Avenue Q [Original Broadway Cast Recording] [Explicit Lyrics]

( 32 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Cohen
Avenue Q, the thoroughly entertaining and outrageous new hit musical, is the freshest breeze to blow down the Great White Way in too many seasons. Disguised as a wry, adult send-up of Sesame Street -- complete with furry, singing puppets and affirmative life lessons -- Avenue Q brings clear-eyed humor and warmth to the denizens who live on the street "when you can't afford to live anywhere else." Composers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and librettist Jeff Whitty aim their subversively realistic parable directly at struggling twenty-somethings, a demographic traditionally overlooked on Broadway. Thorny themes such as racism, sexuality, relationships, the high cost of living,...
See more details below
CD
$11.39
BN.com price
(Save 5%)$11.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (16) from $3.16   
  • New (13) from $9.89   
  • Used (3) from $3.16   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - David Cohen
Avenue Q, the thoroughly entertaining and outrageous new hit musical, is the freshest breeze to blow down the Great White Way in too many seasons. Disguised as a wry, adult send-up of Sesame Street -- complete with furry, singing puppets and affirmative life lessons -- Avenue Q brings clear-eyed humor and warmth to the denizens who live on the street "when you can't afford to live anywhere else." Composers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and librettist Jeff Whitty aim their subversively realistic parable directly at struggling twenty-somethings, a demographic traditionally overlooked on Broadway. Thorny themes such as racism, sexuality, relationships, the high cost of living, and finding one's purpose in life are handled with sensitivity, wit, and a delicious streak of vulgarity. A vibrantly talented cast of newcomers, led by the incredibly versatile John Tartaglia and Stephanie D'Abruzzo, shine on the hilarious showstoppers, "It Sucks to Be Me," "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist," "If You Were Gay" and "The Internet is for Porn." Listen to this terrific original cast recording, produced by Jay David Saks, and it'll always be a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
"Avenue Q has not been authorized or approved in any manner by the Jim Henson Company or Sesame Workshop, which have no responsibility for its content," reads a disclaimer found, among other places, inside the CD booklet for the original Broadway cast album of Avenue Q. It's an important statement to keep in mind, because, in essence, the show, with songs by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who are also credited with the "original concept," asks what would happen if you crossed the children's television series Sesame Street with the gritty, urban Broadway musical Rent. Or, to put it more plainly, suppose all the puppets on Sesame Street had potty mouths? What if, for example, Bert and Ernie or, as they are called here, Rod and Nicky [John Tartaglia and Rick Lyon] were closeted gays "If You Were Gay"? What if Cookie Monster sorry, Trekkie Monster [Rick Lyon again] craved not baked goods, but pornography "The Internet Is for Porn"? And what if Miss Piggy's name was, instead, Lucy the Slut Stephanie D'Abruzzo? It's fair to say that the viewer and listener's reaction to Avenue Q will depend on a visceral response to the "original concept" of a hard R-rated version of Sesame Street. Is it a clever idea, or does it make you want to exclaim, as Kate Monster Stephanie D'Abruzzo again does during the show, "Ewww!" and "That's gross!"? The question is complicated by context. Like another heavily satirical show of the early 21st century, Urinetown, Avenue Q began off-Broadway on March 19, 2003. But then it transferred to Broadway on July 31, 2003. In an earlier day, such shows might have stayed off-Broadway, where audiences in search of edgy work would seek them out in small theaters in Greenwich Village. Instead, they now come uptown, where it's easy to mistake them for mainstream fare, especially when they win Tony Awards, as Avenue Q did for its score and book as well as an upset victory in the Best Musical category. After those accolades, the show's producers unexpectedly announced that Avenue Q would bypass a national tour in favor of a permanent production in Las Vegas, a decision that may have upset regional theaters, but probably saves many American children from inadvertently hearing a bunch of earnest, friendly looking, familiarly fuzzy puppets proclaim, "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist." Avenue Q is for adult audiences.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/7/2003
  • Label: Rca Victor Broadway
  • UPC: 828765592321
  • Catalog Number: 55923
  • Sales rank: 936

