Following in the footsteps of other installments in Arista's Ultimate series,
Ultimate Broadway is an excellent sampler of some of the greatest songs and performances in the history of the Great White Way. Almost all of the 40 songs on the two discs in this collection are performed by the original Broadway casts, which makes it an excellent choice for casual fans. The
Judy Collins and
Aretha Franklin covers do sound a little out of place, but those are only two numbers on a generous compilation filled with great moments. The set runs from Oklahoma! to Rent, hitting such seminal performances as
Carol Channing's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend,"
Gertrude Lawrence's "Getting to Know You,"
Julie Andrews' "I Could Have Danced All Night,"
Rex Harrison's "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face,"
Mary Martin's "The Sound of Music,"
Carol Channing's "Hello, Dolly!,"
Zero Mostel's "If I Were a Rich Man,"
Barbra Streisand's "People,"
Liza Minnelli's "Cabaret,"
Andrea McArdle's "Tomorrow,"and
Michael Crawford's "The Music of the Night," among many, many others. It may not be a definitive show tune collection, but it's certainly tremendously entertaining. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine