I own a few and my favorite is the 2000 off broadway cast...there are some extra tracks and the people on it are great :)
Idina: Somehow I got myself to the stage, came out at the end of the show, and I had some kind of closure.
Some guy: You looked great!
Idina: Thanks...I WAS SO HIGH!
8/21/05
And the other thing about the Phantom Lady was, Bert, she realized, in the city that never sleeps...
What did she realize, Kitten?
That all the songs she'd listened to, all the love songs, that they were only songs.
What's wrong with that?
Nothing, if you don't believe in them. But she did, you see. She believed in enchanted evenings, and she believed that a small cloud passed overhead and cried down on a flower bed, and she even believed there was breakfast to be had...
Where?
On Pluto. The mysterious, icy wastes of Pluto.
I only have the movie soundtrack, but thats because I wasn't specific on my Christmas list two years ago. But I think if I were to get another recording, I'd go for the 2000.
definitely go with the 2000 Off b'way...it sounds the most rock-ish and the cast is in top form. The 2001 recording has nifty orchestrations, but the cast has little enthusiasm, and the original recordings and movie recordings are well-sung, but sound extremely dated. All have their moments, but 2000 is easily my favorite.
While I enjoyed 2000 Off-B'way cast, there were a lot of songs that simply didn't do it for me. I will say that, of course, there are songs on 2000 that are better than 2001. 2001 kinda sounds like an N'Sync concert. Nothing wrong with it, but 2000 sounds more intimate. I'd say 2001 just because the sound is really good and I like the new orchestrations. Beautiful City is WAY better on 2001 also. Seems like a totally different song.
"If it walks like a Parks, if it wobbles like a Parks, then it's definitely fat and nobody loves it." --MA
I second the 2000 off-broadway. I recently vocal directed this show at my church, and we used the movie recording as our guide (director's choice, not mine). It was ok, but the kids didn't get into it as much, cause the recording was not so enthusiastic. I haven't heard the 2001 recording...my vote is the 2000 off broadway...
If you want to go for the "new contemporary sound" of Godspell, definitely go for the 2000 cast. However, if you want a feel for the original Godspell the way it was meant to be, get the movie soundtrack or the original cast recording (you'll have to deal with Lamar Alford on the latter recording, who, though he has a beautiful voice, does tend to overdo his vocals and drown people out).
I'd go with the original 1971 Cherry Lane cast recording. The band is fierce and the show doesn't sound as polished as it does in 2000 and 2001 and with Godspell, I like that kinda 'un-perfect' sound. Just my opinion.
Actually, I think the score sounded its best in the 1973 motion picture soundtrack recording. I'll take the fabulous, late Lynne Thigpen's "Oh Bless The Lord" anyday over Shoshana's....
Not sure which one I have, is the picture shown the 2000 off broadway cast? I liked it at first, but then we i actually listened to it, it just didn't really grab me. I think its the show that didn't grab me, not the cast, as there are def. some amazing cast memebers. I usually like schwartz's work, but not this one. Maybe it takes a couple listenings.
There are 3 you should have. The OBC The OMS and the 2000 Cast. This way you can hear the differences in the way these songs are done. All of them have very good moments. OBC's "We Beseech Thee" is the best OMS has Lynn Thigpen, and a great rendition of "Turn Back O' Man", as well as a haunting "By My Side", unheard on any other recording... and the 2000 Cast has updated the music, and made great songs out of Light of the World and We Beseech Thee.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.
yeah i was in that show directed by KristiAnn85 and she is right. I got the 2000 Off Bway recording and I love it! It's really fantastic!
Kristin Chenoweth could barely control a Great Dane she trotted onto the stage. "Great, they gave me a dog that weighs five times what I do", she quipped. For the record, she weighs 93 pounds, and has a Maltese.
I've just been listening to the 2001 National Touring Cast Recording. While I hate some of the arrangements with a passion, the cast has a lot of heart and Sal Sabella's rendering of "All Good Gifts" may be the finest available on disc.
I tried to get the 2000-Off Broadway Cast Cd but it was gone when I tried to get it today. I almost bought the 2001 Broadway Revival one but when I listened to it, it sounded like POP had been added to it.....sooooooo.....I went and got the OCR of it and when I listened to it when I got home I enjoyed it alot...the music is good listened to it twice all the wa through and I enjoyed it.