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 The Avenue Q Theme (1:02)
  2. 2 What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?/It Sucks to Be Me - Ann Harada (5:55)
  3. 3 If You Were Gay (2:30)
  4. 4 Purpose (2:28)
  5. 5 Everyone's a Little Bit Racist - Ann Harada (5:27)
  6. 6 The Internet Is for Porn - Rick Lyon (2:59)
  7. 7 Mix Tape - Stephanie D'Abruzzo (3:35)
  8. 8 I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today - Ann Harada (0:28)
  9. 9 Special - Stephanie D'Abruzzo (2:36)
  10. 10 You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You're Makin' Love) - Ann Harada (2:41)
  11. 11 Fantasies Come True - Rick Lyon (4:18)
  12. 12 My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada (1:18)
  13. 13 There's a Fine, Fine Line - Stephanie D'Abruzzo (2:39)
  14. 14 There Is Life Outside Your Apartment - Jordan Gelber (3:08)
  15. 15 The More You Ruv Someone - Ann Harada (2:23)
  16. 16 Schadenfreude - Natalie Venetia Belcon (3:04)
  17. 17 I Wish I Could Go Back to College - Rick Lyon (2:09)
  18. 18 The Money Song - Jordan Gelber (5:01)
  19. 19 School for Monsters/The Money Song (Reprise) (1:59)
  20. 20 There's a Fine, Fine Line (Reprise)/What Do You Do With a B.A. in ... - Ann Harada (1:43)
  21. 21 For Now - Ann Harada (3:12)
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Patience Higgins Clarinet, Flute, Alto Saxophone
Brian Koonin Banjo, Guitar
John Tartaglia cast
Mark Hartman Synthesizer
Stephanie D'Abruzzo cast
Peter Linz cast
Mary Ann McSweeney Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass
Rick Lyon cast
Gary Adler Synthesizer, Piano, Background Music
Jennifer Barnhart cast
Natalie Venetia Belcon cast
Michael Croiter Percussion, Drums
Jodi Eichelberger cast
Jordan Gelber cast
Ann Harada cast
Technical Credits
Tom Lazarus Engineer
Jason Moore Director
Jay David Saks Producer
Bill Rosenfield Executive Producer
Robyn Goodman Contributor
Rick Lyon Illustrations, Title Art
Gary Adler Music Direction
Mary K. Witte Company Manager
Christine M. Daly Stage Manager
Jeff Whitty Book
Cindy Tolan Casting
Evan Ensign Production Stage Manager
Kevin McCollum Contributor
Stephen Oremus Arranger, Orchestration
Mirena Rada Costume Design
Sam Rudy Contributor
Jeffrey Seller Contributor
Ken Roberson Choreographer
Robert Lopez Composer, Original Concept
Jeff Marx Composer, Original Concept
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 32 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(25)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(2)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 32 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Great to have this recording.

    Having seen "Avenue Q" four times, I decided to get the CD and really listen to the songs more closely; very good show.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    cute show

    It's the kind of show tou see once, and that's enough.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Avenue Wonderful

    A funny and enternaing musical and Soudtrack. My favorite song is A fine fine line and Pupose. It is a great and tottaly different musical

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Wow

    So bad in the best way. Absolutely hilarious!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Side-splitting funny

    Oh of the best I've heard (broadway wise) my presonaly favorite would be "It Sucks to be Me". But I wouldn't of even hard of it if it weren't for one of my good friends.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Couldn't stop laughing or singing along

    This show is great. I couldn't stop laughing from the first time I heard it. I am constantly singing along. I loved it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Avenue Q is a hilarious musical for teens

    I first saw Avenue Q on the 2004 Tony awards. Immediately that sucks to be me song was remembered throughout the year. I rememeber how catchy the song was and eventually had to buy the CD. Now with the CD in my room, I listen to it all of the time. And even put it on my MP3 player. I reccomend this to teens because there is foul language and some sexual dialogue but besides that, the songs will be stuck in your head, and you won't sleep till midnight. That's a good thing. Go and by this right away, and you won't regret it!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Funniest musical ever

    After living based on an obsession with RENT, Avenue Q is a great way to come up for air and laugh. Rent is the best musical on broadway, but Avenue Q is definitely teh funniest!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    AVENUE Q IS BRILLIANT!!!

