Bombshell (Smash album)

Last updated
Bombshell
Smash cast - Bombshell.jpg
Soundtrack album by
Smash cast
ReleasedFebruary 12, 2013
Recorded2011–2012
Genre Pop
Label Columbia [1]
Producer Marc Shaiman, Scott M. Riesett [2]
Smash cast chronology
The Music of Smash
(2012)		Bombshell
(2013)

Bombshell is the second soundtrack album by the cast of the American musical television series Smash . It was released by Columbia Records on February 12, 2013. [3] and sold 16,000 copies in its first week. [4] As of the week ending March 3, 2013, it has sold 26,000 copies. [5]

Contents

Background

This is the second album released for the show, the first one being The Music of Smash . It was released by Columbia Records on February 12, 2013. The album was released in standard and deluxe versions. The standard version features 22 songs, all originals, divided into two acts. The deluxe version being sold at Target features an interview with songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and versions of three of the songs by different singers than on the standard version.

The Soundtrack features songs from both season 1 and season 2. The 22 original songs make up the musical, complete with liner notes detailing the plot of Bombshell. [6] On January 6, 2013 the 22 tracks that would make the final cut were revealed online. [7] Three days later on January 9 the release date of the soundtrack was revealed. [8]

While the original songs from season 1 mostly amounted to Act one numbers only, the majority of the then-unreleased songs made up Act 2, thereby fleshing out the story. [9]

Track listing

Act One
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."Let Me Be Your Star (Extended Intro)" (featuring Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty) Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman Original composition3:43
2."At Your Feet" (featuring Bernadette Peters & Sophia Caruso)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:44
3."Smash!" (featuring Megan Hilty & Katharine McPhee)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:15
4."Never Give All the Heart" (featuring Katharine McPhee)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:11
5."The 20th Century Fox Mambo" (featuring Katharine McPhee)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:42
6."The National Pastime" (featuring Megan Hilty)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:33
7."History Is Made at Night" (featuring Megan Hilty & Will Chase)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition4:20
8."I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love to Howl" (featuring Megan Hilty & Debra Messing, Nick Jonas, Will Chase, Jaime Cepero)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:45
9."Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (featuring Megan Hilty & Will Chase)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:34
10."Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking" (featuring Christian Borle)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:42
11."On Lexington & 52nd Street" (featuring Will Chase)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:09
12."Cut, Print...Moving On" (featuring Katharine McPhee)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:06
Act Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
13."Public Relations" (featuring Katharine McPhee & Christian Borle)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:58
14."Dig Deep" (featuring Megan Hilty with Henry Stram, Phillip Spaeth, Wesley Taylor)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:36
15."Second Hand White Baby Grand" (featuring Megan Hilty)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition4:17
16."They Just Keep Moving the Line" (featuring Megan Hilty)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:56
17."Let's Be Bad" (featuring Megan Hilty)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:02
18."The Right Regrets" (featuring Debra Messing & Christian Borle)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:34
19."(Let's Start) Tomorrow Tonight" (featuring Leslie Odom Jr., Christian Borle, Wesley Taylor, Savannah Wise)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:55
20."Our Little Secret" (featuring Julian Ovenden & Katharine McPhee)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition2:42
21."Hang the Moon" (featuring Bernadette Peters & Megan Hilty)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition4:45
22."Don't Forget Me" (featuring Katharine McPhee)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:14
Target Deluxe Edition (Bonus disc) [10]
No.TitleWriter(s)Original artistLength
1."An Interview With the Songwriters" (featuring Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman)Shaiman, WittmanInterview9:21
2."Smash! (Demo)" (featuring Jane Krakowski)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition1:58
3."Never Give All the Heart (From Pilot)" (featuring Megan Hilty)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition3:12
4."Second Hand White Baby Grand (Demo)" (featuring Christine Ebersole)Shaiman, WittmanOriginal composition4:16

