, and "Rent" - original cast.

This is a solid compilation album that won't disappoint with its breadth of talent, variety, and style. Nor is it top heavy with any one artist, composer, or lyricist. You'll also find a fair set of liner notes that attempts to place the musical and songs in context; includes some original production photos.