The Civil War (1998 Studio Cast)

"The Civil War" is undoubtedly an awesome and moving listening experience. I was blown away by some of the material, and the whole collection is extremely entertaining. Mr. Wildhorn and associates are to be commended for this effort. The highlights of this two disc set: All the songs by the Broadway All-Stars (a great vocal exercise!); "If Prayin Were Horses," by Cheryl Freeman and Michel Bell; "Virginia," by Gene Miller; Travis Tritt's surprisingly good rendition of "The Day the Sun Stood Still,"; Linda Eder's reading of "A Nurse's Diary" and the subsequent vocalization of "I Never Knew His Name" are heartwrenching! "Old Gray Coat" by Trace Adkins is a moving treatise on a Rebel's love for his cause; Amy Grant and Bryan White offer "With These Hands," one of the best vocal jobs either artist has recorded; Michael English soars on "Regimental Drummer," another tear-bringing song;...Read more

I fell in love with Frank Wildhorn's "The Civil War" the very second I listened to the first track, as I made my way home to Virginia, from a visit to NYC. This CD not only taught me a thing or two about the Civil War, but also created a new appreciation for the 620,000 casualties of the war, and an understanding of the time period itself. Being able to take yourself back in time, feel the pain they went through, and appreciate every detail through music. Here, I think Frank Wildhorn nailed it.

I am a Civil War buff who had the pleasure of seeing the play in Cincinnati with a fellow history teacher. We both were so entranced by the magnificent score and haunting lyrics that we bought the CD. The mixture of musical styles makes this a CD that will appeal to a cross section of music lovers and students of history alike. We are planning on incorporating this CD into our Civil War unit for 8th grade students. We feel the varied points of view explored in the lyrics and narrations will be an invaluable and memorable way to make the Civil War come alive for our students. On a more personal note, I can not get some of the lyrics "out of my head." They haunt me, especially MISSING YOU, FREEDOM'S CHILD, and BROTHER, MY BROTHER. I have told my colleagues, friends, and family about this CD, and encouraged them to buy it. I have also bought several extra copies for gifts. I don't know anyone who could not find something to suit their taste on this CD. Don't pass...Read more