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Audio CD
Publisher: Decca U.S.
Format: Cast Recording
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| Original Broadway Dreamgirls |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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If any of you have seen the recent 2006 movie version of "Dreamgirls" with Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, and loved the music, then this is a must that you buy this orignial soundtrack of the 1982 Broadway Hit "Dreamgirls" in which the movie was made. Michael Bennett's extraordinary genius is captured in every song, making the Broadway Hit come alive in your head.
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| Marvellous!! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Beautiful music, excelent singers specially Jennifer Holiday, I saw the musical in Broadway in 1983 (I believe)and my husband and my self enjoy it very much.
High class service from Amazon, thank you
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| disappointed |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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i found this cd not a collection of songs but a direct recordind of the broadway show but only the numbers . i know it is a soundtrack but i still feel the song tracks in there etirety would have been better listening
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| Highlights Jennifer Holiday's BIG voice |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I needed to hear the original since I bought the screen version. Jennifer Holiday is still the best.
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| Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph Shine |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is the cast recording of one of the great musicals of the 1980's and preserves one of the great vocal performances of all time.
Dreamgirls is about the the rise of a girl group during a Motown-esque period.
The Dreamettes are three friends who have entered an amatuer talent contest (Move). They are spotted by an opportunistic manager, Curtis Taylor. He quickly hooks them up with fading star, James Thunder Early (Fake Your Way to the Top).
Curtis has a dream of popularizing soul music (Cadillac Car). But when their song is stolen by white singer, the decide to take matters in their own hands (Steppin' to the Bad Side.)
Effie White is the lead singer of the Dreamette's but while she has the voice of the group, she does not have the look that is needed to make the group a hit. Deena Jones is one with look. When the Dreamettes are ready to make the move, Deena is moved to the front (Family). The girls have their first main stream hit (Dreamgirls) but when it comes to the media, Deena is the star (Press Conference). Effie has become a problem and Curtis decides to replace her but Effie tells him and the world And I am Telling You I'm Not Going (an editted version unfortunately).
Lorelle, the remaining original Dream, had been having an affair with the married James Thunder Early but on day declares that It Ain't No Party and tells him to make a decision. While Curtis officially makes the move on Deena (When I First Saw You.)
Effie is trying to make it on her own and declares I am Changing. But Jimmy is being forced into a singing style he is not comfortable with (I Meant You No Harm) and during a telethon has a meltdown (The Rap). Everyone including Lorelle, wash their hands of Jimmy (The Firing of Jimmy).
Effie's brother, CC, decides that he can no longer work for Curtis and returns to a resistant Effie but pleads his case to her (I Miss You Old Friend) and gives her his new song (One Night Only) but Curtis wants it for his new sound, Disco. Curtis uses his power to quash Effie's single and promote Deena's.
Deena finds out of Curtis' duplicity and with the help of CC force Curtis to undo what he has done. Then she decides to end the group (Hard to Say Goodbye My Love)
Jennifer Holliday, who won the Best Actress Tony for the show, shines in her signature song, And I am Telling You I'm Not Going and won a Grammy for it. I just wish they had the full recording of the song which is about a 2 minute prelude. This sets up the song perfectly but this shortened version is still great. Holliday also belts it out of the park on I am Changing.
Loretta Devine belts it out on It's No Party - an anthem for every "other" woman.
While Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tony Nominee for Best Actress, shines the Dreams version of One Night Only and Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love.
As for the Dreamboys, Tony Winner Cleavant Derricks has his moment in The Rap and Cadillac Car. Tony Winner Ben Harney gives a great prelude for Cadillac Car and Stepping to the Bad Side. And Tony Nominee Obba Babtunde shines in Family and I Miss You Old Friend.
This is a great album that should have been a mainstream hit but it was mishandled by the recording studio. Both of Holliday songs should have been hits and the title song and One Night Only both had the potential to be #1 hits. And since this musical was written as a "living movie", it would have been easy to make great music videos but they were not.
Enjoy this recording and watch the movie.
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Move (You're Steppin' On My Heart)
Fake Your Way To The Top
Cadillac Car
Steppin' To The Bad Side
Family
Dreamgirls
Press Conference
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going
An't No Party
When I First Saw You
I Am Changing
I Meant You No Harm
The Rap
Firing Of Jimmy
I Miss You Old Friend
One Night Only
Hard To Say Goodbye, My Love
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