CD Reccomendations...

[jczelyph]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 9:45am

I've been a fan of muscial theatre since I was a wee boy. Joseph was the first show I saw (hence the icon). Recently, since I've been a student (therefore in posession of a student loan), I've been indulging my amazon.co.uk habit by buying every cast recording I want. I've got at least one cast recording from most contemporary musicals.

Maybe through over-exposure to modern shows, I'm starting to crave something a little more traditional. The trouble is, I've been blinkered to any show created before 1960 so I really have no idea which shows are good. And I've not really paid much attention to Sondheim so I'm ignorant where it comes to him too...

>Insert collective BWW gasp here

That's where the musical expertise of BWW cognoscenti come in! Can you advise me on 5 classic musicals (I already have Oklahoma movie version, Guys And Dolls 92 revival and Anything Goes OLC) and 3 Sondheim (already have Into The Woods and Company), and if you do reccomend a show, which recording is best? Sorry if this is a bit of a complicated question, but think of it as being an opportunity to educate...

Shows I've thought I might like include:
Fiddler On The Roof
Gypsy
Mame
Carousel
My Fair Lady
Showboat
Kiss Me Kate
Annie Get Your Gun
42nd Street
Wonderful Town

Thanks guys!

Updated On: 10/25/04 at 09:45 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 9:53am

Sondheim:
A Little Night Music
Sweeney Todd
Passion

Other:
West Side Story
The Music Man
Fiddler on the Roof
Gypsy
Carousel

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 10:05am

everything Mister Matt said...

but i would also include Sunday In The Park for Sondhemin and Show Boat as a classic choice... most historians agree that musical theater is divided into two eras... those that came before Show Boat and those that came after...

[Plum]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 10:12am

My favorite Sondheims are:

Sunday in the Park With George (OBC)
Sweeney Todd (OBC)
A Little Night Music (OBC)
Company (OBC)

Also, the OBC and concert recording of Follies, when combined, especially, make a good representation of that musical.

Of the other classics...hmm. I'd recommend the OBC of My Fair Lady first. Of the 3 versions of Oklahoma! that I own (OBC, movie, and 1998 London), the OBC is my overall favorite, though the others have their merits. I really can't decide between the Merman, Lansbury, and Peters Gypsy recordings, but I think the Merman one (OBC) is a good start.

Oh, and I'm glad you already have Anything Goes. Love that score. :P

[jczelyph]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 10:19am

I have the 2003 OLC of Anything Goes and it is SO good. Love it. I have a sneaking feeling I wouldn't like Sunday In The Park from what I've heard of it.

Thanks everyone, these are useful reccomendations! Keep 'em coming!

[Plum]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 10:21am

Sunday in the Park With George is difficult even for a Sondheim. But most people who like it adore it- look at the "favorite Sondheim" thread from a few days ago. If you're looking for something easier to take, go for A Little Night Music- very melodic and lovely. Especially that "Night Waltz".

*happy sigh*

[perfectliar]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 10:28am

Sondheim:

Pacific Overtures
Sweeney Todd
Sunday in the Park with George

Other:

South Pacific
Fiddler on the Roof
Hello Dolly
Annie Get Your Gun
Carousel

My favorite of these recordings is Pacific Overtures. I think it's an extremely underrated show that never got its time to shine. It's very different and may not be for everyone, but I personally love it. Especially "Please Hello."

[JonnyNY]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 10:30am

I don't have any new suggestions for you, but I'd like to reassure two of the possible cast recordings you thought you might like...

I love Bernedette's GYPSY... Rose's Turn is gorgeous, and you can sense this wonderfully akward warth and humor in her other numbers... the performance of her other numbers is what really gives Rose's Turn such a dramatic wieght for me when I listen to the CD... it's really a treat.

And the cast recording from the revival of KISS ME KATE a few years back is very funny... all of Amy Spanger's numbers are hilarious... Always True To You In My Fashion and Tom, Dick, And Harry performed by her are just great.

[timote316]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 11:04am

If you want a somewhat modern Sondheim, go for Assassins. The new cast recording is excellent. And yes, Bernadette's Gypsy is very good too

[sean martin]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 12:28pm

Early Jerry Herman is a lot of fun: the original DOLLY, MAME, even DEAR WORLD.

Go for the recent London revival of CAROUSEL.

