New A Chorus Line Recording- Page 2

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 11:21am

The original CHORUS LINE cast album was the last one produced by Goddard Lieberson for Columbia records. He died just six months later.

Lieberson believed that as a general rule it was not a good idea to record dialgue. He felt records were for music only and that the dialogue would have meaning only for those who saw the show. (He would make exceptions when necessary, but you will notice that dialogue lead-ins are rare on Columbia cast albums.)

With CHORUS LINE the song "And..." is sung in counterpoint to dialogue. It would have be lengthy and would not have worked without the spoken sections. Since there was so much music in the show, some things had to be eliminated. "And..." was chosen.

With the montage he seemed to fall back on the older dictum of looking for potential singles. He chose to isolate "Nothing" in its own track (and perhaps Hamlish had a hand in this. He seems to have pushed "Nothing" as a stand alone number in concerts.)

As enjoyable as the CHORUS LINE cast album is, it doesn't really capture the show. I would have preferred 4 Lp sides with more of teh dialogue and the entire "montage" sequence given a side to itself. I hope the new recording will take that approach.

[LaVieHilary]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 1:27pm

I agree with you on that one, frontrowcentre. I started downloading the music for A Chorus Line about a year ago w/o seeing the show or the movie and many of the songs i didnt understand because of not seeing the show and knowing what they were talking about. It's all a person's opinion. Some would rather have the dialogue out, even if they are super huge fans of the show. Personally on some numbers I prefer it w/o the dialogue.

[wyou17]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 2:55pm

I'm not happy about the decision, but will wait until the actual release to see the specifics why the decision was made. If the single CD is indeed full, then I am glad an alternate method of distributing a song would otherwise go unheard is available.

My only other fear is that the iTunes "Bonus Tracks" will only be offered as part of a "Full Album" download. If AND cannot be purchased seperately, there are going to be a lot of angry people on this board.

[MrBundles]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 3:23pm

It was somewhat annoying with "Awesome," The Wedding Singer bonus song also because if I am playing the CD, I never listen to it. I only listen to it on my Ipod, though I wish they would have recorded another song. As For ACL, I wish they would just include it in the cd. I still cant wait though-the show was absolutely wonderful the other night.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 3:28pm

Will someone please explain when it happens, and what "AND" is.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 3:49pm

It happens during Bobby's (Robert Charles Joseph Henry Mills III) monologue. **Possible Spoiler** When he talks about things he did when he was little like rearranging people's furniture, painting people silver etc. He always stops with the word "AND..." and the Ensemble sings such things as "And What If I'm next What am I gonna Say" Etc. It's a great sequence.

Having Played Bobby I am bias, but it is a completely different sequence than anything else in the show. And at only about 4min 30sec I don't think it's too long at all to preserve on the CD. I Can't Happen I just Love it.

Updated On: 8/15/06 at 03:49 PM

[Pemily]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 3:54pm

"And" is a song, which is sung during Bobby's monolgue. Lyrics: http://www.qualitylyrics.com/c/Chorus_Line_Soundtrack_lyrics/And_song_lyrics/



Click

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 4:29pm

may I ask why "One" fades out at the end? I've always wondered about that. does it fade out in the actual show too? that seems like such an odd way to end a show.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 4:41pm

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "fade" out - the cast sings the final: "She's the One" and than the kick line begins. It lasts about 8 seconds and the lights slowly fade to black. The idea was that the last thing you saw was this chorus line as a single unit, fading into the set as they no doubt would in a Broadway show where they would be a minor point of interest for an audience no doubt focusing on the "star" of the show in question.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:22am

^ it's clever.

[OnMyWay]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:32am

I guess these people know what they are doing.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:36am

i'm not much a fan of the design. They should've tried to stay a little original.

Our Playbill for it:

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:11am

Is that for the revial BT? I like it better than what they had. I dont like how the "A Chorus Line" at the bottom is bigger than the rest. That just looks tacky.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:16am

As for the recording, I just hate the ITunes thing. It's a pain if you want to listen to the show in its entirity like on a car trip. Oh well, at least it is getting recorded. I'm sure there is room on the disc for it. It seems odd to me that they wouldn't release this on two discs, but they'd release Caroline or Change on two dics. While I love CoC, it does not have the same kind of following as Chorus Line.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:45am

no it's for the production i'm currently in. Not for the revival.

I agree about the CD.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 11:32am

"My only other fear is that the iTunes "Bonus Tracks" will only be offered as part of a "Full Album" download. If AND cannot be purchased seperately, there are going to be a lot of angry people on this board."

