Stephen Schwartz Recordings

SHOWS: Music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Read about the Wicked CD (song list, etc.) The Stephen Schwartz Album (A collection of favorite songs from all Schwartz musicals) Stephen Schwartz's Albums: Uncharted Territory | Reviews of Uncharted Territory Reluctant Pilgrim (new page)	COVER SONGS - Schwartz songs recorded by other artists (Sarah Brightman, Betty Buckley, Michael Crawford, and many others)
Stephen Schwartz Musicals CDs - See: The Baker's Wife, Children of Eden, Geppetto, Godspell, The Magic Show, Pippin, The Prince of Egypt, Wicked, Working (four of the songs), Captain Louie, Enchanted Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz Bernstein's Mass, Rags, Disney's Pocahontas, Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.	See also: Songs for Special Occasions (weddings, memorial services, graduations) Schwartz - musical influences

The Stephen Schwartz Album

The Stephen Schwartz Album - The Stephen Schwartz Album Amazon.com USA

UNI/Varese Sarabande, 1999.

 

For Europe - order through Dress Circle - Stephen Schwartz Album [new browser window] opens new browser window or Stephen Schwartz Album at Amazon.co.uk

• Includes: Beautiful City/Day By Day from Godspell
• Corner of the Sky and No Time At All from Pippin
• With You/Gifts of Love from Pippin and The Baker's Wife
• Lion Tamer and West End Avenue from The Magic Show
• Just Around the Riverbend and Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas
• Blame It On The Summer Night from Rags
• Stranger to the Rain and In Whatever Time We Have from Children of Eden
• Meadowlark and Chanson from The Baker's Wife
• Fathers and Sons from Working
• Out There from Hunchback of Notre Dame
• When You Believe from Prince of Egypt

Review by Ronni (reprinted here with permission of the author.)

Aside from actually sitting in the theater watching a musical, nothing thrills me more than finding a CD that I simply cannot stop playing, where I find myself humming the songs during the day, and just can't get the tunes out of my head. Not since the release of RAGTIME has a CD captivated me like THE STEPHEN SCHWARTZ ALBUM recently released as part of Varese Sarabande's "Spotlight" Series. The album is not only a testament to Schwartz's success and longevity in the industry, but also gives me great hope for the future of musical theater, as the performers are mostly the rising stars of the American stage.

Schwartz is probably best known to international audiences as the composer and/or lyrcist of the animated films POCAHONTAS, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT and the major hits from those films are included here. Jason Daniely, who starred in the Broadway revival of CANDIDE offers a fantastic belting rendition of "Out There" from HUNCHBACK.

Although I prefer Judy Kuhn's earthy interpretations of POCAHONTAS' ballads , they are handled nicely by Christiane Noll (Jekyll and Hyde) and Sara Ramirez (Fascinatin' Rhythm). I've never heard of Anne Marie Milazzo, who tackles "When You Believe", but her version is far less screetchy and more satisfying than the Maria Carey/Whitney Houston duet, as the listener is actually given a chance to hear and understand the lyrics.

The real pleasure of this disc, though, is the opportunity to discover or rediscover the gems of Schwartz's theatrical scores-- both hits and flops. "Corner of the Sky" from PIPPIN has a wonderfully poignant lyric about finding one's place in the world, and the version included here is slower and seems and more appropriately reflective than even the original. "No Time at All", the showstopper from that score, is wonderfully interpreted by Dorothy Loudon, who has never lost her magic. Speaking of magic, on "Lion Tamer", a song from Schwartz's hit THE MAGIC SHOW, Kristin Chenoweth offers a delightful mix of playfulness and yearning. It's easy to understand how she won the hearts of Tony voters in last season's revival of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.

THE BAKER'S WIFE was Schwartz's most notorious Broadway flop, but judging from the three songs included on this disc, the score wasn't the problem. "Meadowlark" is a well-known ballad that has been recorded by many a musical diva, and though I am partial to other versions, Susan Egan (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) does a respectable job here. On "Chanson", that show's understated opening number, Emily Skinner proves exactly why she gained a legion of fans after Side Show. However, the standout of THE BAKER'S WIFE numbers has to be Marin Mazzie's lush medley of "Gifts of Love" coupled with "With You" from PIPPIN. Mazzie has been nominated for Tonys for her performances in PASSION and RAGTIME, thanks to her simply heavenly voice. She can certainly belt when she needs to, but the quieter moments are equally effective.

Although I cannot offer enough praise for the voices heard here, the album's most moving number comes not from a professional singer, but from the composer himself. Schwartz sings "Fathers and Sons" an incredibly heartfelt balled from the underrated WORKING. The song is reminiscent of Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle", and listening to it reminds us that the most powerful lyrics stem from personal experience, and it really seems as though Schwartz is bearing his soul for those few moments.

