Hairspray [Decca]

Based on the Broadway musical (which was based on the 1988 film by John Waters), the 2007 film adaptation of HAIRSPRAY finds the story coming full circle back to the silver screen. Driven by the star power of Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, and John Travolta (who steals the show with his dressed-in-drag performance as the protagonist's mother), the film features all the upbeat, foot-stomping songs that made the Broadway production such a hit, including "Good Morning Baltimore," "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs," and "Big, Blonde, and Beautiful."
Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the authors of the original show, wrote three new songs for the film: "New Girl in Town," "Come So Far," and the single-worthy "Ladies' Choice," and these tunes blend (in quality and in character) with the originals. Likewise, songs from the original Broadway production that do not appear in the film, including "Cooties" and "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" appear here in new versions. Fans may quibble over the relative merits of the stage version verses the screen, but both should enjoy these energetic performances of HAIRSPRAY's familiar songs.