Movin' Out - Original Broadway Cast Recording / Conceived, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, Based on the songs and music of Billy Joel / Sony BMG Music Entertainment Audio CD 2006 / 82876789362

UPC 828767893624

A criticism that has long dogged Billy Joel's career involves his songs' direct, heart-on-the-sleeve emotional sentiments and a musical approach that often revels in pop music's past glories instead of reacting against them. Ironically, those are the very strengths of Twyla Tharp's dialog-free pop ballet based on Joel's infectious canon of music, including his recent forays into the classical realm. This live cast recording is fueled by the piano and vocals of Michael Cavanaugh, who, backed by an ensemble handpicked by the songwriter, gooses every last drop of drama from Joel's already theatrical songs with a verve worthy of the legend himself. But divorced from Tharp's always kinetic choreography, and despite angular reworkings of "We Didn't Start the Fire" and other Joel standards, it's a collection that sometimes sounds akin to Joelmania: not really Billy, but an incredible simulation. --Jerry McCulley

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Editorial Review:

Anybody who has spent any length of time with Billy Joel's music knows that it is ideally suited for the Broadway stage, so it was no big surprise when a selection of his songs formed the basis of a production in 2002. What was a surprise is that it was conceived, directed, and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, who was better known for her avant-garde work, including a collaboration with David Byrne on The Catherine Wheel. Tharp, however, proved to be a good choice, at least musically, since she and musical supervisor Stuart Malina helped keep the songs stripped-down and lean. They're not sung by the cast; they're sung by Michael Cavanaugh who, as the piano man, narrates the proceedings from the side. This is a sharp move musically, although it does have a side effect on record of occasionally seeming like a Billy Joel tribute, sung by a guy with Broadway chops. Still, it's a good listen, one that's not nearly as flashy as a Broadway connotation would suggest, but it's hard to imagine listening to this in the confines of your own home if you already have Billy Joel's albums, since those are better realized as recordings than this.