Moments on Cast Recordings that drive you crazy — Page 2

In the OBCR of INTO THE WOODS after 'Act II Prologue: So Happy" when the characters set off on another mission and their voices get fainter as they go deeper into the woods, and then Rapunzel has to ruin the moment by producing a shrill scream. I hate that! I understand that this happens in the show, but why include it in the recording? It's not like they follow up the scene. It just seems out of place... and annoying!

---

Another Sutton moment. In the Drowsy Chaperone's "Fancy Dress", there's a part where they are supposed to whisper (while Bob Martin is talking) and her voice stands out from the others very distinctly. I assume because Sutton is on a different mic than the others that you can hear her voice more. Its just really annoying.

---

Stanley Wayne Mathis in Beethoven Day on the revival recording of YAGMCB. He is ridiculously flat on the last note of "when we all honor the man we adORE." Makes me NUTS.

I have a big "general" thing that drives me crazy about cast albums that were recorded in the '70s and '80s, mostly produced by the renowned (and WAY over-praised) Thomas Z. Shepard. The dynamics are so overdone that I am constantly adjusting the volume. The soft sections are WAY too soft, and the loud sections blow my head off. So I listen, with one hand on the volume control at all times, and that's REALLY IRRITATING. It never sounded that way in the theatre, or "live" and there is no reason to imitate the (lousy) style of many classical recordings from the same era, with the overly dramatic dynamic levels. It's wrong, it's badly done, and it makes for a very dissatisfying listening experience. (This includes virtually every early Sondheim recording, and many others from the same time period.)

One specific thing I can think of... as much as I LOVE and respect Donna McKechnie's abilities in A Chorus Line... I completely WINCE every time I hear her sing that first "PLAY me the music." It's so very... FLAT. Ouch! I love her interpretation of that song though... above anyone else who has attempted it, and the recording itself.

I also have problems with Jerry Orbach's pitch on Promises, Promises. He's as much as a half-STEP flat at times. Lordy!

---

Bernadette Peter's last note of "Unexpected Song" on the "Song and Dance--the Songs" OBC. It just sounds completely wrong, and I wince everytime I hear it. Other than that, I think the album is great.

And B12B--I totally agree with you on the whole loud/soft thing. Of course, that's also one of the reasons I seldom listen to classical music in the car. Too much adjustment necessary!

1. The weird noise after"everyone deserves the chance to fly!"

2. When Bebe does the zzzzzzzzzzz in All that Jazzzzz

3. In Little Women, during "Better","Where itaaaaaall begaaaaan" and "Truround go back to Concord"

I never notice any of these things, but now that they've been pointed out they bug the crap out of me. Solution: never come in this thread.

---

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels:

"They held up that midget with crazy glue."

Who is this midget Norbert sings of?

---

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio on the revival cast recording of Man of La Mancha during "It's All the Same". I like some of her other songs on the CD, but the way she does the "I'm not a fool/With starry eyes" part kills me. There's a bunch of other moments on different recordings that I can't think of right now.

---

you honestly don't know? there's an old school commercial that had a construction worker who stuck crazy glue to the top of a workman's hat and the midget held on over a metal scaffolding.

In the Seussical OBC, at the end of Amazing Mayzie, there's an octave jump on the last note. It sounds very squeeled and makes me insane. I don't really know how to describe it....it's just annoying to know that another take probably could have fixed it!

Christmas Bells: Mark has this beautiful little melody but I can't understand what he's saying or if it's even him.

Bernarda Alba: During "Love Let Me Sing You" the old lady says something and she sings and it just sounds horrible.