In Spite of Reason

a Pop Musical Drama about Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War is now available on double CD with booklet written by John Doucetteand Tony Cavallo. Lincoln, Abraham, Cavallo, Doucette, Civil, War, civil war,

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fords, ford's theater, evita, proclamation, instrumentation, assassination, emancipation, lyrics A Pop Musical Drama Based on the life of Abraham

Lincoln during the Civil War by John Doucette and Tony Cavallo vailable

now on double CD music set with complete 48 page booklet UPC

#7-06336-05012-1 ----- SPARX Product #SECD50501 Selection  Index

In Spite of Reason

This independently produced CD concept album is a pop musical / drama

based on the life of President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

It is presented as a sung-through musical portrayal of the personal

trials and tribulations of one of the most well known figures in history.Although it can be called a pop rock opera,

In Spite of Reason

can also be labeled as a pop musical drama with rock overtones and intelligent lyrics that entice the mind into thought. It has been

described as listening to a cross between modern adult new age

alternative, Jesus Christ Superstar and the Beatles,

culminating into it's own unique sound. This is an album that

will appeal to those who have embraced and enjoy the diverse pop

music of the last 30 years. The intent of In Spite of Reason is not to merely recapitulate the fiddles, fifes, banjos and drums of civil

war songs, but instead, to weave a tapestry of modern music as a

soundbed to storytelling ( an art form almost completely unheard

of today ). This musical work does not attempt to be highbrowed nor rudimentary. All lyrics are sung in styles that are mildly reflective

of stage presentation, yet enjoyable by modern radio audiences.Those interested in history, as well as fans of pop musical concept albums

such as Tommy or Evita, theatre, story music and even modern musical

stage enthusiasts will find In Spite of Reason a refreshingly new presentation of this famous story. It attempts to maintain major

historical accuracy of events and even uses words and phrases actually

said by the portrayed individuals.This "Original Studio Cast",

90 minute, double CD album is accompanied with a 48 page booklet

containing all the lyrics. Reviews Reprinted with the Kind Permission

of Rock Beat International Magazine This is a pop/rock opera about

Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. It was written by John Doucette

and Tony Cavallo and is sung by a variety of singers. Obviously,

translating the events of the Civil War into a musical format is

a very ambitious and difficult undertaking, but Doucette and Cavallo

pull it off quite admirably. The songs are written in the voices of

a variety of characters - Lincoln, his wife Mary, members of Lincoln's cabinet, General McClellan, a slave couple named George and Janie, and

John Wilkes Booth. This allows for the expression of a variety of

viewpoints on the events of the war. At the same time the songs fit

together very neatly into a coherent narrative. Musically, the songs are a hybrid of pop, rock and theatrical music, with primarily rock oriented

instrumentation. The work contains several outstanding songs. One of

the best is "Loss of a Child", a beautiful melancholy ballad about

the loss of the Lincoln's son, Willie, sung as a duet between Lincoln

and Mary. Equally great is "Suddenly It's Peaceful", a gorgeous ballad marking the end of the war and the calm before Lincoln's assassination,

also sung as a duet between Lincoln and Mary. Heide Lee, who sings the

part of Mary Lincoln, turns in excellent performances on both numbers.

Other highlights include another strong ballad, "Reborn", the mournful dirge, "Still got a whip", and the victory celebration,

"Long Live Abraham". In Spite of Reason succeeds admirably in offering

a musical portrayal of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Copyright 1996 Rock Beat International Reprinted with the Kind Permission of  ShowMusic Magazine Although the cover of IN SPITE of REASON (Sparx Echo Productions SECD50501; 46:25/43:04) states it is the "Original Cast Recording", there

is no evidence in it's enclosed booklet that this pop rock musical has yet been staged. John Doucette and Tony Cavallo, authors of the lyrics and music, have attempted to personalize the Civil War and subsequent events leading to the Emancipation Proclamation, primarily through President Abraham Lincoln's viewpoint. It is a lot to condense into a musical (and

may actually be more appropriate to opera). But Doucette and Cavallo

manage to keep their focus, in spite of the temptation to go epic with battle scenes, lovers parted, and other wartime cliches we've seen in movies. They even end their story as Lincoln and his wife leave for

Ford's Theatre on that fateful night, instead of taking it to a too

obvious conclusion. There are Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar influences

to be heard along the way, to be sure. However, those who like those musicals might just find things to like in this one, too. It's performed

by Doucette (as Lincoln), Cavallo (Secretary of War Edward Stanton),

Dave Marsh (the Narrator), Shawn Doyle (General McClellan), Heide Lee

(Mary Lincoln), Ekello Harrid (in the dual roles of the President's secretary and George, a slave), Tarra Cariaso (George's lover), and

Gordon Holder (John Wilkes Booth). Copyright 1995 ShowMusic CD Music

Clips Sound samples now available Hi-Fidelity Stereo CD Recordings

create very large digital files that are not suitable for downloading.

