Customer Reviews

Lost In The Stars: A Tribute T

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nearly every track on this CD (which includes material left off the original 1985 release) is a gem--even if some are slightly more precious than others.

Sting's take on "Moritat/Mack the Knife" is deliberately low-key and affectless, a lovely antidote (at the time, and even now) to the jokey, albeit entertaining big-band renderings of Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin.

Lou Reed's "September Song" is an utter delight, as the personification of late 20th-century underworld New York does this set piece from *Knickerbocker Holiday*. Reed's instrumentation echoes John Lennon's last recordings (like the ironically titled "Starting Over") and adds some Stax-Volt-style horns, while his wonderfully world-weary delivery of Maxwell Anderson's cynical *and* sentimental lyrics steals the show.

Other great vocal performances are contributed by Stanard Ridgway from Wall of Voodoo, Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs (a wonderful "Alabama Song/Whiskey Bar"), Marianne Faithful, Tom Waits, Aaron Neville, and a heart-breaking turn by Dagmar Krause on Weill's perfect subversion of the torch song, "Surabaya Johnny."

Fine arrangements are supplied by the Armadillo String Quartet, who ably explores the minor-key sonorities of the "Youkali Tango"; by Van Dyke Parks, whose music-box renderings of selections from "Johnny Johnson" are both oddly fitting and oddly moving; by John Zorn, who applies his distinctive search-and-destroy, acid jazz approach to "The Little Lieutenant of the Loving God"; by Carla Bley, who lets Phil Woods blow incandescent alto sax on the title track; and by Sharon Freeman, who provides a lovely showcase for Charlie Haden on lead bass for "Speak Low."

I have to confess that Todd Rundgren's version of Macheath's "Call from the Grave" (from *The Threepenny Opera*) disappointed me at first hearing and still does, nearly two decades later: he did this kind of hard rock translation much better with Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" on one of his own albums and recycles here many of the same techniques and effects. It's still fun, but doesn't supply the punch one expects at this late stage of the proceedings.

I don't know whether Weill would "approve" of all these interpretations, but I think his own eclectic sensibilities--and his embrace of a wide range of popular and mass-market musical forms--receive fitting tribute on this CD. One minor cavil: the liner notes could be a little more informative about these recordings. One major plaudit: it's wonderful to have these songs well-engineered in CD format; my 1980s-era cassette had been played to death.

Actually I found it to be a great, and a little gruff version of such a normally stiff and formal kind of song. It's not so perfect but the style of it makes it all ok. "Call from the Grave" is amazing as is the explosive diction in "Cannon Song" and Stings mermorable performace in "Mack the Knife" or Tom Waits grinding voice in "What keeps mankind alive". All I can say from hearing this album is "I thought I was a Weill fan before!"

Totally worthwhile for a Weill fan, a fine treatment of most of the material by a great cast of musicians, assembled by the producer Hal Wilner. Which you like the most would depend, I suppose, on your level of commitment vis-a-vis Weill and the performer.

Most of the pop performers, especially Sting and Lou Reed, are flat and dull on here, but Todd Rundgren's arrangement is great; imaginative, personal and absolutely true to what the song is about. Other great pleasures include the incomparable Dagmar Krause, John Zorn and "Oh Heavenly Salvation." They exemplify the strength of the record, which is the personal and unexpected understanding of most of the musicians. Not all, but enough to make this a keeper.

There are a few standout tracks on this disk; Sting's "Mack the Knife" is suprisingly good- it's become one of my favorite versions. Stan Ridgeway's "Ballad of the Soldier's Wife" is another pleasant suprise. From there it goes down, though. Lou Reed's "September Song" is quirky and misses the boat entirely, though diehard Reed fans might like it.

The rest of the album is a similar mix of good and indifferent. A worthwile album, if not a great one.

I checked this out from the local library and it is exactly the same, but in a diferrent order. I thought that the album does have its moments, such as with the beautiful renditions of the "Youkali Tango" and "Lost in the Stars". There were strangely appealing takes on "What Keeps Mankind Alive?", (all of the THREEPENNY songs used my favorite translation), "Ballad of the Soldier's Wife", "Ballad of Mac the Knife", "The Great Hall", "Surabaya Johnny", and "Oh, Heavenly Salvation". The one track that I am shocked that I liked was Todd Rundgen's heavy-metal take on "Call From the Grave/Ballad in Which MacHeath Begs All Men for Forgivness". Tracks that just made me sit back and go "Why?" were "Klops Lied" and "The Hurricane". I enjoyed all of Van Dyke Parks' stuff. Highly skippable is John Zorn's "Little Lieutenants of the Loving God". Mr. Zorn has absolutely NO TALENT as an arranger. Period. That is one messed up track, and it gives you a headache. The liner notes suggest that Lou Reed's rendition of the "September Song" will "raise eye-brows among Kurt Weill purists". It will not only raise eyebrows, but tempertures as well. When I first heard it I laughed at its stupidity, then I got mad that he had butchered its beautiful melody so. But all of the enjoyable tracks make this a highly buyable album.

I own an old tape (remember thoses?) of this recording, evenything is the same, except my copy does not have tracks: 1,10,11,and 16. There are some amazing recording on this collection. The Fowler Brother's 'Cannon Song' does amazing justice to the orginal, with spunk (and a bit of punk). The 'Alabama Song' is similar to that of the one present on September Song, but is distint and still the most amazing style to perform this song. If you have ever liked Todd Rundgren you'll love 'Call from the Grave', and even if not...