SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE was a dazzling and captivating musical revue comprised of songs by the team of Lieber and Stoller, who unknown to me prior to this show, composed a lot of Elvis Presley's biggest hits as well as some other Tin Pan Alley classics, whose origin had escaped me prior to this show. The version I saw of this show was, according to the announcer, the final performance of this show on Broadway so I did not see the original cast, but I was more than impressed nonetheless. No characters or dialogue...just singing and dancing, one spectacular number after another. Highlights for me included "Poison Ivy", "On Broadway", "DW Washburn", "W-0-M-A-N", "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "You're the Boss", "Loving You" and topping it all was BJ Crosby's show-stopping rendition of "Say Hello to a Brand New Fool". This show is full of "I didn't know they wrote that!" moments that take you back to a different time and place in pop culture in general and musical culture in particular, when songwriters still wrote songs and singers really sang them. For musical theater fans, a joy from start to finish.

I had not seen Smokey Joe's Cafe until I got this DVD, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that after seeing it, I really couldn't get the songs out of my head! The singers are fabulous! All of them bring a wonderful energy to the show and you can tell that they truly do love their job and love performing this show! Show stopping numbers are "Trouble," "Don't," and "Don Juan," but there isn't anything too shabby about any of the others! Entertaining from beginning to end! And I will say that while I don't think Matt Bogart does the BEST of jobs on "Jailhouse Rock" he sure doesn't hurt any of the songs that he sings. He is wonderful on "Ruby" and especially great on "Teach Me How To Shimmy" (my personal favorite...next to "Spanish Harlem"!) Basically...buy it or rent it, but see this show!!!

OK this has to be the BEST musical i have seen on TV....or anywhere. i saw it while ova a friends house. i absolutely loved the songs--- Saved nd Love Potion #9 were great. I also loved Poison Ivy nd I'm A Woman---all the songs were great. Delee Lively was a great dancer nd Deb Lyons had a fantastic strong voice.Brenda Braxton was great at Don Juan nd B.J. Crosby belted those notes fantastically. The quartet was always impressive....i was a bit disappointed with Matt Bogart at first but he was great at Jailhouse Rock. My personal favorite songs were----- Trouble,Don Juan Posion Ivy Teach me how to Shimmy-- my favorite is Falling. i love Smokey Joe's

I saw this show live at a regional theatre in my home state of Massachusetts and fell immediately in love with it. It was a strange and pleasant coincidence that this taped version of the show's final Broadway performance was being broadcast on HBO that night. All in all, I have to say it was better live. Deb Lyons (who was in the regional production) and DeLee Lively shine as the best performers in the whole show. With Lyons' power house voice and Lively's constant movement, one would think this were the first performance. Other good good performers are Adrian Bailey, Brenda Braxton and Frederick B. Owens for their vocal talents (and Braxton in particular for her acting). Ken Ard's voice is good, but he gives off such an annoying air of egotism that got under my skin. Victor Trent Cook is a wonderful actor, but not as good a singer. B.J. Crosby tries too hard to belt her songs and too often ends up screaming incoherently. The worst performer in the whole thing is Matt Bogart. He cannot sing at all, faking his way through every song. The only things he has going for him are his looks. Regardless of all the bad, I taped this special. The show is very well put together. Smokey Joe's Cafe is quite possibly the greatest musical revue of all time.