Stephen Schwartz, Reluctant Pilgrim - 47m 39s

Tracks & Durations

1. Dreamscape	4:57
2. Crowded Island	3:51
3. So Far	4:02
4. More Than This	3:59
5. Life Goes On	5:51
6. The Hardest Part of Love	3:35
7. Prestidigitation	5:45
8. Ten-Day Heartbreak	4:16
9. Code of Silence	3:57
10. Snapshots	4:03
11. Cactus Flowers	3:15

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Review

In 1999, The Stephen Schwartz Album collected hit songs from shows and films such as Godspell, Pippin, and The Prince of Egypt, interpreted by a variety of Broadway stars. Yet many listeners were surprised to find that the most moving track was Schwartz himself performing "Fathers and Sons" from Working. Reluctant Pilgrim captures Schwartz performing vocals and keyboards on a set of highly personal songs, a result of a challenge from fellow songwriter John Bucchino to write songs based on his own experiences rather than those of his shows' characters. The result is 11 excellent pop songs punctuated by rollicking Bruce Hornsby-esque piano riffs, beautiful melodic lines, and a dash of old-time rock & roll, highlighted by the opening "Dreamscape" (discussing the perils of unknown roads) and the ballads "Life Goes On" (saying goodbye to a deceased friend) and "Code of Silence" (chronicling an empty relationship). Schwartz has an immediately appealing voice, and the band and soulful backup vocals are solid. This is a somewhat surprising but highly enjoyable find for Stephen Schwartz fans. --David HoriuchiOscar and Grammy-winning songwriter Stephen Schwartz, composer and lyricist f Godspell and Pippin, Lyricist of Disney's Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and composer and lyricist of DreamWork's Prince of Egypt, has recently released his first solo CD, Reluctant Pilgrim. Stephen, who is providing the music and lyrics for Disney's up-coming Geppetto, wrote and sung all 11 songs on Reluctant Pilgrim. In addition, he plays keyboards on the CD as well and is joined by a small group of New York's finest pop musicians and back-up vocalists.

For the many fans familiar with Stephen's Broadway and film work, this CD shows a new side of the songwriter and may surprise some. But if the tunes are more pop-oriented than expected, the lyrics still contain Stephen Schwartz's accustomed honesty, wit, and sharpness of observation. The songs rage from funny (as in "Crowded Island" a mordant reflection on looking for love in New York City) to hopeful (as in "So Far", the tale of a relationship which has survived bumps and bruises) to poignant (as in "Life Goes On", a memory of a friend who died of AIDS) to downright weird (as in "Prestidigitation", the strange tale of a down-and-out magician with one last great trick up his sleeve.) Other highlights are the parent's lament "The Hardest Part of Love", the ode to second chances, "Cactus Flowers", and the evocative "Dreamscape", which provides the CD with it's title line: "Time to sail, reluctant pilgrim/My fear is all I've got to lose/Life is nothing/Nothing but a dreamscape, and the dream is mine to choose." The songs are all passionate, thought-provoking, memorable and above all, entertaining.

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