Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording
Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording
Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#1
Posted: 11/15/09 at 3:04pm
Are those the orchestrations used for that production? "I'm the Bravest Individual" and "Where Am I Going?" feel a little too Motown. Did they alter thse for the recording?
Updated On: 11/15/09 at 03:04 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#2
Posted: 11/15/09 at 3:11pm
Not for the recording but the actual production.
Remember, this 1986 Broadway revival (which was a recreation of the original 1966 Broadway production) WAS directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, so all changes or modifications to the revival were approved by him... including using the film-version of the title song "Sweet Charity" (replacing the original 1966 Broadway production's melody), and the modernized re-orchestration of "Where Am I Going?" and the 'new' melody for "I'm the Bravest Individual".
As was the case in the original 1966 Broadway production: Helen Gallagher who played Nickie was Gwen Verdon's standby -- Bebe Neuwirth, who played Nickie in the 1986 revival was Debbie Allen's standby.
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#2
Posted: 11/15/09 at 3:14pm
Those orchestrations are horrible.
At theast they didn't massacre Rhythm of Life like the Applegate revival did.
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#3
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:48pmI honestly prefer the Allen orchestrations to the Verdon/Applegate. They're peppier and more exciting. Are those available for licensing?
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#4
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:51pm
The album is alright, not a great recording. Debbie sounds great, and it's nice to hear a younger Bebe in her breakout role. They've remastered it recently. I have the original copy that was printed as a "soundtrack." The album's orchestrations sound thin and synthesized, they sound fuller on audio recordings of the production.
Updated On: 11/15/09 at 05:51 PM
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#5
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:52pmMe too, ljay. I'm tempted to get the reissue just to get rid of that error.
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#6
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:53pmI enjoy this album. Especially Bebe Neuwirth's performance, she's wonderful. Debbie Allen is probably my favorite recorded Charity, but I just wish they had used the original orchestrations in Charity's songs. What I really hate about this recording is the fact they cut "Charity's Soliloquy," my favorite song from the show along with "Baby Dream Your Dream" and "Big Spender."
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#7
Posted: 11/15/09 at 5:55pm
Did DRG do any remastering for the reissue?
I'm still waiting for the to release the French Cast they promised way back.
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#8
Posted: 11/15/09 at 7:27pmNot having heard the original release, I can't compare, but to me it sounds great.
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#9
Posted: 11/15/09 at 10:33pmI'm sure Debbie Allen was a killer Charity, but I would have love to seen Bebe Neuwirth do that role.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Debbie Allen Sweet Charity Recording#10
Posted: 11/15/09 at 11:51pm
While I admit to finding the original Verdon recording close to cast album perfection, I agree with those who think this is a valid recording.
I'm not really sold on the new version of Where Am I Going but otherwise I really like Fosse/Coleman's changes--I'm the Bravest Individual is a better song (some critics I remember claimed it was a modern rap version--which just makes one realize how clueless about contemporary music many theatre critics are), I used to prefer the stage version of the title song in the original but actually have started to prefer the movie version used here, and I like the other changes (I always miss her Soliloquy though). Isn't it interesting that you get a complete Rich Man's Frug if you combine this cast album with the CD remaster of the OBCR (which added a part left off the original release).
Like I said, I really miss the Soliloquy, but it was cut long before the revival--Gwen stopped performing it a few months into the original run.
I also find it interesting to see how Fosse basically reconstructed his original masterful production/staging but updated and changed some elements--the same year Hal Prince did the same with HIS 60s masterpiece Cabaret. In both cases I think the changes were largely for the better (even if both revivals were somewhat flops). Of course Cabaret is a show that can live without Prince, I don't think Charity can live without Fosse.
Updated On: 11/16/09 at 11:51 PM
Videos
