Cabaret 1986 Revival Recording and The Studio Recording...

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 7:06pm

Hello, I've been craving a new CABARET recording. So what do you Cabaret fanatics think about the...

1986 London Revival Recording? and the Complete Studio Cast Recording?

The Studio recording is on JAY, and I have issues with the tempos they used for the CHARITY recording. So how are the CABARET tempos?

So opinions on these two recordings, please.
Updated On: 9/9/05 at 07:06 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 7:31pm

JAY Masterworks series present note-complete recordings of the scores done at the normal performance tempo.

Often songs are speeded for cast albums to help crate vitality for the ear that in performance is covered by stage movement. On the OBC of CABARET producer Goddard Lieberson had the cast perfporm "The Telephone" song at double tempo to adjust for the missing choreography. (Ron Field joked that if the performers did it at that tempo on stage there would be a mass of breaks and sprains.)

Now, if you are used to listening to these songs done at the quicker tempo, then yes the JAY recording will sound slower. If, however, you have performed in the show and know the correct temp than it will sound fine.

The 1986 London cast CD with Wayne Sleep is not really worth getting. The orchestra is smaller and the performances lack power. Also the recording is not well produced, there is quite a bit of distortion in the louder points notably the final lines of "Cabaret." This version drops "Telephone Song" uses the "Money" song from the movie and interpolates "Maybe This Time."

Between the two best to get the 2 CD set on JAY.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 7:42pm

Thank you for the info.

But out of the 7 Charity recordings I've heard, and seeing the show live - those tempos on the JAY studio recording are slow and dull, and don't really sound like performance tempo. Some sound okay, but others are dreadful to listen to.

But thanks for the info on Cabaret.
Updated On: 9/9/05 at 07:42 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 8:36pm

I like the Jay Records double disc CD for several reasons. First there's Judi Dench and Fred Ebb performing together as Frouline Shnider and Her Shultz. I mean, c'mon... already it's worth the price of the CD. Then Gregg Edelman turns in a wonderful performance as Cliff most notably on the cut songs, at least from the most recent revival, "Why Should I Wake Up" and "Don't Go". Awesome. Maria Friedman as Sally is in many ways an obvious choice and while others complain that her performance here is "too breathy" I enjoy it very much. My favorite track of hers actually comes not in the form of the title number but in "Maybe This Time". It's a beautiful rendition that left me feeling very ... content. Jonathan Price, while probably being too old to play the Emcee on stage is fine here and is a bit of a throw-back to an even more impish Joel Grey.

Add in the fact that this recording has tracks never before recorded like the "Entr'acte", "Kick Line", "Tiller Girls", "Fruit Shope Dance", curtain calls, exit music and the key dialogue moments: "Sally's Revolt" and "The Break Up", not to mention (!!!) the bonus songs from the 87 Broadway revival, and the motion picture it's simply a must own. easily one of the best Jay Records has produced.

and while on the subject of these Jay Records CDs there's still so many that I need to get: Annie Get Your Gun, Guys and Dolls and The Pajama Game for sure. others that I suggest though include the double disc My Fair Lady if for no other reason then to hear the premiere recording of the cut song "Come to the Ball" which is gorgeous and actually introduces one of the repeated tunes from "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" that, since the song was cut we, or at least I, didn't know was a refrian... Updated On: 9/9/05 at 08:36 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 9/10/05 at 7:48am

The Jay studio recording is satisfying on many levels. Although her voice isn't great, very few people can truly act a song like Judi Dench. She and Ebb make a great pair.

Friedman is a wonderful Sally and Pryce rocks as the Emcee. I'm not a fan of Gregg Edelman's dull as dirt Cliff, but it seems to be the one and only weak note on the recording.

Caroline O'Connor's "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" alone is worth the price of the CD.

Posted: 9/13/05 at 4:55am

Actually I think the tempi CAN be a bit too reverential on the JAY recordings--that's my main beef with them. I used Pajama Game's a LOT for dance rehearsing in a High School production and it was really great just for when we couldn't have our pianist--and the slower tempi for the big dance numebrs like Once a Year Day helped with learning the dances--but, while not awful to listen to, they were slower than I would imagine playing them from reading the rental music (yes, I do read music).

That said it may still be my fave PJ recording.

The Cabaret tempos don't bug me too much--I find some of the performances uninspired, but, if largely just to get so much of the cut music and songs I love like Don't Go, which I had only seen on a video of the 80s New York revival, it's essential--prob the recording I play the most after the original.

E

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/13/05 at 3:23pm

Thank you, I am glad someone else agrees that the tempos are too slow at times.