Best Album of Sondheim's Show

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:16pm

It seems most shows of Sondheim have so many recordings and I having trouble deciding. I have Sweeny Todd and A Little night music and I love them so I really want to expand my Sondheim collection. What are the best recordings of the following shows? (Note the most complete would be preferred as well)
A Funny Thing Happened...
Company
Follies
Anyone Can Wistle
Do I Hear a Waltz?

Are then other shows of his I must have as well. Thanks in advance.

Updated On: 12/28/06 at 11:16 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:20pm

COMPANY - OBC. No contest.

FOLLIES - Papermill. It's complete, and is the best quality recording of all the Follies recordings.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:21pm

Thanks, I really have had trouble deciding..

[JudasIscariot]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:28pm

You should check out the revival of Assassins. Michael Cerveris and Neil Patrick Harris are completely awesome.

Plus, it has one of Sondheim's best scores.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:30pm

I know there's a complete version of "Anyone Can Whistle" at Carnegie Hall (or at least closer to complete than the original) but I haven't heard it and I love hearing Angela Lansbury and Lee Remick in the original.

I'm not sure if you're interested, but the 2004 recording of "Assassins" is very comprehensive.

[myManCape]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:32pm

I agree on Assassins, one of his best scores, a complete recording with a prefect cast.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:46pm

Ya, but the OOBC of Assassins is equally complete (but without some dialogue) and MUCH better IMO. The revival was brilliant but played much better on stage than on CD.

I agree with the earlier. Of the Sondheim cast recordings, the Company OBC is the way to go. It's wonderful. Sweeney is probably the best of his original cast recordings, but since you already have that, Company!

Incidentally, the '96 London Revival Cast Recording is nice as well. Steer clear of the '95 Broadway Revival.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:47pm

okay I will defintly add that to my list thanks...

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 12/28/06 at 11:51pm

I love Bernadette and Scott on the Anyone Can Whistle Carnegie Hall recording. I'd go for that one.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:03am

Is Passion or Kiss of the Spider Woman worth getting?

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:36am

Kiss of the Spiderwoman is Kander and Ebb, not Sondheim.

Passion is pretty, and a lot of people like it, but I find it a snooze. I can't listen to it all in one sitting. However, the score still has its merits. There's also a more complete London recording of Passion if I'm not mistaken. It features Maria Friedman.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:38am

I just got Passion about a week ago and I would say it's definatly worth getting. It's a very different score, but very beautiful with fantastic performences from Donna Murphy and Marin Mazzie.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:39am

I love Passion but I would recommend the OBC with Donna Murphy and Marin Mazzie.

[Debbie1313]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:40am

Hi I am new to the boards so please be gentle. I am a huge Sondheim fan. Did we forget Into the Woods? Original cast recording is awesome.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:52am

I pretty much agree with everyone about Passion, Company, and Sweeny. The Paper Mill version of Follies is the most complete, but the OBC recording is by far the best sung and acted. Both of the Assassins recordings are very good. The revival you get Marc Kudisch but the original has Victor Garber, very tough. If you are curious about Merrily We Roll Along (one of his best scores) then I would suggest the York Theater Company's version with Malcom Gets and Michele Pawk.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 12:56am

If we're talking Into the Woods, you HAVE to go with the London recording. The Broadway cast was incredible but recorded rather lifeless. If they gave the performance on CD that they do in the PBS taping I'd be reccommending otherwise, but as it is London is the way to go. It's a wonderful recording with a very different but chill-inducing witch, Julia McKenzie. It's one of my favorite cast recordings, actually.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 1:05am

I prefer the original Off-Broadway cast of Assassins to the revival cast. The original doesn't have "Something Just Broke," added to the show later, but it does have the complete Oswald scene. I prefer the orchestrations and the cast on that recording.

