Anyone Love Revival Recordings, but Hate the Originals???

Are there any shows that you love the revival recordings of, but despise the original??? One that comes to mind is "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown". I could listen to the revival CD for hours... but God, the original makes me wanna slit my wrists!

Well, with musicals like Kiss Me Kate, the quality of the original recording just can't compare to the revival simply for technological reasons -our ears aren't conditioned to listen to music with that quality. And a lot of revivals have music that's revamped and modernized, so it appeals more to us.

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I'm guilty. I know it's frowned upon, but most of the CDs I own of the "classic" musicals like Oklahoma, Oliver, the Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, South Pacific and others are all revival recordings. I usually prefer them because they are more complete...

almost all of my "old" musicals are revival casts. This is usually for 2 reasons, first is sound quality and second is they usually include more performers who i know of. Also more recent recordings often feature the full lyrics in the booklet so you can actually sing along the first time you hear it.

also a bit of threadjacking- on the subject of dialogue on recordings that is what aggrivates me the most about rent, not the dialogue thats on there but whats missing, with just those little mark monologues it would be the complete show.

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It's very, very rare for me to choose anything but the original cast of a show. Most of the time I get revivals to supplement rather than replace originals in my listening. Revivals might do a few things better than originals, but most of the time the total product of the original is best, especially casting-wise.

::speechless::

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The 1979 OKLAHOMA! recording is fantastic. I find the original cast almost unlistenable.

I love the revival of Little Shop. The original off broadway is okay, but I think the revival is so much better!

generally. i love good quality.

Godspell... the OBC is almost unlistenable. As is the 2001 tour. The 2000 revival, however.

There are bits of the Company revival I like better, especially the orchestrations. I can't take all the synth in the original, especially in "Being Alive", "Another Hundred People", and "Sorry/Grateful." I prefer the voices of the OBC, though, even crazy Elaine Stritch.

Having read all three scripts, I find the recent revival of Cabaret to be the best, but that's from a book perspective.

I prefer those too, Urban. I also prefer the Applegate CHARITY revival recording.

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Since many of the posters here think the musical world began with POTO and that 'Rent'is a good show, it does not surprise me that many of you prefer the over-orchestrated revivals to the OBC recordings. Someone actually said it irked them the way they used to sing. Huh? Maybe that's because these were trained theatre professionals who were expected to perform the role unamplified, 8 times a week, for at least a year and their voices needed to carry up to the balcony. Sorry that you're 'irked' at having to listen to a real theatre voice sing the song that was written for them, but the experience of hearing Alfred Drake, Rex Harrison, Mary Martin, Gwen Verdon, Ethel Merman, or Zero Mostel in the role they orginated is priceless. Harrumph.

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In most cases, I still prefer the original recordings to revivals. In many cases, it's our only chance to hear the people who created the roles and appreciate their contribution to theatre history. But I agree that audio technology and more complete scores are two big reasons to favor later versions.

I have one in particular that I'm curiously very fond of... The Debbie Allen revival recording of Sweet Charity. As much as I love and appreciate Gwen Verdon, the '86 revival wins for me. I saw the show, which no doubt has something to do with it. The orchestra was amazing, both live and on the recording, with a lead trumpeter that hit some incredible notes. The cast was top notch, and I wasn't a Debbie Allen fan at time. In fact, I'd had my fill of her strutting around on "Fame" like she was Mother Earth. But she was completely convincing as hard-edged but vulnerable Charity. I guess that's why they call it acting! Her singing was very good (if not great), and her dancing knocked me out of my seat! As a result, the dance arrangements on the cast album really kick into high gear. And I LOVED Michael Rupert and his rendition of the "movie version" of the title song. Thankfully, it replaced the pleasant but bland original song here.

I hear that DRG or some other company may be re-releasing it after many years of it being out of print! Anyone have updates on that? It's worth checking out, if you haven't. Don't know if you'll love it more than the original, as I do.

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