OBC even though it drives me crazy, and Papermill next. I will NEVER understand the love for the Concert recording. Some great star turns but it utterly fails to capture the spirit of Follies whatsoever--and for a concert that set out to finally record a complete Follies, all the cuts are inexscusable. Oh and then there's Mandy... (Who doesn't just do a very non Buddy take on Buddy but was also way too young, even for recording).
I enjoy it too--for what it is. But it's not "Follies" to me - as pretentious as that sounds. Would much rather listen to it than the Concert one, though...
It's a pity that that the London recording doesn't sound as good as it did in the theatre. I don't like any of the commercial recording particularly and only went with the Papermill version because it's pretty complete - but it's remarkably lacking in energy, as is the OBC.
It's funny that it's conducted by Tunick--maybe they should have hired Gemignani? Cuz as brilliant as Tunick is, the Papermill recording sounds so SAFE and at many times, kinda slow... Not the tempi I'd ask for for most of the numbers. It does show off the gorgeous orchestra, but it loses a lot of the energy. There has to be some compromise between it and the OBCR. (I also find it odd... While I'm so grateful it has the apendix of cut songs, many in their original orchestrations, that, while they use Ah But Underneath as Papermill did, they don't include the three other London songs--there's more than room and it would have made it truly complete).
It doesn't have The World's Full of Girls or the full version of Can That Boy Foxtrot. I'm not so bothered by the latter but the former would be interesting to hear in English.
Not the tempi I'd ask for for most of the numbers.
I'm with you, but I do think that it's how Sondheim wanted them. If I recall correctly, I think Smaxie mentioned something about Ann Miller trying to speed up "I'm Still Here" when they recorded it (to the tempo she sang it in the show), but Sondheim insisted it be recorded at a slower tempo.
I think with the presence of Peters and Paige, a new recording is very likely. Plus, Tommy Krasker of PS Classics has said he really wants to record FOLLIES.
Even though it's incomplete, the OBC recording is the only one with John McMartin; besides, that FOLLIES was the first show I'd seen four times, and for good reason. My brain says Paper Mill (saw that production once), but my soul says original recording.