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The Baker's Wife (Members of the 1976 Original Cast) | 
 enlarge | Creators: Stephen Schwartz, Paul Sorvino, Patti Lupone, Kurt Peterson, Teri Ralston
Label: Take Home Tunes!
Category: Music
Buy New: $19.98
New (4) Used (3) from $16.11
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 106647
Format: Original Recording Remastered, Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 741117181922
EAN: 0741117181922
ASIN: B00006AWJM
Release Date: August 1, 1995
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Chanson | | • | Merci, Madame | | • | Gifts of Love | | • | Proud Lady | | • | Serenade | | • | Meadowlark | | • | Any-Day-Now Day | | • | Endless Delights | | • | If I Have To Live Alone | | • | Where Is The Warmth? | | • | Finale (Gifts of Love) |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 It's sad to know it was a flop May 17, 2008
A great album. Most of the songs are really beautiful and Patti Lupone is great as usual. Based on the classic Marcel Pagnol's "La Femme du Boulanger", this musical deserves much more attention. It is a pity that it didn't make it on Broadway. The album brings the lyrics and some photographs of the original production. The sound? Excellent.
Must Have Schwartz CD July 6, 2007
This is an amazing CD with many great songs for men and women. This has the legendary song Meadowlark. And the men songs Proud Lady and If I Have To Live Alone, are amazing songs to listen to and sing.
I gave it 4 stars because it is an older recording which doesn't give you the full effect of these powerful and simple songs as modern day recording techniques would. But this CD is still a great buy with performers: Teri Ralston, Paul Sorvino, Patti LuPone, and Kurt Peterson.
A CULT FAVORITE. GIVE A LISTEN, AND YOU'LL SEE WHY. . . . . . May 10, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
"This wonderful cast album continues to mystify listeners as to why THE BAKER'S WIFE was a huge flop." (David Barbour, "The TheaterMania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings") Was it because of Joseph Stein's book? (He had, after all, received a Tony for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF four years earlier.) The musical score? (Stephen Schwartz already had GODSPELL, PIPPIN, and THE MAGIC SHOW under his belt.) Was it the choreography? Perhaps the director? Maybe the producer? ("Producer David Merrick was continually firing people during the troubled out-of-town previews, including the two stars, the director and choreographer, and multiple revisions turned a promising show into a mess that closed before even making it to Broadway." - Michael Dale, broadwayworld.com)
After its six-month pre-Broadway tour, THE BAKER'S WIFE finally "made like a Verdi heroine" and up and died in Washington. Shortly thereafter, composer Stephen Schwartz assembled the remaining cast to make this private recording. The baker in a " . . . small Provencal town, still surprisingly provincial in the mid-1930s . . . " is now played by Paul Sorvino, who had replaced Topol on the road. Patti LuPone played Genevieve, the baker's young wife, who is seduced by the village stud (Kurt Peterson) and leaves her husband for a torrid romance with her young Lothario. Teri Ralston, as the cafe proprietor's wife, beautifully established the show's mood with her opening song.
Although each of the singers is remarkable, it is Paul Sorvino who is the revelation here. Best-known as Det. Sgt. Philip "Phil" Cerreta in TVs LAW & ORDER (1991-1992) & the 1972 Drama Desk Award winner for THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, his ringing tenor carries the show. "His superb singing may take some fans by surprise, but he is brilliant in 'Merci, Madam,' 'Any-Day-Now-Day,' and the powerful lament 'If I Have to Live Alone.' Patti Lupone's powerful rendition of 'Meadowlark' became a cult event in itself, and Kurt Peterson is wickedly funny in 'Proud Lady.' I know many who think Teri Ralston's 'Chanson' is a jewel. " (John Kendrick, musicals101.com)
"When interest in stock and regional productions grew, as well as a London premiere, Schwartz and Stein took the opportunity to look at the show objectively and make changes without the pressures of being on the road to Broadway." (Michael Dale) Subsequent productions at the Paper Mill Playhouse (2005), the Windfall Theatre in Milwaukee, WI (2007), Seattle's Civic Light Opera (2007), and Philadelphia's Arden Theatre (2001), and others have met with both critical and popular success.
Very highly recommended. "No serious showtune collection is complete without this one. " - John Kendrick
 You have to be in the mood...and like musicals April 23, 2006
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
As my title probably implies, I don't think this is a musical for everyone. 'Meadowlark' is one of the most amazing songs I've ever heard, but that's one song and 14 dollars (i think that's what it costs...) for one song is not good value. This is quite an old recording, so the sound's a bit fuzzy, but you can still understand everything.
I'm not saying that the other songs aren't good; they are, but they and the story itself are quite original. Art House-like. The complete opposite of what today's 'popular' musicals are like. It's still a great soundtrack to listen to, but it's an 'aquired taste'. You either need to really like Patti Lu Pone, really like Stephen Schwartz or really appreciate abstract musicals.
All the singing is great, there's ample emotion in every song and some of the songs are even suprisingly catchy. If it wasn't such an unusual musical, it probably would have done extremely well. I don't even know what makes it unusual, but it is. My favourite song (after Meadowlark) is 'Endless Delights'. It reminds me of music you hear when you see the world spinning around, but it isn't annoying.
I personally enjoy this CD, but the effect wears off after a while. I'm sure if I put it away for a couple of years and then come back to it, I'll be obsessed all over again, but I'm also sure not everyone likes musicals as much as I do. Listen to the samples and if you like the music, buy it.
Beautiful, Sad and Melancholy November 18, 2005
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I purchased this album years ago because I was chasing every musical that Patti LuPone was a member of; there's something about her voice.
I was surprised at the quality of the recording too. I'd warn anyone purchasing this, the recording is not in stereo and almost sounds tinny in places but I grew to love this sound because I listened to the music beneath it.
Traditional French town, a nice traditional story, what better than to have the music sound almost as if it's been lifted out of the period over a stronger version of a grammophone?
I like all the songs and it's difficult to choose my most loved one. Chanson speaks so much about life but the song I'd have to choose as my favourite: the melancholy "If I have to live alone". I find it so sad and it reminds me of how it feels to be alone and lonely; and listening to it, I want to help the baker too.
In all, it's a good CD, just judge it for what it is!
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