London CHILDREN OF EDEN

[daspazoo]

Posted: 3/11/06 at 7:09pm

Does anyone own a copy of this recording? I'm interested in a list of the performers and how the material is different from the version MTI currently leases.

[Zimmy]

Posted: 4/17/06 at 11:26pm

Bump

Me too.

Any info on the songs:
Civilized Society
Shipshape
Degenerations and
The Dove Song

Thanks in advance!

[fiyero8132]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 12:07am

Hey - I've got this recording. It's pretty awful compared to the paper mill recording they sell now. Some of the performers include Ken Page (Father), Shezwae Powell (Eve), and Frances Ruffelle (Yonah). These versions of the songs don't hold a candle to the new ones. Shipshape is a vocal jazz number in place of A Piece Of Eight. It's hideously innapropriate and way too cutesy. Also there is only 1 snake in this version (so no fancy shmancy five part harmony). The dove song is exactly the same as Sailor Of The Skies. The only good part of this recording is the fact that it is a real orchestra as opposed to the tinny, synthesized stuff on the paper mill cd. Anyway, I can see why your curious about it but it's not worth having. It's baddddd.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 3:02am

Its ummmm interesting to say the least!

Songs like "A World Without You" and "Lost in the Wilderness" are rather different from the new versions. Also there is no double casting of the family in both acts. So you lose some of the obvious symmetry.

Ken Page is pretty good as Father though. I wish I had a recording of Norm Lewis in the role- he would kick William Solo's ass!

Frances Ruffelle does her thing on "Stanger to the Rain". You either love her or hate her. Also a few ensemble members all went on to better things...like a young Ruthie Henshall.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 4:27am

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the orchestrations. John Cameron's arrangements for London had a real world-music feel, involving digeridoos, rainsticks and lots of other unusual sounds. The opening of Generations was spectacular. I felt the pop band re-do was a real disappointment.

The London show never had the time it needed to iron out its difficulties. After the RSC backed out of the show, it was meant to start out of town, but John Caird's set was so enormous it could not be moved. Throughout previews, the creative team knew there were serious problems, mainly in the second act, but there just wasn't time to fix everything. You could see where it was heading, but given the state of the West End at the time, it couldn't survive long enough to do the repairs.

The show was also notable for another beautiful performance by Martin Smith, now sadly no longer with us, and a commanding performance by Kevin Colson as Noah.

I think the last 15 minutes of the show still rank up there with some of the greatest ever musicals.

Drop me a line if you need any more info.

[Zimmy]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 11:44pm

Devonian -

Won't let me PM you!

Would like some more info on the song Degenerations would love to hear what this song is about!

Thanks in advance!