Funny Girl Broadway Cast or Film Recording

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:36pm

Do people think the Funny Girl Broadway Cast Recording or the Film Recording is better? Also why we are at it are there other Stage to Screen musicals that you think one recording better than the other?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:39pm

To me, there is no contest, I prefer the Broadway Cast by far. Not only did they cut a dozen songs for the film but the vibrant energy that is in the cast recording is tamed for the soundtrack.
I don't think anything beats the OBCR version of "Cornet Man" or "Sadie Sadie" (the latter being a thousand times funnier on the cast recording).
The movie is great but in terms of soundtrack v. cast recording, I there's no contest.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:41pm

To me, Barbara's voice sounds better in the film soundtrack, and there are some songs on the film soundtrack that i love, but aren't on the b'way recording (My Man, I'd Rather Be Blue Over You).

I would usually always pick the original cast recording, but this is one of those exceptions...enjoy:)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:46pm

Streisand sounds great on both, but her "I'm the Greatest Star" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" are better on the soundtrack. Still, I think the Broadway Cast Recording is better if only for the many songs that were cut from the film.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:47pm

I'm with Ray. Original Broadway cast recording all the way. Sure, you don't get "My Man," but things like "Cornet Man," "The Music That Makes Me Dance," and "Who Are You Now?" are compensation enough. Plus, I find Streisand more genuine, less affected on the cast album.

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 03:47 PM

[luvliza89]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 4:04pm

The Broadway Cast Album has "Cornet Man" and to me, that alone makes in the winner. I truely think this is where Barbra shines the most on the album, with "The Music The Makes Me Dance" being the other contender.

I used to prefer Barbra's vocals on the movie soundtrack. But now I'm not so sure. Listening to the soundtrack Barbra sounds like well, Barbra. With all her vocal flair and jazz effects I think she loses a bit as Fanny. She's playing more Barbra and less Fanny. But with the cast recording, you're getting that same great Barbra voice but with more Fanny character I think. And if not more Fanny, then less Barbra.

Maybe that makes sense?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 4:07pm

BOTH.

The OBC has some score that the film cut, such as "Cornet Man." However, in my opinion, some of the vocals in the film are preferable to the cast recording.

Therefore, buy both.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 4:10pm

And it's BARBRA not Barbara.

Oy!

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 4:11pm

I have the cast recording, but i have only seen the movie once so I was not sure if I needed to order the other.

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 4:48pm

It's amazing how much Barbra's voice changed between the OBC and the film soundtrack. She really didn't seem to reach her vocal zenith until about the time of FUNNY LADY (say what you will about the movie, but her vocals are out of this world).

The orchestrations for the film are much more lush than the OBC as well.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 6:02pm

Plus, I find Streisand more genuine, less affected on the cast album.
Couldn't agree more with you, Smaxie.
To me, "Cornet Man" alone makes the cast recording one of my top favorites, but apart from that even the numbers that made it to the film like "I'm the Greatest Star" and "Sadie Sadie" have a much bigger impact and enthralling quality on the cast recording for me. The first time I listened to "Sadie Sadie" on the cast recording I thought it was a riot, when I heard the soundtrack it sounded like a number I could've done away with.
Oh, and it doesn't matter how many times I listen to "Cornet Man" (which is a lot), I always get chills from Streisand's vocals during this number.

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 06:02 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 6:10pm

The OBCR is Barbra. The Film soundtrack is Streisand.

It depends on which one you prefer. I prefer my sugar raw.

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 6:32pm

allmylife --

What a PERFECT way to put it.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 7:10pm

Cast album as too many songs cut for the film

[chino]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 7:12pm

Broadway Cast Recording.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 7:37pm

Both both both!

Her vocals on the Soundtrack of Greatest Star, People, and Parade are ASTOUNDING. Plus you get one of the most underrated Styne song: Funny Girl, and of course My Man.

OBCR has the invaluable Cornet Man, Who Are You Now, Music That Makes Me Dance, and awesome Parade reprise. Her vocals on Greatest Star and Parade sound forced, and I don't think she EVER sounded like Brice. Has anyone ever heard the real Brice sing?

I have a recording of her singing My Man, and Streisand makes NO attempts to sound like her. Thank God, because Brice was not so much of a singer.

Posted: 7/30/07 at 7:55pm

I have to say I'm not a big fan of La Streisdand and massively prefer her early/mid 60s recordings--and the Funny Girl cast album is one. Her vocals just feel so much more honest and in character to me--I also hate the soupey souped up movi3e orchestrations in comparison (and cutting Music that Makes me Dance and Who Are you Now, two fo Styne's most gorgeous ballads,?? crazy)

E

[parislover87]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:01pm

OBCR... the music that makes me dance is perhaps one of the best songs ever written/performed

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:19pm

I grew up listening to the "We're goin' home!" take of "Cornet Man" on my LP. It's one thing I miss with the CD version. (I'm sure some of the Barbra-files know what I'm talking about).

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:24pm

I'm not familiar with it but I must say, I'm not a Barbra Streisand fan but "Cornet Man" as performed by her (I've heard Idina Menzel's rendition and it just can't compare) is one of my all-time favorite showtunes. Her vocals in that number are just...mind-blowing.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:28pm

I like the movie soundtrack better, because it has the songs that the creative team wanted to use in the first place, but couldn't afford to license.

Styne and Merrill wrote those other songs only after it was clear the original Brice songs were out of their reach for a Broadway run.

When the film came along... they could afford it! So we got to hear what they wanted to do all along.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:37pm

Except I don't like that the film ends with "My Man," instead of the "Don't Rain On My Parade" reprise. It leaves Fanny as a dishrag, suffering for her man, instead of rising above it. I just find it an unsatisfying ending, even while Streisand delivers "My Man" brilliantly.

Updated On: 7/30/07 at 08:37 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:51pm

I agree, Smaxie. The "Don't Rain on My Parade" reprise is empowering.
Also, whether the creative team always intended to use the songs or not, the Broadway score is still more effective and exciting than the soundtrack for me. Not to take from the film which I really enjoy.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:58pm

I don't know. As good a show tune as "The Music That Makes Me Dance" is, it AIN'T "My Man," and it never will be.

The reason Streisand was standing in the Winners' Circle on Oscar night was ultimately her performance of that killer song. If it had been the Broadway song instead, she might have had an entirely different career in film.

S'all I'm sayin'.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/30/07 at 9:03pm

So we have "My Man" to blame for The Main Event, Star is Born and Nuts?