Not to be confused with Sony's 1997 soundtrack release, September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill, which was inspired by this 1985 CD on A&M, and co-produced by visionary Hal Willner, Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill indeed contains the "eclectic updates of Kurt Weill's distinctive German theater music" with help from Sting, Marianne Faithfull, John Zorn, Lou Reed, Carla Bley, Tom Waits, Charlie Haden, and more. This deep and complex work contains a 12-page booklet chock-full of information condensed into tiny, tiny print. Did the onset of compact discs hold this elaborate project back? If it were released on vinyl à la Jesus Christ Superstar, would it have reached a wider audience? With such diverse artists as Peanut Butter Conspiracy keyboardist Ralph Shuckett, Van Dyke Parks, and Aaron Neville, it's literally a cast of thousands. Coming on the heels of new wave as techno and trance were taking more of a hold this extensive presentation may have been a bit too heady for audiences embracing the simplicity of power pop and punk. You expect Marianne Faithfull to hit a home run, and she does on "Ballad of the Soldier's Wife," with some help from Chris Spedding, while superstar Sting is at his underground finest performing a creepy "Mack the Knife," a place his original fans wanted him to stay. Surprisingly, it is Lou Reed who, along with Ms. Faithfull, walks away with the "Oscar" here. Reed's outside appearances on soundtracks and tribute projects is hit or miss, working best when he gets to put together "My Love Is Chemical" for the film White Nights or a "Little Sister" from the Get Crazy soundtrack, disappointing when "Soul Man" for the film of the same name goes nowhere. "September Song" by Lou Reed is such a standout that its almost five minutes get extended to seven plus, as it becomes the title track to the aforementioned film this CD project inspired. Henry Threadgill's controlled cacophony on "The Great Hall" is everything Brian Eno's Portsmouth Sinfonia aspired to be. Had Eno taken that ensemble in this direction, they may have had a chance. Todd Rundgren and Gary Windo sound like Trevor Horn let loose in the studio to have some '80s fun, while Aaron Neville, Mark Bingham, and Johnny Adams are the antithesis of this track that follows them. Sounds and ideas from over a century of music cascade across the 67 minutes and 34 seconds of this CD. Both breathtaking and pretentious, there is so much to discover and contemplate that at the end of the day, Lost in the Stars gets a thumbs up. Interesting to note that in 1998, Marianne Faithfull would release a disc, The Seven Deadly Sins, featuring her performing music by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. For that great artist, this type of material is a perfect fit. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
