Volume 8- Edition 1
Summer/Fall 2007
Clint de Ganon Getting To Know You Kim Scharnberg
Greatest Hits CD Signing Feinstein's FAN-tastic Feature Fan Corner

Released on October 8, 2007, by Rhino Records, Linda Eder GREATEST HITS is available exclusively at Barnes & Noble through October 2007. If you haven't secured a copy yet, don't delay! Once they're sold out, they're gone… and this is a CD you don't want to miss! The disc features many of Linda's fan favorites as well as some other gems you may not have heard in a while. To commemorate its release, the EDER-tors of THE VOICE decided to take a closer look at these "greatest hits!"

Track # 1
"DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE"
Originally recorded for BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical FUNNY GIRL
Music by Jules Styne
Lyrics by Bob Merrill

  • FUNNY GIRL opened on March 26,1964, at the Winter Garden Theatre and ran for 1,348 performances.
  • The original principals in the cast included Barbra Streisand, Sydney Chaplin, Kay Medford, and Danny Meehan.
  • Before Barbra Streisand won the leading role in FUNNY GIRL, it was turned down by three actresses.
  • After five opening night postponements, three directors, four title changes, and numerous script revisions, the show was a great success.
  • Linda credits Barbra Streisand as being one of her inspirations as a singer. She has the utmost respect and admiration for her and sings "Don't Rain On My Parade" in her concerts as a tribute to this great singer.

Track #2
"I WANT MORE"
Originally recorded for IT'S TIME (April 1997)
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Jack Murphy

  • Jack Murphy tells THE VOICE: "Frank gave me the melody and asked me to write a 'Don't Rain On My Parade' type lyric. I heard something different and wrote the lyric that currently exists. He said it wasn't what he had in mind but, before I discarded it, I read/sang it for Linda in her kitchen. She said, 'What are you nuts?! This lyric is perfect... it's exactly what I want!' Needless to say, the lyric stayed."
  • When Linda first began performing "I Want More" in concert, she told this story while the band played the opening few notes softly in the background. She would end saying "this is an anthem for women everywhere!" as the music would swell and she'd dive into the first verse.
  • Also in concert, the last note of this song was often a "battle" between Linda and her drummer to see how long she cold hold the note as the drummer improvised playing. Fans began to time how long Linda could hold the final note!

Track #3
"UNUSUAL WAY"
Originally recorded for BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical NINE
Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston

  • NINE first opened on May 9, 1982, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and played for 732 performances.
    The original principals in the cast included Liliane Montevecchi, Raul Julia, Anita Morris, Karen Akers, and Shelly Burch.
  • NINE was revived in the Spring of 2003 starring Antonio Banderas.
  • NINE is based on Frederico Fellini's Film, 8-1/2, an adaptation from the Italian version by Mario Fratti.
  • NINE won five Tony Awards in 1982 including Best Musical.
  • The recent revival won the 2003 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
  • As part of her BROADWAY MY WAY Concert Tour, Linda sang "Unusual Way" was part of a medley with Stephen Sondheim's "Losing My Mind."

Track # 4
"MAN OF LA MANCHA (I, DON QUIXOTE)"
Originally recorded for IT'S TIME (April 1997); also included on BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical MAN OF LA MANCHA
Music by Mitch Leigh
Lyrics by Joe Darion

  • MAN OF LA MANCHA first opened on November 22,1965, at the ANTA Washington Square Theatre and played for 2,328 performances.
  • The original principals in the cast included Richard Kiley, Joan Diener, Irving Jacobsen and Ray Middleton.
  • Six years prior to its stage debut, it premiered as an original drama written for television starring Lee J. Cobb as Quixote and Eli Wallach as Sancho. It aired under the title I, Don Quixote.
  • MAN OF LA MANCHA was originally booked into an off-Broadway theatre and was ignored by everyone but the audience. The production was a critical success and within four months was transferred to the Martin Beck.
  • Rex Harrison was cast as the original lead and backed out. Richard Kiley took over the role and won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical.
  • MAN OF LA MANCHA was revived four times, most recently in 2002 starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, at the original Broadway theatre, the Martin Beck.
  • On June 21, 2003, the Martin Beck was renamed in honor of Al Hirschfeld, a caricaturist-cartoonist best known for his artwork in the theatre community.
  • The date of the theatre re-naming and dedication was to be Hirschfeld's 100th birthday, but sadly he died in January 2003 just 5 months shy of his 100th birthday.
  • Linda has performed "Man Of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)" on numerous television and public appearances, always delighting her audience with that incredible, almost ethereal, high note.
  • Olympic and World Figure Skating Champion Katarina Witt skates to Linda's version of this song and has often performed it live with Linda singing.
  • The song has become a staple of Linda's live concerts; Linda first performed it live as part of a medley of "men's songs."

