Lloyd Weber Recording News - Remasters released in US this week

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:56pm

Just a reminder to those who might be interested. The following remastered recordings are scheduled for US release on May 23:

Cats - Broadway
Cats - London
Jesus Christ Superstar - 1996 Concert
Joseph - London Paladium
Song and Dance - London
Starlight Express - London
Sunset Boulevard - Los Angeles

Updated On: 5/21/06 at 08:56 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 11:09pm

Who is on the Sunset Boulevard L.A. recording?

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/21/06 at 11:13pm

Glenn Close.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 8:44am

Which STARLIGHT recording is this going to be? I loved the two disc original, but it seems to have been supplanted by the one disc revival recording.

TT

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 9:01am

Topher,
I believe it is the two disk original -- it is two disks, anyway. Here's a link to the listing on Amazon UK.
Starlight Express

[morosco]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 9:41am

Will the average pair of ears (mine) be able to hear that big of an improvement?

[tophertilson]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 9:48am

Great news Chris! Thanks!

TT

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 9:49am

Well, they remastered Phantom of the Opera a few years ago, and as trained as my ears are, I could BARELY hear a difference. Unlike other remasterings in the past dozen years that have vastly improved the quality of certain shows.

Remember, these ALW recordings aren't all that old to begin with. Technology was pretty damn good when they were first issued. So, don't expect anything dramatic as far as a leap in quality... unless they're going to issue them at some point in DVD Audio with new 5.1 mixes and a higher bit rate.

I would wait to hear some "educated" reviews of these new releases to see if anybody says it's really worth it.

Unless you don't own them yet.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:34am

My question has nothing to do with remastering a CD, but since we are talking aobut ALW I thought I would ask.

Is the By Jeeves DvD available here in the US? I know one was made but I cant ever find it.

Thanks
A

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 10:41am

It was not released in the U.S. At least not yet.

It's available in the PAL video format only, so far.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:14am

Not sure why they chose to remaster the JCS 1996 concert (possibly the worst recording of the show) and the L.A. Sunset Blvd. (Patti is vocally superior and like Aspects of Love, the quality of the recording needed remastering much more so than the L.A. recording).

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:25am

Andrew Lloyd Webber will write an original score in the style of Sondheim before you ever see Sunset Boulevard OLC re-released




And the JCS Revival Cast is pretty good in my book.

[daspazoo]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:28am

whats the 1996 concert recording of JCS?
I'm familiar with the 1996 London cast recording, but that's it.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 11:46am

Right, I have never heard of a Superstar 1996 concert recording.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:08pm

Sorry, I was thinking of the 1992 20th Anniverary recording with Paul Nicholas. Perhaps it is the 1996 London recording with Steve Balsamo? That one is not bad.

[chernjam]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:10pm

morosco - I got the remastered Aspects a few months ago and I thought there was a noticable improvement in the sound quality and there were a few additional musial moments added to the remaster (Parleous Vous Francais for example is now the entire song). It just sounded crisper, cleaner and more full. Why and how I haven't a clue.

As for the Jesus Christ Superstar recording, I think that's a typo - it's the London 1996 recording with Steve Balsamo. I have that original one and thought it was terrific, can't imagine what the difference will be with the new remaster.

I wonder if the plan of releasing this May 23 was made thinking WIW would still be playing in NY and they could have capitalized on (hoped for) Tony nods. I remember that's what happened when Sunset was playing - around this time there were full page ads "Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" with all the different cast recordings.

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:15pm

Agreed re: the West End revival of JCS. I have that CD too, and it's fantastic. I saw that production when I was visiting London, and Joanna Ampil played Mary, if I recall correctly.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:34pm

Joanna did indeed and stayed with the cast after the other leads changed. Fantastic performer who has one of those "break-less" voices that goes from pp to ff belt without a horrible wailing shift in tone.

She appeared in the London production of Musical of the Musicals and sent up her days as a Webber diva very well!