Cast Recordings That Have Transformed Your Opinion of a Score

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 11/22/22 at 5:59pm

Curious to hear what cast recordings have changed your opinion significantly of a show's score, particularly in situations where it improved your opinion.

Two stand out for me. The first is the revival cast recording of "Flower Drum Song." I always thought this was a pretty minor R&H score, and I know the revival didn't exactly set anyone on fire. But I fell in love with the cast recording, and it was like hearing some of the songs for the first time. It takes a song like "Fan Tan Fannie," generally a throwaway number, and turns it into something sensational.

Another example is Spielberg's film version of "West Side Story" (not a stage revival I know). I didn't think it was possible to make that show feel fresh, but I was blown away by how much some of the songs (like "Tonight" for instance) moved me in context of that film.

Updated On: 11/22/22 at 05:59 PM

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 11/22/22 at 6:50pm

I used to think Follies was boring outside of Broadway Baby and I’m Still Here, but the 2011 revival recording changed all of that. It was well documented that budget cuts and technical issues plagued the original 1971 recording, so it was more a matter of sound quality and plot clarity for me. Because, goddamn, I know the revival recording inside and out. All the performances are perfection imo (and really made me a fan out of the dearly departed Jan Maxwell, clearly) and the way it’s produced with the dialogue tracks really makes the story easier to understand without having to see the show. 

I would dare to say it’s probably my favorite cast recording of any musical ever. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/22/22 at 10:00pm

JanMaxwellsBag said: "It was well documented that budget cuts and technical issues plagued the original 1971 recording, so it was more a matter of sound quality and plot clarity for me. Because, goddamn, I know the revival recording inside and out. All the performances are perfection imo (and really made me a fan out of the dearly departed Jan Maxwell, clearly) and the way it’s produced with the dialogue tracks really makes the story easier to understand without having to see the show.

I would dare to say it’s probably my favorite cast recording of any musical ever."

THIS. 1000% THIS. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 7:15am

“Follies” definitely. I didn’t quite get the love for this show and then I heard and saw the revival with Bernadette and Jan and I “got it” and fell in love with it. 

Ditto “West Side” - I’ve always loved the score but after so many listens I simply got bored with it…the 2021 film revived my love for it. The treatment and the interpretations made me truly appreciate it again. I was always moved by “One Hand, One Heart” but never to tears, that is until Rachel Zegler opened her mouth to sing it…I was a mess by the time that song was over. And an extended “Mambo” at the gym is always a good thing! 

Updated On: 11/23/22 at 07:15 AM

[binau]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 8:03am

I’m so happy that The 2011 Follies revival is getting a bit of love. Even Ben Brantley spoke recently about how much he loved Bernadette’s performance (see my signature for quote). Musically, the production is just so far ahead of the recent London revival (which I saw live twice!). Bernadette got a bit of slack from some for her performance but if you really carefully listen to “In Buddy’s Eyes” and the acting choices, particularly the vulnerability of the final verse that really conveys the subtext in a way I can’t hear in any other recording, combined with that beautiful orchestra, it’s just magic. Top tier Sondheim/Bernadette and something to celebrate. I think some did hear it, Michael Reidel for example complimented her performance of that specific song in the chatter about whether the show would finally make a profit. And of course she did get some positive reviews such as NYTimes.

But others just didn’t seem to ‘get it’. I distinctly remember people in ATC claiming it was too slow (they need to open the sheet music because what has been performed on other recordings is not really what’s written) or even they didn’t see the subtext in the song and thought that Bernadette was literally singing to Ben about how much she loved Buddy, saying it didn’t make sense cause she was so rude to him earlier. EXACTLY - she is lying to Ben about how much she loves Buddy to make it seem like she is happy. But the trick is that final verse where you hear the pathos in her voice and those big eyes staring at Ben that you know everything is not ok. 
 

And of course everyone else in the revival did a stellar job. Every single one of them including and especially the supporting ladies, not just the leads. I feel incredibly lucky to have been there for it. 

Updated On: 11/23/22 at 08:03 AM

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 9:25am

^^^Agreed on all points, binau! Yeah, Bernadette isn’t gonna be like Barbara Cook with those pristine high notes, but she really conveys just how broken Sally is. 

I listened to it again after I wrote my post yesterday and I was remembering some specifics of why I fell in love with it:
The way the Prologue is blended with the Overture
The dialogue. I can’t stress enough how much this helped with my understanding of the show. While obviously not as complete as seeing the full show, it gives you most of the context for the story, and the strength of the performances is what brings it all together. “AND I WALKED MY GODDAMN FEET OFF!” floats around in my brain often. 
It was the first time The Story of Lucy and Jessie didn’t feel like a marble mouthed jumble of words. 
The perfectly executed Chaos and the end of the show.

