Sondheim Sings! Well, sort of

PS Classics Inc. (the non-profit cousin of PS Classics) has released their second album, Sondheim Sings, Volume 1. It features 19 demo recordings performed by Sondheim himself between the years 1962 and 1974.

Let's get one thing straight - Stephen Sondheim is not a good singer. Lucky for him he can write. In fact, he's quoted in the liner notes as saying, "For those of you who have not had the pleasure of hearing my voice before, I tend to sing very loud, usually off-pitch and always write in keys that are just out of my range." Great performance is not the point of these recordings. Instead, they give us a glimpse into the growth and development of some of the great music of the last century, kind of like reading a rough draft from Steinbeck or Hemingway.

PS Classics (the for-profit one) is also shipping their recording of the recent revival of Pacific Overtures.

Tracks from both of these new albums are on the station now.

Zack