Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording]

( 26 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
The success of the musical revue Smokey Joe's Café, which ran on Broadway between 1995 and 2000, and the book musical Mamma Mia!, which opened on Broadway in 2001 and was still running in the fall of 2005, led to a string of so-called jukebox musicals in which pop music catalogs of various performers were recycled in a theatrical context. Many of these shows failed, but others, notably Movin' Out, which featured Billy Joel's music choreographed by Twyla Tharp, succeeded. Jersey Boys, a stage biography of the Four Seasons, looked like one of those few hits after it opened on November 6, 2005. The New Jersey-based vocal group bested only by the Beatles, the Supremes, and...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
The success of the musical revue Smokey Joe's Café, which ran on Broadway between 1995 and 2000, and the book musical Mamma Mia!, which opened on Broadway in 2001 and was still running in the fall of 2005, led to a string of so-called jukebox musicals in which pop music catalogs of various performers were recycled in a theatrical context. Many of these shows failed, but others, notably Movin' Out, which featured Billy Joel's music choreographed by Twyla Tharp, succeeded. Jersey Boys, a stage biography of the Four Seasons, looked like one of those few hits after it opened on November 6, 2005. The New Jersey-based vocal group bested only by the Beatles, the Supremes, and the Rolling Stones on the pop singles charts of the 1960s as noted by annotator Charles Alexander turned out to have a compelling career story containing not a little of the crime and mobster connections the Garden State was famous for, and critics who had disparaged musicals based on the songs of the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley looked more fondly on it, as did audiences. Usually, an original Broadway cast album is recorded on a day-off a week or two after a successful opening, but this one actually preceded the show itself, turning up in record stores five days before the official start of Jersey Boys' run. Also, more time was spent on it than the usual one-day session that Broadway union rules generally require. Producer Bob Gaudio, who was also an original member of the Four Seasons and the songwriter of many of their hits, seems to have been determined to get the sound right. Of course, the other original members of the group were not involved; instead, a talented young cast re-creates the familiar recordings. There, of course, is the problem. If critics in the theater often squirm at the ways librettists shoehorn well-known songs into the story lines of the jukebox musicals, record critics can have even less patience with the souvenir albums. The reason is easy to see. It's one thing to suspend disbelief in a theater as a group of actor/singers make like the Four Seasons. But a recording is immediately in competition with the still-available original recordings, and that's a battle that simply can't be won. Unquestionably, John Lloyd Young, playing lead singer Frankie Valli, has a good voice if not quite the preternatural range Valli displayed in his prime, the rest of the singers are good, and Gaudio has achieved reasonable approximations of the original recordings. But who needs it? The album is not simply a Four Seasons tribute record, however. Snatches of Marshall Brickman's and Rick Elice's dialogue are included here and there to give some sense of the plot, but they usually sound overacted and clichéd. "You wanna get a hit song, it's like the Stations of the Cross. You gotta get past the record company, the program directors, the DJs, and if you're lucky, you get to the people." The album has been released by Rhino Records, a reissue label not generally known for its interest in Broadway. Why? Connections. As Alexander makes a point of saying in the liner notes, "You can buy the original recordings on the Rhino label."
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 11/1/2005
  • Label: Rhino
  • UPC: 081227327125
  • Catalog Number: 73271
  • Sales rank: 2,308

