Any word on a RAGTIME revival recording?- Page 2

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 3:07am

I'm pretty sure the Chess mentioned is the Groban concert (I imagine it's selling well on his name).

Parts of the OBC of Ragtime were taken from the single disc recording (I recall reading in the liner notes that "Daddy's Son", "Wheels of a Dream", and "New Music". Glad they recorded both discs. It must irk poor Judy Kaye that she missed out on recording her Tony-winning performance in Phantom and Mamma Mia.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 5:21am

Is there a reason any of you think the existing cast recording is unsatisfactory? It's complete including all of the score and quite a bit of dialogue. It is well recorded and beautifully sung.

With FINIAN'S I can see the need for a modern recording with the full orchestra, but RAGTIME would be so expensive to record and I am not sure there is a real need for it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 5:28am

I suspect it's just that they so like the current production and cast, they want it recorded. While harder to justify, isn't that a valid reason?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 5:38am

Not really. I mean with any long running show some of the cast replacements are superior to the originals (CRAZY FOR YOU comes to mind) but we can't go back and re-record every cast, not when the CD costs close to $500,000. To many new scores get neglected as it is.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 6:39am

Of course that makes rational sense but not to fans of THIS production. No one said record every cast but I do understand why some want a brand new production recorded. Stop being so grouchy :P

[Oldschool]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 9:41am

Assuming the show does well, and I think there is good reason to believe it will, it would not be surprising to see a cast album. I point to the example of the recent revival of Man of La Mancha with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, which opened December 5, 2002 and closed August 31, 2003 (Stokes was leaving the show due to him expecting his first child). There is a cast recording of that show and it came out January 7, 2003.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/13/09 at 12:06pm

MOLM is a bit different. The OBCR was recorded by Kapp in 1965 and does not have the best sound quality. That show needed a new digital cast album that would also be more complete.

RAGTIME has a note complete CD, recorded in modern digital sound with a first rate cast. I think Sony would be better off aggressively marketing the original rather than splitting sales by releasing a second CD.

Sorry Eric, not trying to be "grouchy" - but as I pointed out earlier, cast albums are hugely expensive and don't generally sell that well. Not only that the revival casts rarely outsell the originals. Outside of hardcore collectors, most fans are content with one recording of a score.

With FINIAN'S RAINBOW we are in a different situation. The OBCR was recorded in 1947 in mono and truncated to fit 11 songs (plus a shortened Overture) onto six 10-inch 78's. It's a good recording but still limited by the technology of the day. RCA Victor taped the 1960 revival, more complete and in stereo but it is now out-of-print on CD and also sound-wise suffers just a bit. This is a score that could really use a more modern recording.

If both (or either) get recorded I'd be first in line to buy it. If only one get's recorded I would prefer FINIAN'S.

Apparently producers of both shows are having trouble raising the money to make the Cd's. This is also the case with MEMPHIS -a new score that needs a cast album lest it "fade away forever."

[phantomvegas2]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 10:04pm

Any updates on the recording? If someone is going to see the show soon, please ask the merch worker.

[NotYourMemories]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 10:52pm

From what I understand there was serious consideration of making a CD of this new production prior to opening. I heard there was even a tentative recording date set but it was cancelled. At this point there's no way I see that happening, I'm just hoping they can find a way to keep the show running until it wins some much deserved Tonys next year. As much as I adore this new production I don't see the point of making a CD given the large amounts of material that have been cut from the score. I'd rather listen to the full-length versions of "He Wanted To Say" "Success" and "The Night that Goldman Spoke".

I would however really really love to see a Great Performances filming of this staging.

[Oldschool]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:06pm

I also suspect that unless the show gets some legs, the Producers aren't about to shell out for the expense of a cast recording for a show that few will have seen.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:11pm

Last time I asked they were still in discussions, but you can sign up for some kind of mailing list to get the news.

[phantomvegas2]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 9:50pm

PLEASE record this show before Jan 17

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 1:59am

Why January 17? Has there been an official closing notice?

I'd heard rumors from some friends, but that's about it.

[Oldschool]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 10:57am

January 14th is the last advertised day of the current discount codes. I believe the thinking is that if the show doesn't get any legs, that the week ending January 17th will be its last, hence the wish it be recorded before then.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 12:45pm

A good friend of mine works merch. there and I asked him if Ragtime was closing. They said, "No. We're still waiting on the programs and CD to get in..."

[Fanb]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 10:22pm

I agree with FRC2 - The Finians Rainbow production is so well sung. I would love a cast recording. I hope they make one. Kate Baldwin, especially, sings this score so beautifully.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 3:54am

Fanb, FR has already been recorded, so that's a done deal. I believe the cast recorded the revival CD on December 7th.

Interesting about RAGTIME. Someone else told me that the show's done as of January 3rd, but I didn't believe him. Then I saw this January 17th date.

Guess we shall see. I just want one more crack at getting to see the show...

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 6:19am

If it were going to close the first weekend of January, I'm fairly sure we would have heard by now...I would think if the later dater were true we'd have to hear about it freakishly soon so they have time to bump up the remaining shows.

I may be hoping against hope....but I want this to struggle through and find its audience.

I love the reported news about a recording....Santa, make THAT be my Christmas Miracle!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 6:19am

If it were going to close the first weekend of January, I'm fairly sure we would have heard by now...I would think if the later dater were true we'd have to hear about it freakishly soon so they have time to bump up the remaining shows.

I may be hoping against hope....but I want this to struggle through and find its audience.

I love the reported news about a recording....Santa, make THAT be my Christmas Miracle!

[BillFinn]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 11:47am

No one in the cast has been told a closing date as of yet, from what I've heard. I think there's just very much a spirit of "Let's take it day-by-day" from the producers and this rumor of it closing soon is actually helping with ticket sales. The lotto group is growing bigger by the week.

[sgv123]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 11:52am

I was talking to Quinton last night, and he said that the audiences have picked up alot this week. I also asked about a cast recording and he pretty much said what other people on here have already posted......there was plans to record, but that went away,just wait and see what happens with it.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 1:11am

So I guess with the news of it closing a recording is now completely out of the question? That's so disheartening. I know all the reasons why it wouldn't have made sense even if the show were doing well, but I still would have loved to have a recording of some of those voices. I just watched some of the (non-bootleg) video clips on that site and forgot how good "Make Them Hear You" was. This production will be missed, but I really wish some sort of recording would have come out of it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 1:48pm

"So I guess with the news of it closing a recording is now completely out of the question? That's so disheartening. "

I highly doubt there will be one. Given there is already a very complete 2 disc recording out there. And the original concept recording.

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 1:54pm

Sad. I would have loved one.