Original Broadway Cast
Annie (Columbia 34712)

Here's where a lot of people who have been thinking "I can't tell if these people are visionaries or fools" will slap their foreheads and say "I knew it!" How can the same review system that reveres Blue Note jazz and mocks virtually every children's chorus album it can find grant a favorable review to Annie?!

I'm just as shocked as you are. I bought a used copy of this LP fully intending to pepper the review with unrestricted barbs and the usual round of scorn. However, this is damn affecting music. The sheer winningness of the cast (especially Andrea McCardle as the original Annie) and the shameless optimism of the melodies make for a great record.

Now, I'm fully aware most people are waiting for the punchline, or wincing at the thought of actively listening to "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya! Tomorrow!" To those people I recommend putting on "The Hard Knock Life" and really listening. This is an incredible song! The rest of the score is similarly full of pseudo-'30s big band showstoppers. Not every song succeeds, but I was surprised to find that I couldn't effectively lambaste anything on the album.

I'd hardly say I would listen to this all the time, but in some ways I have to give it props for being the titan of child vocalist albums. Plus, there's plenty of Broadway cheese to keep the opening night queen in all of us amply sated. Now if you'll excuse me, tomorrow is only a day away.

Marginally interesting: Danielle Brisebois in the cast of orphans; her '90s recording forays would not be quite as successful. The CD reissue adds a few songs, including songwriting demos, so it's easier to justify having it on CD for "archival" purposes, in case you aren't ready to admit you truly like Annie.

Loud Bassoon rating scale

Review by Ed Orleans