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Jersey Boys Primary Artist
Original Cast Recording Indexed Contributor
The Four Seasons Vocals
Randy Andos Trombone
Stephanie Cummins Cello
Bob Milikan Trumpet
Larry Saltzman Guitar
Dave Spier Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Cenovia Cummins Violin
Debra Shufelt Viola
Paul Woodiel Concert Master
Maxine Roach Viola
Belinda Whitney Violin
Matt Hong Reeds
Donnie Kehr Vocals
Joe Payne Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, 12-string Guitar
Steve Snyder Synthesizer
J. Robert Spencer Vocals,
Deborah Hurwitz Synthesizer, Conductor
Anik Oulianine Cello
Shinwon Kim Violin
Robin Zeh Violin
Christian Hoff Vocals
Steve Orich Keyboards
Mark Lotito
Ben Kono Reeds
Sarah Schmidt Vocals
Ron Melrose Synthesizer, Piano
Tituss Burgess Vocals
Louise Owen Violin
Daniel Reichard Vocals
John Lloyd Young Vocals,
Ken Dow Electric Bass, Bass Guitar
Steve "Hoops" Snyder Synthesizer
Sarah Schwartz Violin
Jersey Boys Cast Ensemble Choir, Chorus
Erica Piccininni Vocals
Joe Payne Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, 12-string Guitar
Eric de Gioia Violin
Jennifer Naimo Vocals
Sara Schmidt Vocals
Ronald Melrose Synthesizer, Piano
Randall Andos Trombone
Stephen Orich Keyboards
Louise Owen Violin
Kevin Dow Drums, Latin Percussion
Benjamin Kono Reeds
Bill Hayes Percussion
Kevin Dow Drums
Technical Credits
Louis Prima Composer
Maurice Williams Composer
James Moody Composer
Jimmy McHugh Composer
Bob Crewe Composer, Lyricist
Kenny Nolan Composer
Otis Blackwell Composer
Dorothy Fields Composer
Guy Fletcher Composer
Bob Gaudio Composer, Producer, Audio Production
Ted Jensen Mastering
Sandy Linzer Composer
Judy Parker Composer
Denny Randell Composer
Billy Dalton Composer
Doug Flett Composer
Gaynel Hodge Composer
Chris Callis Cover Photo
Pete Karam Digital Editing, Engineering
Thomas Austin Composer
L. Wolfe Gilbert Composer
Stan Rhodes Composer
Edmond Bacri Composer
Abel Baer Composer
Barbara Belle Composer
Raymond Bloodworth Composer
Robert Feldman Composer
Gerald Goldstein Composer
Martin Yee Drum Technician
Ron Melrose Orchestra Leader
L. Russell Brown Composer
Rick Elice Book
Peggy Farina Composer
Bill Crandell Composer
Bill Dalton Composer
Marshall Brickman Book
Jessie Belvin Composer
Ronald Melrose Orchestra Leader
Curtis Williams Composer
Richard Gottebrer Composer
Anita Nye Composer
Yannick Zolo Composer
Charles Alexander Liner Notes
Frank C. Slay Jr. Composer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 26 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(15)

4 Star

(6)

3 Star

(3)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(0)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 26 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    OH WHAT A WONDERFUL CD !!

    JERSEY BOYS THE MUSICAL IS FANTASTIC. THE CD IS AMAZINGLY COMPILED AND I WILL PURCHASE MORE FOR GIFTS. DES MCANUFF AND FRANKIE VALLI HAVE DONE A SPLENDID JOB GETTING THIS SHOW TOGETHER. EVERY BABY BOOMER NEEDS AT LEAST ONE COPY OF THIS CD !!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Just like the show

    I just saw the Broadway show, it was a hit. Came home and ordered the sound track for half the price they were selling it for at the show, and it came in days. I only wish that they hadn't added any speaking parts to the sound track , and that it were only the songs. Some of the "R"rated language that they used in the show was on the CD, so now I can't listen to it with my kids.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Jersey Boys on Broadway

    Brought back the in person viewing on Broadway!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Fantastic album from a fantactis show

    Fantastic album from a fantactis show

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Wonderful

    Have not been able to see the stage version, but would like to after listening to this CD.

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

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great Music

    The music it such a great blast from the past. They preform it well. My only complaint is that I can't play this when young children are around because of some of the language used in the dialogue. Other than that it is one of the first cds that I reach for.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    wowwww

    great songs, great performance. follows the show

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Broadway Memories

    This CD brings back the enjoyment of the Broadway Production. If you want to relive the magic of the show, this CD will get you rocking!

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    We saw the Las Vega show.

    The stage show was heard-pounding. Three times, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. The New York (original cast) was superb, if somewhat different from the Las Vegas show. I recommend this to anyone born between 1940 and 1960.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I SAW THE SHOW, AND HAD TO HAVE THE SOUNDTRACK!

    This soundtrack is great! The guys sound very much lke the original Four Seasons, they do some songs you may noy have known were Four Seasons tunes, and you hear some of the "back story" as well. The music is great for listening or dancing, and recommended for "oldies" fans.

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

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Can't Take My Ears Off of You!

    What a joy to have this recording in our home and car! Brings back the good old days. It's fun music and the quality of the recording is excellent. Tom

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

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Over The Top!!!

    I am enjoying the heck out of the Jersey Boys CD. I also have the original Four Seasons on CD....the greatest hits album on Rhino Records. The broadway cast did a really excellent job of re-creating the excitement that was and still is the Four Seasons. Two thumbs up!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    What a great Sound

    I watched the Tony Awards and heard this muscial for the first time. This is the backbone music of all male singing groups. Fantastic.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    itz good but.......

    I hate this style of music but i will say that this CD is awesome. i loved mamma mia!, and all shook up and this one is next on my list. get this CD right now!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 1, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 20, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 10, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 22, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 26, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 26 Customer Reviews