Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Soundtrack CD

For years, Hollywood made a habit out of turning Broadway musicals into films, so it probably shouldn't be too surprising that the tables have turned: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a 1988 feature, became a Broadway musical in 2004. Like the movie, the musical follows the exploits of two con men, one smooth and debonair, John Lithgow, and the other, Norbert Leo Butz, simply small potatoes. Of course, since it's a musical now, a soundtrack had to be added, and David Yazbek wrote both the melodies and the lyrics. Ghostlight's original Broadway cast recording features both Lithgow and Butz along with Sherie René Scott, Joanna Gleason, Gregory Jbara, and a number of others singing lots of bouncy bright show tunes. In a way, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' music and lyrics ("Give Them What They Want" and "Great Big Stuff"), save for a few four-letter words here and there, seems very traditional. Yazbek enjoys wordplay and puns, reminding one a bit of Cole Porter, and has a knack for writing tuneful, memorable melodies like the other purveyors of the classic songbook. Even the music itself on songs like "Here I Am," filled with piano, brass, and the vocal backing of the ensemble, qualifies as a bit old-fashioned. While these aspects might not please the avant-garde, this approach, along with good performances by all involved, are real crowd-pleasers, and make Dirty Rotten Scoundrels easy to listen to over and over. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Composer/Lyricist: David Yazbek.

Original Cast Recording: Gregory Jbara, Joanna Gleason, John Lithgow, Sherie René Scott, Norbert Leo Butz.

Personnel: Erik Dellapenna (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lap steel guitar, banjo); Claire Chan, Michael Nicholas (violin, viola); Cenovia Cummins, Paul Woodiel, Belinda Whitney (violin); Anja Wood, Sarah Carter (cello); Andrew Sterman (flute, alto flute, piccolo, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Mark Thrasher (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone saxophone); Dan Willis (flute, clarinet, oboe, English horn, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jim Hyne (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn); Dave Stahl, Hollis Burridge (trumpet, flugelhorn); Theresa MacDonnell (French horn); Michael Boschen (trombone, bass trombone); Dan Lipton (piano, keyboards); Sherie René Scott, Bill Charlap (piano); Jan Rosenberg (keyboards); Dean Sharenow (drums); Howard Joines (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Billy Straus.

Liner Note Author: Peter Marks.

Recording information: Right Track Studio A509, New York, NY; Sound on Sound Studios, New York, NY.

Ensembles: Grasan Kingsberry; Tom Galantich; Julie Connors; Rachel Debenedet; Michael Paternostro; Jason Gillman; Amy Heggins; Greg Graham; Laura Marie Duncan; Sally Mae Dunn; Timothy J. Alex; Rachelle Rak; Stephen Campanella; Joe Cassidy; Andres Asnes; Roxane Barlow.

Illustrator: David H. Cowles.

Photographer: Carol Rosegg.

Arranger: Ted Sperling.