Italian eurodance producer Mark Farina and his Factory Team remake and megamix 24 popular tracks from numerous hit musicals of the past several decades. If you're a fan of the Almighty cover collections or Rochelle, you'll want to check out the two-disc Let's Hear It For Broadway Vol. 1.
We Will Rock You's "Who Wants to Live Forever" is the cream of the crop on Disc 1. This track's talented female vocalist and beautiful energetic programming are outstanding- better than Dune's version. Male vocal-fronted "Losing My Mind" (Follies) draws you in with some hot heavy bass and a catchy melody balanced with some happy keyboard, while not being too long.
"This is the Moment" (from Jekyll & Hyde) is by musical-cover veteran Harajuku. Here strong high energy music, strings, and orchestral undergirding support operatic female vocals.
Disc 2 is bursting with the best material- the most exciting being 80s Murray Head hit "One Night in Bangkok" (also from Chess). The groovin' programming with have you out of your chair right away. The club mixes of Harajuku's "Phantom of the Opera" and "Colours of the Wind" don't stray too far from the originals, but are longer and shine with a somewhat fuller and updated sound.
I grew up on Grease's spunky "You're the One That I Want," and this version does it justice. We get all the fun of the original wrapped in tasty eurodance programming- hooky synth instrumental transitions and a peppy bassline. "Dancing Queen" stands up strong against the Abbacadabra version, and "Copacabana" is a delight with its black male lead vocals and superstacked female bgv's blended with some dark, driving dance music.
Finally, we have a stompin' eurodance version of Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" (Footloose)—chick-rock vocals and churning eurodance abandon. Even though this Italian import is being made available domestically through select retailers, try to get a listen as the price runs in the mid-$20s. Overall, an admirable collection. Can't wait to see Vol. 2.
Released June 24, 2008 on Saifam/Atlantis
