Lucky. How did you manage to get it so early?

Mr. E.

I got my copy unexpectedly early from a commercial outlet and my reactions were exactly like yours.

The CD was disappointing and nothing to brag about as a whole. Sounded like a poor mixing board performance for one thing. M and L were clearly the best on the recording and even they, on my copy, didn't sound as well as I have heard them elsewhere.

Stan/gramps.

-- Edited by gramps3 at 22:59, 2007-09-30

I would agree with you MrE on this one. I can't quite figure it out though. I received my cd in the mail ealier today. When I listened to it this afternoon, I was thinking about all that you stated above and how true your words are. In every song, all the leads sound great. But anything that would be considered background or chorus sounds like its an echo.
This is where I get confused. I own a bowling center in WI and we installed a $30k sound system last year. Let me just say, W-O-W !!!!!! It makes a world of difference. Now, I realize that not everybody has access to such a system, but it makes the cd sound as if you were in the theatre again. Heck, with the orchestra solo's, I can even imagine the conductor and all of her moves. I don't know why, but if anyone feels this way about the cd, its a must to listen to it on a "real" system. Makes all the difference in the world.

I got my copy yesterday, and haven't listened to the whole thing yet because I am savoring every song-----I really love it, but I keep going back to "Grease", I really like that opening number!!!!! I think it's great, it sounds good, and hearing those voices that I just recently saw, just brings everything back for me. Great show, great cast, great CD :)

LauraFan1 wrote:

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...... I am savoring every song-----I really love it, but I keep going back to "Grease"....

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I'm savoring, too....right now, I keep going back to "Mooning".

With those two fabulous voices, it's worth the price of the album. I don't think I've ever heard a more spectacular tenor... Daniel soars smoothly up to an unbelievable tenor high F, and just as smoothly descends out of it. And he has all the expressive drive that one could wish for.

Lindsay could have shown off her equally spectacular E-flat above high C, but I guess they didn't want to overdo a good thing. She matches him in style and expressiveness, and her pitch is always outstanding.

There are so many treasures in this album.... Doody is wonderful, but that's another post.

-- Edited by Ray at 18:33, 2007-10-06

just got my copy in the mail today and i was struck by how pure both max and laura's voices are. i think, back when the reality show was on, there was a thread on vocal gymnastics vs. 'straight' vocals (NYC9758 that was you, yes?) and most of us came down on the side of the less gymnastics/theatrics/whatever you want to call it, the better. well, max and laura prove, on this cd and on stage, that pure, clean, clear, rich, emotive vocals win every time.

m&l, plus kathleen marshall and the rest of the cast, should be proud. can't wait to get it onto the ole ipod.

Wick-ed......I am so happy, just got my album from Amazon (took long enough, I kept checking the box, fingers tapping)....one comment, I just can't help feeling so PROUD of Max and Laura, their voices are a delight, just like their live performances!!!!! The rest of the cast is awesome as well, but I happen to maybe be a tad biased....So glad to have it in my IPOD, I will save the CD......

Just picked it up at Barnes and Noble today. Mooning was just as cute and enjoyable as in the theatre. Daniel seems to be able to do alot with his voice making the song so entertaining, and Linsay's on stage cuteness comes through loud and clear to me. Robin's voice sounds great and is still able to evoke a chuckle from me with the lyrics. Laura always sounds good no matter what, it seems. I have never heard her sound anything different. Of course like a few others here I am rather partial to Max. He has gotten so good. When he said at his audition ...just wait till they hear me sing...I bet even he didn't know he could sound as good and as strong as he does now. I sure didn't anyway. He must have taken some serious singing lessons.

-- Edited by greatwhiteway at 02:24, 2007-10-07

dana wrote:

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just got my copy in the mail today and i was struck by how pure both max and laura's voices are. i think, back when the reality show was on, there was a thread on vocal gymnastics vs. 'straight' vocals (NYC9758 that was you, yes?) and most of us came down on the side of the less gymnastics/theatrics/whatever you want to call it, the better. well, max and laura prove, on this cd and on stage, that pure, clean, clear, rich, emotive vocals win every time.

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I did not post in the 'gymnastics vs. straight' thread. It was an 'either/or' argument, in which both sides are typically half right.

I doubt that even the 'straight' proponents were advocating that all the songs in "Grease", regardless of style, be performed in the serious mode of "Hopelessly Devoted", "Sandy", "Worse Things", and others.

A lot of people are glad that Patti LaBelle was not constrained by any limiting set of criteria.

In opera, a ban on vocal gymnastics would virtually end the career of Juan Diego Florez, who, at 34, is already assured legendary status.

Different strokes......

She's always called Frenchy in the middle of the song.

Yes, that's Max doing a riff.

