Jersey Boys (2005 Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Editorial and customer reviews.

Similar items.

Buy this item New from Amazon.com.

Buy this item Used from Amazon.com.

Artists: Ronald Melrose,Ken Dow,Anik Oulianine,Stephanie Cummins,Deborah Hurwitz,Kevin Dow,Joe Payne,Larry Saltzman,Dave Spier,Bill Hayes.

Lowest new price: $8.98.

Lowest used price: $5.99.

161 customer reviews.  4.5 out of 5 stars.

Recounting the rich history and reliving the timeless sounds of the phenomenal Frankie Vallie & The 4 Seasons, the new Broadway musical Jersey Boys answers the musical-and philosophical question, "How did four would-be wise guys from Newark, NJ, become one of the greatest chart-topping successes in pop music history?" Jersey Boys celebrates legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi who, as the 4 seasons, wrote their own songs, invented their own identity, and sold 175 million records worldwide-all before they were 30.

Although it squarely falls in the "jukebox musical" category, Jersey Boys doesn¹t try to integrate its songs in an artificial plotline. The show tells the story of the early-1960s group the Four Seasons, and the musical numbers tend to be introduced in context, as when songwriter Bob Gaudio comes up with a tune, or the quartet performs a show. This allows Jersey Boys to flow better than some of ill-fated peers, and the actors can shine without having to bend backward to accommodate an inane book. The show's most (only) daring move is to start with a hip-hop-tinged French-language version of "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," an actual hit in France in 2000. After that it's all VH1-biopic territory, but it's done with so much flair, taste and energy that the ride's a fun one. The Four Seasons had enough hits ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," etc.) to easily fill an evening at the theater, so it's left to the cast to do right by them. And it does, particularly John Lloyd Young as the band¹s star lead, Frankie Valli. Young hits all the falsetto notes and brings real freshness to the part. His "Can¹t Take My Eyes Off You," a second-act peak, is signed, sealed and delivered with a star's acumen. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

That Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons songbook is filled with recognizable, melodic and popular harmonies is a well known fact. The art of making a play based on an artists songbook is not new and has met with varying degrees of success, proving one thing, to really play well, there must be written a strong book to go with the music.

In the case of Jersey Boys, the book is excellent. So good, that it elicits in the observer the emotions of a first rate melodrama; laughs, interesting characterizations and yes, a few tears here and there. The playwrights found enough drama in the true (ok, mostly true) story of the "Boys" to use it as their book. It is a fairly typical story of the rise to fame, complete with egos run amok, vanity on parade, jealousies and financial scandal. Another classic story of failures leavened by redemption.

Though the basic storyline is not really new, the performances are strong, so good that you end up caring for each of the main characters. And that is what good stage performances are ultimately about, making you care. Well worth seeing...and listening.

Love the CD. Saw the show on Broadway and they were selling the CD for
$25.00 I went on Amazon and bought the same CD for half the price. Amazon is great.

This a great CD. One disclaimer- there are a couple of times that foul language is used in speaking parts on the CD- similar to use in the live musical. Not a problem now that I know where they are on the CD, I just skip it and keep enjoying the great songs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2004-2006 TicTap.com | An Amazon.com Associate | Give us feedback