Musical Stocking Stuffers! Our Holiday CD Roundup
Oh, the holidays. With traveling, work, kids, family, decorating, tree-picking, menorah-lighting, cookie-baking, turkey-stuffing and all the additional seasonal madness, shopping for gifts can become a nightmare. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up 20 of Broadway’s finest and their 2008 album releases plus a bonus: one very welcome recording from a high priestess of Broadway providing picks for everyone—from country fans to rockers to future theater stars—on your list. Shop by category, artist or style and add a Broadway.com gift certificate, and you’ve got the perfect holiday present. Now get shopping!
For Holiday Junkies
A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas, Kristin Chenoweth
Wicked’s original White Witch is snowbound on this release, chiming in on sugar-cookie sweet arrangements of beloved Christmas songs. Chenoweth draws listeners in with cheery, twinkling up-tempos, but her graceful restraint on more subdued selections will make you hit repeat.
Standout Tracks: “Do You Hear What I Hear?,” “Sleigh Ride” with John Pizzarelli, “What Child is This?”
What A Night! A Christmas Album, Harry Connick Jr.
Backed by a full jazz band, the velvet-voiced Connick can warm the most frigid Scrooges with toe-tapping arrangements of holiday tunes, making this an ideal soundtrack for opening presents. Now if only someone would leave this Broadway alum gift-wrapped under our tree.
Standout Tracks: “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies”
Broadway’s Greatest Gifts, Carols for A Cure Vol. 10
In addition to holiday classics sung by the companies of Broadway shows, this 10th anniversary, two-disc edition includes tracks from previous releases Harvey Fierstein, Hugh Jackman and Antonio Banderas all make appearances. Proceeds benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Standout Tracks: “Los Peces en el Rio” In the Heights cast; “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel” Hairspray cast
For Fans of Broadway’s Talented Men
This Is the Life, Norm Lewis
The rich, heady vocals of the The Little Mermaid’s current King of the Sea cover the American and contemporary songbooks, as well as a sampling of musical theater classics including "Before the Parade Passes By," "No One Is Alone" and the title track from Golden Boy. A long overdue debut from one of Broadway’s most reliable leading men.
Standout Tracks: “This Is The Life,” “The Distance”
Blinding Light, Adam Pascal and Larry Edoff
Original Renter Pascal pairs with songwriter and singer Edoff for a diverse, dark and often raw sampling of rock, jazz and alternative-infused tracks. Fans will appreciate the reunion of Pascal and Daphne Rubin-Vega on the sultry duet “Call Your Bluff,” but don’t expect a reunion with Roger—most will be surprised by this edgy, risky release.
Standout Tracks: “Call Your Bluff,” “Will I Drown”
Jason Danieley and the Frontier Heroes
St. Louis native Danieley—the star of shows ranging from Candide to Curtains—has assembled a stellar bluegrass band and brushed off what he calls a “back porch Americana sound.” Danieley and the Frontier Heroes pull off bluesy, fresh and even inspiring reworkings of everything from ragtime-infused jazz to Broadway to Stevie Wonder.
Standout Tracks: “All of Me,” “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head?”
L.A. Curse, James Snyder
The former Cry-Baby hunk rocks out with bluesy, self-written originals on his debut album and yes, the former stage rocker can actually tackle a six-string himself, ably playing guitar on this recording. Bonus points for lampooning fickle Hollywood and showbiz in general on the title track.
Standout Tracks: “Free,” “L.A. Curse”
For Theater Fans Who Sing in the Shower
Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust, Kerry Butler
The former Xanadu muse goes Disney—literally. Butler’s chiming voice covers an array of memorable Disney tunes accented with previously unreleased material, the perfect addition to any devout mouse-eared collection. Especially good for family sing-alongs.
Standout Tracks: “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “The Bare Necessities”
Natalie Toro
With big roles in A Tale of Two Cities, Les Miz and Evita under her belt, the brightly-piped Toro takes on what she knows best in this album of mostly showtunes. Warm arrangements of stage faves will invite impromptu You/Toro dueting. Speaking of duets, Sutton Foster drops in for a reinvention of that famed favorite Garland/Streisand match-up.
Standout Tracks: “Out of Sight Out of Mind,” “If I Could”
Right Here/Right Now, Karen Mason
Hairspray’s current stage-mother-from-hell trades the teasing comb for a full orchestra and track list of stage, jazz and American songbook classics as well as a few new tunes. Happily included: Sunset Boulevard’s “As If We Never Said Goodbye.” Sadly missing: A jazz reworking of “The Legend of Miss Baltimore Crabs.”
