Bye Bye Birdie: The New Soundtrack Recording 1995 Television Cast

i love this i have been looking for this since i was little.

BYE BYE BIRDIE was dusted off for a television version in 1995, featuring a cast made up of Broadway veterans and newcomers alike. The soundtrack album is a bouncy and enjoyable delight.Vanessa Williams takes on her second Chita Rivera-originated role, as beleagured secretary Rose Alvarez. Jason Alexander (THE RINK) returns to his musical theatre roots as Albert Peterson. The rest of the cast is sensational: Marc Kudisch (reprising his national tour role) as Conrad Birdie; Tyne Daly (GYPSY, CALL ME MADAM) as Mae Peterson; George Wendt as Mr MacAfee, and Sally Mayes (SHE LOVES ME) as Mrs MacAfee. The only shortcoming is the sorely-miscast Chynna Phillips as Kim, who hardly convinces as a teenager.Several new songs were written for this new version of the Broadway classic, including "Let's Settle Down", belted to perfection by Miss Williams; and "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore", a great character-turn for Tyne Daly as the grasping Mae. The other numbers, including the classics "An English Teacher", "A Lot of Livin' to Do" and "Kids" are all performed to perfection. And yes, Vanessa Williams even performs "Spanish Rose", with some slight lyric alterations.A must-own for BIRDIE fans.

Great!

Excellent classic musical!!

Since there are only three versions of this show on CD this is definately the best one! Not only does it have a fresh new look and sound, but it's got a fabulous cast!Jason Alexander (SEINFELD, LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!) and Vanessa Williams (DANCE WITH ME, & BROADWAY'S: KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN) star as Albert and Rosie. Jason does extremely well with the material "Put On A Happy Face", "American Boy", Talk To Me" & "Rosie" and has a great time, in fact they added two new songs for him. The hilarious "What Did I Ever See In Her! (in the film but not on the CD) and the triumphant "A Giant Step". Vanessa does well with "English Teacher", "American Boy", "What Did I Ever See in Him" a newly revised "Spanish Rose" and "Rosie". She even has a song written for her "Let's Settle Down" in place of the reprise of "One Boy." The song's okay, but out of all the new songs written for the TV special this is the worst one. Besides Vanessa lacks the energenic spark that original DIVA Rose, Chita Rivera had. (If anything Chita Rivera is THE BEST part of the 1960 Original Cast CD. Her rendition of "Spanish Rose" is the definitive one.)Conrad Birdie, played to perfection by Broadway Star Marc Kusdish of (JOSEPH...<Reuben on 1993 CD>), SCARLETT PIMPERNEL <Chavelin>). Definately the most handsome and best sounding Conrad I've seen! He takes the HIGH note at the end of "One Last Kiss", his "Honestly Sincere" is fierce!Other Cast members include Chyna Philips (of WILSON PHILIPS fame) playing Kim MacAfee. They changed Kim's age from 15 to 17 because Chyna looks a little old to be playing that young. I think they should have chosen Debbie Gibson! But her voice is very strong in "How Lovely.." "One Boy" (At a lower and easier key to sing!), and letting loose in "What Did I Ever See in Him" and "A Lot Of Livin'." Tyne Daily plays Albert's Mom, Mae Peterson to Diva Perfection. She's so wonderful that they added a song for her. "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore", it's a great song by a great performer. Kim's parents are played by CHEER'S George Wendt and Broadway star Sally Mayes (CLOSER THAN EVER <CD>, and DAS BARBECUE <CD>). Although "Kids" reprise was taken out they still get a chance to shine in "Kids" and "Ed Sullivan". Vicki Lewis (NEWS RADIO & LAS VEGAS CAST OF CHICAGO THE MUSICAL) has a cameo appearence as the bubble gum chewing scretary Gloria Rasputin. Although she is not on the CD, her part is hilarious in the film.Newcomer Brigitta Dau (I've seen her on a NOXIMA commercial a few times, Not Rebecca Gayheart) tackles the role of the annoying best friend Ursula. In the film Ursula, Helen, Penelope Ann, Alice and Nancy sing "Bye Bye Birdie" in a Soda Shop. That was one of my favorite songs. But it's NOT on the CD, only a Overture rendition with hundreds of screaming girls.All in all you can't loose by buying this CD. It's got 4 new songs for the CD along with 16 orginal show songs plus lively orchestrations.... Anyhow, you won't be disappointed....

Very enjoyable. Of the new Strouse/Adams songs added to the originals, by far the best is "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore" as belted out by TYNE DALY. An old-fashioned show-stopper. All revival productions should use this number.

I do not own this CD or any other Bye Bye Birdie soundtracks. However, just from listening to the samples on this website I can tell which one is obviously the best. If you don't believe me, just listen to them yourself. I am comparing the songs from this, the 1995 television recording, the 1960 Broadway, and the 1963 movie. Here is a list of *some* of the songs and my opinions:An English Teacher1995: Vannessa William's voice is lovely.1960: I prefer the first one. I think Chita Rivera's voice sounds too old fashioned.1963: not includedThe Telephone Hour1995: I am IN LOVE with this song, almost as much as I am with Harvey Johnson. (Yes, I am a hormone-riddled teenager, so I can relate to this song.) Whoever plays Harvey has a great voice and sounds charmingly vulnerable. It is hard to keep from smiling as you listen to this flock of gossiping teenagers.1960: You have no idea how much I am cringing right now. Everyone, especially the girls, is more yelling than singing. The overall impression is very cheap.1963: Though very upbeat, this rendition seems quite annoying and Harvey was obviously trying to sound as bad as possible.How Lovely To Be A Woman1995: Yes, Chynna Phillips is too old, although it's not that noticable. Also, though her voice has a nice tone, she goes off key occasionally and is not the best for the role.1960: But then again, neither is this woman. Ugh.1963: Despite the constant bashing of Ann-Margaret from other reviewers, I think she's pretty good. Am I missing something?Put On A Happy Face1995: Great!1960: Also great!1963: Not bad at all......A Healthy, Normal, American Boy1995: Very enjoyable.1960: Er.....those girls seriously need to work on enunciating their vowels.1963: N/AHonestly Sincere1995: Woot! Mark Kudisch is AMAZING! I can't think of anyone more perfect for this role. He sounds exactly like a renown Elvis impersonator. You can't stand still while listening to this song!1960: Not nearly up to par with Kudisch's performance. Good, though.1963: Are you kidding? (Although the background screams are mildly amusing.)Hymn For A Sunday Evening (Ed Sullivan)1995: I love the part where the chorus joins. The energy is awesome.1960: Boring in comparison.1963: Ditto.One Last KissSee Honestly Sincere.Kids1995: I love this song! I think both parts were cast perfectly--yes, even George Wendt, especially George Wendt actually. His is a character role, and he does it perfectly, so that every teenager wants to strangle him. Kids sounds very lively.1960: Not as polished or well-acted as the 1995 one.1963: Enjoyable, actually. Very different from the other two.Spanish Rose:1995: Williams is very nice on here.1960: Way too over-acted. It sounds pretty bad.1963: absentThat's all I really want to write down........[...]

In parts better than the Broadway cast. This is complete, unlike the Ann Margret film disc. If you can get the TV DVD of this, it's so much livelier than the film, which in any case was adapted somewhat to accommodate Margret.