Best Album of Sondheim's Show — Page 2

Actually, Miss Russell's vocals were dubbed on the soundtrack by Lisa Kirk.

- Yes. but in the film ROSE'S TURN is a mix of Kirk and Russell, and it's quite a good version. Plus Roz sings MR. GOLDSTONE, and SMALL WORLD (reprise) in the film.

In addition, the current CD issue of the Gypsy soundtrack has bonus tracks of Russell's unused recordings.

What's also odd—apart from the fact that in the film and on the soundtrack, you can tell that "Goldstone" was recorded live on the set—is that while in the film "Rose's Turn" was a mix of Kirk and Russell, on the originally issued soundtrack record it was all Kirk. (Perhaps because they felt the switches between Rusell and Kirk would be too obvious when just listening.) The CD has that track, as well as the version heard in the film, but not one that's all Russell.

Re Into the Woods: Unfortunately, I don't think there's any fully satisfactory recording of the score. I'd probably go with the OBCR a bit ahead of the OLCR, but each has its strengths and weaknesses. The revival recording lags behind both but does have its points. I certainly like the recording more than I enjoyed the production in the theatre.

I have an off-Broadway version of "Merrily We Roll Along" with Michelle Pawk that I like.

(side note: WHY did that show fail? I saw a high school do it and it was one of my favorite shows I've ever seen.)

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Bounce, The Frogs OBC, The Frogs/Evening Primrose studio cast, Gypsy OBC, Assassins 2004 Revival.

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I think that it's a very personal decision which recording you get. I spent hours on Amazon listening to clips of them all to decide what feels right to my ears. Which recording is the best is subjective, so I suggest listening to some clips and decide which voices and orchestrations feel right to you. Besides, why spend money on something just because someone else thinks it’s “the best!” when you may not even like the voice quality of the lead actor? Hope that helps!

Company & Do I Hear A Waltz?

OBC of Follies would have taken the honors had it not been chopped up

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Sondheim shows are almost always best represented by the original casts, coached by the composer and in several cases written for the specific vocal strengths of the original stars.

WEST SIDE STORY, GYPSY and DO I HEAR A WALTZ? are all well represented by the OCR's - all available on CD from Sony.

FORUM has two decent cast albums. The original has the unbeatable original cast. The Nathan Lane revival is very good as well but suffers slightly from a reduced orchestra and a few trims here and there.

ANYONE CAN WHISTLE - While the concert cast provides some insight into some brief sections left off the OCR is under rehearsed. The OCR is so slick that those who hear it wonder why the show failed (until they read the synopsis.)

COMPANY - Sony’s remamster of the OBC is about as good as you'll ever get. The London version, which had Larry Kert overdub Dean Jones vocals, is not a satisfactory mix. Weak voices sabotage the 1995 Broadway and 1996 London revivals.

FOLLIES - Despite the maddening cuts, EMI's OBC is essential for what it does preserve. Piece together the missing segments from the Papermill Playhouse cast or the Lincoln Center Concert cast. Avoid at all costs the 1987 London revival.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - OBC is the hands down winner and virtually note complete.

PACIFIC OVERTURES - The OBC is in need of a sonic upgrade - it was one of the first CD issues and we've come a long way in remastering since 1986. The recent revival cast is interesting but the original performances are more polished. If you really like the show TER's 2 CD set of the entire show (with all dialogue) is a must.

SWEENEY TODD - Nothing touches the original. Both the Concert cast and Broadway revival feature Patti LuPone and offer interesting alternates.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG - The problem here is that the show was rewritten and altered after the Broadway cast album was done. It presents a brassy Broadway sound that serves that material well. Of the two later recordings the 2-disc Jay/TER release includes the complete score as well as quite a bit of dialogue. (The RCA OBC is out of print. It is slated for reissue but it keeps getting delayed. It will be worth waiting for as it is said to include additional material left off the original issue.)

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - The OBC was a masterpiece of cast album production and an essential disc. The recent London cast has more dialogue and records some sections in the way they are performed on stage, while the RCA cast album made alterations for the home listener. (Ie. "The One on the Left" is included in "The Day off" instead of after "Everybody Loves Louis.")

INTO THE WOODS - Nothing beats the OCR. The London cast is a rough listen. The 2002 revival has its moments but is not nearly as enjoyable as the original.

ASSASSINS - the original off-Broadway cast give the best recorded performance but the revival cast includes "Something Just Broke" write for the London production and now an essential part of any ASSASSINS production.

PASSION - Angel's OBC weaves together dialogue and music into a beautiful 60 minute distillation of the show. The London cast is about 15 min longer and has a stronger Giorgio in Michael Ball but the female leads are miles behind their American counterparts.

BOUNCE - Still a work in progress but the Washington cast album reveals a lot of strong material in the score.

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