Pippin (A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album) | Stephen Schwartz

Pippin (A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album) | Stephen Schwartz | That's what I call music

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Pippin (A Decca Br...

	Pippin (A Decca Broadway Original Cast Album) Stephen Schwartz Decca Broadway, 2000 average customer review:based on 71 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A young man graduates from college and wonders how to find real meaning in his life. What's an heir to the 9th-century Holy Roman Empire to do? If you're Pippin, son of Charlemagne, you decide to dabble in war, sex, and politics before finally finding love. When Bob Fosse directed the original Broadway production of Pippin in 1972, he transformed what had originally been a relatively innocent college project for composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz into a burlesque filled with broad comedy, bawdy characters, and magical but dark situations. John Rubinstein (best known for his TV work and son of pianist Artur) plays the title character, and Ben Vereen kick-started his career (and won a Tony) as the narrator figure known as the Leading Player. Schwartz's combination of Godspell-like ensemble energy with various pop-rock styles makes for a snappy, tuneful score, including the soul-driven opener "Magic to Do," the soaring "Corner of the Sky," the lovely ballads "With You" and "Love Song," and the romping "No Time at All" (delivered with saucy conviction by The Beverly Hillbillies' Irene Ryan as Pippin's grandmother).

While the original CD release was somewhat notorious for its lack of liner notes, the 2000 remastered release includes an essay on the show's creation, a detailed synopsis, and full lyrics, as well as three bonus tracks. Pippin was originally released on the Motown label, so some of its songs were cross-promoted by Motown stars: The Supremes deliver a conventional take on the gentle "I Guess I'll Miss the Man," the Jackson 5 deliver a blast of high-pop energy to "Corner of the Sky," and Michael Jackson solos on "Morning Glow." --David Horiuchi

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Better than being there!

I saw Pippin eons ago on Broadway. This CD brings back all the excitement. The music is great and the sound is excellent!

I HIGHLY recommend this CD.

My CD came with 3 bonus tracks:
"I Guess I'll Miss the Man" by the Supremes
"Corner of the Sky" by The Jackson 5
"Morning Glow" by Michael Jackson

I confess though I've listened to the album quite a few times, I cannot bring myself to listen to the bonus tracks. It just seems so wrong to have someone else sing these songs. By the time I get to the end of the CD, the story is done.

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That's what I call music

An album of a great show that you can enjoy around the house (or car).Including tracks left off the DVD due to time limits,plus three bonus tracks from Motown stars.It brings the show to life without needing to sit in front of the TV. A varied medley of tuneful sing along songs that anyone can enjoy, whether they are familiar with the show or not, I must admit knowing the plot doubles the fun.Fortunately there are copious sleeve notes, plus an adequate plot line, so you don't miss out on too much ...apart from the brilliant Fosse choreography!!!!

Enchanting music for everyman's search for meaning ...

Even if you have not seen "Pippin" the play, the musical soundtrack and CD holds up as an enchanting musical experience. The title character, the son of Charlemagne, seeks the meaning of life, pursuing various dead ends: university knowledge, military conquest, religion, political activist, ruler, etc. Disdaining the mundane ("Extraordinary"), he insists that his life's meaning must be found in a grand cause.

Right under his nose, he develops a relationship with a young widow and her child. Love blooms but even that does not seem to be enough. The show's interlocutor stages a grand finale, with Pippin immolating himself in flames. At the end, well .. you'll have to see and hear for yourself.

The soundtrack glows with multiple gems in this under-rated tale of everyman's search for the meaning of life. "Life is what happens when you're off making other plans," John Lennon once said. While Pippin plans for some over-sized Meaning of Life, he overlooks the lower-case meaning of life before achieving a redemptive epiphany.

Over thirty years after "Pippin" and its music burst on the Broadway scene, the tunes and their messages resonate powerfully. I see and hear the experience through different eyes and ears in my 50's than the ones which saw and heard in my 20's. Through tears of regret over misplaced priorities and mistakes made, we hear "Pippin" and and its music reminds us that it is not too late to look right around us for life's meaning, revealing the emptiness of grand gestures.

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On the right track

Early, devilishly catchy and quite charming example of Stephen Schwartz's canny ability to mix theatrical and popular music styles, let down by John Rubinstein and Jill Clayburg's mawkish and vocally nervous interpretations of the lead roles, which are shamed all the more by Ben Vereen's masterful performance and a sterling effort on the part of the supporting cast and orchestra.

Pippin cd

I got what I wanted. It is a good recording of an unusual show, Ben Vereen stands out.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Tracks
Magic to Do | I Guess I'll Miss the Man | War Is a Science | Glory | Simple Joys | No Time at All | With You | Spread a Little Sunshine | Morning Glow | On the Right Track | Kind of Woman | Extraordinary | Love Song | Corner of the Sky | Finale | I Guess I'll Miss the Man -- The Supremes (bonus track) | Corner of the Sky -- The Jackson 5 (bonus track) | Morning Glow -- Michael Jackson (bonus track)

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