Hair - The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (1968 Original Broadway Cast)

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Similar Items:

•	Hair
•	Jesus Christ Superstar (Original London Concept Recording)
•	Godspell
•	Hair: Original Soundtrack Recording - Special Anniversary Edition

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
"America's First Tribal Love-Rock Musical," went the advertising, and nobody could argue with that. Hair opened on Broadway in 1968 and immediately became a smash, although no one could quite discern what it was about. Something like, "War is bad, drugs are good, racism bites the big one, and nudity is nice." Although all these sentiments are expressed on this album which, like the show, has not dated well, the quality of the music makes it forgiveable. The songs weren't really rock, but they accomplished what all good pop songs set out to do; stick in the craw. In fact, several of its tracks later became hits for pop acts, including "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (The Fifth Dimension), "Hair" (The Cowsills), and "Good Morning Starshine" (Oliver). --Dawn Eden

Customer Reviews: Read 62 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Historic And Unforgettable November 4, 2003
52 out of 53 found this review helpful

This 2 CD recording should be MANDATORY for any musical theater buff- a rare opportunity to hear this historical show's developement from its off-Broadway roots to the megashow it became. Galt MacDermot's unforgettable score is wonderful in both versions (and while the film version tries to accomplish the unimagineable translation from a "non-book" musical to something with a traceable "plot", which I don't think it really does, the full orchestrations of its songs are truly realized by its composer...the versions of "Aquarius" by Ren Woods and "Easy To Be Hard" by Cheryl Barnes justify a manditory puchase alone).
The only "bummer" of this collection is that it doesn't include material from the two other New York HAIR recordings, which are still only available on out-of-print RCA LPs: DIVINE HAIR: MASS IN F(which featured several HAIR songs incorporated into a Catholic Mass) and DisinHAIRited (which has many of the songs cut from both the off-Broadway and Broadway companies).
If you get a chance, check out the book LET THE SUNSHINE IN (available from this website)- it will flesh out the political and historical relevance of this incredible show. For an even BETTER overview, the out-of-print THE AGE OF HAIR traces the show from its roots to the film version. Producer Michael Butler maintains the show's website (www.MichaelButler.com) for updates on current productions and the many cast members from the original productions.
For its wonderful music, evocations of a past era and its timeless plea for peace("Let The Sunshine In", the finale song, always leaves me in tears), this is THE paragon show cd you must own!

5 out of 5 stars

Fly In the Breeze May 24, 2005
14 out of 15 found this review helpful

The deluxe collector's edition released in 2003 is an excellent update for the "Hair" soundtrack. With the war in Iraq raging, the themes of war seem relevant again 37 years later. The first disc is the 1968 Broadway recording and shines with the remastering from BMG/RCA. The title track has such great energy and sense of freedom, "I let it fly in the breeze & get it caught in the trees." "Easy to Be Hard" is a lovely melody with a dramatic build, "Do you only care about the bleeding crowd? How about a needing friend? I need a friend." Shelly Plimpton on "Frank Mills" has always put a smile on my face about the girl who lost the address of a guy she likes. It's specificity about "the Waverly" and that he looks like "George Harrison of the Beatles" make it humorous, even though it's delivery is so straightforward deadpan. "Electric Blues" is a track not released on the first album, but sounds like the cast was having a huge amount of fun. Disc 2 contains the 1967 Off-Broadway production. In almost all aspects, it seems like a warm-up for the Broadway production. On "Hair," the vocals are ragged & have an assaulting quality in delivery. "Where Do I Go?" with Walker Daniels on vocals is more hushed, less musical. Walker also leads on "Exanapanetooch," a track not included on the Broadway production, wisely cut. The bonus tracks are interesting footnotes and the interview with composer Galt MacDermot is informative, but not probably something I'd want to listen to repeatedly. Overall, the remastering and verve of the original Broadway cast performance make this an excellent release. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars

ON MY OWN August 24, 2003
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

Well, it's very difficult for me to say a word about it.
I was in 1979 the director of the Original Spanish Cast of HAIR in a pre-democratic era. For me Hair was the first "new" musical. The history of musicals are after and before Hair very different, the concept of what a musical must be, more than this, what theatre must be radically changed.
The music is really wonderfull with songs who was flags of a generation and a hundred versions of it (do you remenber Oliver's Good morning starshine?)
What more can I say? Go hurry, buy it and trausure it like a diamond,for many reasons (not only musicals) it's one of the five best ever.
I select this version because I dislike the Original soundtrack of the film a lot (Well, I hate the film too),and the Original London Cast don't have Rado and Ragni singing in it.
I have all of them , but if you must choose only one, this is the one to spend the money.
Don't you believe me? Well,explain me the success of RENT if HAIR never.......

5 out of 5 stars

Broadway's Original Rock Opera June 25, 2005
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

Before "Tommy", before "Godspell", and even before "Jesus Christ Superstar", there was "Hair", the "tribal rock" musical of the late-sixties.

Sure, the premise is highly dated now, but the score & lyrics provide an excellent sense of what was relevant/controversial due this time period ... and it generated several pop standards, including four Top 5 hits for other artists!

Noteable tracks include:

Aquarius [#1 hit for The 5th Dimension]
Manchester England
I Believe In Love
Hair [#2 hit for The Cowsills]
Easy To Be Hard [covered by Three Dog Night]
Be-In
Where Do I Go?
Black Boys/White Boys
Good Morning Starshine [Top 5 hit for Oliver]
The Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In) [included in The 5th Dimension's hit above]

A terrific score that introduced a new generation to theatre & introduced theatre-goers to a new generation!

5 out of 5 stars

Hair Still Rocks! March 6, 1999
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I first heard the soundtrack when I was way over in the Western Pacific in the Navy, during the 'Nam days. Man, the whole story and the songs made such an impression on me. When I got back to the States, I saw the play in Seattle, and it was absolutely one of the most liberating experiences of my life! What an uplifting story for such troubled times. The final song, "Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine in" still inspires me. The movie version lacked the optimism of the play.

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