Jim Staley (Trombone), Jim Staley (Trombone (Bass)), Marianne Faithfull (Vocals), Marianne Faithfull (Performer), Aaron Neville (Vocals), Aaron Neville (Performer), Van Dyke Parks (Arranger), Van Dyke Parks (Conductor), Van Dyke Parks (Performer), Lou Reed (Guitar), Lou Reed (Arranger), Lou Reed (Vocals), Lou Reed (Performer), Todd Rundgren (Arranger), Todd Rundgren (Engineer), Todd Rundgren (Performer), Todd Rundgren (Mixing), Elliott Sharp (Performer), Sting (Vocals), Sting (Performer), Tom Waits (Vocals), Tom Waits (Performer), Paul Young (Producer), Carla Bley (Arranger), Carla Bley (Conductor), Carla Bley (Performer), Lester Bowie (Trumpet), Bob Dorough (Choir, Chorus), Bob Dorough (Performer), Bruce Fowler (Trombone), Bruce Fowler (Arranger), Bruce Fowler (Tenor (Vocal)), Kenny Kirkland (Piano), Marty Krystall (Flute), Marty Krystall (Clarinet (Bass)), Marty Krystall (Horn (English)), Marty Krystall (Sax (Tenor)), Tom "Bones" Malone (Trombone), Steve Masakowski (Guitar), Cecil McBee (Bass), Steve Swallow (Bass), Steve Weisberg (Arranger), Steve Weisberg (Performer), Larry Willis (Piano), Gary Windo (Performer), Chris Hunter (Flute), Steve Fowler (Flute), Steve Fowler (Sax (Alto)), Victor Lewis (Drums), David Roach (Sax (Alto)), David Roach (Sax (Baritone)), Dagmar Krause (Vocals), Dagmar Krause (Performer), Chris Spedding (Guitar), Chris Spedding (Arranger), Chris Spedding (Performer), Kathy Dalton (Vocals), Ellen Shipley (Vocals), Ellen Shipley (Performer), William Schimmel (Accordion), Fowler Brothers (Performer), Maria Vidal (Vocals (Background)), Jim Keltner (Drums), Mark Bingham (Guitar), Mark Bingham (Arranger), Mark Bingham (Performer), Tom Fowler (Bass), Guy Klucevsek (Accordion), David McKelvy (Harmonica), Johnny Adams (Vocals), Johnny Adams (Performer), Martin Agee (Violin), Sanford Allen (Violin), Abe Appleman (Violin), Karl Bargen (Viola), Thurman Barker (Drums), Germaine Bazzle (Vocals (Background)), Mike Berkowitz (Drums), Michael Blair (Percussion), Joseph Bongiorno (Bass), Bruce Bonvissuto (Trombone), Anders Bostrom (Flute), Jimmy Bralower (Drum Programming), Randy Brecker (Trumpet), Greg Calbi (Mastering), John Campo (Woodwind), Martha Caplin (Violin), Carter Cathcart (Keyboards), Vincent Chancey (French Horn), Allan Chase (Sax (Alto)), Robert Chausow (Violin), Robert Chausow (Concert Master), Crispin Cioe (Horn), Jon Clarke (French Horn), Greg Cohen (Bass), Greg Cohen (Arranger), Laura Corcos (Violin), Jim Cuomo (Woodwind), Eddie Davis (Banjo), Charlie Descarfino (Percussion), Akua Dixon (Cello), Rory Dodd (Singer), Doug Epstein (Engineer), Anton Fig (Drums), Fred Frith (Guitar (Acoustic)), Fred Frith (Banjo), Fred Frith (Guitar (Electric)), Fred Frith (Voices), Susan Fletcher (Vocals), Susan Fletcher (?), Ed Fowler (Piano), Walt Fowler (Trumpet), Sharon Freeman (Piano), Sharon Freeman (Arranger), Sharon Freeman (Conductor), Sharon Freeman (Performer), Bob Funk (Horn), Jack Gale (Trombone), Winterton Garvey (Violin), Paul Gemignani (Conductor), Paul Goodman (Engineer), David Greenberg (Engineer), David Greenberg (Mixing), Charlie Haden (Bass), Charlie Haden (Performer), Ken Hahn (Editing), Ken Hahn (Mixing), Albert "Tootie" Heath (Drums), Arno Hecht (Horn), Elton Heron (Bass), Nancy Hess (Vocals), Nancy Hess (?), Hollywood Paul Litteral (Horn), James Hynes (Trumpet), Jean Ingraham (Violin), George James (Vocals (Background)), Edward "Kidd" Jordan (Clarinet (Contrabass)), Peter Keepnews (Liner Notes), Randy Kerber (Synthesizer), Katie Kirkpatrick (Harp), Armen Ksadjikian (Cello), Scott Kuney (Mandolin), Jeff Layton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ann Leathers (Violin), John Leffler (Vocals (Background)), Richard