Standout Tracks: “All That Jazz,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye”
For Future Pop Stars
What Do You Want From Me, Orfeh
The Tony nominee and former Legally Blonde showstopper began her career with the chart-topping dance group Or-N-More. She finally releases a solo album, showing off her signature diva vocals and getting back to those pop roots with party-friendly original compositions and surprisingly vulnerable ballads.
Standout Tracks: “Sing You to Sleep,” “Up Tempo Pop Song”
Superhero, Shoshana Bean
Having revealed riff-heavy vocals as Elphaba in Wicked, Bean showcases those pipes on the most radio-friendly release of the year. Old school, multi-harmonied R&B appears alongside contemporary club thumpers and soulful, original ballads, most written by the multitalented Bean.
Standout Tracks: “Superhero,” “Naomi,” “110th”
I Stand, Idina Menzel
One of Broadway’s most familiar voices steps away from the Rialto where she mastered the art of rock and pop-infused scores in Wicked and Rent and closer to outright, modern pop. The bulk of this release is ballads ranging from edgier to ingénue, ideally satisfying rabid Menzel fans until her next stage appearance.
Standout Tracks: “Brave,” “Enemy”
Jennifer Hudson
The much-anticipated, confident release from the Academy Award-winning Dreamgirls spotlight-stealer is mostly contemporary R&B, boasting guest appearances by artists like Ludacris. Fans of Hudson’s more dramatic vocals will find her shattering “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” right where they want it—on this album.
Standout Tracks: “Spotlight,” “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going”
For the Listener Who Has Everything
Gay Marshall Sings Piaf
Marshall wowed audiences and critics in the off-Broadway revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and toured the world with her solo show about Edith Piaf. Here, she pays homage to the legendary chanteuse with an addictive collection of the icon’s emotional work, belted mostly in her native tongue.
Standout Tracks: “La Vie En Rose,” “La Foule,” “All In White”
It’s Okay to be Happy, Smith & Pyle
Boeing-Boeing star Missi Pyle and Shawnee Smith take music seriously sort of: the music is no joke, but song titles like “Wish You Were Dead” and “Ass” reveal their playful side. Described as “post-rehab Dixie Chicks,” the alt-country/desert rock duo will knock the socks off folks who think they’ve downloaded everything under the sun.
Standout Tracks: “Frumpy Flannel,” “Too Damn Tired”
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: Cast Album
Being obscure’s never been as fun as in the ridiculously funny and irreverent soundtrack to the equally cheeky, eclectic musical web video series starring Broadway alum Neil Patrick Harris and screen veterans Nathan Fillion and Felecia Day. Hint: Track this one down on iTunes.
Standouts Tracks: Just listen to it already.
For Jazz Cats & Mood Music Lovers
Kiss To Build a Dream On, Jessica Molaskey
The Sunday in the Park with George alum shows off serious vocal range, frequently accompanied by guitarist/husband John Pizzarelli. Molaskey is smoky and smooth from start to finish, especially on a jazzy adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s “Isn’t He Something” from Road Show.
Standout Tracks: “Isn’t He Something,” “Hiding in Plain Sight”
Rainbow Round My Shoulder, Barbara Cook
Over 80 and still singing like a woman half her age, Cook is all class on this crisp release. We dare anyone to listen to the sassy, adorable “Cookin’ Breakfast for the One I Love” without cracking a smile. Perfect mood music for a sophisticated party with a mature guest list.
Standout Tracks: "Cookin' Breakfast for the One I Love," "Sooner or Later"
Wonder in the World, Kelli O’Hara
Miles away from South Pacific, Tony nominee O’Hara’s warm vocals still ring like a bell through placid arrangements of jazz standards and pop selections, produced by her Pajama Game co-star Harry Connick,Jr. The mellow vibes make Wonder an ideal antidote to stressful holiday overload.
Standout Tracks: “Here Now,” “Spooky”
For Diva Worshippers!
Patti LuPone Live at Les Mouches
If you only gift one album to yourself or anyone else, make it Les Mouches, the Holy Grail of lost diva recordings. Raw, uncut and uncensored, this remastered release of LuPone’s 1980 late night cabaret act performed during her Tony-winning run in Evita is an absolute must-have. Then a rising star, LuPone sasses, flirts, belts and blushes her way through a diverse, 20-song list that includes Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz. Survivors of the times will feel nostalgic, while new generations might be inspired to revive the boozy, cabaret days of yore.
Standout Tracks: “Meadowlark,” “Heaven Is a Disco,” “Rainbow High”
