Cast recordings better than actual show — Page 2

Sweet Smell of Success
Steel Pier

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Oh yes, Dear World! Excellent pick.

Which reminds me of Mack & Mabel.
And while we're at it, let's throw in The Grand Tour as well.

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The "Songs for a New World" CR absolutely enchanted me for years, but when I finally had the opportunity to see it live, I felt that it lacked intention and had pacing issues. Yes, I know it's a song cycle, but so is "Closer than Ever," and I was enthralled by that show.

Also, "Chicago" comes to mind. I never saw the original production, but to me, the revival fell flat (even with Ruthie Henshall having stepped in to play Roxie), and I missed the madcap jazz of the cast recording.

Agreed about "Jekyll and Hyde." "Confrontation" THRILLED me when I first heard it (at fourteen), but live, it landed squarely in the middle of what I call the "groan zone:" a moment on stage that fails as drama but isn't bad enough to be enjoyable as camp.

Luminous, I couldn't agree more the revival of Chicago was uninspiring and lacked the wow-factor I thought it would have.

As a rule of thumb, I try to avoid playing the OCR until after I've seen the show. Sometimes this is impossible, but I try. On another side of the coin, I remember when Grand Hotel opened, I was totally enthralled with it and went on to see it ten times. For a variety of reasons, an OCR wasn't released until well into the run, which regrettably did not have the benefit of David Carroll's performance (except for a small snippet from his one-man show, done shortly before he died). I NEVER would have been excited about the show based on the recording that finally was released. So it can work both ways: terrific OCR, mediocre when seen live or terrific live version, mediocre OCR.

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70 Girls 70.. wow what a score
Henry Sweet Henry Wow half of that score is brilliant
Bakers Wife.. gorgeous score