Stand-by Joined: 10/6/05
With the awards just about to be made, I wonder what your choice will be between: The Color Purple;The Drowsy Chaperone; Jersey Boys: Pyjama Game; and Sweeny Todd? Remember the test isn't what's the best show, but what's the best recording of a show.
Personally I'll be rooting for Jersey Boys but then I'm prejudiced!
Incidentally, the only time the Four Seasons and Bob Gaudio came close to a Grammy was back in 1963 when they were nominated for Best Newcomers, but they lost out to Robert Goulet. With all due respect to Mr Goulet, the Grammy voters' decision back then doesn't seem to have stood the test of time!
I would like either Jersey Boys or Sweeney Todd to win. I'm slightly leaning towards Sweeney because of that Revival loss. I just hope that The Color Purple does not win.
Sweeney Todd - it's unconventional. It was quite a task to have actor musicians performing at the same time to get the right sound mix among their voices and their music.
If Ofdf Broadway were included, I'd vote for Bernarda Alba - pervect balance betweeen the music, claps, stops, and voices. Wow.
All are good but I'm gonna go with Jersey Boys.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
"If Ofdf Broadway were included, I'd vote for Bernarda Alba - pervect balance betweeen the music, claps, stops, and voices. Wow."
I agree.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/7/06
Sweeney, without question.
Stand-by Joined: 10/6/05
Thanks for the responses so far, but..............
Can we have some justification for why you think your suggestion is the *best recording* -not just your favorite show. Thanks
The Drowsy Chaperone is a great recording and it'd be nice to see Ghostlight win, however, I'm pulling for Sweeney Todd. Of course, it was abridged, but the recording captured the show nicely.
However, Jersey Boys will win for its album that sounds like a tribute to The Four Seasons more than a cast album. And if that doesn't, the lyrically insipid, musically...alright I guess, Color Purple album, which was well made I guess, will win.
Jersey Boys
The Color Purple a close second. Drowsey is not in their league IMO
I think that The Color Purple album is the best representation of the show, but I'm rooting for Sweeny Todd!
SWEENEY TODD is not the best cast album of the year - you've got to be kidding.
JERSEY BOYS should and will win, with THE COLOR PURPLE coming in second.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/04
I think Off-Broadway shows are eligible. One year the Actor's Fund Hair Recording was nominated I believe.
Yes, they are. It doesn't have to be a New York based production either - as long as it's a cast album.
Jersey Boys will win. Part of the judging is based on sales, I believe.
I don't know, but even if it wasn't - the best seller always wins no matter what.
Bernarda Alba was easily my favorite score of the year
It's best show album...not best original score.
sales has absolutely nothing to do with the Grammy voting. (at least not ostensibly).
Brenda Russell is a major force in the world of Grammy people, so Color Purple will most likely take it.
But the Drowsy Chaperone is probably more of what typifies a cast recording so it could upset. Still though, my money is on Color Purple.
I personally would love Sweeney to win.
I honestly don't think that there's any chance that JERSEY BOYS won't win.
True, THE COLOR PURPLE (besides being a wonderful album) has Russell and Oprah attatched, JERSEY BOYS is the four seasons, and the album is produced by one of the four seasons. It's a sold out smash on Broadway - and people are still flocking to see it.
My money is on JERSEY.
Munk,
you're argument is compelling. And I usually guess wrong at these things anyway so you are probably right, but....
I still feel like The Color Purple will win.
Anyway, it's nice that there are 5 really good cast albums to choose from.
IF it were going towards artistic merit, neither would win. Both of these cast recordings sit dusty on my shelf. Zzzz to both. I'd give it to Drowsy. But that's not gonna happen.
They collect dust on your shelf because you don't like the scores, obviously. It's not because they're bad albums.
This argument is had every year. It's not BEST SCORE, it's BEST ALBUM.
While I have probably listented to DROWSY more than JERSEY BOYS, I think that JERSEY BOYS is brilliantly produced.
I don't particularly care for the show THE COLOR PURPLE or the score, but I find that cast album to be spectacularly made. I felt the same way about SPAMALOT. I don't care for the show, but the brilliance of the cast recording kept me listening to it. It's solid and strong - and SPAMALOT won the Grammy.
I don't think SWEENEY has much of a chance. As much as I adored the show, there's nothing special about the album. DROWSY has better production values, but THE COLOR PURPLE and JERSEY BOYS have a quality to them that is unsurpassable.
NO, Munk. Its actually the former. I like The Color Purple score and hate the way the album sounds. I think Drowsy is the best produced cast album. I love the music in Jersey Boys but it is easily the worst produced show album of the lot.
I understand your album/score argument, it is valid. But I know the difference.
(And for the record. Some voters don't know the difference and could very well be voting of the score not the quality of the album). That's why I think Jersey Boys will win. Most exposure and most familiar music.
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