The Wiz [Original Cast Recording] (1975)

About this title: The Wiz original cast recording is a joyous, vibrant celebration of life, couched in the fantastic terms of a modernized retelling of The Wizard of Oz, with an entirely black cast. And it is fantastic in both senses -- both fantasy-based, like the children's story by L. Frank Baum that it is born from, and also superbly performed. This version far outshines the movie soundtrack (despite the movie having such big-name draws as Diana Ross and Michael Jackson). In this 1975 release, Stephanie Mills is an absolute delight as Dorothy and Andre De Shields is an engaging, rascally Wiz. The songs are ... read more

Tracks:

1. Prologue [Smalls]
2. The Feeling We Once Had [Smalls]
3. Tornado [Graphenreed/Wheeler]
4. He's the Wizard [Smalls]
5. Soon as I Get Home [Smalls]
6. I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday [Smalls]
7. Ease on Down the Road [Smalls]
8. Slide Some Oil to Me [Smalls]
9. I'm a Mean Ole Lion [Smalls]
10. Be a Lion [Smalls]
11. So You Wanted to See the Wizard [Smalls]
12. What Would I Do If I Could Feel [Smalls]
13. Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News [Smalls]
14. Everybody Rejoice [Vandross]
15. Y'All Got It! [Smalls]
16. If You Believe [Smalls]
17. Home (Finale) [Smalls]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.