Locker (Cello), Michael Lynch (Vocals), Michael Lynch (?), Branford Marsalis (Sax (Soprano)), Tom Mark (Engineer), Tom Mark (Mixing), Paul McCandless (Oboe), Hugh McCracken (Guitar (Acoustic)), Sid McGinnis (Guitar (Acoustic)), Lloyd McNeill (Piccolo), Mike Miller (Banjo), Mike Miller (Guitar), Ted Mook (Cello), Ted Mook (?), Tony Morales (Drums), John Moses (Woodwind), Dominic Muldowney (Synthesizer), Dominic Muldowney (Arranger), Dominic Muldowney (Performer), Diedre Murray (Cello), Buell Neidlinger (Bass), James Nichols (Engineer), Jason Osborn (Piano), Jason Osborn (Arranger), Joe Passaro (Percussion), Paul Peabody (Violin), Carol Pool (Violin), Bobby Previte (Percussion), Bobby Previte (Drums), Bobby Previte (Tympani [Timpani]), Faith Prince (Vocals), Faith Prince (?), Matthew Raimondi (Violin), Marilyn Reynolds (Violin), Stan Ridgway (Vocals), Stan Ridgway (Performer), Frank Rodriguez (Technical Engineer), Alvin Rogers (Violin), David Rosenberg (Drum Programming), Jay David Saks (Producer), Fernando Saunders (Bass), Fernando Saunders (Associate Producer), Ralph Schuckett (Singer), Ralph Schuckett (Performer), Les Scott (Woodwind), Ron Sell (French Horn), Ron Sell (Contractor), Debbie Shapiro (Vocals), Debbie Shapiro (?), Luli Shioi (Bass (Electric)), Luli Shioi (Harpsichord), Luli Shioi (Vocals), Luli Shioi (Whistle (Instrument)), Ralph Shuckett (Synthesizer), Ralph Shuckett (Arranger), Ralph Shuckett (Keyboards), Ira Siegel (Guitar (Electric)), John Steinmetz (Bassoon), John Stubblefield (Sax (Tenor)), Marti Sweet (Violin), Fred Tackett (Banjo), Fred Tackett (Guitar), Fred Tackett (Mandolin), Mitsue Takayama (Viola), Phil Teele (Trombone (Bass)), Henry Threadgill (Arranger), Henry Threadgill (Conductor), Henry Threadgill (Performer), Raymond Tischer (Viola), Eric Troyer (Singer), Johnny Vidacovich (Drums), Don Wershba (Engineer), Don Wershba (Mixing), Paul "Wix" Wickens (Synthesizer), Hal Willner (Singer), Hal Willner (Producer), Hal Willner (Liner Notes), Hal Willner (Executive Producer), Albert Wing (Sax (Tenor)), Ken Winokur (Percussion), Wilmer Wise (Trumpet), Peter Wood (Keyboards), Phil Woods (Sax (Alto)), Phil Woods (Performer), John Zorn (Clarinet), John Zorn (Arranger), John Zorn (Cello), John Zorn (Conductor), John Zorn (Sax (Alto)), John Zorn (Saw), John Zorn (Performer), Mike Zwerin (Trombone), Mike Zwerin (Trumpet (Bass)), Carol Emanuel (Harp), Richard Butler (Vocals), Richard Butler (Performer), Lanny Paykin (Cello), Jeff Berger (?), Jeff Berger (Coordination), Jeff Berger (Package Coordinator), Ralph Gibson (Sax (Tenor)), Juan José Mosalini (Bandoneon), Andrea Parkins (Accordion), Andrea Parkins (Xylophone), Luis Perez (Vocals), Luis Perez (?), Lennie Peterson (Trombone), Dean Plank (Trombone), Bill Rosenfield (?), Bill Rosenfield (Coordination), Bill Rosenfield (Package Coordinator), John Sieger (Bass), Barry Socher (Violin), Barry Socher (Arranger), Dale Stuckenbruck (Violin), Les Arbuckle (Sax (Tenor)), Robert LaFosse (Vocals), Robert LaFosse (?), David Lowenstein (Vocals), David Lowenstein (?), Sarah Adams (Viola), Ronnie Bauch (Violin), Scott Fowler (Vocals), Scott Fowler (?), J.J. Stelmach (Art Direction), Charles Blackwell (Production Supervisor), Jamie Cohen (Vocals), Jamie Cohen (?), Michael Scott Gregory (Vocals), Michael Scott Gregory (?), Clyde Kaplan (Engineer), Clyde Kaplan (Mixing), John Petersen (Synthesizer), John Petersen (Engineer), John Petersen (Performer), Nancy Lee Swift (Liner Notes), Paul Yarbrough (Viola), Mike Evans (Percussion), Alva Hunt (Woodwind), Patmore Lewis (Violin), Jason Alexander (Vocals), Jason Alexander (Narrator), Jason Alexander (?), Dominic Derasse (Trumpet), Rick Heckman (Woodwind), Bob Musso (Engineer), Bob Musso (Mixing), Alen MacWeeney (?), Alen MacWeeney (Photography), Alen MacWeeney (Illustrations), Alen MacWeeney (Portraits), Beth Robinson (Harp), Jerome Robbins (Director), Jerome Robbins (Choreographer), Richard Hagen (French Horn), Herve Marignac (Engineer), Martha Swope (Photography), Joe Cato (Guitar (Acoustic)), Joe Cuneo (Engineer), Jeffrey Lee Broadhurst (Vocals), Jeffrey Lee Broadhurst (?), Mindy Cartwright (Vocals), Mindy Cartwright (?), Charlotte d'Amboise (Vocals), Charlotte d'Amboise (?), Pamela Drews (Keyboards), Julie Eikenberg (Vocals (Background)), Michael Feingold (Translation), Dave Ferrel (Engineer), Sheryl Flatow (Liner Notes), Gregorio Follari (Cello), Angelo H. Fraboni (Vocals), Angelo H. Fraboni (?), Louise Hickey (Vocals), Louise Hickey (?), Scott Jovovich (Vocals), Scott Jovovich (?), Pamela Khoury (Vocals), Pamela Khoury (?), Marty Kristall (Clarinet), Marty Kristall (Oboe), Michael Kubala (Vocals), Michael Kubala (?), Joey McKneely (Vocals), Joey McKneely (?), Julio Monge (Vocals), Julio Monge (?), Jack Noseworthy (Vocals), Jack Noseworthy (?), Cathy Pacek (French Horn), Mark Peru (Banjo), Eric Saltzman (Translation), Stephanie Sieberth (Vocals (Background)), Renée Stork (Vocals), Renée Stork (?), Antonio Underwood (Tuba), Jay Weigel (Arranger), George Russell (Vocals), George Russell (?), Dick Lewsey (Engineer), James Rivera (Vocals), James Rivera (?), Tom Robbins (Vocals), Tom Robbins (?), Roger Shell (Cello), Roger Shell (Contractor), Ellen Troy (Vocals), Ellen Troy (?), Andi Tyler (Vocals), Andi Tyler (?), Gregory Williams (French Horn), Gary Winod (Sax (Soprano)), Gary Winod (Sax (Tenor)), Steve Ochoa (Vocals), Kelly Patterson (Vocals), Kelly Patterson (?), Greg Schanuel (Vocals), Greg Schanuel (?), Mary Ellen Stuart (Vocals), Mary Ellen Stuart (?), Miohiso Takada (Violin), Linda Talcott (Vocals), Linda Talcott (?), Leslie Trayer (Vocals), Leslie Trayer (?), Scott Wise (Vocals), Scott Wise (?), Elaine Wright (Vocals), Elaine Wright (?), Barbara Yeager (Vocals), Barbara Yeager (?), Alice Yearsley (Vocals), Alice Yearsley (?), Jane T. Brier (Liner Notes), Lorraine Cohen (Trumpet), J.C. Convertino (Engineer), Susan Kikuchi (Vocals), Susan Kikuchi (?), Mary Ann Lamb (Vocals), Mary Ann Lamb (?), Donna Marie Elio (Vocals), Donna Marie Elio (?), Eric A. Hoisington (Vocals), Eric A. Hoisington (?), Greta Martin (Vocals), Greta Martin (?), Arnold Weinstein (Translation), Alexia Hess (Vocals), Alexia Hess (?), Barbara Hoon (Vocals), Barbara Hoon (?), Dan Rowe (Cello), John Telfer (Executive Producer), Paul M. Young (Producer), Paul M. Young (Liner Notes), Armadillo String Quartet (Performer), Gary Wido (Performer), JoAnn M. Hunter (?), Peter Smith (Engineer), Greg Newton (Bassoon), Terry Southern (Liner Notes), Neil Leonard (Clarinet), Gregorey Garrison (Vocals), Kevin Morgan (Tuba)
