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Audio CD
Publisher: Atlantic / Wea
Format: Cast Recording
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| Original 1975 Soundtrack of The Wiz |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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"The Wiz" made its Musical Broadway debut in 1975 (though I've been told there was another, slightly different one, in 1974.
The Making-Of the Wiz Movie on both DVDs mentions how the music was completely redone for the film - and they were right! I'm more used to the movie version than the original Broadway, but I do agree that Stephanie Mills' etc version has quality and better appearance. Compared to the movie, some songs have been changed in words and tone, the songs are performed a bit quicker here than the film, but - listening again now, as a reminder for this review - is certainly great!! One other thing is Stephanie Mills' singing: she's great and certainly younger than Diana, but I can't help but feel how she sings (like 'Home'), like it's in her jaws or cheeks - but that's just because I've grown with Diana's version more than Steph's.
The "Prologue" is 20 seconds of introduction with 'Ease on Down the Road', before Aunt Em sings "the Feeling We Once Had". Too bad there aren't any photos of the "Tornado", because this scene's soundtrack is EXCITING!! When Addaperle and the (grown-up, not young) Munchkins sing "He's the Wizard", it takes a bit getting used to while Stephanie Mills' "Soon As I Get Home" being sung quickly instead of fast like Diana Ross are still both good to hear. Scarecrow's origin song "I Was Born On the Day Before Yesterday" has a real 'Hallejuiah! Thank the LORD" feel, before we are swept away by the popular "Ease on Down the Road" again and again (played only once on this CD, but can be easily repeated by us listeners and our Players), though oddly it has all 4 friends and should've been placed as track 8 or 9; Tiger Haynes Lively urges to "Slide Some Oil To Me" and Ted Ross insists that "I'm A Mean Ole Lion", before Dorothy comforts him to "Be A Lion" in a duet. TOO BAD THERE IS NO EMERALD CITY SCORE, though Andre de Shields does comment on how the friends "So You Wanted to Meet the Wizard" - chilling and excitingly heart-beating; it is HERE that Tin Man sings "What Would I do If I Could Feel?" to the Wiz asking for a Heart.
Evillene demands that "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News" (more voice and less gruff like she would in the film), before her death allows "Everybody Rejoice", that popular and ever-energetic 'Brand New Day' (as much as 'Ease on Down the Road') song. When the Wiz sings "Y'All Got It!", that's another great song with energy and fast-paced excitement. Glinda sings "If You Believe" as a comforting lullaby of sorts to Dorothy, before she finishes and ends the soundtrack with a wonderful "Home" (here was where a few words were changed for the film very obviously).
Although a Broadway Soundtrack, there is no audience applause, unless you count it possibly done by the Winkies in 'Don't Nobody Bring me No Bad News'.
The soundtrack runs around 45 minutes. The disk has a red and black circle with the songs listed, info details and symbols, like a Classical CD.
Inside the soundtrack, there is a booklet (the cover illustration by Milton Glaser) that contains a listing of the songs, notice on this upbeat adaptation, the crew involved with the music, and the synopsis (and who plays who) over 3 pages by William F. Brown. The only picture/photo is that of Hinton Battle, Stephanie Mills, Ted Ross and Tiger Haynes as Scarecrow, Dorothy, Lion and Tin Man "walking" towards us in colour.
If you've grown up, or are more aware of the movie's version and know little of the original stage production, this CD is worth getting and listening to, as this is how "the Wiz" should be heard, seen, made and experienced . . . full of Life, Colour and SOUL!!
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| Wonderful music - Soul takes over Oz |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I bought this CD because I was in this show twice, once as a minor bit part and once as the Wicked Witch, then I directed the show. I had always held off on buying the CD because I knew how bad the movie was... even with such notable performers, it just flat out stunk.
Now it has been over 10 years since I last saw the show and I suddenly had "Ease on Down the Road" stuck on repeat in my skull. I hunted and finally found this cast recording, which I purchased immediately.
First - this album is 110% better than the movie, so breathe a sigh of relief there. The vocalists are all accomplished and very good at what they do. The music is spot on and doesn't drown out the vocalists (unlike some musicals I own).
I have now listened through several times since it showed up yesterday and I really only have one complaint - the lack of soul. Now I'm not talking about the music, I'm talking about the actors... they are singing but they aren't "being" the music. "I was born the day before yesterday" though pretty, should have been explosive and heartfelt, but it sounded as though most of them were singing off of the lyric sheets and going through the motions rather than truly feeling and being the character.
Still that is only a minor complaint on an otherwise wonderful musical cast recording. If you ever have the opportunity to see this show, do it. I personally prefer the music in this to the music in "The Wizard of Oz" other than the Wiz's song about how he's going to "Wiz on himself" that one always grated my teeth... but the skip button is a good friend to have :)
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| The Wiz |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The Original with Ms. Mills will never be surpassed.
This is a must buy.
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| The Wiz Original Soundtrack |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The recording quality is superb. Really a good buy. It is always difficult to get many CD's & DVD's here in South Africa, and Amazon has been outstanding. My stuff has always arrived safely and in perfect condition (touch wood).
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| One of my best childhood memories |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I saw this original cast on broadway in the 70's - I was probably around 12. I had always loved the original movie and would wait for the yearly showing (when TV was free) and watch with friends or my cousins. It was a family affair. But when Stephanie Mills hit the stage in her silver slippers I forget all about Judy Garland and the gang.
Of course I boght the LP album and listened to it over & over-knew all the words. It somehow dissapeared over the years and I forgot about Dorothy and Eveline until I was recently talking to a friend of my husbands (a little older than I am) about how much he loved music and he told me the only time he cried at a performance was when he saw Stephanie Mills on broadway. I started screeming "the wiz-I saw that too" and it all came rushing back to me. I of course ordered 2 copies of this disc-one for myself and one for my hubbys friend. I've been listening in the car. It is a little dated so I'm having trouble getting my teens to appreciate it, but the talent is there 100% and so are the memories. Miss Mills can still give you goose bumps. I wish there was some visual recording of this performance so that the Diana Ross fiasco could be erased from history.
When my kids first heard me say The Wiz they wear groaning because they were thinking it was the Diana & Michael version.
They gave it a chance and have now stopped complaining so I guess it stands the test of time-30? years later.
I recomend this to anyone who survived the seventies (or wished they did) or may love a new twist on an old classic.
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The Feeling We Once Had
Tornado - Graphenreed, Timoth
He's the Wizard
Soon as I Get Home
I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday
Ease on Down the Road
Slide Some Oil to Me
I'm a Mean Ole Lion
Be a Lion
So You Wanted to See the Wizard
What Would I Do If I Could Feel
Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News
Everybody Rejoice - Vandross, Luther
Y'All Got It!
If You Believe
Home (Finale)
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