Track #5
"WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I ?"
Recorded for BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF!
Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley

  • STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF! first opened on October 3, 1962, at the Shubert Theatre and played for 555 performances.
  • Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley wrote the show in only 8 days!
  • The original principals in the cast included Anthony Newley and Anna Quayle.
  • The female lead in the show was named for Leslie Bricusse's wife, Evie.
  • The 1978 revival starred Sammy Davies, Jr. in the role of Littlechap.
  • Linda first performed "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" as part of a medley including "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and "I Don't Know How To Love Him."
  • This medley "stopped the show" when Linda performed it at the PBS concert "My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies."
  • "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" won the 1962 (5th Annual) Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

Track #6
"SOME PEOPLE"
Originally recorded for BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical GYPSY
Music by Jules Stein
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

  • GYPSY first opened on May 21,1959, at the Broadway Theatre and played for 702 performances.
  • The original cast starred Ethel Merman as Rose.
  • This musical is called GYPSY instead of ROSE, even though it is about Rose, because Gypsy Rose Lee herself stipulated that she wanted the title to be GYPSY. In order to use her memoirs, the producers had to follow her wishes.
  • Originally Stephen Sondheim was supposed to write both the music and lyrics, but Ethel Merman refused to work with an untried composer.
  • Gypsy was revived on Broadway three times, most recently in 2003 starring Bernadette Peters in the role of Rose.
  • When Linda sang "Some People" as part of her BROADWAY MY WAY Concert Tour, the song often featured an improvisational drum solo by Clint de Ganon that drove the audience wild!

Track #7
"BRING ON THE MEN"
Originally recorded for THE COMPLETE WORK "JEKYLL & HYDE: THE GOTHIC MUSIC THRILLER" (January 1995)
From the musical JEKYLL & HYDE
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

  • Although a "fan favorite," "Bring On The Men" was cut from the Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE.
  • "Bring On The Men" was replaced with "Good 'N' Evil" on Broadway.
  • Every production of the show before Broadway, and since Broadway, has included "Bring On The Men."

Track #8
"ANTHEM"
Originally recorded for BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical CHESS
Music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus
Lyrics by Tim Rice

  • CHESS originated as a successful record album, featuring Elaine Page, before it became a stage production.
  • CHESS opened on Broadway on April 28,1988, at the Imperial Theatre and played for 68 performances.
  • The first theatrical production of CHESS was much more successful, opening in London's West End in 1986 where it played for three years to critical and audience acclaim.
  • The successful West End production starred Elaine Paige in the lead role of Florence.
  • The original Broadway cast included David Carroll, Philip Casnoff, Judy Kuhn and Harry Goz.
  • Although successful in London, the show lost six million dollars in New York.
  • CHESS was produced as a concert in 2003 as a benefit for the Actor's Fund of America.
  • Josh Groban sang "Anthem" in the role of Anatoly at the concert.

Track #9
"OVER THE RAINBOW"
Originally recorded for IT'S TIME (April 1997);
also included on BY MYSELF: THE SONGS OF JUDY GARLAND (October 2005)
From the film THE WIZARD OF OZ, 1939
Music by E. Y. "Yip" Harburg
Lyrics by Harold Arlen

  • "Over The Rainbow" was written for Judy Garland to sing in The Wizard of Oz.
  • "Over The Rainbow" is No. 1 on the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts' "Songs of the Century" list.
  • The song also placed No. 1 on the American Film Institute's "100 Years, 100 Songs" list.
  • "Over The Rainbow" won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1939.
  • "Over The Rainbow" has additional lyrics and verses; however these were cut from the movie and therefore are often not included in popular recordings of the song.
  • The number of artists who have performed or recorded the song is too numerous for us to list here — it's in the thousands!

Track #10
"HAVANA"
Originally recorded for IT'S NO SECRET ANYMORE (September 1999)
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Jack Murphy

  • When Linda performs "Havana" in concert, she encourages audience members to "whoop and trill" along. Arrrrrrrreba!
  • "Havana" was originally intended to be part of a musical by the same title.
  • Other songs to be included in HAVANA also appeared on IT'S NO SECRET ANYMORE — they are "Why Do People Fall In Love," "Never Dance," and "This Time Around."
  • "Why Do People Fall In Love" is offered as a popular ringtone by most wireless phone providers.
  • After a long absence, Linda began performing "This Time Around" in concert again in 2007.
  • Jack Murphy tells THE VOICE: "'Havana' was the title song of a show that never got written... until now. The show has been re-imagined with a new book by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Nilo Cruz, music by Frank and lyrics by yours truly. Maybe we'll finally get it done, but no matter what happens I find it hard to believe that anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, is going to sing it 'better than Eder' — sorry the lyricist in me just couldn't resist."