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Heather Phares of Allmusic described the album release as "a smart move", arguing that the original songs written for the in-universe Marilyn Monroe musical of the same name "were among the most vibrant [on the show], capturing the passion that fuels staging a Broadway show". She adds that "Bombshell plays like a true original cast recording, tracing the show's plot in its liner notes and separating its songs into acts". She notes that while one of the major plot-points of the first season was over whether Karen or Ivy would end up playing the lead role, "the cast recording features both wannabe Marilyns, allowing each performer to play to her strengths, whether they're singing together, as on Let Me Be Your Star, or separate". She sums up the faux cast recording by saying, "even if Bombshell isn't a real Broadway musical, it hits all the notes a production like this should, and showcases the most appealing parts of Smash in the process". [11]

Haley H of StageDoorDish says, "Bombshell is big, it’s bold, and it’s flashy—with a little sentiment thrown in. Exactly what you would expect from a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe and her professional and personal triumphs and pitfalls". She adds that "the previously unheard tracks [later performed throughout season 2] help to complete the plot, with less focus being placed on the “Joe DiMaggio years”, with songs featuring Marilyn’s other romantic interests...as well as Marilyn’s mother and her childhood, [thereby giving] listeners...the complete Marilyn Monroe story". She says that "Bombshell’s main goal is to give a peek behind the curtain at Marilyn Monroe’s life" and that "with the addition of new numbers, the listener is given that opportunity and more of a chance to connect with a different side of Marilyn. A side that is more human and less iconic...[but also] doesn’t let the listener forget the sexier and popularized version of Marilyn". She concludes by saying "Bombshell’s songs are both catchy and heartwarming. The score ranges from a string accompaniment to a jazzy sax number, and sounds akin to the classic Broadway style of music. With the perfect combination of new songs and fan favorites, like “History Is Made at Night,” Bombshell will leave you begging for the show to come to Broadway." [12]

Daphne Miller of Idolator said, "Shaiman and Wittman clearly know what they're doing and the references to Monroe's life are amusing, but as a story told through music, Bombshell simply doesn’t stand up on its own." She says later on that "despite [the album's] firepower, Bombshell just isn’t a quality musical. The album has a few fun tracks and is better than the watered-down covers on the initial Smash release, but it’s not worth owning". Comparing the release with a similar soundtrack by the cast of Nashville, Miller commented, "Both shows are frothy diversions, but the country jams on the Nashville soundtrack transcend the soapiness and cohere into a truly enjoyable album. With Smash, the campiness makes the generic melodies actually sing, but the flipside is that Bombshell doesn’t have legs when, well, you’re not staring at a great pair of legs." [13]

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 [14] 43
U.S. Billboard Soundtracks [15] 3

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<i>Smash</i> (TV series) 2012 American television series

Smash is an American musical drama television series created by playwright Theresa Rebeck and developed by Robert Greenblatt for NBC. Steven Spielberg served as one of the executive producers. The series was broadcast in the US by NBC and produced by DreamWorks Television and Universal Television. The series revolves around a fictional New York City theater community and specifically the creation of a new Broadway musical. It features a large ensemble cast, led by Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Katharine McPhee, Christian Borle, Megan Hilty, and Anjelica Huston.

<i>The Music of Smash</i> 2012 soundtrack album by Smash cast

The Music of Smash is the first soundtrack album by the cast of the American musical television series Smash. It was released by Columbia Records on May 1, 2012 and sold 39,000 copies in its first week. As of June 27, 2012, it has sold 112,000 copies.

"Let Me Be Your Star" is an original song introduced in the first episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "Pilot". It was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's universe, it was written by songwriting duo Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for the Marilyn Monroe musical they are working on, Bombshell.

"I Never Met a Wolf Who Didn't Love to Howl" is an original song introduced in the fourth episode of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "The Cost of Art". The song is written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's universe, it was written by the songwriting duo Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"Second Hand White Baby Grand" is an original song introduced in the twelfth episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "Publicity". The song was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but within the show's universe, it is written by songwriting team Julia Houston and Tom Levitt for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell. The song, with Megan Hilty's vocals, was initially released as a single from iTunes and from Amazon.com's MP3 store, and is on the cast album Bombshell.

