DREAMGIRLS - Original Broadway Cast Recording

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:05pm

I was just curious to know what you think of this recording? I never knew Sheryl Lee Ralph was in the original cast.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:06pm

Essential.

Oxygen.

Get it.

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:08pm

Me neither. I actually just relized that about 2 weeks ago. It's not a bad recording. I'd LOVE to hear the recent concert version they did though. I should go buy that.

[pab]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:23pm

A must have for any true fan of Broadway.

[magruder]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:41pm

Fans complain about the brutal cuts for the original Broadway cast recording of Follies, but it's practically a John McGlinn archival job next to the Dreamgirls original Broadway cast recording, which is missing something like 50%-60% of the score. Dreamgirls has about 120 minutes worth of music and the original Broadway cast recording runs a little over 40 minutes. The concert recording thankfully has the missing material, but that concert cast is a less convincing bunch than the Broadway cast, which was about as perfect a cast as any musical has ever had. Still, for all its problems, I'd agree with the others here that the original Broadway cast recording of Dreamgirls is an essential purchase. Then, buy the concert version if you love what you hear.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:50pm

Well, I bought it today...I just forgot it in the car...and my mom left. I can't wait to hear it!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 6:54pm

The first Broadway cast album I ever listened to
If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one CD, this would be it
They butched the score for the CD (few people realize that And I Am Telling You was shortened) but like robbiej said:

Essential.

Oxygen.

Get it.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 7:00pm

Does anyone know why?

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 7:08pm

Why what? Updated On: 11/3/04 at 07:08 PM

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 7:23pm

great Dreamgirls website courtesy of Margo:

http://www.graiai.com/dreamgirls/

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 7:56pm

Thanks!

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 10:17pm

LOVE IT!!! I honestly fell in love with this music the first time I heard it.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:17pm

The Original Broadway recording is awesome, though they totally butchered the score. However, Jennifer Holliday's performance is amazing. The concert cast recording is complete. I did a production of Dreamgirls back in February, and we used that recording all the time. Norm Lewis is the perfect Curtis!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:18pm

You guys should have seen Norm Lewis and Jennifer Holliday in Atlanta about 2 or 3 years ago
PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 11:38pm

Yes. Listen to the OBCR and then get the Concert version which is complete. It is recorded live, but I love it so much.

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 10:09am

I love Dreamgirls - OBC. I got it around the time when Jennifer Holliday was playing Mama in Chicago and I ran out and got a ticket, just because I wanted to see her perform live. She's wonderful.

I didn't know who was in the cast until I really knew the album but then I saw it was Sheryl Lee Ralph and I was impressed because I remember watching her from that old show called "It's a Living". Anyone else remember that one? I think her voice is beautiful.

Also, I think my favorite song is "Ain't No Party" and any time I see Loretta Devine, I can't help humming the song.

I wish they would do a revival of Dreamgirls.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 10:15am

I am listening to it right now. All I have to say is:

Essential.

Oxygen.

Get it.

[Marquise]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 11:14am

BwayTheatre11, it's great you're enjoying "Dreamgirls". It was the first show I saw live on stage and I was lucky enough to see it twice with the Original Broadway Cast. It's a good cast album but it's not a complete representation of the show. As Beaverhausen stated, back in the 1980s it wasn't a trend to record a show's entire score, especially a show that's almost completely sung like "Dreamgirls". "Evita" was but "Dreamgirls" wasn't. I think the main reason being that they re-conceptualized it as a pop album so that they could get radio airplay for the songs and since the show was about pop and r & b singers it was very easy to do it. Example: "One Night Only" as recorded on the cast album is completely different from what was performed on stage, but that was because they wanted to release singles off the album. If I remember "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", "When I First Saw You", "One Night Only" and "Dreamgirls" were all released as singles and/or got radio airplay.

If you're loving the OBC then get the 2001 Concert version when you get the chance. It's the complete show recorded live on stage. You'll realize how much is missing from the OBC album once you listen to it and you'll also get to listen to the complete show.
Updated On: 11/4/04 at 11:14 AM

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 11/4/04 at 11:29am

I'm jealous. I would have love to see OBC of Dreamgirls and The Wiz.