[EvanstonDad]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 10:52am

Yes, the 2011 Follies recording really is glorious. I won't say it transformed my opinion of the score, because I already liked it. But it took it to new levels because it's so complete. There's definitely something magical about the original cast recording, but it's so truncated that I can't listen to it knowing there's such a complete version out there.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 10:58am

JanMaxwellsBag said: "^^^Agreed on all points, binau! Yeah, Bernadette isn’t gonna be like Barbara Cook with those pristine high notes, but she really conveys just how broken Sally is.

I listened to it again after I wrote my post yesterday and I was remembering some specifics of why I fell in love with it:
The way the Prologue is blended with the Overture
The dialogue. I can’t stress enough how much this helped with my understanding of the show. While obviously not as complete as seeing the full show, it gives you most of the context for the story, and the strength of the performances is what brings it all together. “AND I WALKED MY GODDAMN FEET OFF!” floats around in my brain often.
It was the first time The Story of Lucy and Jessie didn’t feel like a marble mouthed jumble of words.
The perfectly executed Chaos and the end of the show."

Also, the two seconds of Lora Lee Gayer’s uncanny “Oh, with all my heart, Buddy” ala Bernie right before Loveland is sheer brilliance. The minutiae and nuance of that album is why I return to it more than any other recording.

[binau]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 2:42pm

YES, she was so well cast, look at them together! Also, Jan's 'In her tap shoes' line also always gets me.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 2:54pm

Women on the Verge, easily.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 3:16pm

I have to echo the love for Bernadette Peters. I saw her in concert back in May, and seeing her dissolve into Sally to sing "In Buddy's Eyes", and "Losing My Mind" was spellbinding. The quirky delusion for "In Buddy's Eyes", then the hopeless yearning in "Losing My Mind", for a concert? Wow. 

[bk]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 5:49pm

JanMaxwellsBag said: "I used to think Follies was boring outside of Broadway Baby and I’m Still Here, but the 2011 revival recording changed all of that. It was well documented that budget cuts and technical issues plagued the original 1971 recording, so it was more a matter of sound quality and plot clarity for me. Because, goddamn, I know the revival recording inside and out. All the performances are perfection imo (and really made me a fan out of the dearly departed Jan Maxwell, clearly) and the way it’s produced with the dialogue tracks really makes the story easier to understand without having to see the show.

I would dare to say it’s probably my favorite cast recording of any musical ever."

Just to be clear: There were no budget cuts for the original Follies albums - it was budgeted as a one LP recording from day one - no one was happy about it, but that's how it was. As to "technical issues" there were zero technical issues for the recording itself. What there was was a rushed one-day mix to meet a Friday release date. The mix was terrible and we all knew it. And the party line was always that the recording was poorly engineered. That was complete nonsense - it was the mix. When I reissued it ten years ago, I got the original eight-track tapes and remixed it from scratch, fixing all the original mix issues. Apparently, you don't know about that release - it sounds amazing and Mr. Sondheim and everyone else alive at the time called it "a miracle.". The engineer did a great job - the blame is with the original album producer who mixed it. But that's all fixed now.

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 5:56pm

We get it, you saved the original album from the pits of hell. If you were a bit humbler and didn’t have such a chip on your shoulder it would be a lot easier to sing your praises. I own both the original and the remixed version of the original album. The fact remains it is extremely incomplete which makes it not only a disappointment but a bit of a travesty. The original cast was perfection.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 6:43pm

Women on the Verge was the first thing that came to mind.

[bk]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 6:52pm

TotallyEffed said: "We get it, you saved the original album from the pits of hell. If you were a bit humbler and didn’t have such a chip on your shoulder it would be a lot easier to sing your praises. I own both the original and the remixed version of the original album. The fact remains it is extremely incomplete which makes it not only a disappointment but a bit of a travesty. The original cast was perfection."

Yes, we did save it. It was a joy and treat to do it. What does humble have to do with it?  The entire point was to fix something that people always had a love/hate relationship with. I do feel the need to correct people when they give misinformation. Not sure why that's an issue for you, but apparently it is, and of course it's kind of a typical response here. My correcting things has nothing to do with humility or being humble. I was not commenting on the recording's incompleteness because it's a moot point. As to "a bit of a travesty," well, I would completely disagree with you simply because the original cast WAS perfection and this is the record of that. 