I purchased the CD and think it's terrific. There are two numbers I'm not particularly fond of. "Born To Hand Jive" is too campy for my taste and "Beauty School Dropout" is just too generic. Billy Porter's version is much better, IMHO.

Jenny Powers' voice is superb and her two songs are exquisite.

I have to say "Beauty School Dropout" is one of my favorite songs on the CD!! The way it is sung is just so cute, the Teen Angel sounds like a game show host, ha ha. It's one of my most listened to, along with the title song, and Laura's solo's. I just am LOVING it, and I know it'll be in my car with me for a very long while. It makes me want to get back there to see the show again!!!!!!

Isn't that funny how some of the songs on the movie soundtrack just don't do it for you, but on this CD they are awesome?? I absolutely hated "Hopelessly Devoted" as sung on the movie soundtrack, but it's one of my favorites as performed by Laura! (My sister and I used to skip over that part in the movie, ha ha) Also, "Beauty School Dropout" never was a favorite from the movie soundtrack, but for some reason, I LOVE how it is on this new CD-----it's actually one I play again and again. I LOVE THIS CD-----I can tell you it will be a LOOOONG time before anything else is in my car cd player, ha ha!!!!

(ala Frenchy - "Beauty School Dropout")

Aww, jeez!!

LOL.

Mooning is one of my favorites, and I love both Daniel and Lindsay's parts. I also love Lindsay and Laura in It's Raining on Prom Night, and We Go Together, both versions.

(Edited because I referred to Lindsay as her character name, but to Laura and Daniel as themselves.)

-- Edited by Kait at 13:46, 2007-10-12

Is there anywhere where I can download the version of WGT with the hidden track?? I wanna hear it but my version doesn't have it. :(

I have two versions and they both don't have it.

Mine is like 2:50, though. The album booklet says about 5 min.

greatwhiteway wrote:

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Yes, it really is funny. I always hated Beauty School drop out though I liked Frankie Avalon a lot. But this version I love. I picture it as it was sung in the theatre, Buntrock was just so good, Frenchiw was really cute. I also love Mooning.

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greatwhiteway (and etal),

Hope you get a kick out of this:

Several months ago my "Ladies Club" met at a local restaurant (Bistro Gardens, Sherman Oaks, CA). We started out in the bar area and decided to eat there since we were having so much fun with the piano player. And who walks in?? Frankie Avalon, James Darren and Mike Connors. They proceeded to regale us with singing and acting for the next few hours. (We provided backup chorus and cheering ;) ).

And yes--I prevailed upon Frankie to sing a few bars of Beauty School Dropout (and yes--it was NOT his best number Ha Ha).

I must say all these men were just the nicest and most personable ever. Especially Frankie. (Good role models for Max?? I was tempted to ask Frankie if he had met Max etc--but you know--it just didn't seem like the right thing to do.)

What a night!

MaxStar...had I been there with you that night I'd have challenged Frankie to do "I think, You Think" with me. See how many of the words we could not mess up.



-- Edited by Eris at 04:32, 2007-10-20

greatwhiteway, It really was a blast from the past. There is something so touching (maybe nostalgic) when watching prior star performers that are potentially "a bit past their prime". I think that Mike Connors said that he is 81 (?). But still, without considering the age of all these men they were still very entertaining.

Great story about your Mom buying tickets for Jersey Boys. I'm planning a December trip to NY to see Grease (Max) and everyone else keeps asking about Jersey Boys--so we may try to do that as well (guess we won't be sitting in the orchestra ha)--and I really would like to see Jersey Boys too (more blasts from the past?).

Max Star wrote:

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greatwhiteway, It really was a blast from the past. There is something so touching (maybe nostalgic) when watching prior star performers that are potentially "a bit past their prime". I think that Mike Connors said that he is 81 (?). But still, without considering the age of all these men they were still very entertaining.

Great story about your Mom buying tickets for Jersey Boys. I'm planning a December trip to NY to see Grease (Max) and everyone else keeps asking about Jersey Boys--so we may try to do that as well (guess we won't be sitting in the orchestra ha)--and I really would like to see Jersey Boys too (more blasts from the past?).

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 if they are sold out through telecharge check out stubhub.com

that's where people and companies sell tickets they can't use

it's 100% safe

Mike Connors still has dark hair :). I believe that Frankie and Jimmy are in their 70's. They all looked much younger than their age. I'm a bit young to directly remember these guys (except Mike as Mannix) but I do remember a song that James Darren sang--Goodbye Cruel World and I think he was in the Gidget movie.

Apparently, they have been best of friends from early on. Totally a random event that night. The were at the restaurant having dinner (with their wives--who also were very nice--they sat patiently at the bar while the guys stood around the piano singing). It was great to see them having so much fun.