A BEAUTIFUL NOISE Original Broadway Cast Recording Thread

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/28/22 at 10:30am

Releases November 2 on digital platforms, and December 2 on physical platforms! Music and lyrics by Neil Diamond 

The album is now available for preorder. Below, here's a first listen at Will Swenson (Neil Diamond — Then) and the company performing "Cracklin' Rosie":

 

 

Updated On: 9/28/22 at 10:30 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/28/22 at 10:35am

Track listing:

• ACT I
• 1. Opening Montage
• 2. A Beautiful Noise
• 3. Neil Pitches Songs: I'll Come Running / I Got the Feelin' (Oh No, No) / I'm a Believer (Medley)
• 4. I'm a Believer
• 5. Demo Medley: The Boat That I Row / Red Red Wine / Kentucky Woman (Medley)
• 6. Kentucky Woman
• 7. Into the Bitter End
• 8. Solitary Man
• 9. Cracklin' Rosie
• 10. Song Sung Blue
• 11. Cherry, Cherry / September Morn' (Medley)
• 12. Love On the Rocks
• 13. Hello Again
• 14. A Heavenly Progression
• 15. Sweet Caroline

 

• ACT II
• 16. Entr'acte
• 17. Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
• 18. Play Me
• 19. Forever In Blue Jeans
• 20. Stadium Medley: Soolaimon / Thank The Lord for the Night Time / Crunchy Granola Suite (Medley)
• 21. You Don't Bring Me Flowers
• 22. Brooklyn Roads / America (Medley)
• 23. Shilo
• 24. I Am... I Said
• 25. Holly Holy

 

Updated On: 9/28/22 at 10:35 AM

[BETTY22]

Posted: 9/29/22 at 9:41am

After watching video I'm not sure why folks would just buy Neil's greatest hits CD instead. 

[johnnybravo]

Posted: 10/3/22 at 10:55am

BETTY22 said: "After watching video I'm not sure why folks would just buy Neil's greatest hits CD instead."It literally makes no sense at all. Like the show.

Just get some classic pre-Bob Gaudio ND records and listen to those. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/14/22 at 10:41am

First listen of Swenson and the company performing “Holly Holy”:

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 10:24am

First listen of Swenson and the company performing “Sweet Caroline”:

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/28/22 at 3:58pm

Can't wait for this show!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 12:00am

The full album has dropped — who's listening?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 11:46am

Upon first listen, this felt like my first exposure to Escape to Margaritaville — and not in a bad way.

Like that of Jimmy Buffett, I wasn't overly familiar with Diamond's catalogue before the Broadway version of "Cracklin' Rosie" was released (I had only heard "Sweet Caroline" and a few others), but the guy's a legend for a reason, he really does have an incredible songbook and I think it's reflected in this musical. Swenson does him justice and so much more, pulling a Paul Nolan and strumming his guitar while crooning his way through most of this score.

But the real gem of this album is what the Playbill for the show calls "The Beautiful Noise": the ensemble. They sound glorious as they navigate their way through Sonny Paladino's excellent arrangements with ease, and I find it very interesting that they are referred to in the show by their real names (as heard in the Act One demo medley): Alex, MiMi, Jordan, etc. Sort of like [title of show].

With first preview later tonight, I'd like to ask (and this might be a stupid question), is it common for cast albums to be released / recorded during previews? Curious because & Juliet used the same strategy as this show, to release the OBCR the day of their first performance in NY.

Looking forward to hearing first preview thoughts from the Broadhurst this evening.

Updated On: 11/2/22 at 11:46 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 11:48am

Also eager to hear reports from tonight!

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 1:08pm

I think with jukebox musicals, unless they’re gonna add or remove songs/lyrics that affect the structure, all the more reason to record earlier. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 1:30pm

I haven't seen the show yet, but it's disappointing that "America" only gets 1 minute on the recording, and it's sung by a chorus, not him. It's such a rousing and emotional song, especially with the orchestral intro, that I wish they could have found a way to incorporate it on a larger scale. 

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 1:41pm

From what I hear, they also sing a chorus of it at curtain call (at least, that's how it was in Boston).

[Dan6]

Posted: 11/2/22 at 10:17pm

Listened to the full album today after eagerly anticipating it for weeks, and I'm not thrilled.  Let me say that I am presumably the target "Beautiful Noise" audience, having owned many of Neil's albums and seen him in concert several times, knowing most of his catalogue well, and even having been known to pull off a pretty decent vocal impression at karaoke nights.  On the positive side, Will Swenson sounds great and I really like some of the orchestrations.  But the producers of the album did themselves no favors by including dialogue, which ranges from trite to soap opera to cringeworthy to downright offensive (as in the case of the painfully stereotyped Jewish parents, complete with what must have been the results of someone's Google search for "Yiddish phrases" ).  I had planned to see the show during my January trip, and had I heard an album of just the songs today I still would have, but if that's the quality of the book that binds these great songs together, I'll pass. (And whether or not they sing it during curtain call, the fact that "America" - Neil's signature concert anthem for the latter half of his career - is reduced to a few seconds of choral backup in a medley is inexplicable to me.)

Updated On: 11/3/22 at 10:17 PM