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I would have to dig deeply into the stacks of holiday CDs cluttering my otherwise pristine and organized library (ha!) to find one that features such a wealth of talent and creativity as Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays, the latest release from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. From the line-up of stars to the well-chosen set list, from the unmistakable Broadway sensibilities to the autographed liner notes, everything about Home for the Holidays bespeaks purpose and professionalism.

Off the bat, Liza Minelli and Alan Cumming perform one of the finest (and funniest) renditions of Baby It's Cold Outside I can remember. And the reason it's better, aside from the fact that it features Liza Minelli and Alan Cumming, is that the tempo is not as rushed and breathless as typical recordings of this song. Not only that, but these two have a knack for not stepping on each other's lines, making their duet a more satisfying listening experience, one where it is not just possible but easy to understand and appreciate the clever lyrics of this great song. And did I mention the song features the vivacious and talented Liza Minelli?

Another showstopper for me was the moving arrangement of Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy, performed as a duet by Anthony Rapp and Everett Bradley. Lea DeLaria's jazzy Sleigh Ride is cool, too.

I mentioned the liner notes, which are a seminar in how to include proper liner notes. Credits are complete and well laid-out. There are pictures of all the artists (I don't know all of these artists, so this was a good thing for me). But even more important than the obvious attention to detail was the care taken by the producers to select songs befitting a Broadway holiday CD. Santa Baby (Jane Krakowski), Christmas Time is Here (Billy Porter), New York State of Mind (Adam Pascal) , Sleigh Ride (Lea DeLaria), and The Christmas Song (Davis Gaines) are the best examples. Finally, the total running time for this CD is an hour. Check out the on-line price of this CD: you won't find a better value in new Christmas music this season.

Now, review this line-up: Alan Cumming, Liza Minelli, Christine Ebersole, Jane Krakowski, Sam Harris, Liz Callaway, Ann Hampton Callaway, Anthony Rapp, Everett Bradley, Lillias White, Adam Pascal, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Billy Porter, Lea DeLaria, Patrick Wilson, Davis Gaines, Roger Bart, Gary Beach, Victor Garber, and Audra McDonald. Now, review it again. You'll notice this is not just another tired compilation of used-up recordings sung by a bunch of dead guys. It is new and vibrant, and it's not just all the same old songs. Of course, they had to include Silent Night (Lillias White), but that's a federal law.

Anyway, if you like Broadway music, you're going to enjoy this special offering.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2002)

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From the liner notes:

The proceeds from Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays will be used by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Since it was founded in 1988, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has distributed over $54 million for critically neded services for people with AIDS and their families, by helping to provide for such necessities as food, shelter, transportation, emergency financial assistance, and health insurance.

Various Artists

Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays

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Track List