Considering the length and breadth of her career,
Chita Rivera's first collection of Broadway hits was a long time coming. Released as part of the
Legends of Broadway series, the disc features 16 tracks pulled from the original cast recordings of West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Bajour, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. The compilation provides a nice selection of songs from
Rivera's Broadway career, chief among them the healthy helping of highlights from Chicago, including "All That Jazz." Hardcore fans will appreciate the detailed liner notes, which include an original interview with
Rivera and photographs of the artist.
Legends of Broadway has provided a good overview of
Rivera's repertoire for armchair Broadway enthusiasts, but the relatively scattered offerings here will probably leave her die-hard fans hungry for more. ~ Margaret Reges