Best Chess Recording

[DanS3]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 4:49pm

Probably asked and answered a few times...so..apologies, but, what is the best recording of Chess?
I'm anxious to see the upcoming revival and want to become familiar with the soundtrack.  I didn't even know that the 1980's hit "One Night in Bangkok" came from this show! Anyway, I've heard that the London recording is the best, but, there are those who think the Actors Benefit show with Idina Menzel and Josh Groban is the best.  Any thoughts?

[pmensky]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 4:54pm

Danish Cast Recording

[Musigamist]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 5:36pm

pmensky said: "Danish Cast Recording"

Having listened to the Original Recording, Broadway, London Concert, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian recordings multiple times—I second this. If I'm wanting to hear it English though, it's the Original Recording for me.

[pmensky]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 5:41pm

Musigamist said: "pmensky said: "Danish Cast Recording"

Having listened to the Original Recording, Broadway, London Concert, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian recordings multiple times—I second this. If I'm wanting to hear it English though, it's the Original Recording for me."

The Danish Cast Recording IS in English.

[pair-o-dice]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 5:43pm

I've been really enjoying the concert with Idina, Adam Pascal, and Josh Groban lately 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 5:57pm

I think it’s important to experience the lightning and spark of the initial creation. Start with the 1984 original concept album (aka the London cast) and then add on the 1994 Gothenburg concert recording. I’d suggest the following link for the 1984 album. Skip the remastered edition of the 1984 album, it just makes the louds louder and the quiets quieter, and is really a devolution rather than an improvement. Chess 1984 YT playlist link.

I wouldn’t bother with the Broadway cast recording except for Philip Casnoff’s Pity The Child & No Contest, and Judy Kuhn’s Someone Else’s Story, although lots of people like David Carroll as Anatoly. On the Danish recording, Zubin Varla is sensational as Freddie but the others don’t really match him. 

Once you’re familiar with the score, you may want to try some of the other recordings out. It’s hypnotic. We’re lucky that the show has been extensively recorded and uploaded in video format also. There’s an excellent 1989 concert on YT with Tommy Körberg and Judy Kuhn, and one of the 1984 concerts (they did 5 across Europe) is up there as well. 

Enjoy. You’re about to begin an incredible adventure. I remember my first listen 25 years ago. It changed my life. 

Updated On: 6/17/25 at 05:57 PM

[DCS]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 6:23pm

pmensky said: "Musigamist said: "pmensky said: "Danish Cast Recording"

Having listened to the Original Recording, Broadway, London Concert, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian recordings multiple times—I second this. If I'm wanting to hear it English though, it's the Original Recording for me."

The Danish Cast RecordingIS in English."

Totally agree... this is a really wonderful recording of the score in English with a terrific cast.

 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 6:26pm

The original concept recording will never be bettered.

[joevitus]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 7:17pm

Original concept recording, though the Groban-Menzel live recording is quite good, has the recitative, and "Someone Else's Story." Wish the deluxe version of the concept album was produced in a way that let one splice the cut material back in with the other tracks, as opposed to fading out after the part of the track that was retained has started.

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 7:40pm

DanS3 said: "Probably asked and answered a few times...so..apologies, but, what is the best recording of Chess?
I'm anxious to see the upcoming revival and want to become familiar with the soundtrack. I didn't even know that the 1980's hit "One Night in Bangkok" came from this show!Anyway, I've heard that the London recording is the best, but, there are those who think the Actors Benefit show with Idina Menzel and Josh Groban is the best. Any thoughts?"

The Idina and Josh one is the 2008 London concert so when you say London recording do you mean that London concert or the original concept recording which was recorded in both Stockholm and London? There was no cast recording for the West End  because they had already done the concept album.

As for my preference, I have listened to the Concept album, some of the Broadway cast recording and the 2008 concert cast recording and while I mostly listen to the 2008 concert as its got more of the show in it than the concept album, I do like to go back to listen to Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson's version of I Know Him So Well as it's my preferred version of that song at this point and then end up listening to the whole concept album again.

