CD REVIEW -
Josh Groban – CINEMATIC
Reprise
093624824114 [40:43]
The American
baritenor – also songwriter,
actor and philanthropist –
Josh Groban (b 1981) is
celebrated for his blend of
classical crossover and pop
styles, and since 2001 has sold
more than 35 million albums
worldwide. For many people,
especially in the USA, their go
to album at Christmas is 'Noël',
his biggest seller to date. He
first came to notice in 1998 when
he stood in for Andrea Bocelli to
sing "The Prayer"
with Celine Dion at the Grammy
rehearsals.
For this, his
latest album, he goes to the
cinema. The first track of ten
given the Groban treatment is the
famous Herman Hupfield song "As
time goes by" included
in the film 'Casablanca'. It was
also the signature tune of the
well-loved eponymous TV sitcom
starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey
Palmer.
The Adele
Adkins/Paul Epworth "Skyfall"
from the same name film was the
first James Bond theme to ever
win an Oscar for best original
song. "Brucia la
Terra" is a Sicilian
ballad with music by Nino Rota
from the widely acclaimed film
'The Godfather'. Elton John/Tim
Rice wrote "Can you feel
the love tonight" for
'The Lion King' and Groban is
accompanied here by the Gay Men's
Chorus of Los Angeles.
"When you
wish upon a star" from
the 'Pinocchio' (1940 film)
became the Disney Anthem and the
first to win an Academy Award. "Unchained
Melody" is one of my
favourite songs. I did not know
that it comes from the 1990 fllm
'Ghost'. It is in duet form here
with Jennifer Hudson, an American
Oscar-winning actress,
Grammy-winning singer and
best-selling author. "Remember
Me" is from a largely
forgettable film of the same
name.
The singer
revealed on the BBC's 'The One
Show' that his favourite track
was the Mancini/Mercer "Moon
River" from 'Breakfast
at Tiffany's' – where it was
especially written for Audrey
Hepburn to sing – featuring
the trumpet playing of his
father, Jack. Phil Collins wrote "Against
all odds (Take a look at me
now)" for the 1984 film
'Against All Odds' and won the
Grammy for Best Pop Vocal
Performance, Male. "Stand by
me", again for a same name
film, was written by Ben E
King/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller
based on a gospel hymn and
originally performed by King.
The album was
produced by Canadian man about
music Greg Wells (known for
'Wicked' and 'The Greatest
Showman'), who is responsible for
the album's opulent orchestral
sound. Among the arrangers are
Callum Au and Vince Mendoza.
Groban is one of
the good guys and his Find Your
Light Foundation (established
after a visit to Nelson Mandela)
focuses exclusively on funding
arts programmes for children
around the United States.
Fine singing but
surely Warner Records should have
included more of it. The digipak
booklet lists all the musicians
for each track but in such small
print your reviewer was not able
to read them without a magnifying
glass. There are no background
notes on the songs or films.
©
Peter Burt, May 2026
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