New Poll: What's Your Favorite Recording of FOLLIES?

[Rob]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 11:35am

[tazber]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 1:48pm

As incomplete as it is, I have yet to hear a recording that even comes close to the OBC.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 2:30pm

Ha-ha, the nightmare that is the London recording as 1%.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 2:53pm

I would say the OBC, but I honestly listen to the Papermill recording more because it has more music than the OBC does.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 4:04pm

Out of these recordings the OBC is my favorite. I know if they release the New Broadway Cast recording it will become my favorite.

Posted: 7/8/11 at 7:57pm

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).

[chewy5000]

Posted: 7/8/11 at 9:40pm

I actually enjoy the London recording.

Posted: 7/8/11 at 10:28pm

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...

[CurtainCall]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 3:38am

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.

[binau]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 4:02am

I really feel that we desperately need a new FOLLEIS recording. My favourite is the Papermill recording, but I agree it is kind of sterile.

Posted: 7/9/11 at 4:34am

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).

[CurtainCall]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 4:57am

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.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 10:30am

Thank you for this poll, I just bought tickets and was going to ask which recording I should get : )

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 4:09pm

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.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 7/9/11 at 6:40pm

Perhaps we'll get a new recording this year?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 1:16am

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.

[choitoy]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 4:09am

I am hoping for a recording of any kind for this show (filmed for cinema/PBS/DVD/Bluray or a CD).

I ended up choosing the Papermill recording because of completeness, but all the recordings have a place in my heart somewhere.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 6:43pm

Speaking for Old Farts everywhere, if you saw the original production, it's impossible not to love the OBC recording, even with all its limitations.

A recording of the upcoming revival will be welcome, however. Can't have too many!

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 11:47pm

I'll pick the concert version of Follies the NY Philharmonic did at Lincoln Center last year.

Oops, wait, that was Sondheim's birthday concert.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 3:24am

I see what you did there

[mamaleh]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 8:31am

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.

[explorer]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 4:31pm

Love the Paper Mill recording. Let's hope for a new one soon & I think we will get it!

[twogaab2]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 5:25pm

Even with many cuts OBC is untouchable. Vital performances.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 11:11pm

As FOLLIES is the only Sondheim show I ever loved, I have to go with the OCR, which is the one I saw.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/13/11 at 10:33pm

Whichever one one chooses, I think we should all be glad there was never a recording of the last Broadway revival...