Different Stages
The titleDifferent Stagescertainly describes the career of the multitalentedSam Harris, the singer-writer-actor who has distinguished himself in a variety of mediums all over the world. This album was recorded in 1994, about when he was earning a Drama Desk nomination for his role as Doody in Tommy Tune'sGrease, and accordingly, it celebrates the songs of Broadway. Sorry, fans, there's nothing fromJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, but the too-brief 35 minutes does include some groundwork for his1999 gospel albumwith an a cappella quintet rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," as well as the rousing "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" fromGuys and Dolls. There are also some scrumptious ballads, including Harris's own "Never Will She Answer" (written with Bruce H. Newberg forHurry! Hurry! Hollywood!), "A Quiet Thing" fromFlora the Red Menace, and "Who Can I Turn To," which would be reprised with bombast on his 1997standards album, also arranged and conducted by Peter Matz. (Hey, we got all the way through this review without mentioningStar Search!)--David Horiuchi