BOMBSHELL

Releasing this cd was a brilliant idea. I am a huge fan of SMASH and the first season was all about the trials and tribultations involved in the making of the Broadway bound musical BOMBSHELL about Marilyn Monroe. The season was filled with superb musical performances and amazing production numbers. SMASH was not put together as a series without detailed thought. The numbers that were performed throughout the whole season indeed build an entire collection of songs that become the cast recording of the show BOMBSHELL itself. The season ended with its out of town premiere in Boston and this soundtrack brings the entire show into perspective. And for true fans of this part of the show BOMBSHELL makes an amazing musical. The numbers are creative, lively, spirited, emotional and newer and fresher than most Broadway has seen of late.SMASH season one followed the rivalry between Katharine McPhee (Karen) and Megan Hilty(Ivy) for the lead of Marilyn. They were very different but each had their unique talents and qualities. There were many followers behind each and what I found most brilliant about this BOMBSHELL soundtrack is that it allows both women to perform the Marilyn numbers. And both shine. I myself was more a Katharine fan but listening to this Megan has more than grown on me. Katharine shines on the intimate heartfelt ballads like NEVER GIVE ALL YOUR HEART and the closing ballad DON'T FORGET ME. Her take on the production number THE 20TH CENTURY FOX MAMBO is magical. Megan is a powerhouse and owns the true big numbers like THE NATIONAL PASTIME and I NEVER MET A WOLF WHO DIDN'T LOVE TO HOWL. She also has the amazing belter THEY JUST KEEP MOVING THE LINE. And not surprisingly two of the best numbers here are duets with the two women. LET ME BE YOUR STAR and SMASH are amazing and though their styles are different Megan and Katharine match each other note for note.Yes, on the show there were other songs performed that were top 40 hits but to really know what SMASH is about you must give this cd a listen. This is no newer GLEE. This show puts GLEE in the weeds. All the numbers on this cd were performed on the show (some in season 2) and together far surpass the quality of most Broadway soundtracks. Add in Christian Borle doing a number and Broadway is at your hand. This cd is amazing and a gift to all SMASH fans. If you aren't a fan yet, I highly recommend it and you will quickly become one. Season two has just started and I hope for a definite long run for this great show.

Granted, "Smash" as a TV show sometimes has the most maudlin storylines that might be qualified as a telenovela with random irritable side characters (Ellis in Season 1 anyone?) but at its core,it delivers one exciting musical based on Marilyn Monroe. Although Season 1 revealed most of the numbers from the fictional musical (at least for now) in a shuffled manner, not unless listening to "Bombshell" cast recording, one can wholly appreciate the creativity of "Smash". And indeed, this album simply nails the concept of musical recording in every possible aspect. From composers' foreword to its book description and song choices, "Bombshell" creates an insurmountable vibe of enthusiasm and you can't help but get excited about the possibility of such a musical show. The overall style of the musical stands somewhere close to "Chicago" with big jazz numbers and horns and the songs progress perfectly to correspond to major events in Monroe's life. Already phenomenal, "Let Me Be Your Star" as the opening number sets the bar pretty high but gladly that bar does not bend till the very end. "Don't Forget Me" delivers more than a closing number is expected to with heartfelt lyrics and amazing vocals and it also makes its bow to the opening number. Although Ivy has major character flaws in the show, Megan Hilty performs arguably the strongest numbers of the musical ("Second Hand White Baby Grand" & "They Just Keep Moving The Line") and she does it so perfectly that you wonder why she has not been acknowledged fully in the show yet. There are also surprising numbers that we are yet to hear on the show. Based on Arthur Miller's famous quote "Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets", the musical number "The Right Moves" easily stands out, so does Bernadette Peters' "At Your Feet". And the true genius of the composers become more palpable as you realize the songs not only tell the story of Marilyn but also the story of the main characters of Smash. Cheers to a well-executed, rather impeccable musical album that will turn you into an instant fan of the show if you are not already.

A quality recording of the soundtrack of the show! The sound is great and you can’t beat the vocals. I bought one for myself and came back to get this one for a gift.

What can I say that everyone else has not said....... simply AMAZING and ABOUT TIME!I was a fan of "Smash" and finally happy that Hollywood presented a "Glee" for us grown ups. The show was refreshing and I looked forward to every weekly episode. But the true gem here was the "show within a show........ that show being "Bombshell," a musical tribute to one of the most fascinating people in pop culture....Marilyn Monroe. The characters of "Smash" used this fictional story to play out the talents and personalities of the show characters. But something magical happened along the way........the fans started looking forward to the "Bombshell" music and treating it as a "real" musical. It became the reason I watched the show!Katherine McPhee and Megan Hilty are simply stunning, especially the numbers "I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love to Howl," to the awe inspiring ending song "Don't Forget Me." This musical is the REAL DEAL and I hope that SOMEONE on Broadway considers bringing this gem to the stage. I know that 22 songs does not always make a musical, but I think this is certainly worth consideration.If you love good old fashioned Broadway entertainment, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM !! - You will not regret it!