Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
#1Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:15am
I saw Hair March 29 and was the most amazing broadway experience I have had. So naturally I was stoked when I read they were going into the recording studio on April 6. I have a lot of Hair recordings and love them all but this revival cast is AMAZING. Such a talented group of performers. I want this cast album to have everything on it. Ok I know they cant have everything but the little things that aren't on other cast recordings. EXAMPLE: The whole Be In scene and the whole trip scene. The trip scene was incredible. All the songs during the trip should start with when he Claude says, "Pick Up Your Glow Worms and Glow" and end with him saying, "What did you put in that joint?" I mean the songs during the trip will be different tracks but all mesh together. I don't know lol. But if I was producing this record I would put all the music on this cast recording because who know when we'd get another recording.
But like I said it's my opinion. I will love the recording none the less because it's my favorite show but I would like a full recording so it can be preserved. But I would also like it to be filmed like Rent was but it won't happen. So I'm prepared for whatever come. The show was amazing, like I said the best theater experience of my life. This should win BEST REVIVAL(again my opinion.)Anyone else share my thoughts?
Opinions are appreciated. Nice or mean.
#2re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:20amIf it was my decision I'd record it live and put whatever doesn't fit on the CD as bonus tracks on itunes.
#2re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:25am
I agree. Live but do it like WOMAN IN WHITE where the audience was digitally removed.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#3re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:30amI also thought this at one point but forgot all about it til I read your guys responses hahaha.
#4re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 7:50am
And restore the cut song. F*CKin' bring back "The Bed," dammit. You only cut two songs from the score. One was an excellent choice, "Hippie Life" adds nothing to the show, and as a late addition I think we can safely say it's useless, but "The Bed" needed to be there. It's vital to the play (and this comes from the mouths of Rado and MacDermot themselves); it's a transition song that is needed for the show's overall rhythm.
Which is not to say I can't see why it's cut. Older scripts for this show went more into depth on story and character, and "The Bed" worked better in that context. But all the same, if it's so essential to the show's overall rhythm, why cut it? Even in this version, which is sort of based on the 1995 edition licensed by Tams-Witmark, there have been lines and segments added that would help the song make more sense. Put it back in its original position on the cast recording at least.
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
Updated On: 4/2/09 at 07:50 AM
#5re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:33am
oh... I just want the Revival CD right now! I wish they release it soon!
J*
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#6re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:35amThey cut "Dead End" as well, didn't they?
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#7re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 9:38amI hope they record live. This is one of those scores that a live energy reallllly makes a difference. Compare the live 97 (?) Czech Concert with other recordings, and you can really see a difference.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#8re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 1:10pm
They cut "Dead End" as well, didn't they?
Yes. My favorite number in the show.
Anyone know if they are performing The War in this revival? If so, I hope they at least include that thrilling instrumental on the recording.
I love The Bed, but have never seen it included in a stage production. Dead End is absolutely brilliant and relevant when staged and sung well. I have seen Hippie Life performed and agree it really adds nothing, especially in its usual placement towards the end of the second act. By that time, the song is erroneous and redundant.
"How I love my hippie life!"
NO! REALLY?? After two hours, we had no idea!
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#9re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 1:16pmHonestly, this cast is so dedicated and in love with this show, any way they choose to record this will end up being amazing. The score and vocals will be so much clearer if the record in a studio. Which they are.
#11re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 1:30pmDid The Climax make it to Broadway originally? I thought it was cut after the Off-Broadway run.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#12re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 1:36pmYou're right, it was cut before Broadway. Sorry for misunderstanding!
#13re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 2:25pm
If it was my decision I'd record it live and put whatever doesn't fit on the CD as bonus tracks on itunes.
So basically, you just want a sound board recording.
Live recordings don't generally work. Too musch of the visual element is lost.
When the cast go into studio they can concentrate on communicating the energy of the performance through their voices.
When a show is performed live there are pauses and gaps to acoomodate dance and scenic changes. In an audio only format this sounds flat and overextended.
Then there is the sound quality. Theatres are not recording studios. Sounds get swallowed and there are frequently balance problems.
Most of all, live albums never have the tension that good studio produced cast album can have.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#14re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/2/09 at 4:16pmSave for the sound quality, which is also not entirely true, everything else you mention is an opinion -- yet you seem to be attempting to present it as fact. Not cool.
#15re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/3/09 at 9:07pm
Fine, then you tell me of some "live" cast albums that work well.
Admittedly, there are not a lot of them, and special concert recordings like FOLLIES or DREAMGIRLS are as much about documenting the event as they are proving a more complete alternative to the cast albums. (I love the FOLLIES concert album. I expected to also love DREAMGIRLS but somehow it didn't work out as well.)
In fact, aside from these two I can't think of any Broadway cast albums that were recorded live in the theatre, with the exception of PASSING STRANGE. Are there any others I am not recalling?
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#16re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/3/09 at 9:29pm
I'm going with ColortheHours here...I think THIS cast is going to make ANY recording work! I just wish it was made and I'd be walking out of the theater with it in two weeks!
I WANT IT NOW.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#17re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/4/09 at 2:02am
"In fact, aside from these two I can't think of any Broadway cast albums that were recorded live in the theatre, with the exception of PASSING STRANGE. Are there any others I am not recalling?"
I know it's not Broadway, but We Will Rock You was recorded live, wasn't it? Although I really don't like most of the dialogue that's on there, the performances are pretty fantastic, with the exception of whoever played Killer Queen who was on and off key a bit.
Kat
madlibrarian
Broadway Star Joined: 8/15/06
#19re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/4/09 at 8:04pmBeatlemania's cast album was recorded live in performance at the Winter Garden. It's an early "jukebox" musical to be sure, but the album captures some audience vibe and it's probably better than the usual studio recording would've been.
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#20re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/4/09 at 8:25pmI am currently obsessed with the Benefit recording, so I cannot wait for this one to come out.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#21re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/5/09 at 1:44amBeatlemania! I had forgotten taht one. But that ype of show was more rck concert than musical, soa live recording made sense.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#22re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:08amFrontrow, would you mind giving some examples of live recordings of shows that don't work? You make many valid theoretical points, but without some actual illustration, it's hard to see what your opinions are based on!
"Why, I make more money than... than... than Calvin Coolidge! PUT TOGETHER!"
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
~Lina Lamont
My name wasn't, isn't, and will never be Scott.
#23re: Hair Cast Recording. My Opinion.
Posted: 4/5/09 at 2:21amThe live recordings that do exist, usually concerts obviously, are almost always my favorite recordings of their respective scores. The new Wend End cast recording of Oliver! is a great example. It's not the best recording of the score audio wise, but the energy is unmatched. And while there aren't very many live Broadway cast recordings it seems to be more and more common of West End shows as of late with We Will Rock You, The Woman in White, Zorro and Oliver! to name a few. There's also a live cast recording of Hair from the European tour which, coincidentally, is my favorite recording of Hair. It's just my personal preference as it's neat to hear what the audiences actually heard versus listening to something recreated in a studio. It sort of defeats the purpose of live theatre -- at least for me. I won't argue that live recordings are better, because I will agree that so far the audio quality of a live recording can't match that of a studio disc, but if I had a choice I think I would always pick a live recording.
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