Best GUYS AND DOLLS recording?

1992 Revival hands down. Sparkling new orchestrations, clean, crisp sound and stellar work from all four leads.

The 1950 original preserves Vivian Blaine's glorious Adelaide and should also be in every collection.

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Updated On: 11/21/10 at 02:50 PM

I like the 1992 revival with Nathan Lane and company. Interesting also is the 1976 all black cast recording starring
Robert Guillaume.(sp?)Ken Page's rendition of "Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" is not to be missed.

Definitely the 1992 revival, but the 95 studio recording is worth checking out, too. I LOVE the "Runyonland" on that one!

Another vote for the 1992 revival!

I absolutely love the 1976 all-Black cast recording. It's my favorite by far.

A bit off-topic, but what are some thoughts on the tour with Maurice Hines? I thought it was a bit bland, but I loved how there was palpable sexual chemistry between Nathan and Adelaide, and how Nathan was slightly converted into a dancers' role. I have the cast recording, but never listen to it.

I did see the 1992 production and it remains teh best GUYS AND DOLLS I have ever seen on stage. The cast album of that production is about as close to perfect as we'll get. The sound on the old Decca OBCR is the major drawback there, along with the fact that Sam Levine can't sing, Isabel Biggley has one of those 1940's soubrette voices that doesn't carry much warmth on records (especially those flat sounding Decca albums), and Robert Alda sounds like he has a cold.

For a giggle try the Reprise discs with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Debbie Reynolds and The McGuire Sisters.

I don't know how widely available it is but Delta Music has a (bootleg) Cd of the film soundtrack that includes almost all of the music featured in the film. (there never was a legitimate full soundtrack release. Decca did a 4-song EP and there have been various bootlegs. You'd think Rhino would have given this one the deluxe treatment.)

For a complete recording Jay has a Masterworks edition, well sung by Gregg Edelmann and Emily Loesser.

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I'm obviously in the minority, but I prefer the OBC. I haven't heard the '76 version, so maybe that would change my opinion. I love Isabel Bigley's "If I Was A Bell." She hits all the right notes, technically and interpretively. As good as Faith Prince is, I just think there is no comparison to Vivian Blaine, and although Sam Levene doesn't have the best voice, who cares? His "Sue Me" is much more believable then Nathan Lane's. Also, Stubby Kaye is just glorious. Robert Alda has an incredibly rich voice which especially comes through in "I'll Know" and I think it is Peter Gallagher who sounds like he has a cold.

For completeness, the Jay Records one with Emily Loesser is the one to go with.

But in terms of quality of the audio and vocals, the Peter Gallagher, Josie DeGuzman, Nathan Lane and Faith Prince CD can't be beat, in my view.

I absolutely LOVE the 50th Anniversary Tour Cast Recording with Maurice Hines. It's by far the most complete recording, and the orchestrations are fantastic. I wish I could have seen this production - the voices are great!!

I agree on the '92 revival but I have to admit to a problem with Josie de Guzman's Sarah. I didn't see it and maybe she was great on stage but on the recording she sounds stiff and inauthentic. In a production in which everyone else seems perfect she sounds like she wandered in from a different show.

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De Guzman gave a good performance, but she was surrounded by great ones.

Updated On: 11/25/10 at 06:34 PM