Dreamgirls Recordings / Which One?

[Julian2]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 12:49pm

I am very unfamiliar with the score to Dreamgirls and I was wondering which recording should I get. [OBC / OBC Remaster / Concert / Movie / Movie Special Edition] Thank you in advance.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 12:53pm

In order

1) OBC
2) CONCERT


Now, I have not heard the movie soundtrack, so I can't honestly say.

[AugustBurns2]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 12:54pm

Even though the OBC has the original cast, I think you should get the Actor's Fund 2-disc concert version with Lillias White, Audra, etc. It has the complete score and will tell you the story as well.

When the movie CD comes out - buy the 2-disc version and you can compare the changes in orchestration, storyline, songs, etc.

[Julian2]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 12:57pm

1) OBC
2) CONCERT

So if I can only get one for a while, I should get the OBC then? I am assuming this is what you mean.

[thejcm]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 1:06pm

I would go with the OBCR first. That, paired with some light reading online about the plot should get the story across very well. Even though the concert is complete, the vocals just don't even begin to compare to the OBCR.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 1:08pm

To hear the original Broadway cast, of course, you need to get the Original Broadway Cast Recording. Unfortunately, it doesn't represent the accurate way the songs were performed on stage. Most of the songs had lots of sung-thru dialogue sections. On the recording they abridged and reconstructed the songs so they sound like regular songs. Thus, this make the recording incomplete since they were not recorded in their original forms. Also, quite a bit of the score wasn't included on the recording, but will be on November 21, 2006 when the Special Edition recording of this Original Broadway Cast Recording is released in a 2-CD set. It will include a few songs which were recorded back in 1981 but not included on the recording. Included on this new Special Edition is the original Broadway Cast performing the legendary "It's All Over" number.

The 2001 Actor's Fund Concert is the complete score, sung-thru dialogue scenes and all, therefore you hear the ENTIRE show. Most purists recommend this recording since you hear EVERY note and every dialogue in the show.

The film soundtrack (which will be released on December 5, 2006), includes the entire film's score including the 4 new songs written for the film. Thankfully, the film score is almost intact from the Broadway production, except for maybe a couple of songs (including "Ain't No Party" -- which was not included in the film). Also, the 4 new songs written for the film are not replacement songs, so they appear on their own instead of taking over songs deleted.