My 4th Offering..........
http://theartofsound.net/forum/attac...1&d=1481103077
This album is where jazz opera and fledgling pop music collided in the early 60s. Add to that Shakespeare and New York City and the recipe for a classic album was born. With Music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim the ability to capture the feel and emotions of one of the world’s classic stories was assured. The film score is as many were at the time , not a true reflection of the talents of the actors and actresses who stared in the film .Instead they were dubbed using the finest vocalists from the film studio’s roster. Sadly , they are not credited on the album sleeve and it is only in recent years that their true stories have been told. I am told that at the time, these great vocalists were only given session fees for their work, despite this album going on to sell over three million copies.
The film was ground breaking for it’s ability to create the atmospheric setting for the story and much of this transfers to the album. There are great audio pictures of the gangs involved in the play and the emotions of love a beautifully portrayed in “ Tonight” and “Somewhere”. There is social comment on the problems facing immigrants , youth and the everyday struggle to survive. Dreams and aspirations are debated in “America” and later we are tempted to see the vision of how divided communities might come together. It was relevant in 1961 and it still is today !
Vinylwise? I think I have a late 60s Dutch copy which was acquired for peanuts but, it is as quiet and flat as you could wish for. Sonically it is excellent and can challenge most cartridges as it is well cut.
To my mind this album was an excellent way to blow a Euro and will be enjoyed for many years to come!
