FOLLIES Recordings - which one?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:48pm

I've really gotten into Sondheim latly, I guess its about time, but I'm looking into buying a recording of Follies, since I know its a pretty famous musical and I'd like to expand my musical knowledge. However, which recording is best?

New Jersey Revival
Original
Concert

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:51pm

actually, I like the 1987 London revival the best, but then the New Jersey recording is awesome because it includes *I believe* every song ever written for the show. The original is okay, but really, for me, it's so incomplete it's hard to enjoy as much as the others.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:51pm

Original had they not chopped it to bits. that being said, would have to say the Papermill Playhouse one. A video of either one would have been heaven

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:53pm

All have their pros and their cons.

For originality get the OBC, for mood and best performance get the concert and for a complete take (in terms of nothing being left back) get the New Jersey cast.

To conclude: get the concert cast. OBC is far too short and has too much cut out. And the New Jersey cast is in my ears a little too bloodless, well just a tiny little bit

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:56pm

hmm, almost every song, Catsnyrevival it left out "It was't meant to happen" which you'll find on one of the tribute albums.

And yes, the London cast is nice indeed, and has some more great songs (of whom a few aren't on the New Jersey cast either, like "Make the Best of your Music")

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:58pm

I can't seem to find the London Revival. I plan on going to Barnes and Noble later to see what they have. I might go with the 1998 revival just because I like "contemporary" recordings...although I really like the Originals cover art haha. i know I shouldnt base things on the packaging ha.
Updated On: 11/15/05 at 05:58 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:01pm

Buy them in this order:

NJ Papermill Playhouse revival
Original Broadway cast
Concert Version

[jacco]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:04pm

The Concert Cast is one of my all time favorites....

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:06pm

I'd go with this order:

OBC
Papermill
Concert
London

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:07pm

Well, if i buy more than one, then i'll never listen to both, so its pointless. on a related note....would you even recommend Follies? Any other Sondheim shows I should look into?
I already have
Saturday Night (i think i lost it though)
Into the Woods
Company

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:10pm

A Little Night Music

Updated On: 11/15/05 at 06:10 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:11pm

Follies is an essential part of any collection (multiple recordings) and you SHOULD eventually get:

Sunday in the Park with George
Sweeney Todd OBC
A Little Night Music OBC
Pacific Overtures OBC
Merrily We Roll Along OBC

Updated On: 11/15/05 at 06:11 PM

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:20pm

Follies is a MUST!
(You should also try to see someone, anyone, do a production of the show. It adds considerably to the experience.)

Sweeney, Merrily, and A Little Night Music, (all OBC) I would buy immediately.
Actually, the recent Assassins revival is a must as well. (I only say that one because I have not heard the O off-Bway cast)

PO, and Sunday I personally also love, but I think you can take some time before you get them.

I have the Papermill Follies, and love it.

I will be getting the rest but, I keep hoping the OBCR will have a remastered edition with additional songs. Is there a chance for that?

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:34pm

I don't know about buying the OBC first, mainly because it is such a hacked up version of the beautiful, practically flawless score. I love the Papermill recording if anything because it has the full score plus many extra songs that were cut from the show. Not to mention wonderful performances from Dee Hoty, Donna Mchecknie, Laurence Guittard and Kaye Ballard.

Also, as much as I love the concert as well I'm not the biggest fan of Elaine Stritch's "Broadway Baby", it feels like something that would be more entertaining to hear/see in person rather than listen to it on the cd.

I'd say get Papermill first, and then the OBC and then the Concert.

And Rentboy, YES I would recommend Follies, over and over and over...This score is a MUST! And absolute MUST!

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:55pm

You basically need them all. In addition, you should also get the Sondheim tribute album with the blue cover with the "Scrabble" letters on it, for some invaluable additions.

The original leads, Dorothy Collins and John McMartin singing "Too Many Mornings" with the lead-in "Pleasant Little Kingdom" (much better than the version that's on the New Jersey recording). Dorothy and Alexis Smith doing "Losing My Mind" and "Could I Leave You" with much more moxie than on the OBC.

Almost more importantly, the best versions of "I'm Still Here" performed by Nancy Walker (that has basically ruined all other performances of it) and "Buddy's Blues" with the late and still missed Larry Blyden and Chita Rivera and Donna McKechnie as Sally and Margie!

Though what you really need is a good bootleg of the original cast. If you have one of those, you don't need the OBC CD.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:41pm

I wrote a comparison of the main three on my blog awhile back. It's there somewhere:

governorslaton.broadwayworld.com

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:08pm

Yeah, i'm holding out for the new sweeny recording - i want it so bad. I just found the musical theater section of my college's library and I'm so thrilled. It has all the librettos for all the Sondheim shows, and the books. I'm currently reading "Everything Was Possible: The Birth of Follies" So that has sparked my interested.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:16pm

"Everything Was Possible" is a great book -- one of the best ever written about the creation of a show. I would think that after reading that (or WHILE you're reading that) you might want to listen to the OBC to hear the performances that are discussed in such detail in the book.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:22pm

Yeah, that's what I was thinking Margo. I love books like this, just to see how much works goes in there. There's also tons of books written bout Sondheim, like one is a Critical Essay book that talkes indepth about him, so i'm hoping to read that next. But i'm still torn b/w obc and whatnot. I guess I'll go to Barnes and Noble and see which they have, hopefully they wont have all 3.

[flirtandflounce]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 10:45pm

Who's on the Papermill recording?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:15pm

All 4 recordings are worth owning. Papermill is the most complete, but the OBC is hard to beat performance wise. I think besides Barbara Cook, the concert is overrated. The London recording has some divine performances, plus songs not on the other 3 recordings.

Dee Hoty, Kay Ballard, Donna McKechnie, Ann Miller, and others are on the Papermill recording.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:39pm

Well, footlight.com has a London CD, but it's just highlights.
FOLLIES LONDON 1987 (HIGLIGHTS)

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:41pm

Dresslight.com has the London recording. The website indicates "1989" but I'm pretty sure this is of the 1987 revival.
LONDON FOLLIES RECORDING

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:54pm

I say buy them all and make a playlist of the complete score to keep. Pick the best performances (anything but the Donna McKecknie or Mandy Patinkin or Carol Burnett performances will do) and make the best cast recording of Follies never assembled!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:25am

sounds like a lot of work. I listen to samples and i'm not sure I'm that excited about it anymore lol, but i'll probably pick up the Papermill recording.