Ensemble members who POP on OBCRs

[gravity87]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 1:22am

Today I had my Spotify on shuffle and could let help but notice some individual ensemble members vocals popping on a few tracks. Specifically, I was stuck by Shoshana Bean's amazing belt dominating the upper harmonies on "you can't  stop the beat" and Kate Weatherhead's unique timbre standing out legally blonde's "so much better."  Both minor things on those recording that I love and found myself obsessed with. Does anyone else have any personal favorite examples of these specific kind of stand outs  on cast albums? 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 1:30am

Along with Kate Wetherhead on 'So Much Better', you can hear Annaleigh Ashford's strong high belt starting at 2:15 to the end, but especially her "I am so much better. I am so much." at 3:06! The whole OBC company of "Legally Blonde" are rockstars. Completely full out, as Jerry Mitchell would say.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 3:07am

As Seth Rudetsky would say, you folks must have your earbuds JAMMED in your ears to pickup things like that!

Not exactly an "ensemble member" but a legendary example of being heard distinctly during "ensemble singing" is Stritch on the COMPANY cast album. Not exactly because of vocal power however but rather being too close to the mic.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 8:08am

In one of the Cabinet Battles on the Hamilton OBCR, Sasha Hutchings yells "That's foolishness" and it's one of the best moments on the record, IMO.

[vfd88]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 9:19am

neonlightsxo said: "In one of the Cabinet Battles on the Hamilton OBCR, Sasha Hutchings yells "That's foolishness" and it's one of the best moments on the record, IMO."

That's hilarious, I never noticed it! When does that happen?

I always laugh in one of the Cabinet Battles after "imagine what's gon' happen when you try to tax out whiskey", you can hear someone say "not MY alcohol!"

Stritch in Company is a treasure, especially in the opening number during the minute long "we LOOOOOOOOVE you". For some reason they mixed it so that her flat note is the loudest, and then she just drops out halfway through. I always picture her running out of breath in the recording studio.

Updated On: 5/3/16 at 09:19 AM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 1:29pm

vfd88, you won't be able to unhear it once you hear it once!

It's Cabinet Battle #2, I just checked. 1:31. "That's foolishness!"

 

 

[tazber]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 1:33pm

On the new Fiddler cd, during the dance break on To Life you can hear a male ensemble member saying "go Tevye" or something like that.

 

It's really obvious and I love it.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 2:46pm

I had a really good one the other day, but I can't remember it now. It may have been Newsies or Kinky Boots? Haha. I was telling someone the other day that you have seen/listed to a few too many shows when you can start to pick out ensemble members from a cast recording. There was one person one time (I wish I could remember the show) who I didn't realize until I heard their voice that they were in the show (I hadn't seen it with the original cast). 

 

You can usually pick out Ryann Redmond pretty quickly in her recordings. 

Updated On: 5/3/16 at 02:46 PM

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 3:21pm

Pretty much the entire ensemble of WICKED on the cast recording is by far the most beautiful thing i have ever heard. The range that the entire ensemble has and the power behind them is something that I think could not be matched. 

[MyLife]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 3:56pm

There are a lot of fun Hamilton moments because of the flawless ensemble.

I love Sasha in all the cabinet battles. I also like Ariana Debose's "YAAAAAS!" after Phillip says "...let's strip down to our socks"

 

And.. not an ensemble member but worth noting, I love Anthony Ramos's giggle after Daveed Diggs's Anarchy/Onarchy bit in My Shot.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 6:01pm

Andy Karl as the ensemble bass in On the Record really pops.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 5/4/16 at 2:18am

Only someone who's followed Jesus Christ Superstar for years would notice "See my legs, I can hardly stand" at 2:51 in this clip, but I know who that vocalist is from a mile away. (Hint: he's hardly ever taken the robes off since he put them on himself.)

Before anyone points it out, yes, I'm cheating slightly -- it's not on the OBCR, which is a highlights disc -- but it is a recording of the OBC, and it would've stood out on that album as well were it included.

Updated On: 5/4/16 at 02:18 AM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 5/4/16 at 2:26am

On the track 'Firmer Hand / Do Right" in "Bright Star" Emily Padgett really pops on the "little lost lamb" phrase, once they change the keys. It's actually really charming.