"Cabaret" studio recording

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/14/06 at 10:32pm

I saw this on Amazon, and it's awful pricey, but it looks very promising, with Maria Friedman, Johnathan Pryce, Judi Dench, and Gregg Edelman. It even had a lot of trunk songs from the show, like "Don't Go". Does know if it's worth it?

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/14/06 at 10:48pm

I have the highlights version that was released in the UK under the el cheapo bargain label. Its a very good recording worth getting for two reasons: Maria Friedman and Judi Dench. Both sound perfect in their roles. Another treat is owning a copy of the OLC with Dench as Sally

Some people have doubts on Jonathon Pryce as MC. I just feel he is doing Pryce and the Engineer a bit. Its a good vocal just dont expect anything other than Joanthon Pryce (hope that makes sense..I love him on stage!) Also you cant go wrong with Greg Edelman singing gems like Married and Why Should I Wake Up?

May I suggest looking around for it? Especially ebay marketplace in the UK or ebay UK. these things do crop up often.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/14/06 at 10:57pm

You should get this if you are interested in having 99% of the score on cd. However, if you are looking for stellar performances, you could do better with one of the other recordings.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 5/14/06 at 10:59pm

Judi Dench and Maria Freidman are super-fantastic. And it has dialouge... which gives a good picture of the show... and it has pretty much every note of music.


kmc

[philcrosby]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:33am

It is a note-complete recording of the original Broadway score, with lots of supplements from the revivals and the film. I agree that the performances of Friedman and in particular Dame Judy are terrific. (Dame Judi was the definitive Sally, IMHO, on the original London cast recording.)

Curiously, I found both Jonathan Pryce and Fred Ebb disappointing. Pryce because he seemed to be walking through the role (though it's tough to bring character to a role you are only singing for a recording) and Ebb because, in addition to the role being totally out of his range, he only played ... well, Fred Ebb. It found it very distracting.

It's also interesting to see the powerhouse group of Kit Kat girls, including Claire Moore, Jacqui Dankworth and Gay Soper, among others.

It is a very worthy recording, just not a definitive one. And considering that the OBC, the revival, and the film are ALL definitive, because they each chronicle very different versions of the material, that is saying something.

[algy]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 11:37am

I've got the trunkated Cassette version of this (it's missing all of Judy Dench's songs) but Maria Friedman is brilliant. I just love it to bits, and I wish I'd bought the CD version instead, as it is more complete, and I don't have a cassette player that I use much anymore - all my music is CD or digital. Gah. It's really expensive to get hold of in the UK now too.

[Timmerbo]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 2:18pm

I didn't listen to the whole thing (I took a listen at a reference library), but Edelman's 'Don't Go' and 'Why Should I Wake Up' are both great. He has a great voice but treats 'Don't Go' in particular like a sung monologue and doesn't worry about making every note sound great.

Conversely, I didn't really like Pryce's 'I Don't Care Much' for the very reason that he's very flat in much of the song.

The dialogue sequences are great, too.

[Aaron27]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 2:33pm

I love it too. Mainly cause it preserves every song created for almost every incarnation of the show. Just as everyone has already said Maria Friedman and Dame Judy are the highlights of the recording. Ebb is good too IMO, just the fact he's singing his songs with Dench. Pryce is mediocre. Not bad but not good either

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 2:38pm

Like everyone said, I also love it for having all of the songs from all versions and the movie. If you're a big Cabaret fan, it's a must-have.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 3:38pm

Does anyone know if the original london cast with dench as sally has ever been released on cd?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 3:44pm

"Does anyone know if the original london cast with dench as sally has ever been released on cd?"

Yes it has been released on cd.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:05pm

have you seen it for sale anywhere? because i have only been able to find it on LP on ebay.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 4:36pm

In the mid 1990's, I bought a copy in London at either Tower Records or HMV. It might be out of print now.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 8:11pm

It was released on the Sony West End label. Sadly out of print but you can sometimes get it online for between £20-£30

Check out this resource

http://www.castalbums.org/index.html

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/15/06 at 8:18pm

I found the studio recording to be very stiff and bland. Judi Dench is lovely as Fraulein Schneider, but all of the other performances are seriously lacking. It's a cute idea to have Fred Ebb sing Herr Schultz, but his voice is god-awful. As Sally and Cliff, Maria Friedman and Gregg Edelman had all the chemistry and charisma of a knat.

Pryce was okay as the Emcee. Caroline O'Connor offers a stirring "Tomorrow Belongs to Me". It's really not essential, IMO, unless you are a huge CABARET fan. The OBC and Roundabout revival recording are much better and much cheaper.