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List Price: $13.98 | | Label: Hollywood Records
Salesrank: 67871
Released: June 29, 2004 |
| Our Price: $10.29 |
| Used Price: $7.04 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
Remember 1958, when milquetoast The Music Man won the Tony for Best Musical over brashly innovative West Side Story? It's likely that one day we'll remember 2004 as the year wholesome Avenue Q won over brilliantly daring Caroline, or Change. The Tony Kushner-Jeanine Tesori collaboration proves that a show can be smart, inspirational, provocative, touching, and simply beautiful all at the same time. And lest you think Caroline is the kind of musical that's good for you in a spinach kind of way, this two-CD set demonstrates that the show's also terrifically fun. Because the plot is set in 1963 Louisiana, Tesori's ultra-melodic score, delivered by a superb cast, expertly weaves together R&B, gospel, doo-wop, soul and girl-group pop (check out the lovely "Salty Teardrops"). And of course there's a bona fide showstopper for Caroline (Tonya Pinkins) in the heartwrenching "Lot's Wife," which had New York audiences in tears during the show's run. Truly extraordinary. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Caroline, Or Change (2004 Original Broadway Cast) Reviews:
UNIQUE; VERY ORIGINAL 
2009-06-12 - This is one of those shows you will not like at the very first listening. Before you give any opinion about it, you should listen to it at least twice. It's far - quite, quite far indeed - from the Rodgers-Hammerstein-Lloyd Webber-Kander-or-any-other-melodious-kind of beat. It demands concentration from the listener, attention th the lyrics and certain musical background to get deep into the music. I would certainly recommend future listeners to sit quietly, play the CD's, follow the lyrics included in the booklet and go into it as attentively as you can; then you'll be surprised how much your attitude to this musical will change.
It is certainly a very original piece, radically different from anything you've listened before, dealing with social and political issues not often handled in a musical, wonderful characters and great music. I would certainly recommend it as long as you take a receptive and thoughtful attitude, otherwise you might perfectly hate it.
OVER-RATED! 
2007-06-25 - I saw this production in LA with the original Broadway cast, and while I thought it was emotional and VERY well acted, it was also musically forgettable. I mean, 'songs that sound pretty powerful while you hear them that you couldn't sing a note from ten seconds later' forgettable. Yes, there are some interesting songs like the afore mentioned "Salty Teardrops", "Roosevelt Petrucius Coleslaw", and "Lot's Wife", but it still doesn't stay with you. The EMOTION does, but alas, the melodies do not. And I've sang in an award-winning gospel group for years, but ANY of those melodies stay with you and these don't. Not too mention that when you hoped that it might finally be over, you realized it was only the intermission! I have not experienced anything like THAT in a musical since Anthony Newley's "Chaplin", and that's NOT a good sign! A first act should not feel that long....
Also, the reviewer above was only half right: No, "Avenue Q" did not deserve Best Musical, but "Wicked" most certainly DID! Over-hyped or not, it still was head and shoulders above anything else that year. I would've enjoyed THIS show better as a straight drama, but as a Musical I'm afraid it misses the mark.
This show should have come out a few years later!
2007-01-23 - I never had a chance to see the original production on Broadway and after listening to this CD that upsets me. Caroline, or Change has a great score and a good story. The actors are excellent and pure. Tonya Pinkins is amazing in the role of Caroline. If this show came out after shows such as "Wicked" and "Avenue Q" I think it would have had a better chance to be noticed. With shows like "Grey Gardens" and "Spring Awakening" now out on Broadway I believe that there is now an audience for smaller, original, quality shows like "Caroline, Or Change" (I am not saying that "Avenue Q" is not quality or original but "Avenue Q" and "Wicked" flooded the news especially when it came to the Tony's). I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes a high quality show.
Caroline Don't Change!!!
2007-01-04 - I traveled from DC to NY twice to see this production in 2004. Trust me...What you hear on this CD is what I saw and heard in the Theatre!! I agree with the previous reviewers in that this musical is years ahead of it's time. Years from now it will be mentioned along with Sondheim works and Dreamgirls as musicals that were on the cutting edge of musical theatre!!!
Magnificent
2006-12-22 - I haven't seen the production but as much of the story, including dialogue, is sung, and the full score is presented on the CD, this is the next best thing to being there. I DO NOT agree that the show is ahead of its time. It continues the wonderful tradition I was afraid would die with Sondheim. A tradition of the intellectual musical. It has tremendous depth - emotional, intellectual, musical. If you haven't seen the show I'd advise that you read the lyrics as you listen, otherwise its somewhat difficult to follow, but BUY IT. Like Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Company and Sunday in the Park with George you'll hear something new every time you listen.
