Songs from Ragtime: Original Cast Recording: Amazon.ca: Music

Disc: 1
1. Prologue: Ragtime
2. Goodbye, My Love
3. Journey On - Original Broadway Cast
4. The Crime of the Century
5. What Kind of Woman
6. A Shtetl Iz Amereke
7. Success
8. His Name Is Coalhouse Walker
9. Getting' Ready Rag
10. Henry Ford
See all 21 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Entr'acte
2. Harry Houdini, Master Escapist
3. Coalhouse's Soliloquy
4. Coalhouse Demands
5. What a Game
6. Fire in the City
7. Atlantic City
8. Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.
9. Our Children
10. Harlem Nightclub
See all 17 tracks on this disc

Product Description

From Amazon.com

The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow's sprawling novel. As the story continues, we meet pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Brian Stokes Mitchell) and his child's mother, Sarah (Audra McDonald), who has been taken in by a respectable family (including Marin Mazzie as Mother). Parallel story lines of the Latvian immigrant Tateh (Peter Friedman), the entertainer Evelyn Nesbit (Lynnette Perry), and even Harry Houdini (Jim Corti) and Emma Goldman (Judy Kaye) eventually mingle and merge. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island) mix marches, cakewalks, and of course ragtime to create a rich, compelling score, including Sarah's song to her baby, "Your Daddy's Son," her soaring duet with Coalhouse, "Wheels of a Dream," Mother's self-revealing "Back to Before," and numerous set pieces, all performed by a perfect cast. Ragtime was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 1998, with wins for McDonald, original score, book, and orchestration. The CD also includes an eight-minute symphonic suite conducted by Paul Gemignani and a booklet with photos, full lyrics, and a history of how the score was written. Tragic, touching, and ultimately triumphant, Ragtime is an American classic. --David Horiuchi

Amazon.com essential recording

The epic sweep of Ragtime is captured in its opening prologue, a nine-minute kaleidoscope of fictional characters mingling with historical figures from the early 20th century as originally captured in E.L. Doctorow's sprawling novel. As the story continues, we meet pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Brian Stokes Mitchell) and his child's mother, Sarah (Audra McDonald), who has been taken in by a respectable family (including Marin Mazzie as Mother). Parallel story lines of the Latvian immigrant Tateh (Peter Friedman), the entertainer Evelyn Nesbit (Lynnette Perry), and even Harry Houdini (Jim Corti) and Emma Goldman (Judy Kaye) eventually mingle and merge. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island) mix marches, cakewalks, and of course ragtime to create a rich, compelling score, including Sarah's song to her baby, "Your Daddy's Son," her soaring duet with Coalhouse, "Wheels of a Dream," Mother's self-revealing "Back to Before," and numerous set pieces, all performed by a perfect cast. Ragtime was nominated for 12 Tony Awards in 1998, with wins for McDonald, original score, book, and orchestration. The CD also includes an eight-minute symphonic suite conducted by Paul Gemignani and a booklet with photos, full lyrics, and a history of how the score was written. Tragic, touching, and ultimately triumphant, Ragtime is an American classic. --David Horiuchi

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Customer Reviews

163 Reviews

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (163 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars An Incredible Show, July 14 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Songs from Ragtime (Audio CD)

I think this show is amazing. Absolutely point blank amazing. I am in the show right now and I play the role of Sarah and I can't get enough of Audra McDonald. Amazing. What else can I say? And I am also writing in protest, because there is this extremely stupid person who writes negative reviews about every musical ever. I am very frustrated after hearing their opinion about Ragtime, Wicked, Le Miz, Little Shop, The Scarlett Pimpernel, Phantom of the Opera, Urinetown, Once on this Island, and a ton of others. Are you some kind of idiot? Wow you are rediculously dumb. Because honestly, you hate every show in existance. And really, why do you bother to review any of them? We know you hate everything ever written. What's the point. And really its amazing because I have never in my whole life met someone who hates as many of the greatest shows ever as you do. Next you're going to decide to hate Miss Saigon, The Sound of Music, Chicago, Cabaret, Parade, Songs for a New World, oh and wait, everything else EVER. I am very angry right now. VERY. You are the dumbest person that has ever existed and I would just like you to know that. As for everyone else reading this, ignore this person's reviews. Their opinion means absolutely nothing to almost everyone. I think 4 people found any of this person's 12 reviews helpful. REDICULOUS. And who are you exactly to be discussing anyone else's performance, since I doubt you have any talent and I really doubt you have been on broadway. And since you haven't...

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5.0 out of 5 stars I love this CD and this show, July 1 2004

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"theaterkid10" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs from Ragtime (Audio CD)

This CD was like the best thing I've heard in a while. IF you haven't heard it, go find it because you are missing out on something good. I've heard Audra McDonald sing "Daddy's Son" a billion times and I still get teary. That should tell you something about her performance. Some of Mother's work also makes me teary. I'm serious: GET THIS CD!!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Good also from experience..., Jun 7 2004

By

C. Jones (Midland, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Songs from Ragtime (Audio CD)

I was recently involved in a production of "Ragtime" at my community theater. It is not only one of the best shows we have ever done, it is also an amazing show within itself. I purchased this cd shortly after to get the chance to listen to every song with this cast. I am so amazed by the pure talent shown in every single song. Mind you, it's not one of the usual musicals. This one has more emotion and raw feelings involved, and doesn't have a happy show stopper ever 5 minutes. it does, on the other hand, have mind blowing songs that show the true talent of these performers. My personal favorites are "Wheels of a Dream", "Your Daddy's Son", "Til We Reach That Day", and "He Wanted to Say". I hope you buy this cd and go see the show, it's one of the best shows I have ever seen.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as Great as Everyone Says
For several years, I've heard nothing but great things about "Ragtime," so I finally gave in and bought the two disc, complete recording. Read more

Published on May 11 2004 by dramadude 186

1.0 out of 5 stars Ruined a perfectly good novel.
If EL Doctrow were dead, I would assume he'd be rolling in his grave. The music, a pop-happy score written by the same pasty white schmucks responsible for such CRAP as... Read more

Published on April 23 2004 by beulah f. mccobb-cobbman