Best Hello Dolly

[LMcC95]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 1:30am

Hi,

I am very excited for the new hello dolly and i want to listen to the cd. Which cast recording is the best?

[Valentina3]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 2:55am

PalJoey would tell you to listen to 1967 all-Black Broadway replacement cast album for all Dolly songs. I'd listen to PalJoey when he says that. Apart from that, I'd recommend the original broadway cast album for all other songs. You can listen to the movie cast album too which is cleaner recording, but I'm sure the new revival will have songs cut from the original stage show when the movie was made.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 9:14am

As someone who has about a dozen recordings of the show, I would recommend the abc. Yes, there are cuts in the score and dance arrangements are missing, but there's an energy that you won't find on other recordings. The reason for this might be Channing's insistence that the cast go through their physical movements while singing. She said that it would reflect in their vocal chords. 

My second favorite is the French cast album with Annie Cordy as Dolly.

[LMcC95]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 1:23pm

Thanks for your replies. 

[kofler22]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 1:35pm

The 1994 revival cast recording is very good. Channing sounds older but the rest of the cast is pretty solid...and the orchestrations are very good. I also agree that the french recording is great, as well as the Argentinian. 

I also love the original London cast recorrding with Mary Martin and of course the Pearl Bailey one! 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 1:54pm

Kofler,  do you have the London studio recording with Dora Bryan? 

The story goes that a wealthy British man was so taken byBryan's performance when she replaced Mary Martin, that he financed a new recording. It's delightful.

[nealb1]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 2:40pm

I love the 1994 cast recording with Carol C as it has most of the waiters gallop music on it.

[kofler22]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 5:08pm

Dollypop said: "Kofler,  do you have the London studio recording with Dora Bryan? 

The story goes that a wealthy British man was so taken byBryan's performance when she replaced Mary Martin, that he financed a new recording. It's delightful.

Hi Dollypop! No, I never heard it! But i bet it must be great!!! 

 

"

 

[bk]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 5:33pm

It has all of the Waiter's Galop on it, as well as all the other dance music in the show - the only recording to have the dance music because I absolutely insisted on it - Jerry didn't want it, but Don Pippin was very much on my side and he acquiesced.  

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 3/14/17 at 8:37pm

My favorite is the 1967 with Pearl Bailey. The OBC recording with Channing is perfect, but there's an assured swagger to 67s recording that makes it that much more fun. It's as if the Channing recording concentrated on getting it all right...and the Bailey recording was done when the world knew it was a bonafide smash. To me, it's a little bit more "fun"...

Updated On: 3/14/17 at 08:37 PM

[BWAYLeaks]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 9:16am

Love the1994 recording. Got to see this production on Broadway, and it was like going into a time machine, witnessing that iconic performance. The original Broadway cast recording is still my fav. There is warmth to those cast recordings in the 60's. I have it on LP, and it's one of my favorites to revisit from time to time. 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 9:34am

Kudos to you bk! I don't have that recording, I'll have to check it out!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 9:55am

My only complaint about the 1994 recording is the percussion. It seems that the drums are right up in front and it becomes annoying after a while. Maybe it had to do with mixing the sound. Dunno.

[morosco]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 12:48pm

Dollypop said: "My only complaint about the 1994 recording is the percussion. It seems that the drums are right up in front and it becomes annoying after a while. Maybe it had to do with mixing the sound. Dunno.

I agree with you 100%.  Very distracting.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 12:51pm

I love the 1994 recording. 

[BakerWilliams]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 1:10pm

The 1994 recording botches "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" in the worst way.

I always love the OBC, for all its quirks and flaws.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 2:03pm

 

 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 4:36pm

I first time I really listened to the title song, outside from watching the movie or hearing the Louis Armstrong version in passing, was when I found Pearl Bailey's rendition and I never heard another rendition as good since. I'm sure some may argue that there are better renditions, but I just fell in love with the way Bailey delivered that song.

Here it is if you're interested:

 

Updated On: 3/15/17 at 04:36 PM

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 8:33pm

As far as Channing recordings go, I enjoy the 1994 recording better than the OBC. I saw Channing do it that year and it made me finally "get" what all the fuss was about. Her timing was amazing...and how she ate those dumplings!

[bk]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 10:29pm

BakerWilliams said: "The 1994 recording botches "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" in the worst way.

I always love the OBC, for all its quirks and flaws.

 

"

Really?  Botches?  How so?  Love to hear all about the botch.  As to the drums, in that production in that band that's exactly how they were mixed in the show, and I honored that because that's what we were recording.  The drummer went nutty and was encouraged to do so.

Updated On: 3/15/17 at 10:29 PM

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 3/15/17 at 10:48pm

Wasn't that drummer the tremendous Joe DeLuca?

[bk]

Posted: 3/16/17 at 1:22am

I'd have to look at the band list - they wanted that sound for that revival - believe me, I asked about it :)  Frankly, I like it.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/19/17 at 1:46pm

I, too, love the 1994 recording.  Even though I'm a lifetime theatergoer, this was actually the first professional production of the show I saw.  Seeing that Carol was in it, it was a must on my list that year.  Carol is Dolly, and the production was outstanding. As was the cast recording. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/19/17 at 5:21pm

Any word on when the Midler cast album will be released?

 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/19/17 at 7:16pm

My email confirmation says the CD is coming out April 21.