Review by Jonathan Calindas - May 5, 2000 2:13 pm (#4 of 7)

When I looked at the back of the CD at the store, it was funny how the performers on the CD were a veritable who's who currently on Broadway. Marin Mazzie, Kristen Chenowith, Jason Daniely, Brian D'arcy James, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Susan Egan, Michelle Pawk... and those that I haven't heard of are made waves on Broadway later (Laura Benanti is now in Swing!, Luba Mason is/was playing Linda Eder's part in Jeckyll and Hyde, Dorothy Loudon gave an incredible performance on "My Favorite Broadway"... unfortunately, her performance is only on the DVD and cut from the PBS broadcast) It had gotten raves on the internet newsgroup rec.arts.theatre.musicals ... and I promptly got it.

My favorite songs are the With You/Gifts of Love combo (separately, the songs were "eh"... but together, it's gorgeous).. and of course, "Fathers and Sons" which is beautiful and touches my heart. The version of "When You Believe" should be the definitive version over the Whitney/Mariah duet... sung by Ann Marie Millazo who starred in the recent production of "Bright Lights Big City" in the theatre that discovered "Rent". Definitely one of the best Varese Sarabande albums. (for another of Stephen Schwartz's songs on the Varese S. albums, check out Emily Skinner and Alice Ripleys album "Unsuspecting Hearts" ... they do a great version of "Solid Silver Platform Shoes" from "The Magic Show") There is a rumor that Kristen Chenowith will be singing an unproduced Stephen Schwartz song in an upcoming album.. :)

Review by Carol de Giere

If you haven't kept up with Stephen Schwartz's career, one of the best ways to find out what you've been missing is by listening to the 16 tracks on The Stephen Schwartz Album that include something from every Schwartz musical. Released by Varese Sarabande in 1999, this rich buffet offers familiar main dishes such as Godspell's "Beautiful City" and "Day By Day." Award-winning entrees include "Colors of the Wind," (Pocohontas) and When you Believe (Prince of Egypt). For a playfully inventive side dish, there's the song from Pippin about living it up while aging, called, "No Time At All." And for dessert, the sweet love song, "In Whatever Time We Have," from Children of Eden. (Schwartz comments in the album notes that of all his songs, this duet is the one most often performed at weddings.) Some Schwartz-phile purists prefer the original performances of the songs offered here, but for exploration and entertainment, The Stephen Schwartz Album is a satisfying feast.

Uncharted Territory- Recording of Pop Songs

Uncharted Territory [new browser window]

Songlist

1. Recurring Dream
2. Rewriting History
3. Worth Waiting
4. Cold Enough To Snow
5. Toxic People
6. The Roads Untaken
7. Face Of A Stranger
8. The Line Forms On The Right
9. Since I Gave My Heart Away
10. Boy On The Roof
11. Forgiveness' Embrace

The CD features performances by Stephen with a variety of accompaniments, along with the ethereal voice of Anne Marie Milazzo, who sang "When You Believe" on The Stephen Schwartz Album.

Stephen offers his rendition of several recorded elsewhere, including "Cold Enough to Snow" (the first Menken/Schwartz song - from Life with Mikey), "Rewriting History" (Schwartz/Lutvak), and "Since I Gave My Heart Away" (Schwartz - from Geppetto). These alone makes the recording worth adding to your collection.

The CD includes the first recording of "Forgiveness' Embrace" that Stephen wrote for Cass Morgan for a one-person show.

Review of Uncharted Territory

CD comments by Long-term Schwartz fan Michael Dube

Well, I've finally had time to sit down and really digest the new Stephen Schwartz CD. It has some mind-blowing songs on it. "Forgiveness' Embrace" is my favorite on the CD. The melodic turns and twists are absolutely breathtaking (I found myself letting out a positive stream of expletives -- somewhat inconsistently with the tenor of the song -- following listening to it on my car stereo on my way to work today). In "Toxic People," Stephen yet again manages to bring obserational songwriting to its peak. I especially like the humor of the spoken tag part. It reminds me in a very good way of Rupert Holmes' "Psycho Drama." .... Finally, it is so incredible to hear the realization of Stephen's assertion to many that he was to record "Cold Enough To Snow," which remains one of his five strongest lyrics to date. ... And I don't think I've stopped humming "You touch a part of my heart / That's uncharted territory" in about four or five hours.

