"This is by far a hidden treasure. I remember seeing The Magic Show many times on Broadway and hearing the score bought back many memories of those days at the Cort Theater. Many in the show have gone on to bigger better things(David Ogden Stires,Anita Morris, and little known at the time keyboardist Paul Shaffer)IT is wonderful to have them together here in this wonderful CD. I had forgotten the great lyrics of The Goldfarb Revolations and Twos Company and Dale Soules powerful West End Avenue. Thanks to this great CD they live again.If only the show could be done today. Now that would be truly magical!"
Great Under Represented Show
Robert Lopez | California | 03/06/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I just recently bought "The Magic Show" because of hearing previous renditions of "West End Avenue" (Alice Ripley; absolutely amazing), "Lion Tamer" (Christen Chenoweth), and "Solid Silver Platform Shoes" (Alice Ripley & Emily Skinner; DIVA!) The album itself is very upbeat and energenic. The rendition of "Solid Silver..." is awesome and doesn't fall short of the new one. The best thing about this album is the fabulous Anita Morris. Her "Charmin's Lament" is a singing sensation. It's a great comedy piece as well as vocally challenging. There's also some great belts in "Sweet, Sweet" Overall the entire album is a fun show, and besides I love Stephen Schwartz. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!"
Here's to Dunniger, Houdini, and Doug-- our Magic man!
jbhapgood2 | 06/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This cd includes some of the funnest music I have heard on a broadway cd in quite a while. Stephen Schwartz rocks and this cd proves it. The songs range from goofy, fun songs (Solid Silver Platform Shoes, Two's Company) to Sexy Ballads (Charmin's Lament) to surprisingly emotional songs (Lion Tamer, West End Avenue.)"
This is some of the BEST music I've ever heard!
jbhapgood2 | 08/27/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first saw The Magic Show when I was 7 years old in 1974. I've loved it ever since. It was a thrill to finally find it available on CD; something I never expected would happen. Now if the play would come back to Broadway, my life would be complete. Everyone should check this CD out, it is outstanding!"
Early Stephen Schwartz Magic!!!
jbhapgood2 | 07/23/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Before Stephen Schwartz wrote lyrics for some of Disney's newer animated films he was writing for broadway. "The Magic Show" represents his third full scale work after "Godspell" and "Pippin". The score, like "The Magic Show" itself reflects the flower power of the early seventies, with a great deal of the profound Schwartz lyrics and complex arrangments that have made him the composer he is in the nineties. The harmonies of "The Goldfarb Variations" are simply amazing. The celebration of the art of magic comes through clearly in "Up To His Old Tricks." Listen to the timing changes and powerful lyric of the broken dream ballad "West End Avenue". I would have rated this album even higher if they included more of the instrumental music that was part of the broadway experience. Also keep an ear open for a young Paul Schaffer (David Letterman) on the keyboards."