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Patti LuPone - The Lady With The Torch (Ghostlight)
Released - April, 2006

When I was a kid, Donna McKechnie was about the closest thing we had in our hometown to someone who made it big on Broadway.  My recollection is that the local stations played the crap out the soundtrack of whatever play she'd be in, and I developed sort of a tic each time it came on.  To me, recording in a studio takes a different kind of talent than performing on a big stage.

So - while it's nice to hear someone belt 'em out on the Great White Way...or even on those "Original Cast" recordings, I guess - to me, a studio recording should sound a little more intimate.

This one doesn't.  Still has that "big house" sound - sort of loud, over-enunciated, and over the top, on the noisier numbers.  Luckily, there aren't that many.  After all, it is the "Lady With The Torch."  The ballads are much better.  Judging from her website, this is disc is also a show that Ms. LuPone will take on the road over the summer.

I can imagine that it's much better in person.  You don't work on Broadway as much as Ms. LuPone does - and not be able to do it right.  She's got power to spare, and plenty of range.

But it's the quieter cuts that will make it to the iPod.  My choices (available at iTunes) are "I Wanna Be Around," with interesting and playful phrasing; "Something Cool," and the Styne-Cahn classic, "Guess I'll Hang My Teardrops Out To Dry."

Those three are recommended.  As for the rest - well, test-drive 'em before you buy.  Perhaps they're your cup of tea.

Two microphones (out of four)

- Doug Boynton
(05/26/06)

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Ghostlight Records

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