"On Lexington & 52nd Street" is an original song introduced in the seventh episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "The Workshop". The song is written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's universe, it is written by the songwriting team of Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"Don't Say Yes Until I Finish Talking" is an original song introduced in the tenth episode of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "Understudy". The song is written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's universe, it is written by the songwriting team of Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"The National Pastime" is an original song introduced in the first episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "Pilot". The song was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's universe, it was written by songwriting duo Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"History Is Made at Night" is an original song introduced in the fourth episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "The Cost of Art". It was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but within the show's universe, it was written by the songwriting team of Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"Never Give All the Heart" is an original song introduced in the first episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, titled "Pilot".

"Don't Forget Me" is an original song introduced in the fifteenth episode of the first season of the musical TV series "Smash", entitled "Bombshell". It was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's fictional universe, it was written by the songwriting team of Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"The 20th Century Fox Mambo" is an original song introduced in the second episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "The Callback". It was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but in the show's universe, it was written by songwriting team Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for their Marilyn Monroe musical Bombshell.

"On Broadway" is the sixteenth episode and the second-season premiere of the American musical drama television series Smash. The episode was written by Joshua Safran and directed by Michael Morris. It premiered on NBC on February 5, 2013. Bombshell returns to New York in hopes of landing a theater for its Broadway debut, but a new scandal puts its fate in jeopardy.

"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" is an original song introduced in the third episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "Enter Mr. DiMaggio". It was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but within the show's universe, it was written by the songwriting team of Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for the Bombshell musical they are working on about Marilyn Monroe.

"Dig Deep" is an original song introduced in the eleventh episode of the first season of the musical TV series Smash, entitled "The Movie Star". It was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, but within the show's universe, it was written by the songwriting team of Tom Levitt and Julia Houston for the Bombshell musical they are working on about Marilyn Monroe.

Smash is an American musical-drama television series created by playwright Theresa Rebeck. It premiered in the United States on NBC on February 6, 2012. The series revolves around a fictional New York theater community making new Broadway musicals. In the first season, the focus was on the making of Bombshell, a musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. In the second season, the show was split between taking Bombshell to Broadway and the creation and mounting of a contemporary pop musical called Hit List that was about the price of fame. Other fictional musicals that were touched on for which original songs were performed include Beautiful and Liaisons. A few of the songs were written for events outside of the aforementioned musicals.

<i>Hit List</i> (musical) 2013 American musical

Hit List is an American musical with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Drew Gasparini, Joe Iconis, Andrew McMahon, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and Lucie Silvas and a book by Julia Brownell, based on the original fictitious musical from the second season of the NBC television series Smash.

Bombshell is an American musical with book by Patrik Komljenović, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman based on the original fictitious musical from the first season of the NBC television series Smash. The songs include soulful jazz anthems and upbeat pop songs. Bombshell is the life story of Marilyn Monroe. It tells the story of the aspiring starlet who transforms herself into a worldwide sex symbol, including her early life and her alleged affair with American President John F. Kennedy. Despite the same name, and subject matter, this musical from SMASH is unrelated to the Off-Broadway musical from 2001 which ran at the Grove Street Playhouse.

References

  1. ↑ "Bombshell". Amazon Germany. 2013.
  2. ↑ "Smash: Bombshell Soundtrack CD Album". Cduniverse.com.
  3. ↑ "'Bombshell' Getting Its Own Album". Huffington Post. January 7, 2013.
  4. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (2013-02-20). "Grammy sales boost Carrie Underwood above 'Idol' pack". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  5. ↑ Mansfield, Brian (2013-03-06). "'Idol' sales report: Underwood, Phillips, Clarkson, etc". USAToday.com. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Smash Bombshell Soundtrack | Smash | NBC". Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  7. ↑ "'Smash' at TCA: 'Bombshell' soundtrack coming, more season 2 details". Hypable.com. 7 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2013-02-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "NBC Releases SMASH's 'Bombshell' Cast Recording Today". Broadwayworld.com.
  10. ↑ "'Bombshell' Soundtrack From NBC Hit 'Smash' To Be Released February 12, 2013". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Bombshell - Smash Cast | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  12. ↑ "Stage Door Dish » 'Smash': 'Bombshell' soundtrack is not to be forgotten". stagedoordish.com. 2013-02-12.
  13. ↑ "Smashville: We Compare the 'Smash' and 'Nashville' Soundtracks". Idolator.com. 5 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard .
  15. ↑ "Soundtracks Chart". Billboard .
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