Using the astonishingly fresh music of Jerome Kern and the lyrics of over a dozen of his collaborators, including Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, and P.G. Wodehouse, the Land Where Good Songs Go weaves the stories of three couples into a theatrical song cycle that sparkles with wit, tenderness, and warmth. A cast of top Broadway talents - Kate Baldwin, Heidi Blickstenstaff, Rebecca Luker, Philip Chaffin, Graham Rowat and Matthew Scott - offer delectable renditions of over 30 Kern songs, for which music director David Loud provides brand new vocal arrangements and orchestrations: standards such as "A Fine Romance", "Long Ago (and Far Away)" "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and "The Way You Look Tonight," as well as forgotten tunes like "An Irish Husband," "Bill's a Liar," "We're Crooks," "The Subway Express," "Ain't It Funny...?" and "Never Marry a Girl."
J**H
Land of the Good Songwriters
Jerome Kern wrote timeless songs performed by Sinatra, Vaughan, Judy Garland, and many more. Different arrangements of his music throughout the decades; but the same lyrics, melodies, and outstanding performances, regardless of who is playing his songs! This is a great collection of the legendary songwriter's best tunes!
C**E
GREAT CONCEPT, COMMITTED PERFORMANCES
Jerome Kern's profligate talents simply beg not to be forgotten and he is smiling down upon these younger performers who so ably interpret the luminous treasures in his songbook. Kern's music lives on for this younger generation of artists and for many to come, for Kern's genius is seemingly inexhaustible. This is a fine complement to EMI's essential JEROME KERN TREASURY. Insiders will particularly appreciate our most trustworthy contemporary Kern revivalist, Rebecca Luker, in this revue. To her credit she does not steal the show with an outsize personality; the sublime music, contextually reinvented, is the unquestioned star here.
R**S
The land where the good songs go
A very pleasant Cd very nicely sung by all the vocalists, it was nice to hear a lot of forgotten songs written by Jerome Kern as well as the more popular pieces. I would recommend this. The only thing I thought about the recording is that some of the songs were a little bit short.
E**Z
Jerome Kern. the Land Wher Good Songs Go.
This Jerome Kern musical Has several songs that I grew up listening too as a kid. The lyrics are as good today as if just written.This includes the title song The Land Where Good Songs Go.This particular set holds two CD's. Many of the songs are still being sung and heard even today.. The lyrics keep it from being dated.and I listen to it frequently.
K**P
Jerome Kern's music
. . . and Rebecca Luker's rendition of same. I love Broadway shows, and this brings back old show memories (before my time). Many songs I hadn't heard, many I knew and loved hearing again. The lyrics to the unknown ones were great fun.
M**A
Great record of beautiful songs.
Really songs from another era...when indeed they wrote beautiful songs. Beautifully sung as well. Makes a gresat respite from all the horrible caterwauling you see & hear on "American Idio...errr, IDOL" and "The Voice." Good to know these gems still exist. But sadly, they would just go over the head of today's generation.
L**H
A Delight and a Lucky Find
This one is great if you like Broadway, show tunes or what is referred to as the Great American Songbook. It is even better than I had anticipated. I had seen Rebecca Luker in Sound of Music and it was her name on the album that caught my eye. The entire cast is wonderful. Am thankful that quality music is still being recorded.
D**W
Song stylings so emotive and agressively meaningful that the beauty of the material is lost.
I like J. Kern's music and love cover versions... usually. The orchestration on the music was nice but far too many of the singers felt it necessary to emote so much through the songs that the melodies and phrasing was sometimes unidentifiable. Voices were nice but I find the candy-tone overly-expressive song stylings irritating. There are better Kern sources which stick to the original material style and better cover versions where you don't get the feeling you are listening to a high school tryout.They should have stuck more to the original style of the material.
N**S
A Must Have Double Album for Musical Show Lovers!
Don't worry about trying to follow the plot (described in the notes) that has been added to this wonderful collection of Kern songs to make it into a theatrical evening - just sit back and enjoy! It mixes some rarely heard or even never-before heard numbers with a handful of standards, artfully arranged - by David Loud - for six top Broadway performers, including the sublime Rebecca Luker. There is an intimate feel to the recording that lets the words and melodies shine through and doesn't drown them with overly lush orchestration. Especially magical are the tracks where two songs have been effectively intertwined to great musicl effect. I defy anyone not to be moved by Till the Clouds Roll By coupled with Look for the Silver Lining, and Heaven in my Arms/ Dancing Time. Fabulous - I'll be playing it again and again. Treat yourself!Raymond Langford Jones
P**A
The Kern's genius...
A really brilliant collection of less known songs from one of the real masters of american songs. Lovely arrangements, expert voices.And some tunes really catchy . "I've taken such a fancy to you" , in Mr. Philip Chaffin's version is a real gem.( Surprisingly , the only slightly irritating thing is the booklet , written by Stephen Sondheim, pompous and didactic.)
B**S
and he loved it. He actually had tears in his eyes ...
I bought this for my husband, and he loved it. He actually had tears in his eyes while listening and said it was very emotive and beautiful. He's 82, by the way. His kind of music.
R**N
A joy for good music lovers
This is the surprise of the year. The double C.D. is magnificent. I have played it through 4 times and never tire of the songs or the performers. This a jewel to be in anyone's collection.Don't miss it before it goes out of print, like these kinds of cds usually do.They wrote songs then.............wait till you hear THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.
E**E
Five Stars
great
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