New London recording of SWEENEY — Page 2

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Michael-Ball-Imelda-Staunton-in-Recording-Studio-for-SWEENEY-TODD-20120301

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Now they're going to have to cancel this recording and yank all others off the shelves.

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No recording will surpass the original, but it will be wonderful to have Michael Ball singing these songs.

Or some of them, rather (well most :P).

They have cut Poor Thing (really?), [probably "The Barber and his Wife" unless it's attached to No Place Like London; it wasn't in the recent revival 'highlights'], Green Finch and Linnet Bird, Ah Miss, Pirelli's Miracle Elixir, The Contest, The Judge's Johanna (if this is performed in the show that is, I'm not sure) among other things like reprises of the Ballads and the wigmaker sequence, the letter etc..

I don't think they should have cut "Poor Thing".

http://first-night-records.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=232

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I admit, I can't wait to hear this, but I kinda agree that, perhaps more than any other show for me, nothing will replace or get more play than the OBCR.

Surely they didn't cut Green Finch??

^If that's the actual track list it hardly seems worth listening to. "Poor Thing" is one of my favorite songs.

Updated On: 3/10/12 at 07:19 PM

IF it transfers it will be with both Michael AND Imelda.

As I've said before, I choose to believe they only recorded a highlights album because they are recording it for DVD release later. Michael has said he hoped for both a cast recording AND a DVD.
He is co-producer on the album, so I'm hoping the DVD happens too.

The track listing on the website is correct. "Poor Thing", "Green Finch and Linett Bird" et al. are indeed cut. The CD is currently available at the theatre.

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The recording is interesting. To hear (a bit of) the prelude done in a studio is quite interesting.....Michael Ball sounds a bit like a cross between Johnny Depp and Len Cariou, certainly more pleasant than Cerveris whose voice was an odd fit for the score I think. There are some interesting acting choices captured on dialogue (e.g. at the end of "My Friends" the arm lines and Staunton's lines at the end of "Epiphany"). Anthony's voice sounds a bit thin and autotuned (close to the movie Anthony)..

The orchestra isn't very large (15-16 pieces around) but it sounds great on the recording I think, love the string vamps in "No Place Like London". It doesn't sound as anemic as the very reduced Sunday and Night Music recordings.

I think some of the acting choices must be lost on the recording, particularly of Staunton who is praised in the role but here the attention is given mainly to her voice, which isn't as strong as the other commercial recordings (I.e. Lansbury and LuPone)...and of course having "Poor Thing" cut is a shame. Love her in "Not While I'm Around", the way she says those lines about the muffler keeping Toby warm in winter etc...suggests his future is pretty hopeless..

I wish I had the opportunity to actually see the show. It's not going to replace the OBC but it's a nice recording..

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Updated On: 3/22/12 at 10:14 PM