'Story So Far' surveys Stephen Sondheim's career

Michael Kuchwara
Associated Press

October 08, 2008 10:56 am

— NEW YORK - Broadway buffs just can't get enough of Stephen Sondheim on CD.

And to satisfying that addiction, Sony BMG Masterworks has just released a four-CD box set surveying his career. It's called "Stephen Sondheim: The Story So Far."

And although much of it is culled from original cast recordings previously released on such labels as Columbia, RCA, Capitol and others, there is enough rare material — and we mean unknown Sondheim songs sung by the master himself — to satisfying the most ardent groupie. Plus an array of photographs, starting with childhood photos all the way up to photos of more recent vintage.

Among the musical rarities: Sondheim singing "Don't Laugh," a song he wrote with Mary Rodgers for "Hot Spot," a flop Judy Holliday musical from 1963; "The Two of You," a song he wrote for the classic early 1950s television show "Kukla, Fran and Ollie"; songs cut from such well-known musicals as "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," ''Follies," ''A Little Night Music" and "Into the Woods."

And, of course, there are contributions from famous folk, too — from Ethel Merman in "Gypsy' to Angela Lansbury in "Sweeney Todd" to Madonna in the movie "Dick Tracy" (Sondheim's infrequent forays into film are not neglected either).

Quite a collection and an absolute imperative for fans of musical theater.

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