I'd also recommend a personal favourite from that period, 110 IN THE SHADE by Jones and Schmidt. Jay Records recently released a 2CD edition of the score, and it's still as charming as it was in 1964.

Also, check out some of the Gershwin stuff: FIFTY MILLION FRENCHMEN, I'D RATHER BE RIGHT, and (again, a personal favourite) STRIKE UP THE BAND. A number of songs we consider standards came from these shows.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 4:17pm

As for Sondheim, I'd recommend the GYPSY cast recording with Bernadette Peters.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 4:20pm

I just got Lippa's Wild Party and I haven't stopped listening to it. A great CD. Music, Lyrics and Vocal Performances are prime.

Akiva

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 5:18pm

You must own Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.
And I hope you have the original INTO THE WOODS, not the wretched Vanessa Williams' version. ASSASSINS is ok, but hardly representational of his best work. Whenever buying classic musical cd's stay away from the movie versions - they're often bad and incomplete. Get the 1994 revival of CAROUSEL with Audra MacDonald, and Bernadette in GYPSY. The new FIDDLER CD is quite good - better than the original, even if none of the women can sing.

[Plum]

Posted: 10/25/04 at 6:31pm

Well...a couple of exceptions to the "dont buy movie versions" rule. I really like the movie versions of The Sound of Music and Oklahoma!. The latter is definitely missing some things, most notably "Lonely Room," and I wouldn't buy it before the OBC, but it does have a really good Curly in Gordon MacRae. And the former has Julie Andrews. 'Nuff said. Updated On: 10/25/04 at 06:31 PM

[jczelyph]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 10:38am

Superb! Thanks so much for all these. I'm getting a good idea of what some potential Christmas presents could be.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 11:53am

sean martin - I believe I'd Rather Be Right was Rodgers and Hart with George Kaufman. I've never found a cast recording. Does one exist? Perhaps you were thinking of Of Thee I Sing?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 12:28pm

If you want Rodgers and Hart, I strongly suggest the 1989 cast of BABES IN ARMS. I love it to death.

[mizzie]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 1:21pm

Definately Fiddler and West Side Story. You love the classic sound of Fiddler, which is a joy to hum along to, and you'll be dancing to West Side Story. Also, there are a few Sondheim mix cd's out there- I suggest you get one. I have "The Sondheim Songbook" which includes a short history of Stephen Sondheim in the cover in different languages. It's definately a must-have for a Sondheim fan. Also, if you want to sort of ease yourself into Sondheim or more classic musicals, I suggest renting the movie "Camp". The story isn't the best, but it includes the performances of older songs. Still, alot of songs in it have modern feel to them aswell, and even a few of the old songs have had some modernization done to them, so I think you'll enjoy that. By the way, this is all just my personal opinion.

[Sant]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 2:31pm

CHICAGO 1996 Broadway Cast Recording (Bebe's fab!!)
WICKED OBCR

These two are my absolute favourites. Other favourites are

RAGTIME
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Canadian Cast Recording
SUNSET BOULEVARD
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN
THE KING AND I the studio album with Julie Andrews & Ben Kingsley

[Plum]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 2:50pm

*gasp*

How could I forget the OBC of West Side Story? It's edgy and beautiful to this day. And "Officer Krupke" was how I discovered the wonders of Sondheim lyrics without even realizing it was him. :)

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 2:54pm

Some stuff I've liked:

FOLLIES (the 1998 Jersey cast is prettier, the 1985 concert version is more energetic and star-studded, both are terrific and have some of the best songs ever written for musical theatre)
MACK AND MABEL--From MAME's Jerry Herman, a great score, can probably find it cheap
DEAR WORLD is also good.
SWEENEY TODD--a classic.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH--both the off-Broadway and movie versions are very, very good when you want to rock out a wee bit.
TENDERLOIN--Underrated score from the FIDDLER duo, with Patrick Wilson, natch!
SHE LOVES ME--both versions are great. Evergreen musical.
ANYTHING GOES--Need one say more?

[sean martin]

Posted: 10/26/04 at 4:32pm

>> I believe I'd Rather Be Right was Rodgers and Hart with George Kaufman

Oh man, you are so right! Take away my theatre card... damn, that's embarrassing. And yes, I was thinking of OF THEE I SING. I dont know that an album was ever cut of ID RATHER BE RIGHT. I was lucky enough to find a first-edition copy of the hardbound script at the Strand a couple of years ago: a 1937 edition with photos of the production -- for five bucks!