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Duke Ellington - Play On!: A New Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast)
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Duke Ellington - Play On!: A New Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast)

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Play On!: A New Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast)
Music Price: $16.98
As of Jan 7 12:45 EST (details)

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Artist(s)Duke Ellington
StudioVarese Sarabande
Release DateMay 20, 1997
UPC Code030206583724
Buy this item$16.98 at Amazon.com
As of Jan 7 12:45 EST (details)
1 Audio CD, Usually ships in 24 hours, Cast Recording
 

About Duke Ellington - Play On!: A New Musical (1997 Original Broadway Cast)

The spiritual successor to Broadway's 1981 Duke Ellington tribute, Sophisticated Ladies, 1997's Play On! differs from the earlier show's song-dance-revue format by presenting an actual story, in this case Shakespeare's Twelfth Night transported to Harlem. And while Sophisticated Ladies's pedigree included the composer's son, Mercer, directing the music and his daughter, Mercedes, in the cast, Play On! benefited from the same Mercedes contributing the choreography and making available her father's vast catalog. The result is a powerhouse combination of a strong cast (including Cheryl Freeman, Carl Anderson, Lawrence Hamilton, and Tonya Pinkins), master arranger Luther Henderson, and 19 great Ellington songs, among them "Take the 'A' Train," "Mood Indigo," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," and "It Don't Mean a Thing." --David Horiuchi Amazon.com

Tracks

  1. Take the "A" Train - Strayhorn, Billy
  2. Drop Me off in Harlem
  3. I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter
  4. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
  5. Mood Indigo
  6. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
  7. Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care to Know)
  8. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
  9. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
  10. Hit Me With a Hot Note (And Watch Me Bounce)
  11. I'm Just a Lucky So and So - David, Mack
  12. Solitude
  13. I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues
  14. I'm Beginning to See the Light - George, Don
  15. I Didn't Know About You
  16. Rocks in My Bed
  17. Love You Madly
  18. Prelude to a Kiss
  19. In a Mellow Tone

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User Reviews

Average user review: 5.0 (5 reviews)

rating: 5 QuoteGREAT GREAT GREAT!Quote
Like everyone says this is a excellent CD, but the musical was absolutely wonderful. Its been several years since it was on PBS.
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF A DVD EXIST? OR WHERE I CAN PURCHASE IT? June 24, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteActually saw the production, haven't heard the CD, yet!Quote
On Friday, 26 April, I saw "Play On!" on television. I did not get the cast members names, I have no idea who conducted the orchestra, but the play was MAGNIFICENT! It was filmed while being performed at the Pasadena (CA.) Playhouse and it was shown without commercial interruption. The energy (especially "Rocks In My Bed"), the costumes, the sets, in a word: WOW!! Is it possible to wear out a CD? I am planning to do just that. I do hope the DVD is in production! I'll have to get two, just in case!! April 30, 2002

rating: 5 QuoteJust a quick note...Quote
In regard to my last review from December, PBS has decided that Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will now be airing on April 5th and the airing of Play On! has moved to June 21st. I still think it's a great recording and be sure to tune in on June 21st...(assuming some other revolting Lloyd Webber production doesn't come out in the meantime!) March 17, 2000

rating: 5 QuoteGreat!Quote
This is a wonderful CD that superbly captures the spirit of the musical. Be sure not to miss the April 5th broadcast (9-11 PM EST) of the musical on PBS' Great Performances series! January 1, 2000

rating: 4 QuoteA celebration of Ellingtons music in todays worldQuote
Play On (soundtrack) is alot like Ellington himself, fun, directed and to the point. Unfortunalty few saw the show on broadway, but the music lives on in this inspired cd that blends Ellingtons music and Shakespeares theme and poetry. Derived from twelve night, the music takes Vy through Harlem in search of what is right. A beat is never missed and If you were lucky enough to have caught the show, the Soundtrack evokes memories of a Legitimate Thearte success, that the public didn't want to grasp. March 31, 1999

More reviews at Amazon.com ...