Best Little Shop Of Horrors Recording

[dramarama2]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 8:26am

1982 Off-Broadway Cast Recording
1986 Motion Picture Soundtrack
2003 Broadway Revival Recording

Which one do you think's best?

As much as I like the new revival orchestrations, the quality of singing and cast were extremely mediocre. The Motion Picture soundtrack is good, but it doesn't have "Muschnik & Son" one of my favourite songs. So for me, the best is the original Off-broadway cast recording.
But I wish there could be a combo of the New Orchestrations with the Off - Broadway cast!

[nickatnight]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 9:28am

the original cast recording...cause it has the late great Ron Taylor as the plant!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:20am

By far the newest, the Broadway cast album...the original had Ellen Greene but it's almost impossible to listen too with those awful, awful orchestrations with that horrible keyboard...

Also, I think the original Seymour, who I can't remember now, was really boring on that album compared to hunter. Same with Orin.

[istillbelieve24601]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:23am

Definitely go for the revival cast album...

I personally prefer Kerry Butler over Ellen Greene, but that's just me. I think a lot of the performances on the revival were better. Plus, you get all those bonus tracks...

[comedyclaire]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:41am

As much as I love (and have!) all three I'd recommend the Broadway Revival Recording. It's wonderful, crystal clear, and you get some nice bonus demos from Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The OMPS is great, and also has the specially written for the film 'Mean Green Mother', but there are so many songs I love that weren't in the film. I wasn't too impressed with the off-Broadway Recording, it was alright, but not as good as the other two.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:43am

Are you guys absolutely nuts?

The original off-Broadway album with Ellen Greene is unbeatable.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:45am

The Original Off-Broadway Cast Album is the best one to get. The Soundtrack is pretty good, too. Both have Ellen Greene so you can't go wrong.

[jg4892]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:47am

Revival. For listening purposes, the urchins are amazing and Kerry has a crystal clear voice.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:47am

I would rank the Broadway revival album the worst of the 3, easily.

[jg4892]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:49am

If I had to rank them, it would be

1. Broadway Revival
2. Off Broadway
3. Movie Soundtrack

[Shoshana BeanieBaby]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:52am

Either the movie or the Off-Broadway...they both have all the heart and grit that the revival was lacking. I prefer the original becaue Ellen belts the hell out of Suddenly Seymour (its rediculous), but her take on the song in the movie is more subtle and has a lot of great acting choices in it. Either recording is great though for various reasons (like the movie has the bridge in the opening song, the original has the finale and mushnik and son)...lots of pros and cons. But, to me, the revival, seems like a completely different show to me. Too clean and Disney-ish. Little Shop should have that downtown feelling to it, not the feeling of a multi-million dollar production. Just my take :)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:56am

I don't see how anyone can rate the Revival the best of the three. If anything, the only reason to buy would be for Hunter Foster or Douglas Sills' performance. The urchins have good voices, but they absolutely no attitude. And Kerry Butler? Excuse me? She's one of the biggest faults of that recording. The entire recording just reeks of plastic and sugar. YOu want to hear what Suddenly Seymour SHOULD sound like? Listen to the original off-broadway cast, or go to that site that shan't be named and watch Alice Ripley and Hunter Foster from the out of town Florida production. THOSE are true Audreys

[jg4892]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:57am

I'm talking about for listening purposes only, for me anyway.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 10:59am

I know what you mean. And for listening purposes I think that Kerry is still the worst Audrey on a recording. She's not bad, but she doesn't sell any of the songs. Not one.

[jg4892]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 11:05am

I despise Ellen Greene's voice, so that's a big factor for me haha.

[JP2]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 11:15am

I'm conflicted. The Off Broadway has the great songs, but horrible orchestrations. The revival has the entire orchestration, plus bonus tracks. All of which sound beautiful. Unfortunately the cast just doesn't compare to the original.

I'd say the movie. Even though you get less songs, you still get Ellen Greene, and the brilliant Levi Stubbs. Plus, Menkens score if fabulous.
Updated On: 6/3/07 at 11:15 AM

[philcrosby]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 1:03pm

Even though the revival recording is more complete, poor Kerry Butler has absolutely no presence on that recording. She may have had some on stage, but it's missing on the recording.

Yet, with the same material, Ellen Greene is absolutely heart-breakingly wonderful on the Off-BC. There is no question about that one being the best, IMHO.

[1peter4:10]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 1:04pm

REVIVAL
I rally don't like this OBC

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 2:53pm

what about the London recording? Does anyone like that one?

[sondhead]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:15pm

Why does no one like the original orchestration? I love that orchestration! It's much more fun and "cute" than the revival, which sounds like the SNL band playing Little Shop. There's a reason they won't be licensing the revival orchestration anytime soon.

Orchestration aside, the original is the way to go. The performances are tight, incredible, and in the energy with which they were written. It's one of my all-time favorite recordings. The ONLY reason to get the revival, to me, is for Hunter Foster or to hear "Call Back in the Morning" which was deleted from the original cast album, but that song is barely great enough to get that horrible recording for. The urchins better on the revival?? I beg to differ--they could not riff very well and sounded very throaty. The girls who did the revival tour were muuuuch better. Even better are the originals who don't belt their way through those songs since, you know... THEY WERENT INTENDED TO BE SUNG THAT WAY!!! The original girls sing it in the style that music like that is supposed to be sung, so again--stick with the original.

[roseaddams]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:51pm

I would say the Broadway recording first, just because it's pretty much the complete score, the orchestrations are great, and the entire cast is competent with the material.

A very close second is the Off-Broadway, which preserves a lot of the original. Ellen Greene, as love-it-or-hate-it as she is, is legendary in the part, and the smaller orchestrations reflect more of the fun of the piece, rather than the epic scope the revival tried to stick onto the show. The performers are also much more believable and passionate about the material as well.

The movie soundtrack is pretty much the Off-Broadway recording, but Rick Moranis and Steve Martin are pretty good.

Updated On: 6/3/07 at 03:51 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 3:57pm

1. Original Cast. You can't beat it.

2. Film version for the orchestrations.

3. Eh, the extras are sorta fun.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:37pm

"what about the London recording? Does anyone like that one?"
Wait, there's a London recording?



Everything about the original album other than Ellen Greene wants to make me gauge my eyes out. Because it's the original, people like it, I guess...

[wickedfan]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:39pm

No, because it isn't an American Idol contest (like the revival recording), it's more in tune with the show. And therefore more people like the original.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 4:56pm

i like how the title song of the revival CD includes the bridge that was included in the movie...