For me the Carnegie Hall ACW pales in comparison with the OBCR. Although Peters and Bakula are better singers than Remick and Guardino, Peters is miscast and Bakula conveys little of the authority that Guardino commands. And though there is some material on the concert recording that isn't on the OBCR, what's most important is that the Cookie Chase ballet music is substantially cut on the concert recording, but is complete on the OBCR. In addition, the supporting cast on the concert recording is inadequately miked. No contest for me, the OBCR all the way.

For Company, no question, the OBCR.

For Forum, I hate the revival recording. My favorite is the original London cast, but that's long out of print. I'd go for the original cast over the revival cast, though it could be a bit livelier (as I'm sure it was onstage).

For Follies, I think you need both the original for the performances and the Papermill for its completeness.

For Do I Hear a Waltz? it's a close call between the OBCR and the Pasadena. Unfortunately, each is missing a major piece of material, with "Bargaining" having been cut from the Pasadena production and "Everybody Loves Leona" having been restored for it. In Pasadena's favor, it has the overture, but in the OBCR's favor is the original, longer version of one of the best numbers, "Here We Are Again." The OBCR has better singing and a bigger orchestra, while the Pasadena is a bit more dramatic, thanks to more dialogue and more dramatic performances. It's a tough call. Since you can probably get the OBCR cheaper, you might go for that and if you like it, pick up the Pasadena later.

[Someday]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 4:48am

Am I the only one who prefers the concert recording of Follies?

[Paulyd]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 5:48am

I think that the orchestrations on the concert version of Follies are amazing and far superior to the Papermill verison, but it's a shame that the quality of the recording is so poor.

Got tickets for the new concert verison in London in February for Christmas. Cant wait to see Elaine Stritch.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 9:04am

So far it is
Company- OBCR
Assassins- Revival
Anyone Can Whistle- Still up in there air
Do I Hear a Waltz?- OBCR
Into the Woods- I have heard great things about all of them, more opinion on the London Cast
Follies- Probably Both as soon as my wallet can afford both but the OBC first

Thanks everyone I would love to hear from others still

[bob8rich]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 9:18am

In my opinion (decisions like these are always pretty much personal rather than definitive):

A Funny Thing Happened... OBC
Company - OBC
Follies - PAPERMILL is the most complete, although the Follies In Concert album has some stunning vocals by Barbara Cook
Anyone Can Whistle - CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT
Do I Hear a Waltz? - PASADENA, if only for the restored EVERYBODY LOVES LEONA, whgich was cut from the original Broadway show

As for what other Sondheim shows you should have - really everyone should have every single Sondheim show as they are all brilliant! LOL But the two ABSOLUTE MUSTS are SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (OBC) and PACIFIC OVERTURES (Broadway revival). They are both works of pure genius.

Updated On: 12/29/06 at 09:18 AM

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 10:05am

You should definitely pick up "Sunday in the Park with George" sometime.

I love the original "Follies" and it's a lot cheaper than the concert or the Papermill.

As for "Into the Woods," or "Passion," luckily, both of those shows are preserved on DVD. If you end up buying the London versions of either, (both of which I haven't heard, but I really want to hear Maria Friedman do Fosca) you can rent the DVD and really see the performances.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 10:32am

They're not all complete, but-
A Funny Thing Happened...- OBC. You can't get better than Zero
Company- OBC again. One of the greatest cast albums ever produced
Follies- OBC. Badly, BADLY sliced and diced. However, the performances are incredible.
Anyone Can Whistle- OBC. There are a few spots missing, however the full "Cookie Chase" and "Simple" sequences are on there and the other songs are mostly complete. The performances are so raw and energetic.
Do I Hear a Waltz?- I can't say I'm a huge fan of this show. However, I always found the OBC to be charming.

[best we know x]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 10:37am

I have the Company OBC and I love it. I'd also recommend the Sunday in the Park with George original Broadway cast if you can find it, the Into the Woods OBC, and the 2004 Assassins revival.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/29/06 at 10:41am

If you want to hear a masterful reduction of an orchestration, also buy the London Revival Album of Sunday in the Park. Peters and Patinkin are better, but the orchestrations on the revival album are great.