I've not heard any of the European versions so can't speak to those. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 7:44pm

Another vote for Danish from me, though I think it's worth starting with the concept album, which would give you an idea of how it started out and has fantastic performances. The Danish one has a few terrific performances as well, but it's also much more complete (The Deal (No Deal) is practically a different song when you hear it in its entirety). I think the 2008 Actors Fund concert is worth pulling out occasionally and it uses some of the song changes made for Broadway but it's not my preferred 

[GirlFromOz68]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 9:26pm

you've motivated me to check out the Danish version when I get a chance later today.

[Musigamist]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 9:31pm

pmensky said: "Musigamist said: "pmensky said: "Danish Cast Recording"

Having listened to the Original Recording, Broadway, London Concert, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian recordings multiple times—I second this. If I'm wanting to hear it English though, it's the Original Recording for me."

The Danish Cast RecordingIS in English."

Apologies for not being clear—there is both an English version and also a Danish highlights album from 2018, hence the listing with three European language recordings.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/17/25 at 9:33pm

I continue to only listen to the Broadway album - the sensational voices of David Carroll, Philip Casnoff, Judy Kuhn and Marcia Mitzman are stellar and can't be matched!

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 3:56pm

pair-o-dice said: "I've been really enjoying the concert with Idina, Adam Pascal, and Josh Groban lately"

i have watched and listened to this version multiple times...it is divine, especially Adam Pascal singing "Pity the Child"

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 4:13pm

broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "pair-o-dice said: "I've been really enjoying the concert with Idina, Adam Pascal, and Josh Groban lately"

i have watched and listened to this version multiple times...it is divine, especially Adam Pascal singing "Pity the Child""

It's great in so many ways -- especially Pascal's "Pity..." but the audio quality is TERRIBLE. Such a disappointment in that regard. Sounds like it was recorded on a 2004 Moto Razr in parts. 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 6:31pm

The sound was terrible live, too.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/18/25 at 7:22pm

I loved the use of a melancholy solo version of “The Story of Chess” as the penultimate number instead of a full ensemble version for opening or finale.

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 3:44am

Any recording with Judy Kuhn automatically makes it the best recording.

[joevitus]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 5:54pm

pmensky said: "Musigamist said: "pmensky said: "Danish Cast Recording"

Having listened to the Original Recording, Broadway, London Concert, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian recordings multiple times—I second this. If I'm wanting to hear it English though, it's the Original Recording for me."

The Danish Cast RecordingIS in English."

Are there two of them? The only one I'm aware of is, in fact, in Danish.

[Musigamist]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:40pm

joevitus said: "pmensky said: "Musigamist said: "pmensky said: "Danish Cast Recording"

Having listened to the Original Recording, Broadway, London Concert, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian recordings multiple times—I second this. If I'm wanting to hear it English though, it's the Original Recording for me."

The Danish Cast RecordingIS in English."

Are there two of them? The only one I'm aware of is, in fact, in Danish."

 
The three Denmark/Danish recordings I'm aware of are:


The 2001 Danish Recording in English from the Denmark Tour—Originally a Complete Recording and later abridged due to licensing issues. This a favorite of many due to the completeness of the album (my copy says 2 hrs, 19min), remarkably clear vocals compared to the concept album, and the almost symphonic sound production.

Then there's a 2012 Danish Highlights Album in English, and finally, the 2018 Chess Highlights Album in Danish.

 

Updated On: 6/19/25 at 06:40 PM

[Musigamist]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:48pm

While researching, I did also discover that there's a 2015 Hungarian live recording, too.

https://chessthemusical.weebly.com/chess---hungary-2010-16.html

[brodynky]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:48pm

Might also be of interest…

https://playbill.com/article/learn-about-chesss-complicated-journey-back-to-broadway-in-new-streaming-documentary

[Musigamist]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:52pm

Musigamist said: "While researching, I did also discover that there's a 2015 Hungarian live recording, too.

https://chessthemusical.weebly.com/chess---hungary-2010-16.html"

And here's what appears to be a pretty comprehensive listing of all Chess recordings:

https://castalbums.org/shows/Chess/73/

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/19/25 at 6:56pm

Check you tube and search the Australian production ( Sydney ) late 80’s opened before the American production, but was one of the first have changes. The full audio and video is one there.