Charlie Smalls - The Wiz - The Super Soul Musical: Original Cast Album (1975 Broadway Cast)

Wonderful music - Soul takes over Oz

I bought this CD because I was in this show twice, once as a minor bit part and once as the Wicked Witch, then I directed the show. I had always held off on buying the CD because I knew how bad the movie was... even with such notable performers, it just flat out stunk.

Now it has been over 10 years since I last saw the show and I suddenly had "Ease on Down the Road" stuck on repeat in my skull. I hunted and finally found this cast recording, which I purchased immediately.

First - this album is 110% better than the movie, so breathe a sigh of relief there. The vocalists are all accomplished and very good at what they do. The music is spot on and doesn't drown out the vocalists (unlike some musicals I own).

I have now listened through several times since it showed up yesterday and I really only have one complaint - the lack of soul. Now I'm not talking about the music, I'm talking about the actors... they are singing but they aren't "being" the music. "I was born the day before yesterday" though pretty, should have been explosive and heartfelt, but it sounded as though most of them were singing off of the lyric sheets and going through the motions rather than truly feeling and being the character.

Still that is only a minor complaint on an otherwise wonderful musical cast recording. If you ever have the opportunity to see this show, do it. I personally prefer the music in this to the music in "The Wizard of Oz" other than the Wiz's song about how he's going to "Wiz on himself" that one always grated my teeth... but the skip button is a good friend to have :) August 20, 2008

The Wiz

The Original with Ms. Mills will never be surpassed.
This is a must buy. May 27, 2008

The Wiz Original Soundtrack

The recording quality is superb. Really a good buy. It is always difficult to get many CD's & DVD's here in South Africa, and Amazon has been outstanding. My stuff has always arrived safely and in perfect condition (touch wood). March 18, 2008

One of my best childhood memories

I saw this original cast on broadway in the 70's - I was probably around 12. I had always loved the original movie and would wait for the yearly showing (when TV was free) and watch with friends or my cousins. It was a family affair. But when Stephanie Mills hit the stage in her silver slippers I forget all about Judy Garland and the gang.
Of course I boght the LP album and listened to it over & over-knew all the words. It somehow dissapeared over the years and I forgot about Dorothy and Eveline until I was recently talking to a friend of my husbands (a little older than I am) about how much he loved music and he told me the only time he cried at a performance was when he saw Stephanie Mills on broadway. I started screeming "the wiz-I saw that too" and it all came rushing back to me. I of course ordered 2 copies of this disc-one for myself and one for my hubbys friend. I've been listening in the car. It is a little dated so I'm having trouble getting my teens to appreciate it, but the talent is there 100% and so are the memories. Miss Mills can still give you goose bumps. I wish there was some visual recording of this performance so that the Diana Ross fiasco could be erased from history.
When my kids first heard me say The Wiz they wear groaning because they were thinking it was the Diana & Michael version.
They gave it a chance and have now stopped complaining so I guess it stands the test of time-30? years later.
I recomend this to anyone who survived the seventies (or wished they did) or may love a new twist on an old classic. November 3, 2007

I Love It! Love It! Love It!!!!

This original cast album is delightful! I felt the passion from beginning to end! May 14, 2007

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