You people really need to get lives, I mean, seriously. First of all, it is MUCH cheaper to downlaod the full recording off iTunes than it is to buy the CD. You do realize you can BURN a CD, right? You don't need an iPod. Most people here should have no trouble. Be glad they are even making a recording.

[BtMartin25]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:37pm

But SOME people like to have the actual CD, and read the Jewel Case Insert... and Support Broadway buy purchasing and not burning from a friend.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:39pm

Well, buying it off of itunes is the same fiscally as buying it in a store. The proceeds still go to support the sale of the record. And I dont think Fosse meant burning it to give away to others - simply that in buying it off itunes, you are entitled to put the songs on a cd for your own use.

[wyou17]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 1:10pm

"You people really need to get lives, I mean, seriously. First of all, it is MUCH cheaper to downlaod the full recording off iTunes than it is to buy the CD. You do realize you can BURN a CD, right? You don't need an iPod. Most people here should have no trouble. Be glad they are even making a recording."

I don't download music from iTunes. I have an iPod, there has been a computer in my home for my entire life and I have had internet access for a decade. I have no problem with new technology. But I have a collection of cast recordings. There is a rack of CDs. One can look at said rack of CDs at any time. A burned copy is not the same as an official CD release. I don't have cover art, liner notes, pictures, or a case.

The problem is, I do "have a life." I COULD buy a CD off of iTunes, burn a copy to disc, download pictures and information on the show, print them out in a booklet, and create my own copy of the recording for my collection.

Or...I could just buy one. Yes, a CDs suggested retail price tends to be more expensive than a full album download. But I don't think I have ever bought a CD at full suggested retail value. There are som many places selling CDs at discounted rates in competition with each other that I can find the CD for a very reasonable price. I would not say downloading it is always "much cheaper" when you factor in blank discs, cases, paper, and ink making my own hard copy. I am willing to pay a couple of extra dollars for my convenience. And it saves me having to buy blank CDs, burn back-ups, print covers and track lists, label discs, etc...

I'm glad you have the time to do all of this. I don't. Not for the number of cast recordings that I buy and will continue to collect.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:38pm

Well stated wyou17!!!

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:45pm

Actually, the music you purchase off Itunes cannot be burned onto a cd because of it's format.
-This is an issue that's bothered me about Itunes for a while.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:48pm

I'll be ok with it if I don't have to buy the WHOLE cd off itunes - I like to buy hard copies of cast recordings.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:51pm

"I'm glad you have the time to do all of this. I don't. Not for the number of cast recordings that I buy and will continue to collect."

I don't need "cover art" or "liner notes." I am perfectly content with the music on its own. I download from iTunes, burn it onto a disc, and put it my CD storage book. A five minute process. You seem to be the one with all the time to do all this. I actually have a very busy life, so to make a broad assumption that anyone who down;oads from iTunes tries to make a replica of the hard copy release is absurd. I never print labels, I don't purchase jewel cases, and the cost of 40 blank CDs is the equivalent to buying one single disc recording. So, $11 for a recording which will take 5 minutes to download and burn myself, or $18-$25 so I can have an unecessary color pamplet with information I can get online if I need it? I think I'll chose the former. And even if I did make labels and a little booklet, it probably takes less time than the process of going to the actual store and purchasing it. The recording is about the music, not the cover art. If that's what floats your boat then fine, but it's much cheaper to release an album online than in stores, and clearly the producers feel this way, so are offering an incentive to those who chose to buy it online. I hope that you do have to purchase the whole CD online to receive the bonus track.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 4:56pm

Well, here it is a month later and in a month the new CD will be out.

Looks like they've made a few changes since the original press release as reported on Playbill.com. Here's some updated info:

"The 2006 recording will feature more complete versions of "I Hope I Get It," "The Music and The Mirror" and "One." In addition, bonus karaoke tracks of "What I Did For Love" and "One (reprise) / Finale" will be available as an exclusive iTunes download. Also, the previously unrecorded musical number "And" will be available as an exclusive rhapsody download.



Playbill Article

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 5:30pm

"Actually, the music you purchase off Itunes cannot be burned onto a cd because of it's format.
-This is an issue that's bothered me about Itunes for a while."

Ummm...yes, you can. I've burned a copy of all the albums I download from iTunes so I don't have to keep it on my computer. It most certainly lets you burn a CD in whatever format it is that CDs use.