Just listened to HOW TO SUCCEED samples on Amazon, and....

[jovie27]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 1:48pm

...sounds forced and so boring...I will wait to hear the entire cast album, before I make a final critic, but I am so sad at this time.

http://www.amazon.com/Succeed-Business-Without-Really-Trying/dp/B0051SAD2G/ref=sr_shvl_album_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1306172652&sr=301-5

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 2:50pm

Which is exactly what I thought of this production.

[jovie27]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 2:52pm

yeah its sad...I want to hear it more for Daniel and support him, and Ellen Harvey since I have friends who are great friends with her...but even Anderson Cooper sounds arrogant in his voice. And the orchestrastions sound like a big mess~


*EDIT--I just re-listen to the recording samples on AMAZON and NOW it sounds fuller, richer and more excited...OMG...what happen??? Is that why they delayed releasing it a week..to make it sound better????? Updated On: 5/29/11 at 02:52 PM

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 2:58pm

So you haven't seen it yet?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 2:59pm

Well I have seen it and I'm not a huge fan either.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 4:10pm

Wow, what have they got, six musicians? This sounds like summer stock.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 4:15pm

And to think these orchestrations were nominated over Verge and Sister Act.....

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 4:18pm

It makes me miss those lush, full, amazing orchestrations from the last revival.

Oh, and the auto-tuning? So unnecessary. But all cast recordings now sound flat, auto-tuned, and uninteresting. It's such a shame.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 4:32pm

I didn't realize that, ljay. A crime. I absolutely ADORED Verge's orchestrations.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 5/23/11 at 4:44pm

VERGE's orchestrations sound simply fabulous on the recording, but, like the score itself, were a hot MESS onstage in the context of the show in the theatre space.

[EvelynOakleigh]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:35am

Daniel's voice just sound flat to me

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 12:22pm

Is it really true that they are using auto-tune on show recordings?

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 12:45pm

Daniel and the orchestrations sounded much better in the theatre. But I agree that the WOMEN ON THE VERGE orchestrations deserved a nod over these.

[Just_John]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 1:44pm

Daniel Radcliffe sounded exactly like this recording in the theatre. Flat out terrible.

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 1:55pm

best12, there's actually a respectable 15 bodies in the pit. And my friends Nick, Larry, Scott, and George are no summer stock players. A good amount of the musicians down there are some of the top jazz performers on their instruments in the city. The vocals, on the other hand...

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 2:17pm

Ruprecht, I'm pretty sure best12 was commenting on the sound/quality of the orchestrations, not necessarily the caliber of the musicians.

I will flat out say that Women on the Verge not only deserved to be nominated for Orchestrations but win the category. It's really a shame.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:03pm

You could have the pit orchestra of the original "Girl Crazy" (Red Noble, Glenn Miller, the Dorseys, etc.) and it would still sound like crap with these orchestrations. The original parts were amazing. I have produced revivals of this show (I actually lost $156,000 on "How To Succeed...") and I know that score indise out. I always thought the original version was superb. This version seems to be remote and aloof. There is too much tinkering with the harmonics, too many littleornaments slathered on an already solid frame... WAIT A MINUTE... it's creeping Ashfordism. That urge to change what doesn't need to be changed has permeated the entire show!

BTW, I think they kept the same arrangements as the original for "I Believe in You." Wonder why?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:17pm

I had no issue with the orchestra in the theatre (though that was admittedly the first time I'd heard the score as a whole) but I did have a problem with how lackluster the rest of it was. And, jovie27, Ellen Harvey is great for the maybe 5 minutes of stage time she has.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 6:44pm

I'm excited for this one. I'm not a huge fan of the original or revival cast recordings, but I do like the score and they seem to have gone out of their way to record the majority of the music for this one so I'm looking forward to hearing it. I'm also excited to hear Hanke's stuff.

[egghumor]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 6:53pm

Extremely interesting comments from allofmylife, thanks! I listened to it yesterday and to me -- basically becuse of Radcliffe -- it sounds like a bus-and-truck production.

I have little or no idea what goes on in cast recording sessions these days, but some time back, it was agreed by most cast album producers that the studio orchestra had to be supplemented with additional musicians to achieve the same sound produced in the theater.

I remember when I saw SOPHISTICATED LADIES (numerous times) I thought the in-house orchestra was sublime, but the one on on the cast album sounds so weak in comparison. It seems they did not augment the orchestra for that one.

[Brick]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 7:17pm

From the recording, the VERGE orchestrations are some of the best I've heard in a lone while. It's sad so much of the production didn't work in the theatre...

[americanboy99]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 7:19pm

Yeah, Brick. All the simply beautiful guitar moments and simmering tunes felt small and awkward when paired with the overblown set and performances.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 10:13pm

I have a full promo recording of the CD and I completely disagree. The Overture alone is incredible. Completely new and refreshing, but still retaining that early 60's flare. I absolutely love the recording. True, some moments are a bit stale, but overall, very very enjoyable.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/24/11 at 10:40pm

I like it - and can't wait to hear the rest.

[canthumthetunes]

Posted: 5/25/11 at 7:26pm

Haven't heard the album yet, but I was shocked that the H2$ orchestrations didn't win Drama Desk. They were one of the fullest uses of such a small ensemble I've heard in awhile. It's a shame if, like some are saying here, that doesn't come across on the recording.