I love Boublil and Schönberg's works, but I have always been very hesitant to buy THE PIRATE QUEEN recording because it is a highlights album. From those of you who own the songs, are they worth the money? Thanks for your input!
My biggest pet peeve right now is when people pronounce it "Marry-us" and not "Mah-ree-us".
If you love their work, I think it is. I "like very much" their work--and I think I like about 1/4 of the CD well enough to play it. But for ten dollars that's not too bad....
Surprised to see it for $10. A while back the CD was out-of-print and used copies were for sale at unbelievably inflated prices. Now I see what has happened..it is now CD-R on demand. It may only be highlights but the CD is very well produced and the booklet includes a detailed synopsis and all the lyrics so the disc offers a good 60 minute distillation of the show.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
I like Boublil and Schönberg. I love Stephanie J. Block. The $9.99 I paid for this album on iTunes when it first came out was a waste of money. Listened to it in its entirety twice and was not impressed at all.
There is NO OBCR for MARTIN GUERRE - it never played Broadway.
There is a 2nd edition of the London cast CD to incorporate changes made after opening.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks." Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
The only thing I don't like about this recording, honestly, is that they should have recorded the "percussion" bit with the wooden oars hitting the stage floor at the beginning of the title song. The start of the song is a little abrupt without it. Other than that it's great. But, if you didn't see the show you won't miss it. Updated On: 1/21/13 at 10:50 PM
I actually bought the CD, and I agree with you guys. I like most of it, but I enjoy MARTIN GUERRE more. The cast is really great and so is most of the music. It is rather strange though because in the middle of the last bonus track, "Son of the Irish Seas", Claude Michel-Schönberg starts singing a couple verses out of nowhere. It kind of freaked me out the first time I heard the full album even though I was expecting it.
My biggest pet peeve right now is when people pronounce it "Marry-us" and not "Mah-ree-us".
I can see what you mean. However, I think my favorite piece from the musical would have to be "The Sea of Life". Over the years, I have become more partial to big chorus numbers.
My biggest pet peeve right now is when people pronounce it "Marry-us" and not "Mah-ree-us".
Personally, I love it. But I love their work and I tend to love Celtic music a lot as well, so it was kind of right up my alley. But I think it's beautiful (for the most part - it's hardly a flawless show).