#1
Posted: 9/7/08 at 2:15am
I am buying one recording of each show, both Blood Brothers and Parade. Just wanted to hear some suggestions on which versions are the best. Thanks!
#2
Posted: 9/7/08 at 3:33am
Concerning "Blood Brothers," I have heard several different recordings, but I feel that the 1995 London Cast Recording with Stephanie Lawrence is the best. That's just my personal preference. :)
#3
Posted: 9/7/08 at 5:14am
I've always been partial to the 1988 Kiki Dee recording. I thought Stephanie Lawrence used too much vibrato on the 1995 cast recording.
Just my thoughts :)
Just my thoughts :)
"I'm seeing the LuPone in Key West later this week. I'm hoping for great vocals and some sort of insane breakdown..." - BenjaminNicholas2
#4
Posted: 9/7/08 at 5:57am
Agree on the Kiki Dee version of Blood Brothers. The two Parade recordings are quite different in style and somewhat different in content. I would go with the original, if only for Carolee Carmello.
Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!
#5
Posted: 9/7/08 at 7:12am
The Donmar Warehouse's Parade! No competition whatsoever!!
#7
Posted: 9/7/08 at 8:38am
the original Parade is grander in scale but the smaller scope and intimacy is what makes the Donmar one special, plus it's the updated version that all Parades from now on must be. I love the original but I much prefer the Donmar recording.
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#8
Posted: 9/7/08 at 9:43am
I too am partial to the Kiki Dee recording; I think it's because it's the one I was brought up on, but subsequent recordings and whatnot seem to be so much slower with 'Bright New Day', and I like it to be MUCH more up-tempo. The Barbara Dickson recording doesn't sound like they're looking forward to starting a new life in the country at all. 
#9
Posted: 9/7/08 at 11:22am
I'm going to cast a vote for the original Blood Brothers. When I saw it with Barbara Dickson, she brought a lot more to the role than when I saw Kiki Dee do the same part. I felt her pain, conflict, and regret with the choices she'd made and the original cast recording brings that back for me.
#10
Posted: 9/7/08 at 11:29am
Definitely the Donmar Warehouse Parade recording.
#11
Posted: 9/7/08 at 11:29am
OBCR for Parade if just because the Donmar includes a looooot of dialogue and it's annoying for when you just want to listen to the songs.
I actually wasn't thrilled with the Donmar for other reasons. Overall, I much prefer the cast on the OBCR. I heard that Brent Carver played Leo Frank as much more of a caricature, but IMO he doesn't come across that way on CD. Not true with the Donmar.
I actually wasn't thrilled with the Donmar for other reasons. Overall, I much prefer the cast on the OBCR. I heard that Brent Carver played Leo Frank as much more of a caricature, but IMO he doesn't come across that way on CD. Not true with the Donmar.
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#12
Posted: 9/7/08 at 11:36am
I saw the Donmar production and it was brilliant. But as a pure listening experience -- not so much.
Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!
#13
Posted: 9/7/08 at 2:05pm
The Donmar production deleted some songs that made the original production brilliant, and added a few songs that just sound out of place.
And no, not all future productions have to be the Donmar production. I recently saw professional production of Parade that used the original Broadway book and music.
The cast is far superior in the OBC too, except for Carolee Carmello, who's just regular superior. The accents in the Donmar recording seems forced and unbelievable. And Christy Carlson Romano at 14 was far better than Jayne Wisener at 18.
And no, not all future productions have to be the Donmar production. I recently saw professional production of Parade that used the original Broadway book and music.
The cast is far superior in the OBC too, except for Carolee Carmello, who's just regular superior. The accents in the Donmar recording seems forced and unbelievable. And Christy Carlson Romano at 14 was far better than Jayne Wisener at 18.
#14
Posted: 9/7/08 at 2:39pm
I completely agree. Glad I'm not the only one who prefers the OBCR 
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#15
Posted: 9/8/08 at 3:34pm
The 1988 Kiki Dee version of Blood Brothers has Con O'Neil's deservedly Olivier Award winning performance as Mickey.
The 1983 Barbara Dickson version is, as Weez implies, much more doom-laden though I like it precisely for that reason.
The 1983 Barbara Dickson version is, as Weez implies, much more doom-laden though I like it precisely for that reason.
#16
Posted: 9/8/08 at 5:01pm
I love this board! At first I was sure there would be little to no responses, but I'm so glad to be wrong. Thank you for all the suggestions so far. I'm pretty torn since everyone has conflicting views. I kind of want to get both Parade's, but Amazon.com's $45 price tag is kind of making the OBCR sound even better. Hmmmm....
#17
Posted: 9/8/08 at 6:17pm
Scrippsy, is this thread bringing back memories for you of the days when Mrs Johnstone was playing by someone other than a Nolan sister? Or are those days too far in the past for you as well? I know I've seen 'Blood Brothers' countless times, but I have a horrible feeling that I've only seen it once with someone else. XD
#19
Posted: 9/8/08 at 7:11pm
I like the Cassidy brothers recording, too!
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
#20
Posted: 9/8/08 at 9:07pm
Definitely the OBCR of Parade. The dialogue on the Donmar gets really annoying after a while, not to mention, the actor playing Leo whose names escapes me at the moment is absolutely dreadful. Overall, the OBC is just a much better cast.
#21
Posted: 9/9/08 at 2:47pm
Weez: I don't think I've seen a Nolan in Blood Brothers but that's probably because I haven't seen it in the last fifteen years!
And I'd be at a total loss to decide between the OBC and the Donmar Parade.
And I'd be at a total loss to decide between the OBC and the Donmar Parade.
#22
Posted: 9/9/08 at 3:20pm
when Mrs Johnstone was playing by someone other than a Nolan sister?
I've seen three of them - it's like their own little retirement programme... All the Blood Brothers recordings have something to recommend them, though my favourite is Stephanie Lawrence's 95 London recording, with Kiki Dee a very close second.
Amazon.com's $45 price tag is kind of making the OBCR sound even better.
It's less than that at Dress Circle, even with the exchange rate. But like Scripps, I'd have a tough time choosing...
I've seen three of them - it's like their own little retirement programme... All the Blood Brothers recordings have something to recommend them, though my favourite is Stephanie Lawrence's 95 London recording, with Kiki Dee a very close second.
Amazon.com's $45 price tag is kind of making the OBCR sound even better.
It's less than that at Dress Circle, even with the exchange rate. But like Scripps, I'd have a tough time choosing...
#23
I'd go with Cassidy Bros' version of Blood Brothers and the Donmar recording of Parade. even with the dialogue, the Donmar recording is so much better (in all respects except the cast).
Posted: 9/9/08 at 6:46pm
I'd go with Cassidy Bros' version of Blood Brothers and the Donmar recording of Parade. even with the dialogue, the Donmar recording is so much better (in all respects except the cast).
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