 

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 8:19pm

TotallyEffed said: "Women on the Verge, easily."

I concur. The show was a mess but the music is glorious and if I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed the show was that bad. 

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 8:28pm

Yes, absolutely “Women on the Verge”!  I really liked the show but fell in love with the cast recording.  I think the recording of “All Shook Up” is phenomenal, as well.  And I heard and loved the “Spamalot” recording, and was the  disappointed when I saw it live.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 8:40pm

We get it, you saved the original album from the pits of hell. If you were a bit humbler and didn’t have such a chip on your shoulder it would be a lot easier to sing your praises. 

Ouch! Where did that come from? Is there a backstory to the insults? 

I think the Kritzerland remixed and remastered FOLLIES is a stunning acheivement.  

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 8:58pm

I agree that it is a stunning achievement, and I apologize if I was too harsh in my response. My main point was that the recording is incomplete which contributes a lot to the disappointing nature of it. I don’t think JanMaxwellsBag‘s comment warranted such a correction from bk as the original album was very botched and in more than one way. “Apparently, you don't know about that release - it sounds amazing and Mr. Sondheim and everyone else alive at the time called it "a miracle." sounded very sarcastic/condescending to me. Again, if I misread bk’s tone I apologize.

Updated On: 11/23/22 at 08:58 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 11:16pm

TotallyEffed said: "Again, if I misread bk’s tone I apologize."

You didn’t. He’s often condescending toward others when discussing cast albums.

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 12:51am

Gotta disagree with those praising Bernadette in Follies. She sounds like she's reprising Marie from Sunday. Her Sally seems closer to 80 than 50. This isn't a knock on her vocal skills but on her choices as an actress. I think she made all the wrong ones. 

I'd put the Follies in Concert and Paper Mill Playhouse recordings above the 2011. Follies in Concert is better--more energetic, more intense, more of an epic sound to the orchestra somehow--but the Paper Mill Playhouse is more complete. 

Kritzerland's work on the special release version of the OBC Follies is truly astounding--staggering might be the better word. It sounds glorious. But the material he had to work with is still an embarrassing fiasco of missing numbers and chopped up versions of the songs that actually got recorded. You get very little sense of the show from that recording just because so much that is crucial (like Loveland) is missing.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 1:03am

joevitus said: "Gotta disagree with those praising Bernadette in Follies. She sounds like she's reprising Marie from Sunday. Her Sally seems closer to 80 than 50. This isn't a knock on her vocal skills but on her choices as an actress. I think she made all the wrong ones.

I'd put the Follies in Concert and Paper Mill Playhouse recordings above the 2011. Follies in Concert is better--more energetic, more intense, more of an epic sound to the orchestra somehow--but the Paper Mill Playhouse is more complete.

Kritzerland's work on the special release version of the OBC Follies is truly astounding--staggering might be the better word. It sounds glorious. But the material he had to work with is still an embarrassing fiasco of missing numbers and chopped up versions of the songs that actually got recorded. You get very little sense of the show from that recording just because so much that is crucial (like Loveland) is missing."

Thanks for typing what I wanted to say :)

[Ensemble1665977727]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 1:24am

The movie that immediately popped into my head was Women on the Verge.

duck life
 

[BuddyStarr]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 1:31am

joevitus said: "Gotta disagree with those praising Bernadette in Follies. She sounds like she's reprising Marie from Sunday. Her Sally seems closer to 80 than 50. This isn't a knock on her vocal skills but on her choices as an actress. I think she made all the wrong ones.

I'd put the Follies in Concert and Paper Mill Playhouse recordings above the 2011. Follies in Concert is better--more energetic, more intense, more of an epic sound to the orchestra somehow--but the Paper Mill Playhouse is more complete.

Kritzerland's work on the special release version of the OBC Follies is truly astounding--staggering might be the better word. It sounds glorious. But the material he had to work with is still an embarrassing fiasco of missing numbers and chopped up versions of the songs that actually got recorded. You get very little sense of the show from that recording just because so much that is crucial (like Loveland) is missing."

I thought  Bernadette was the weakest one of the leads. 

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 7:55am

True, I had no knowledge of the Kritzerland remaster. I was just answering the prompt of the thread. 

It’s funny, I thought about purchasing it but I haven’t owned anything that can play CDs for like a decade. I do have a record player though, so if there’s ever a vinyl release of this remaster I’ll definitely buy it! 

Also to each their own about Bernadette. I definitely understand why someone wouldn’t like her in the role, I just happen to love her. 

Updated On: 11/24/22 at 07:55 AM