Even though I spend much of my time watching TV or films, the current crop of American series have mainly passed me by. I've probably seen a couple of episodes of Glee over the passed few years, and the likes of Grey's Anatomy etc have never appealed. However, when I heard there was to be a series based on the process of getting a fictional musical to Broadway, my ears pricked up, and I watched every episode of Smash like a kid in a singing and dancing sweet shop.

The premise of the show is simple. It's about writers, performers, agents and producers, all wanting that Broadway 'Smash' - in this case, a musical on the life of Marilyn Monroe titled Bombshell. So this recording is what the cast recording of Bombshell would be... if there was a show... and a cast - which there isn't. Although listening to the 22 tracks, there well could be at some point.

With music and lyrics by Marc Shaimen and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can) the CD and MP3 album download from Columbia features Katherine McPhee (Karen), Megan Hilty (Ivy Lynn), and other cast members performing the original music created for the show’s musical-within-a-musical. I say 'other' cast members. These include Debra Messing, Nick Jonas, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters...

To say that this is an impressive 'cast' recording is an understatement. There is a huge mixture of styles here - as in any good musical. They are all delivered with conviction - not a bad performance, and not a bad song is quite an achievement. Production values are high, and the brash big band Broadway numbers sit well with the quieter pop ballads. There is lots to like in both, and the numbers are cleverly written. My favourites are many. 'Second Hand Baby Grand' and 'Never Give All The Heart' are best in class ballads, as is the closing number 'Don't Forget Me'. In the slightly more Broadway-esque numbers, 'Twentieth Century Fox Mambo' is superb, and 'History Is Made At Night' will have you smooching and singing along with the best of them. But for me, the opening number (and Emmy nominated) 'Let Me Be Your Star' is the stand out number on the album - I challenge you not to love it.

Quite simply one of the best 'cast' recordings I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.

10

Ian Gude