The edited multi-song samples presented here have been reduced to MONO

with 11 Kilobytes samples/second and 8 bit resolution. Each sample is approximately 30 seconds long. Music Clip 1-wav  ( 439KB ) Music Clip

2-wav  ( 351KB ) Music Clip 3-wav  ( 352KB  ) MP3 Files for several

songs are listed below. Song samples are from 25 to 45 seconds long. Reborn-mp3  ( 628KB  ) Shirt and Tie-mp3  ( 532KB  )

How Does the World Look Through His Eyes-mp3  ( 580KB  )

Suddenly It's Peaceful-mp3  ( 614KB  )

Forward to Richmond-mp3  ( 643KB  ) Flex of One Finger-mp3  ( 313KB  )

Means Nothing If You Ain't With Me-mp3  ( 678KB  ) Where To Buy You can order In Spite of Reason  from any of these fine Companies (listed in

random order) Footlight Records Large, in stock selection of original

cast and film soundtracks. Mail and phone orders accepted (212)533-1572 Fax: (212)673-1496 113 E. 12th Street, New York, N.Y. 1003 Email: footlight@aol.com Website: www.footlight.com Nathan Muchnick Inc. Specializing in Compact Discs featuring great performers and hard to

find labels. Toll free (800)373-9873 ( 215)564-0209 Fax: (215)564-0697

1725 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Email: nmicd@aol.com Dress Circle Greatest Showbiz Shop, Video's CD's Books, Libretti, Tapes, Sheet Music and West End / Broadway related product available. in US (011-44) 0-171 240-2227 or (011-44) 0-171 836-8279 FAX: (011-44) 0-171 379-8540

57/59 Monmouth Street, Upper St. Martin's Lane London WC2H 9DC * United Kingdom Email: 100607.2544@compuserve.com Website: www.dresscircle.co.uk Sound of Music The only mailorder service for musical and showmusic CDs

in continental Europe. Delivering shipments all over the world. Phone

and Fax: +49 201 721381 Schornstr. 33, D-45128 ESSEN, Germany Email: 100710.417@compuserve.com Website: sound of music Sound Track Album Retailers Specializing in original cast and film soundtracks Phone and

Fax: (717)656-0121 PO Box 487,  New Holland PA 17557 Email: star@cdsgroup.com Website: www.soundtrak.com Cabaret Connection Making

your living room the best Cabaret in town with over 150 artists

represented. Mail and phone orders accepted Toll free (888)666-DIVA 212)961-1106 275 West 96th Street, Suite 32d, New York NY 10025 All

Music Services Special order and search service specializing in vocals, shows, soundtracks and offbeat items. Mail and phone orders accepted (415)864-8222 Fax: (415)864-7222 530 14th Street #9, San Francisco, CA

94103 Original Cast Records Wonderful selection of unique soundtrack and show music CDs, wholesale distribution of "In Spite of Reason" Mail and phone orders accepted Toll free: (888)627-3993 203)544-8288 P.O. Box

496, Georgetown, CT 06829 Email: info@originalcastrecords.com Website: www.originalcastrecords.com Partial Online Catalog: Original Cast

Also available - through - the following www.towerrecords.com www.virginrecords.com www.tunes.com www.cdnow.com www.amazon.com The

Wall Records www.recordtownonline.com Or you can order direct from SPARX Echo Productions

P.O. Box 326 Dept P

Glen Burnie,  MD 21060 USA For more information or questions on our liberal LICENSING check perusal info file of "In Spite of Reason" send email to: sales@sparxecho.com

You can also reach us at our mailing address. SPARX Echo Productions  -  P.O. BOX 326 Glen Burnie,  MD 21060  USA Related Sites

Jill Hobgood's Theatricopia Kathie Fraser's Civil War Music & Poetry

Jim Janke's The Civil War: Resources on the Internet http://www.janke.washcoll.edu/civilwar/civilwar.htm Rhoda Snellar's Lincoln Online http://www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html Henry Sachwald's Theatretrack http://www.netspace.net.au/~hensach Don Linke's   Rock Musicals http://www.donlinke.com/musicals Musicals Net http://musicals.net London Theatre Cast Recording Lists http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/cast-recordings Playbill Online Magazine http://www1.playbill.com Lost Musicals Lost Musicals Online http://www.lostmusicals.com Z - Productions Listings Musicals Related Web Sites http://www.zmusical.com/links.htm Meowser Online Extravaganza http://www.meowser.com/musicals/ Collaboration Connection Collaboration Connection http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1388/collab.html Steve Ekblad's Audio Related Internet Web & FTP Sites http://www.qnx.com/~danh/info.html IN SPITE of REASON - ©® Copyright 1995 Doucette and Cavallo Copyright  1995 - 2005  SPARX  Echo  Productions