Center Stage (Helen Reddy album)


Center Stage is the sixteenth studio album by Australian-American pop singer Helen Reddy that was released in 1998 by Varèse Sarabande. Reddy describes the album as the perfect melding of two areas of her career: "the recording studio and the theatrical stage. I tried to select songs from various songwriters in different eras. I've also included a song from each of the musical shows I've performed in."

Singles

The album version of "Surrender" and a longer dance version were released together as a CD single but did not have any appearances on Billboard's Hot 100 or Adult Contemporary charts. Of the album version, Reddy writes, "Andrew Lloyd Webber is very rigid about his songs being sung exactly as written. I gave him his due in the first pass at this song from Sunset Boulevard. However, my need for self-expression found its voice in the second half."

Reception

Joe Viglione of Allmusic described the album as "masterful" and writes, "The song selection is tremendous, and the performance is a milestone for a singer who has already conquered other formats. Center Stage is a delightful treat and will be a considered a classic years down the road, on that you can be sure." Billboard clarifies, "It's not that she has refashioned her vocal approach -- it remains an affecting ballad voice. But it's employed in the interest here of classy, mostly rarely recorded ballads from the world of musical theater." They conclude, "Reddy makes daring choices throughout this album and meets the challenge every time."

Track listing

  1. "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" from Anything Goes – 3:06
  2. "I Still Believe in Love" from They're Playing Our Song – 3:04
  3. "A Boy Like You" from Street Scene – 2:38
  4. "The Writing's on the Wall" from Drood – 2:41
  5. "With Every Breath I Take" from City of Angels – 3:25
  6. "Knowing When to Leave" from Promises, Promises – 2:10
  7. "Love, Look Away" from Flower Drum Song – 4:02
  8. "Surrender" from Sunset Boulevard – 3:46
  9. "You're Just in Love" from Call Me Madam – 4:25
  10. "Tell Me It's Not True" from Blood Brothers – 4:05
  11. "Speak Low" from One Touch of Venus – 3:52
  12. "My Friend" from The Life – 3:26
  13. "Fifty Percent" from Ballroom – 3:26
  14. "The Party's Over" from Bells Are Ringing – 2:59

    Personnel