The Addams Family

This album is silly nostalgic fun. Other commenters have noted, with some disappointment, that this is not sound clips from the show, and not just the show's incidental music. It seems to me like it's offering up full treatments of the show's incidental snippets, or it could be the other way around: the full songs from which the show drew for incidental music. Either way, it's fun to recognize music from the show, for all the cheesy, "Mizzy," sixties fun of it, la-las and all.I was a fan of the show when I was a kid (still am), and we had this in LP form. My siblings and I got a kick out of listening to it as kids, and it was a hoot to rediscover it on CD. When I was a kid, it was a cool realization that different characters had different musical themes associated with them. That added a little something to the show when I could recognize character themes.

Complete chronicle of the original series. Recommended!

A reimagining of The Addams Family directed by Barry Sonnenfeld for the big screen. Almost instantly one would think for sure that this would be prototypical Danny Elfman material. But alas for Elfman fans, the soundtrack scoring duties for this delightful Creep Fest of a flick went to composer Marc Shaiman, who is easily as gifted a melodist as Mr. Elfman, but in a more accessible manner. Mr. Shaiman himself, in the soundtrack's liner notes, makes mention of how hard pressed he was to understand how Danny Elfman DIDN'T end up scoring this movie. But when it comes right down to it, this is a wonderful soundtrack regardless of it's composer. It ranges from blissful operatic grandeur (think Gilbert and Sullivan by way of George Gershwin) to the unexpectedly romantic. Little treats for fans of the movie can be found in an extended version of the "Mamushka," the zany brother-brother duet from the film, and the screwball rendition of "Playmates" which will most certainly only be appreciated by those who can recall the point in the movie in which the song appears. But Mr. Shaiman's lyrical abilities are evident throughout the score tracks, and his ear for creative variations make the affair all the more listenable. The soaring Main Title theme is used several times in varying modes, but unlike some composers who live and die by one main theme, Mr. Shaiman incorperates two other prominent themes, and mixes them sumptuously together. This soundtrack is a feast for the ears. Those who've seen the movie will likely enjoy it more than a more casual listener, but much delight is to be derived from this wonderful soundtrack in either case. And fear not, finger snappers, the distinctive TV series theme is present as well, but in a way that is more for decoration than flavor. With all due respect to dear Mr. Elfman, I can't imagine this film without Marc Shaiman's graceful touch.

Don't be fooled. "The Addams Family T.V. Soundtrack" does NOT provide you with the original incidental music you hear during the broadcast version of the vintage 1964 television series. So, if you're a stickler for such things, you will be somewhat disappointed by this disc.That's especially true when the very first cut you hear is some instrumental version of the famed theme, played at a slow swing place complete with finger snaps and vocal ahs! Not a good beginning.But once you get past that first track, the disc rebounds nicely with the themes played for the various characters, which fans of the series will recognize immediately, despite not knowing the names of the tunes. "Uncle Fester's Blues" picks up the pace well. "Gomez" has an authentic sounding ring to it, if not for the female la-las added. "Morticia's Theme" is quite evocative and hypnotic. "Lurch's Theme" is fun, if not faster paced than you would expect.Generally, it's not a bad collection of Jazz songs, that have a decidedly Lawrence Welk tinge to them. But then again, they are presented here by the songsmith himself: Vic Mizzy and his Orchestra, which adds to the authenticity of the collection.The liner notes features a full color cover pic of the famed opening theme pose with the family in "snap" position, and small black and white production shots of each cast member and a forward by cartoonist Charles Addams.Huge fans of the series might be interested in this disc, since there is no other material like it out there, and people planning a Halloween party wanting some friendly background music might find this suitable, but everyone else should just wait for the series to eventually appear on DVD.

I've never seen the show, but I'm a big fan of Nathan Lane and of the Addams Family. The story itself is kind of bizarre, but hey, it's the Addams's family right? The songs are musical theatre at its best, songs sung by Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, and of course Uncle Fester. You have guests swimming with giant squid, people in love with the moon, and of course, dark, creepy, and frightfully fun at all stages of the play.One of my favorite songs is "Death is just around the Corner", sung by Morticia, sung by her when she gets depressed. For some reason it makes her happy thinking about Death.For those who are fans of the Addams, take a listen before buying, it may not be exactly to your liking. Yes, it is a bit sugar coated, but like black jellybeans, they have a bite.

I received the CD on Saturday.

Although a very fine recording by the composer himself, this are not the original soundtracks of the tv shows in the 60's

I had this on CD years and years ago and thought I would never see it again, but there it is.