I love albums where I get to hear the complete score of a musical, in its natural context, unfettered by cutesy banter and crippled by thin orchestrations. In other word, I am not usually a big fan of compilation albums that feature ballad-heavy set lists and performers putting their “clever” spin on them. It is typically why I don’t review these kind of albums, preferring not wager a possibly negative opinion on a genre that isn’t my cup of tea. This wasn’t always the case. A few decades ago, Bruce Kimmel produced a wide range of delightful compilations under the label Fynsworth Alley that were superb, often featuring a star (or stars) singing a particular composer or theme. Recently, a friend recommended that I listen to Kate Rockwell: Back to My Roots, one of these compilation albums that I tend to be wary of. Oh, thank goodness, that he did. The delights that Rockwell has in store takes me back to the days of the Kimmel/Fynsworth Alley days, making my heart soar and my sour puss turn up into a radiant smile.