Deborah Gibson's theatrical soul has often made close brushes with her pop persona. Even while singing all that '80s nostalgia, there were traces of a young Broadway starlet seeping through. In between previous pop releases, Gibson acted on and off Broadway in just about everything (notably Les Miserables, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and opposite Betty Buckley in Gypsy). Here, at last, is her no-nonsense "Broadway Album." For those outside walking distance to the venues in which she performed, this will be the first full-on introduction to Gibson as theatrical star. The track selections are wise, ranging from familiar ("On My Own") to obscure (the upbeat Latin pop song "Raise the Roof"), with traditional and modern imprints stamped according to her taste. She pads the album with "Sex," self-penned doo wop from an upcoming project, which works as an interlude. Poor fans who fear that she is headed down a dark tunnel that leads to a public kiss with Madonna should listen carefully to her lyrical winking: "Dad's '59 Chevy or Grandma's Ford Fairlane...anyplace is fair game." Now, the question is, where will Gibson's career lead from here? She wrote some amazing material on 1995's Think With Your Heart, some of which could easily stand against these classics. The focal point of this album is Gibson -- the white light is all hers. The very fine orchestrations are secondary to her vocals, there are no duets, and backup singers are in limited supply. But it works. She is at ease, aims to please, and obviously enjoys every bit of what she's doing. The showstopper "They All Laughed" casts a sweet, frenetic spell and is vocally and instrumentally the highlight of the album -- most particularly when she chuckles, rumbles, and squeaks at the finish. There are two things requested of listeners in order to fully enjoy this project: that they be fans of Gibson and fans of theater. If you fit the playbill, you're in luck. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
Elegies: A Song Cycle, musical revue~Anytime (I Am There) [From Elegies
Deborah Gibson
(5:08)
Credits
Steve Orich (Keyboards), Ron Abel (Musical Director), Ruth Bruegger (Violin), William Meade (Producer), Deborah Gibson (Producer), Mark Converse (Percussion), Ron Abel (Keyboards), Chris Tergeson (Engineer), Dan Fornero (Trumpet), Steve Orich (Orchestration), Grant Geissman (Guitar), Michael Yuen (Art Direction), Jerry Sharell (Vocals (Background)), Mike Brewer (Assistant), Debra Byrd (Vocals (Background)), Ray "The Closer" Garcia (Vocals (Background)), Kevin Merrill (Photography), Ron Abel (Conductor), Sylvia MacCalla (Vocals (Background)), John Krovozc (Cello), Lanny Meyers (Orchestration), Joan Marcus (Photography), Mark Wilder (Mastering), Phillip D. Feather (Reeds), Mark Hollingsworth (Reeds), Michael Yuen (Package Design), Greg Arnold's Tricycle (Mastering), Ron Abel (Producer), David Stout (Trombone), Gabe Sganga (Assistant Engineer), William Meade (Producer), Mark Converse (Drums), Chris Tergesen (Engineer), Alex Rannie (Harp), Randy Landas (Bass), John Fumo (Trumpet), Jean Marinelli (French Horn), Ilene Novog (Viola), Jesse Gorman (Assistant Engineer), Chris Gehringer (Mastering), Vladimir Polimatidi (Violin), Cheryl Ongaro (Violin), Ron Abel (Orchestration)
Colored Lights: The Broadway Album is the eighth studio album--and the first tribute album--by Americansinger-songwriter-actressDeborah Gibson. Released in 2003 on the Fynsworth Alley label, it includes songs from nine preexisting theatre musicals and one from her own original theatre musical Skirts.
