The Book of Mormon [Original Broadway Cast Recording]

by Matt Stone, Trey Parker, Robert Lopez

Overview

When it was announced that South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, plus the Tony Award winning co-writer of Avenue Q Robert Lopez, were working on a Broadway musical together, it seemed the Great White Way would be forever changed. When the show's topic, the Mormon religion, was announced, it seemed the GWW would be forever scarred, but the big opening surprise that delighted critics was that The Book of Mormon is packed with as much respect as it is with disrespect. The problem for some will be that all the disrespect is directed at organized religion while all the respect is given to the Musical Comedy genre. These bright, lively, and even zippy melodies are singalong in a tradition that stretches from Guys and Dolls to Bye Bye Birdie and beyond, with little acknowledgment of the modern sound or style. Instead of parodying the format, Stone, Parker, and Lopez absolutely revel in it, but the will to do good in the name God isn't so safe or sacred. Our story's heroes are Mormon missionaries who are sent to Uganda, "Cause God love Mormons/And he wants more." Upon arrival, their reaction of "Oh Boy! Like Lion King" is turned on its head as they have to deal with the harsh reality of things like female circumcision. That's right, female circumcision, sung in a bouncy C, and yet these shock tactics are used sparingly and surrounded with build-up, character development, and much safer humor that's all equally entertaining. Stone and Parker have proven they can mix the satirical, controversial, and the musical before with their films Cannibal! The Musical and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, and Lopez had done the same with Avenue Q. The Book of Mormon is inspired, filled with laughs, and when it comes to its creators, it's more than the sum of its parts, making this an easy recommendation with some necessary -- it's crude, it's rude, it's blasphemy -- caveats. [The Book of Mormon won the 2012 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.] ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	06/07/2011
Label:	Ghostlight
UPC:	0791558444827
Rank:	19080

Tracks

1. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. Hello!
2. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. Two By Two
3. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. You And Me (But Mostly Me)
4. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. Hasa Diga Eebowai
5. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. Turn It Off
6. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. I Am Here For You
7. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. All-American Prophet
8. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. Sal Tlay Ka Siti
9. The Book of Mormon~Act 1. Man Up
10. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. Making Things Up Again
11. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. Spooky Mormon Hell Dream
12. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. I Believe
13. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. Baptize Me
14. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. I Am Africa
15. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. Joseph Smith American Moses
16. The Book of Mormon~Act 2. Tomorrow Is A Latter Day

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Robert Lopez   Primary Artist
Trey Parker   Primary Artist
Matt Stone   Primary Artist
Tommar Wilson   Vocals
Darlesia Cearcy   Vocals
Scott Barnhardt   Vocals
Andrew Rannells   Vocals
Benjamin Schrader   Vocals
Clark Johnsen   Vocals
Kevin Duda   Vocals
The Book of Mormon Pit Orchestra   Orchestra
Jason Michael Snow   Vocals
Michael James Scott   Vocals
John Eric Parker   Vocals
Rory O'Malley   Vocals
Brian Sears   Vocals
Laurence Stallings   Vocals
Josh Gad   Vocals
Lewis Cleale   Vocals
Stephen Oremus   Conductor,Music Direction
Brian Henry   Vocals
Justin Bohon   Vocals
Asmeret Ghebremichael   Vocals
Rema Webb   Vocals
Maia Nkenge Wilson   Vocals
Nikki M. James   Vocals
Michael Potts   Vocals

Technical Credits

Robert Lopez   Book,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Allie Keller   Production Assistant
Casey Nikolaw   Stage Direction
Matthew Aument   Music Assistant
Nora Skinner   Synopsis
Frank Rich   Liner Notes
Ian Kagey   Assistant Engineer
Steve Norman   Associate Producer
Derik Lee   Engineer,Pro-Tools
Randy Cohen   Synthesizer Programming
Gloria Kaba   Assistant Engineer
Kurt Deutsch   Executive Producer
Frank Filipetti   Mixing,Engineer
Scott Hull   Mastering
Matt Stone   Book,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Trey Parker   Book,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Stage Direction
Noah Cornman   Associate Producer
Stephen Oremus   Producer,Orchestration,Vocal Arrangement
Larry Hochman   Orchestration
Emily Grishman   Music Copyist
Glen Kelly   Dance Arrangement
Katharine Edmonds   Music Copyist
Sean McDaniel   Percussion Programming
Anne Garefino   Producer
Michael Keller   Music Coordinator
Scott Rudin   Producer
Joan Marcus   Photography