UNCHARTED TERRITORY - Stephen Schwartz Ventures Onto The Roads Untaken -- By Shawn McCarthy

If there is a song title that summarizes the overall feeling one has after listening to Stephen Schwartz's second 'pop' album, UNCHARTED TERRITORY, it most certainly would be track number three, "Worth Waiting For." Since the release of Stephen's first pop CD RELUCTANT PILGRIM in 1997, fans have anxiously waited to discover more of his consistently outstanding music and lyrics; they will, undoubtedly, not be disappointed.

Indeed, the album lives up to its name as Stephen, musically speaking, ventures into new areas. Like much of Stephen's previous work it's well produced, contains smart, insightful life observations and is composed in his catchy pop- influenced musical style. However, several of the songs are a musical departure and, in particular, their arrangements. "Toxic People," for example, has a funky R & B groove, which relies heavily on percussion and electronics. As well, the clever and witty lyrics are sure to provoke a laugh-out-loud response from the listener.

The opening song "Recurring Dream" (co-written by Mary Fahl) moves in yet another musical direction. It's an unusually understated song, building slowly, but consistently subtle throughout, with an accompaniment figure that could be described as sparse and atmospheric. This beautiful and ambient music, together with the descriptive imagery of the lyric, is a transporting experience: "You are here in my dreams Land of images and signs Sleep now, I'll meet you there On the other side of time We all are just points on the line We'll meet again; we'll meet again in time."

Each song on the CD is a self-contained story: some concerning the ups and downs of relationships, others more individually reflective. All of them enjoyable. "Face of a Stranger," written for Australian performer Phillip Quast, is poignant and gorgeously articulates the longing to find one's true home and place of belonging. The music has a driving yet flowing keyboard accompaniment (harpsichord-like) that's somehow reminiscent of other songs by Stephen ("Hardest Part of Love" and "Lost in the Wilderness" from Children of Eden come to mind). The second chorus exemplifies the singer's plight:

"The face of a stranger/No longer at home in that house on the hill
The face of a stranger/The boy that they raised there is gone without trace/And even the fam'ly he's built in their place/Regard him with love, but they're loving the face/Of a stranger"

"Boy on the Roof" has a smooth Latin flavor enhanced by the use of guitar and mandolin in the arrangement. Its metaphorical story, played out in the mind's eye, tells of the protagonist's life-long state of emotional detachment and how, without warning, the force of love breaks through, changing him forever. Its refrain is particularly haunting: "Who can say when love will catch us?/Like a sudden summer shower/Who can say when love will change us?/None of us can name the hour/Just await the sweet surrender /To the power"

Stephen has collaborated with a number of outstanding writers on this album including cabaret artist Steven Lutvak on "Rewriting History," the amazing John Bucchino on the frank and humorous "The Line Forms On the Right," Alan Menken (Stephen's collaborator on POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME) on the bluesy "Cold Enough To Snow" from the 1993 movie Life With Mikey, and Lindy Robbins (one time member of the vocal group "The Tonics") on "The Roads Untaken." Robbins' bittersweet lyric will ring true for anyone who's ever looked back on his or her life and wondered "what if": "The roads untaken/Are the roads that haunt/Chances forsaken/Are the choices I regret And in the end, I guess/We do what we want/But the things that never happened/Are the hardest to forget."

Other gems to discover include: "Forgiveness' Embrace" written for Cass Morgan and published in THE STEPHEN SCHWARTZ SONGBOOK, a lovely heart-felt-acoustic-based version of "Since I Gave My Heart Away" from the TV musical GEPPETTO and a bonus track available only for orders placed directly with Fynsworth Alley (FynsworthAlley.com) called "Promise To Remember Me" with music by film composer Alan Silvestri. The musicianship on the CD is of the highest caliber; Stephen's keyboard work is excellent, his vocals passionate and heartfelt. He's joined by a number of talented vocalists and musicians who appeared with him on "Reluctant Pilgrim" including singer Ann Marie Milazzo, drummer Shawn Pelton and guitarist Jay Condiotti.

Though several of these songs might fit comfortably on an album called "RELUCTANT PILGRIM Part II" Stephen doesn't play it safe by simply producing more of the same. Instead he opts for taking some risks, stretching himself as an artist, providing us all further proof of his seemingly limitless talent

Reluctant Pilgrim

Midder, 1997. From Amazon.com: Reluctant Pilgrim

• Includes: Dreamscape, Crowded Island, So Far, More Than This, Life Goes On, The Hardest Part of Love, Prestidigitation, Ten-Day Heartbreak, Code of Silence, Snapshots, Cactus Flowers (47:37 minutes)
• See also Schwartz-lyrics-2 "Crowded Island" and "Code of Silence"