    This CD is by far the best I have listened to. The songs, especially "If You Were Gay", "It Sucks To Be Me", and "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" were so funny, I actually fell off my chair laughing. But It also has these beautiful love songs, such as "There's A Fine, Fine Line" and "The More You Ruv Someone". In short, Princeton, Kate, Gary, Nicky, Rod, Trekkie Monster...YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    the best

    i loved it i dont know what to say. it was soo good and i lissen to it all the time. my friends get mad at me because i sing to it all the time.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Keep an open mind....

    As a 14 year old who's the "innocent" one in her group of friends, I think that this show is postitively amazing. Yes, there are some lyrics that make you cringe, songs that you'd rather not have blared over your enire house, but the writing is so witty, so sharp that you have to appreciate it just for that (personally, i found the lyrics in wicked a bit lacking for sharpness and found this CD much more enjoyable) It provides a realistic look at life; the eternal optimism that we often assosiate with musicals is gone, left with a hopeful bunch of puppets who (surprisingly) are amazingly relatible. Who hasn't gone through the "I think he likes me..... but does he like me like me like I like him??" we hear in Mix Tape...... or had days when it just sucks to be you? Listen to it... if you're anything like me (and the about 10 others i have managed to infect with it) you'll love it. Also, it seems a bit Sondheim-esque.... a revolutionary, more adult kind of musical. Think of it as the 21st century's answer to Into The Woods- its taken a medium that kids relate to (puppets) but created something that an adult can enjoy.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    AWFUL!

    Ok, so, it has two good songs. "Fine, Fine Line" which I LOVE! "It Sucks to be Me" is very cathcy, but, other than that... It's awful. This show beat WICKED?! I do not see how. I understand, it's different, but, different enough to earn the hearts of Broadway critics who mostly HATED WICKED? Wicked is great. Yea, Cats is bad. But, it's better than this show, which has no mind blowing music. At least Cats is professionally written. (Sorry Webber, I LOVE your music, but why CATS?)... Overall, I think that Avenue Q is the WORST show on Broadway to ever win Best Musical or Best Score... HATE THIS SHOW! CURSES!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Nothing special

    In my opinion, this may be the worst music I have ever listened to. The lyrics are completely hideous and stupid. The melodys and harmonics in the music are so bad! I am so surprised this won the tony for the best musical.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I love it!

    This album and musical is the first one since "Rent" to truely speak to today's generation. If you have a problem with the themes or lyrics go back to the 50's.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Shining Cast

    Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Rick Lyon are great, but John Tartaglia lit up the stage! He had to voice, and portray two puppets at once, and he is a very talented man! I have a passion to be on Broadway someday, and with comedic performances like this, it makes my dream one step closer to reality!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Toe Tapping, Finger Snapping

    After seeing one of the numbers from this show on the Tony Awards presentation, I was intrigued and had to hear more. Then I got the CD and haven't stopped movin' to the music. This is the most infectious music in years. Clever, funny, naughty. I wish I could fly to NY to see this show tonight

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    INTESIVELY entertaining!

    Wow! Avenue Q is the best musical in my collection! No wonder it won BEST MUSICAL!! It is my favorite. Now I haven't seen it yet on Broadway, but it would probably be my favorite one!! This CD rocks! Buy this NOW!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Definately a new kind of Musical

    I bought this album, being a lover (and avid purchaser) of Musical Theater Cast Albums, not knowing what to expect. All I knew is that the track listing was hilarious and it had won this year's Tony for Best Musical. Including tracks such as "If you were gay" and "Everyone's a little bit racist", this album with it's risky, yet hilarious lyrics, phenomenal ensemble work, and amazing characterization, and Gary Coleman? shines!!!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I saw the number "It sucks to Be Me" on the Tony's. Loved the soundtrack. Deals with things that are maybe only included in tradgedies. Love the way that it deals with real issues and has humor.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

    I'm a huge Broadway fan, and I have over 100 cast recordings. I saw this on Broadway, and loved it! So, I bought the cast recording, and it just rocks! It's the funniest musical ever!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 32 Customer Reviews