I had been familiar with the Wicked OBC for about 3 years before seeing the show, and i know I am not the only one who knew the music before seeing the show. After seeing the show, I was surprised there was another song, and almost felt cheated, in a way.
Oh no, I think I'd miss the cakewalk music (that's the opening of Fosse's minstrel bit, right?) even more. But I guess without that staging it makes less sense.
Two soldiers and tambourines, top of "War Is a Science" on the OBC. We thinking of the same thing?
I consider Hirson really the cuckold on this show. As much as he and Schwartz would like to deny it, a lot of the best lines in the show come from the pens of Fosse, Paddy Chayefsky, and other show doctors who worked on it. Actual funny lines like "Sometimes I wonder if the fornicating I'm getting..." and "Lewis is an asshole, my lady" were not his.
Plus, you hear a lot from Schwartz (at length) on his website about this show, while we haven't heard word one from Hirson since God knows when. He's clearly not the force on this show now, if he ever was.
I wish they'd included the karaoke for "Morning Glow", can't wait for this though. They need to post samples ASAP. Between this recording and the new "Motown" recording, June 4th is gonna be a great day.
Audio clips are up on Amazon! It looks like "With You" at least includes the dance music after the song. It's almost a whole 3 minutes longer than the OBC version.
(Disclaimer: This may just be the quality of the Amazon samples, not the actual product. This is an early comment, and should be taken in the light such comments are taken in.)
I think I can hear a little AutoTune on young Mr. Thomas. Hey, it's their album to make, but I don't care for it personally.
Running times compared to the original (and other notes): Magic to Do: Almost 30 seconds longer. Corner of the Sky: 20 seconds shorter. War is a Science: A whole minute and 15 seconds shorter; also credits Matthew and the Players, rather than just the Charles actor. Glory: A minute and 20 seconds longer. Simple Joys: 20 seconds shorter No Time At All: A minute longer (I think they added dialogue from what I heard when they played a little at the recording session) With You: Almost 3 minutes longer. Spread a Little Sunshine: Same. (2 seconds longer- nothing) Morning Glow: About a minute and a half longer (! Maybe they added that little "Magic to Do bit") Entr'acte: NEW!!!!!!! On the Right Track: 20 seconds longer (does not credit Patina...weird) Kind of Women: 40 seconds longer Extraordinary: Same. (4 seconds longer-nothing) Love Song: Same (7 seconds longer-nothing) I Guess I'll Miss the Man: Same. (4 seconds longer- nothing) Finale: A minute and 10 seconds longer (hope they added the stuff from 'War')
Entr'acte isn't completely new. That fast arrangement of "The gates of heaven await..." was originally part of "Glory," with "Charles" instead of "Pippin," just before the Manson Trio bit started with a (now-removed) segment that hit the audience over the head with the point of the sequence, in which the Leading Player recited a litany of all the wars mankind has fought since Charlemagne's time and how many were killed in them.
Maybe it's because I can't tell the subtle difference of auto-tune, but MJT just sounds more relaxed and not winded as he would be during the actual performance.