The Confidence Man
List Price:
Our Price: $16.39
You Save: $3.59 (18%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $13.96 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Edition: Music CDFormat: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 2003-12-09
Music Label: Original Cast Record
Soundtracks:
- New Orleans Is Comin' to Me
- Pitch Penny
- Such Heaps of Fine Friends
- Edging Into Darkness
- Methinks
- Confidence
- Nocturnally Yours
- Pain Humbles
- A Maiden is Only as Maiden As She Feels
- Give Us This Day Our Daily Flesh (as used in the musical play "The Conf
- Sanctimonious Sambo
- Milady
- A Soft-Handed Gentleman (It's Your Life)
- Something of This Masquerade May Follow / Reprise: New Orleans Is Comin
Music reviews of The Confidence Man
Music Review: Generally wonderful songs (lyrics and music) though lacking a cohesive narrative
Rating: 4 Stars
The Confidence Man is "loosely" based on Herman Melville's novel of the same name. According to the lyricist, Ray Errol Fox, the story begins on April 1, 1861. Passengers board a Mississippi River steamer bound for New Orleans. Among the passengers is the title character who over the course of the journey will disguise himself variously (e.g. Healman, Whiteman, Black Guinea, Helpman, etc.). The story explores trust or confidence in a satirical fashion (ironically aboard the steamer "Fidele"). What is a con to do when he is bested at his own game?
Though I do have one complaint (mentioned below), I thoroughly enjoyed The Confidence Man. The music is wonderfully authentic to an earlier time and a specific place. The music alone conjures visions of a Mississippi steamer floating through St. Louis (pronounced "Lou-ee", mind you) or New Orleans a century or more ago. The vocalists are quite talented. There are uptempo rags, hauntingly beautiful ballads (note the ending of Edging Into Darkness which is reminiscent of Making Love Out of Nothing at All), humorous and sassy songs, and catchy melodies all around. Crediting the lyricist, the songs have a wonderful literary quality. In fairness, a few of the songs do little for me, but even in these I see appreciable qualities (for instance, though Milady is beautiful, it also sounds dated to me; though Give Us This Day Our Daily Flesh is not as pleasing musically as others, it is the most dramatic song).
A couple warnings may be in order, however. If because this recording features music by Jim Steinman you are expecting the operatic rock for which he is most notorious (e.g. Meatloaf), you will be in for a surprise. Though diverse genres are represented, expect to find more in common with the musicals Ragtime or Chicago than Bat Out of Hell. That is not a bad thing unless you purchased this wanting a Bonnie Tyler or Meatloaf album.
Additionally (and my primary complaint), if you are expecting a fully realized story told through song, you will also be disappointed. Though you will certainly pick up elements of the characters and the story within the songs, the plot is not apparent. This album could easily pass for a compilation of unrelated songs instead of a musical.
Compounding the difficulty of grasping any narrative structure or plot is the fact that the roles were not cast, the songs were. In other words, vocalists were assembled to record specific songs; no one was assigned a particular role. So if the Confidence Man sings five different songs, hypothetically there could be five different artists portraying him.
That said, read the synopsis by Ray Fox (and the Melville book as well?). Enough context is provided to enhance your enjoyment of the music if not to fully comprehend how it all pieces together. This is definitely a quality recording.
More The Confidence Man free music reviews:
1
1
Description of The Confidence Man
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Broadway & Vocalists CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Broadway & Vocalists CDs
George Shearing, Mel Torme - Elegant EveningSHEARING,G/TORME,M; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.39
Price in other shops:
Stan Getz - Spring Is HereRelease date: 1993-01-11; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Rosemary Clooney - Girl SingerRelease date: 1999-04-01; Music CD
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
The Blenders - NogRelease date: 1998-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $8.77
Price in other shops:
Brave Combo, Tiny Tim - GirlTIM,TINY/BRAVE COMB; Release date: 1996-03-19; Music CD
Best price: $15.06
Price in other shops:
Belleville a Cappella Choir - Southern Journey, Vol. 11: Honor The Lamb - The Belleville A Cappella ChoirRelease date: 1998-02-10; Music CD
Best price: $84.05
Diane Schuur - Love SongsRelease date: 1993-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops:
![Love Is the Thing [Vinyl] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
Nat King Cole - Love Is the Thing [Vinyl]Release date: 1996-11-19; Music CD
Best price: $169.99
Linda Ronstadt - Linda Ronstadt: Greatest HitsRelease date: 1998-01-13; Music CD
Best price: $19.99
Price in other shops:
Buddy Rich, Sammy Davis Jr - Sounds of 66Release date: 1996-09-17; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert HallNBC Universal; Release date: 2012-02-07; DVD
Best price: $16.38
Price in other shops:
The Book of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)Release date: 2011-06-07; Music CD
Best price: $10.77
Price in other shops:
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never DiesUniversal; Release date: 2012-05-29; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
Jim Steinman, Pandora's Box - Original SinRelease date: 1998-06-30; Music CD
Best price: $4.60
Price in other shops: