I was wondering if any of you have recommendations for good covers of Broadway songs in a more acoustic/lounge/jazz/more "laid back" style.
The idea behind this is to create a playlist that could be played at a dinner party where you want to have music in the background but a high soprano belt might be a little bit distracting while you're having a conversation.
To give you an idea of what I mean: Some of the "Out of Oz" videos have pretty much that style I'm looking for, like "I'm not that girl" or "What is this feeling?". Also the "Holding out for a Hero" cover by Ella Mae Bowen from the new Footloose movie is in the same vein to me or Ana Gasteyer's cover of "Defying Gravity" on her solo album. Of course, if you can think of a song that is already on the show's cast recording in a more acoustic style, those are welcome as well (for example "Only us" from Dear Evan Hansen or "You'll be back" from Hamilton).
By the way, not all the songs have to sound like ballads, they should just be in a more "easy listening" / no "full orchestra and high belt" style, if that makes sense. And it doesn't matter if the song if the song is from a Broadway/Off-Broadway or movie musical.
I don't think all tracks are showtunes, but Audra McDonald's "How Glory Goes" album is so beautiful and understated it just oozes elegance. Has a very 'eating at an unbelievably expensive restaurant' feeling.
Audra has other albums that might even be more what you're looking for, but HGG is my favorite by a long shot.
Billy Porter's Soul of Richard Rogers has some nice stuff. My favorite is "Carefully Taught" with india arie. Really laid back and a beautiful arrangement. It is on a few of my playlists.
Leonard Bernstein took the score of West Side Story and converted it to a twenty-three minute instrumental piece which he called "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story." The pieces that were loud and chaotic in the musical, like "Rumble" and "Cool," are loud and chaotic in the "Dances," but you could edit these out.
Check out Australian singer David Campbell's YESTERDAY IS NOW album, available at iTunes. He covers R&H, Craig Carnelia, Amanda McBloom (pop, but her songs could be show tunes) and Irving Berlin. And then there's a medley from Australian musicals, but that may be a little rowdy for your party.
I can heartily recommend any of Campbell's albums, but that particular one has a lot of show tunes.
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While I'm at it, let me recommend you check out Steven Pasquale's "Maybe" from ANNIE, on his solo album. He sings it as if it is about a lost love, rather than missing parents--which strains credulity a bit with some of the lyrics (his lost girlfriend collects "ashtrays"?)--but party guests aren't going to be following that closely. But it's a beautiful rendition of what IMHO is the best song from ANNIE.
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Finally I assume you know that the great mid-century pop and jazz singers were all singing show tunes, yes? So almost anything from Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Keely Smith, Nina Simone ("Feeling Good" for just one example), and Diahann Carroll--I could go on, these are just a few of my personal favorites--will fit your criteria.
And in this century, almost every Broadway performer of any note has recorded at least one CD of old show tunes, so check for your favorites on iTunes.
Have fun! I put together something similar for our wedding--and that was before the easy access of iTunes--and had a blast! You can influence the "through-line" of a party greatly with a good soundtrack.
Gaveston, I know you've already said "and I could go on" but I'll add Eydie Gormé, Steve Lawrence and Mimi Hines, Wasn't it wonderful to be living when Broadway music was the popular music of the day? And Miss Peggy Lee, again, as you said, I could go on. We could go on forever.
ETA: Annie has a score of great showtunes, but "Maybe" is probably my favorite.
The Manhattans did "Tomorrow" from Annie as a Motown slow jam in the "Midnight Train to Georgia" style, and it's so well-fitted to that style that you'd almost think it were the original version. The interesting thing is that, without changing a single lyric, it becomes a lonely-hearted "morning after" song instead of an optimistic look at the future.
I just wanted to thank everyone for their recommendations. I found some great gems thanks to you and I now got a whole playlist just like I had imagined. :)
joined:6/25/19
joined:
6/25/19
Posted: 9/18/19 at 4:31am