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
Dan Rowe (Cello), Alvin Rogers (Violin), Michael Lynch (Vocals), Clyde Kaplan (Engineer), Louise Hickey (Vocals), Jim Staley (Trombone), Sarah Adams (Viola), Elaine Wright (?), Raymond Tischer (Viola), Paul Gemignani (Conductor), John Petersen (Engineer), Michael Lynch (?), Fred Tackett (Guitar), John Petersen (Synthesizer), Eric Troyer (Vocals), Stan Ridgway (Performer), Leslie Trayer (Vocals), Hugh McCracken (Guitar (Acoustic)), Todd Rundgren (Engineer), Joe Cuneo (Engineer), Marti Sweet (Violin), John Zorn (Arranger), Leslie Trayer (?), Richard Butler (Performer), John Leffler (Vocals (Background)), Luis Perez (?), Angelo H. Fraboni (?), Mike Berkowitz (Drums), Angelo H. Fraboni (Vocals), James Hynes (Trumpet), Luis Perez (Vocals), John Steinmetz (Bassoon), David Rosenberg (Drum Programming), Bob Musso (Mixing), Greg Calbi (Mastering), David Greenberg (Engineer), Susan Kikuchi (Vocals), Bobby Previte (Tympani [Timpani]), Neil Leonard (Clarinet), Nancy Lee Swift (Liner Notes), Mary Ellen Stuart (Vocals), Robert Chausow (Violin), Marty Kristall (Oboe), Tom Mark (Mixing), Jason Alexander (?), Aaron Neville (Vocals), Peter Smith (Engineer), Martha Caplin (Violin), Dale Stuckenbruck (Violin), Thurman Barker (Drums), Joseph Bongiorno (Bass), Akua Dixon (Cello), Albert "Tootie" Heath (Drums), Marianne Faithfull (Performer), Alen MacWeeney (Portraits), Phil Woods (Sax (Alto)), Greta Martin (Vocals), Wilmer Wise (Trumpet), Dominic Muldowney (Performer), Tom Fowler (Bass), Henry Threadgill (Arranger), Mary Ann Lamb (?), Lennie Peterson (Trombone), Vincent Chancey (French Horn), Fred Tackett (Banjo), Hollywood Paul Litteral (Horn), Jason Alexander (Vocals), Paul Goodman (Engineer), Doug Epstein (Engineer), Gregorio Follari (Cello), Sharon Freeman (Conductor), Mary Ann Lamb (Vocals), Stephanie Sieberth (Vocals (Background)), Sting (Performer), Crispin Cioe (Horn), David Greenberg (Mixing), Van Dyke Parks (Arranger), Jerome Robbins (Director), Lester Bowie (Trumpet), Susan Fletcher (?), John Telfer (Executive Producer), Dick Lewsey (Engineer), Jamie Cohen (Vocals), Andrea Parkins (Accordion), Gregorey Garrison (Vocals), Jon Clarke (French Horn), Bob Dorough (Choir, Chorus), Greg Schanuel (?), Jamie Cohen (?), Mark Bingham (Guitar), Debbie Shapiro (Vocals), Renée Stork (Vocals), Antonio Underwood (Tuba), Marty Krystall (Clarinet (Bass)), Karl Bargen (Viola), Jeff Layton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ralph Schuckett (Vocals), Gary Windo (Performer), Fred Tackett (Mandolin), Scott Wise (Vocals), Lou Reed (Guitar), Dagmar Krause (Performer), Edward "Kidd" Jordan (Clarinet (Contrabass)), Alen MacWeeney (Photography), John Moses (Woodwind), Ronnie Bauch (Violin), Michael Scott Gregory (?), Ken Hahn (Editing), Barry Socher (Arranger), Les Arbuckle (Sax (Tenor)), Sharon Freeman (Arranger), Roger Shell (Contractor), Marianne Faithfull (Vocals), Paul Young (Producer), Steve Masakowski (Guitar), Kelly Patterson (?), Greg Schanuel (Vocals), David Lowenstein (?), Carol Pool (Violin), Kelly Patterson (Vocals), Winterton Garvey (Violin), Steve Fowler (Flute), Juan José Mosalini (Bandoneon), Carla Bley (Arranger), JoAnn M. Hunter (?), John Campo (Woodwind), Ron Sell (Contractor), Mark Peru (Banjo), Renée Stork (?), Johnny Adams (Vocals), Patmore Lewis (Violin), Todd Rundgren (Arranger), Martha Swope (Photography), Armen Ksadjikian (Cello), Michael Feingold (Translation), Steve Ochoa (Vocals), Luli Shioi (Bass (Electric)), Mike Miller (Banjo), Sid McGinnis (Guitar (Acoustic)), Arnold Weinstein (Translation), Steve Weisberg (Performer), Jeffrey Lee Broadhurst (Vocals), Fowler Brothers (Performer), Jane T. Brier (Liner Notes), Ed Fowler (Piano), Jeffrey Lee Broadhurst (?), Sanford Allen (Violin), Walt Fowler (Trumpet), Mitsue Takayama (Viola), Paul M. Young (Producer), Scott Fowler (?), Greg Newton (Bassoon), Jim Keltner (Drums), Alen MacWeeney (Illustrations), Fred Frith (Voices), Bruce Fowler (Arranger), Cecil McBee (Bass), Armadillo String Quartet (Performer), Hal Willner (Vocals), Chris Spedding (Guitar), Mike Zwerin (Trombone), Pamela Khoury (?), Cathy Pacek (French Horn), Fernando Saunders (Associate Producer), James Rivera (?), Marty Krystall (Flute), Don Wershba (Engineer), Mark Bingham (Performer), Robert Chausow (Concert Master), Abe Appleman (Violin), Paul McCandless (Oboe), Jerome Robbins (Choreographer), Randy Kerber (Synthesizer), Marilyn Reynolds (Violin), Tom "Bones" Malone (Trombone), Jay David Saks (Producer), Luli Shioi (Harpsichord), Don Wershba (Mixing), James Rivera (Vocals), Henry Threadgill (Conductor), William Schimmel (Accordion), Michael Scott Gregory (Vocals), Bill Rosenfield (?), Ralph Gibson (Sax (Tenor)), Linda Talcott (?), Terry Southern (Liner Notes), Richard Hagen (French Horn), Nancy Hess (Vocals), Michael Kubala (?), Barry Socher (Violin), Bruce Fowler (Trombone), Aaron Neville (Performer), Ralph Shuckett (Synthesizer), Kenny Kirkland (Piano), Charlie Haden (Bass), Larry Willis (Piano), Joey McKneely (Vocals), Julio Monge (?), Jay Weigel (Arranger), Richard Butler (Vocals), Miohiso Takada (Violin), Alice Yearsley (?), Ellen Troy (?), Michael Kubala (Vocals), Carla Bley (Conductor), David McKelvy (Harmonica), Les Scott (Woodwind), Tom Robbins (?), Julio Monge (Vocals), Ellen Troy (Vocals), Joey McKneely (?), Bruce Fowler (Tenor (Vocal)), Hervé Marignac (Engineer), Alice Yearsley (Vocals), Luli Shioi (Whistle (Instrument)), John Petersen (Performer), Michael Blair (Percussion), Julie Eikenberg (Vocals (Background)), Elliott Sharp (Performer), Bobby Previte (Percussion), Linda Talcott (Vocals), Gary Winod (Sax (Soprano)), John Zorn (Saw), Jason Alexander (Narrator), Laura Corcos (Violin), Van Dyke Parks (Conductor), Fred Frith (Guitar (Electric)), Richard Locker (Cello), Dominic Muldowney (Synthesizer), Mike Evans (Percussion), Kevin Morgan (Tuba), Johnny Vidacovich (Drums), Jason Osborn (Arranger), Charles Blackwell (Production Supervisor), Hal Willner (Liner Notes), Ted Mook (?), John Zorn (Sax (Alto)), Beth Robinson (Harp), Mike Zwerin (Trumpet (Bass)), Sting (Vocals), John Zorn (Cello), Chris Hunter (Flute), Jack Gale (Trombone), Bob Musso (Engineer), Jack Noseworthy (?), Gregory Williams (French Horn), John Zorn (Conductor), Bob Dorough (Performer), Ann Leathers (Violin), Tom Mark (Engineer), Lloyd McNeill (Piccolo), George Russell (?), Sharon Freeman (Piano), Martin Agee (Violin), George Russell (Vocals), David Roach (Sax (Baritone)), Carol Emanuel (Harp), Ellen Shipley (Vocals), Robert LaFosse (Vocals), Dominic Muldowney (Arranger), Anton Fig (Drums), Joe Passaro (Percussion), Donna Marie Elio (Vocals), Germaine Bazzle (Vocals (Background)), Stan Ridgway (Vocals), Jeff Berger (Coordination), Scott Kuney (Mandolin), Eric A. Hoisington (?), Alexia Hess (?), Hal Willner (Producer), Sharon Freeman (Performer), Alexia Hess (Vocals), Maria Vidal (Vocals (Background)), Bob Funk (Horn), Scott Jovovich (?), Marty Krystall (Horn (English)), Robert LaFosse (?), Carter Cathcart (Keyboards), Lorraine Cohen (Trumpet), Barbara Hoon (?), Anders Bostrom (Flute), Pamela Drews (Keyboards), Mindy Cartwright (?), Johnny Adams (Performer), Arno Hecht (Horn), Eric A. Hoisington (Vocals), Carla Bley (Performer), Paul M. Young (Liner Notes), David Roach (Sax (Alto)), Kathy Dalton (Vocals), Luli Shioi (Vocals), Tony Morales (Drums), Mindy Cartwright (Vocals), Jimmy Bralower (Drum Programming), Andrea Parkins (Xylophone), Steve Fowler (Sax (Alto)), Fernando Saunders (Bass), Andi Tyler (Vocals), Donna Marie Elio (?), Andi Tyler (?), Ralph Schuckett (Performer), Sheryl Flatow (Liner Notes), Scott Jovovich (Vocals), Dave Ferrel (Engineer), Tom Waits (Performer), Paul Yarbrough (Viola), Lanny Paykin (Cello), Marty Krystall (Sax (Tenor)), James Nichols (Engineer), Steve Weisberg (Arranger), Charlie Haden (Performer), Paul "Wix" Wickens (Synthesizer), Richard Heckman (Woodwind), Rory Dodd (Vocals), Katie Kirkpatrick (Harp), Alva Hunt (Woodwind), Fred Frith (Banjo), Faith Prince (Vocals), Barbara Hoon (Vocals), Faith Prince (?), Buell Neidlinger (Bass), Charlotte d'Amboise (Vocals), Dominic Derasse (Trumpet), Dagmar Krause (Vocals), Victor Lewis (Drums), John Stubblefield (Sax (Tenor)), Jeff Berger (Package Coordinator), Mark Bingham (Arranger), John Sieger (Bass), Albert Wing (Sax (Tenor)), Barbara Yeager (Vocals), Ken Winokur (Percussion), Charlotte d'Amboise (?), Bruce Bonvissuto (Trombone), Jeff Berger (?), Jim Cuomo (Woodwind), Frank Rodriguez (Technical Engineer), Fred Frith (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ralph Shuckett (Arranger), Jim Staley (Trombone (Bass)), Ted Mook (Cello), Phil Teele (Trombone (Bass)), John Zorn (Performer), Phil Woods (Performer), Ron Sell (French Horn), Barbara Yeager (?), Ira Siegel (Guitar (Electric)), Alen MacWeeney (?), Todd Rundgren (Performer), Peter Wood (Keyboards), Eric Saltzman (Translation), Matthew Raimondi (Violin), Allan Chase (Sax (Alto)), Louise Hickey (?), Bill Rosenfield (Package Coordinator), Peter Keepnews (Liner Notes), Hal Willner (Executive Producer), Elaine Wright (Vocals), Greg Cohen (Arranger), Paul Peabody (Violin), Todd Rundgren (Mixing), Greta Martin (?), Greg Cohen (Bass), Clyde Kaplan (Mixing), Mary Ellen Stuart (?), Diedre Murray (Cello), Susan Kikuchi (?), Jason Osborn (Piano), Susan Fletcher (Vocals), Chris Spedding (Arranger), Ken Hahn (Mixing), Randy Brecker (Trumpet), Jean Ingraham (Violin), J.C. Convertino (Engineer), Debbie Shapiro (?), David Lowenstein (Vocals), Bobby Previte (Drums), Scott Wise (?), Mike Miller (Guitar), Charlie Descarfino (Percussion), Lou Reed (Vocals), John Zorn (Clarinet), J.J. Stelmach (Art Direction), Ellen Shipley (Performer), Bill Rosenfield (Coordination), Scott Fowler (Vocals), Lou Reed (Arranger), Tom Waits (Vocals), Gary Wido (Performer), Dean Plank (Trombone), Pamela Khoury (Vocals), Guy Klucevsek (Accordion), Marty Kristall (Clarinet), Tom Robbins (Vocals), Ralph Shuckett (Keyboards), Joe Cato (Guitar (Acoustic)), Roger Shell (Cello), Steve Swallow (Bass), Jack Noseworthy (Vocals), Nancy Hess (?), Elton Heron (Bass), Eddie Davis (Banjo), Van Dyke Parks (Performer), Henry Threadgill (Performer), George James (Vocals (Background)), Gary Winod (Sax (Tenor)), Lou Reed (Performer), Branford Marsalis (Sax (Soprano)), Chris Spedding (Performer)