Track #11
"A NEW LIFE"
Originally recorded for THE COMPLETE WORK "JEKYLL & HYDE: THE GOTHIC MUSIC THRILLER" (January 1995);
included on BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical JEKYLL & HYDE
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

  • JEKYLL & HYDE opened on Broadway on April 28,1997, at the Plymouth Theatre and played for 1,543 performances.
  • The original Broadway cast starred Linda Eder, Robert Cuccioli, Christiane Noll, Rob Evan, George Merritt and Barrie Ingham.
  • The production was nominated for four Tony Awards.
  • Linda Eder won a 1997 Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Performer in NYC.
  • JEKYLL & HYDE was the longest running musical ever to play at the Plymouth Theatre.
  • In 2005, the Plymouth Theatre was renamed the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, in honor of the long-time chairman of the Shubert Organization (owners of the theatre).
  • Although included on the BROADWAY MY WAY album, since the album's release Linda has performed "A New Life" in concert only a handful of times. Most notably was her February 2003 Carnegie Hall appearance — "A New Life" received a near-10-minute standing ovation!

Track #12
"VIENNA"
Originally recorded for LINDA EDER (1991, Angel Records);
Re-orchestrated and recorded in 1999 on IT'S NO SECRET ANYMORE
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Gary Benson

  • VIENNA was the title of the early UK release (1989) of Linda's first album (self-titled, 1991).
  • "Vienna" was recorded and released as a popular dance mix single.
  • "Vienna" features a spectacular musical break, during which Linda turns her back to the audience and allows the musicians to take center stage.
  • Following this musical break, Linda has "trademarked" a special pose for those big notes — arms stretched out! It's unmistakable.

 

 

Track #13
"SOMEONE LIKE YOU"
Originally recorded for THE COMPLETE WORK "JEKYLL & HYDE: THE GOTHIC MUSIC THRILLER" (January 1995); Included on IT'S TIME (April 1997); also included on LINDA EDER (1991) as a bonus track
From the Broadway musical JEKYLL & HYDE
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

  • Lyrically, there are two different versions of "Someone Like You" — one speaks of unrequited love and the other of a love realized and returned.
  • Many consider "Someone Like You" to be Linda's "signature song," yet someone very close to the show would disagree. (TEASER: stay-tuned to the next edition of THE VOICE for more!)

Track #14
"I AM WHAT I AM"
Originally recorded for BROADWAY MY WAY (February 2003)
From the Broadway musical LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman

  • LA CAGE AUX FOLLES opened on Broadway on August 21,1983, at the Palace Theatre and ran for 1,761 performances.
  • The original cast included George Hearn, Gene Barry, Jay Garner, John Weiner, Elizabeth Parrish, Leslie Stevens, William Thomas Jr. and Merle Louise.
  • Composer/Lyricist Jerry Herman took home the 1984 Tony Award for Best Musical Score for LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.
  • Herman is honored in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and is the only composer to have had three musicals which ran more than 1,500 consecutive performances on Broadway.
  • LA CAGE AUX FOLLES was revived in 2004 and took home the 2005 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
  • The English translation of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is "Birds of a Feather."
  • LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is based on a French film by Jean Poiret (same title, 1978) and was again adapted for the screen in 1996 with the Robin William's hit The Birdcage (also starring Gene Hackman and Nathan Lane).
  • The members of the LA CAGE AUX FOLLES chorus are the ones who initiated the backstage fundraisers that became the backbone of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
  • Since its founding in 1987, BC/EFA has raised more than $77 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or HIV-related illnesses.
  • Atlantic records released Linda's version of "I Am What I Am" as a single including 7 dance mixes. The song swept the club scene and is still popular today.

Track #15
"SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN"
Originally recorded as a pop-ballad for IT'S TIME (April 1997)
Music & Lyrics by Frank Wildhorn

  • "Something To Believe In" was produced as a music video.
  • "Something To Believe In" was released as a dance mix on a single that also included dance mixes of "Never Dance." (November 1999)
  • For the longest time, Linda would close all of her live shows with this song.
  • Just one month after the September 11 attacks, Linda performed "Something To Believe In" in New York City as past of the Columbus Day Parade. It was a galvanizing moment for many. She also performed "God Bless America."

 

 

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