Henious Cast Recordings — Page 2

Once on This Island - London
City of Angels - London
Mamma Mia - London
Jesus Christ Superstar - 20th Anniversary
Fiddler on the Roof - London
Flora, the Red Menace - Off Broadway (barely audible at full volume)
Company - Broadway revival

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Why oh why is there only ONE recording of Mamma Mia??? I've seen the touring production twice in L.A. The first time was with Dee Hoty in the lead and she absolutely blew me away. So did her replacement whom I saw two years later. You'd think with the caliber of voices in the American version that a Broadway Cast Recording would have been made. My God, they even made a "Newest Cast Recording" of Grease even though the main difference between that one and the "New Cast Recording" was Brook Shields instead of Rosie. When I saw Mamma Mia at the Pantages earlier this year, and they were hawking CDs to the audience, I wanted to shout out "Don't waste your money. It's nothing at all like what we're hearing tonight."
(But I L-O-V-E Footloose and Wicked!!!)

Updated On: 12/23/04 at 12:53 PM

I think the girl you're referring to is Kathy Dietch or something like that.

Am I one of the only people that thinks FOOTLOOSE is a fine recording? It's not amazing, but there's nothing off about it - it's fine. I don't see the problem with it.

And Matt, I have to agree with you. Even though I think the sound and performers have great sound on the CD, I can't listen to it because of how wretched it was on stage. I vowed never to put myself in the position to hear Molly Ephraim sing again, then I saw her in FIDDLER now knowing she was in it. That's irrelevant - I just relaly really hated the revival.

I also think A CHORUS LINE obc is very dull sounding.

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Yes, theaterguy2! I noticed that, too, when I first listened to that song. Her voice DEFINITELY cracks. Sure, it's not a big deal, but it's a recording. Do one more take! Then piece them together in editing... that is pretty common.

I noticed that during "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" from HAIRSPRAY, this form of editing is used. I can hear it from the dialogue near the end between Lil' Inez and Velma von Tussle to Velma's final sung line. "No, but you can bow and exalt... BREAK ...'Cause I am Miss Baltimore Crabs!" During that BREAK is where they were pieced together. The quality, volume and tone of Linda Hart's voice is different. This also happens during the beginning of "Without Love" from the dialogue between Link and Tracy to Link's first sung line. "They can stop us from kissing, but they can't stop us from singing... BREAK ...Once I was a selfish fool..." They must have recorded the dialogue separate from the sung lyrics.

"And Company isn't bad, but around 4 minutes into the song, someone goes HORRIBLY flat sustaining 'LOOOOOOOOVE'!"

You don't know how much I wany to slap whoever that is.
But it stops bothering you after the umpteenth listen.


And the Into the Woods revival recording isn't that bad. It is okay. I just hate all the changes to the score. Hate them.

And Vanessa William's Last Midnight is horrednous.
Due not only to her performance, but also because of the lyric changes.
Why?

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Peter Allen's LEGS DIAMOND is just awful!

I forgot- Chicago revival. Ann Reinking just doesn't sound good on it, and she was amazing in Annie, so I know she can sing amazingly.

Yes, that's my response to the ITW changes. It really wasn't necessary. Two wolves made the song lose focus, but what bothered me the most was the Last Midnight changes. One of my favorite lyrics:

You're so nice
You're not good, you're not bad, you're just nice
I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right...

was replaced.

Oh, and where does Bernadette go flat in Midnight?