Oliver! Fans -- Which Recording Do You Prefer?

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 9:51pm

Hello. Just wondering which recording of Oliver! you all think is the best. I'm curious about the show since a theatre near me is doing a production for their 06-07 season.
So..do you prefer the film soundtrack, the OBC, the OLC or the London Palladium revival?

[luvliza89]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 9:52pm

OLC for me all the way.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 9:54pm

Film soundtrack.

The Johnny Green adaptations & the ochestrations are incredible. So much better than the stage versions.

And I love the cast.

[Candleshoe2]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:01pm

London Palladium is my favorite! I love the Nancy's rendition of ALAHNM!

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:01pm

I don't think any of the versions are bad, though I tend to listen to the revival most frequently because I love the orchestrations on it, think Jonathan Pryce is great, and the Nancy (whose name escapes me) is VERY strong. THe only real weakness in that for me is (and it's a minor point) the way they ended the song My Name. It annoys me every time I hear it, though I love that song.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:03pm

Hmmm...I'm planning on buying the movie...so should I go for the Palladium cast?

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:07pm

Yes, go for the Palladium! Adam Searles is fabulous.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:11pm

I think I'm gonna cave and get the Palladium. Can't go wrong with a little Pryce. Hmmm...

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:18pm

I agree with Best12Bars on the wonder of the film's orchestrations, but that soundtrack has yet to receive a decent remastering.

Of the stage recordings, I think the OLC is the best. The Palladium recording is a little too slick...and the logo is infuriating. I always want to set the booklet on fire every time I see it.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:21pm

Well, impatient me just bought the Palladium one. Why do I randomly by stuff from Amazon? I have this crazy idea that when I'm 50, I'll be swimming in debt because of all the random stuff I buy. But here's hoping to a love of Oliver!

ETA: Thanks for responding guys!

Updated On: 8/23/06 at 10:21 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 10:29pm

Oh, I'm sure you'll enjoy the Palladium recording. I just like it when the score sounds a little rougher around the edges in the other recordings. It feels more authentic to me.

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:56pm

smaxie - that's an interesting point - but I still like the Palladium recording for the performances. I tend to like the slickness sometimes and for me it works for this show. If I'm not mistaken, the Palladium is also the most complete of the recordings.

It's a toss up for me between Pryce and Moody for best Fagin, but the Nancy, Bumble, Oliver, and the ensemble are GREAT on the Palladium recording.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:08am

I just bought the Palladium recording two weeks ago (since I am doing the show) and fell in love with it. I like it so much more than OBC.

Did anybody see the show at the Palladium?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:08am

The film soundtrack was issued on CD by RCA years ago and the sound quality is just horrible. I'm surprised they haven't issued a re-mastered/expanded edition. Last I checked, the RCA release had been deleted.

The original Lndon cast is better recorded and more complate than RCA Victor's (pre) Broadway cast album. (It was taped while the show was in L.A. months before the Broadway opening in what was apparently a small cramped studio: It always sounded flat and dull to my ears.) But the 1994 London Palleium cast is the most complete ad most theatrical. TER's studio cast with Josephine Barstow is fairly complete too, but rather lifeless.

Avoid at all costs the studio cast with Stanley Holloway (on Broadway Angel.)

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:26am

I have the film soundtrack that came with the recent repackaging of the movie, but I haven't listened to it. Is that the older, bad version, or has it been fixed?

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:44am

who plays Nancy on the OLC?

I also prefer the film soundtrack.

The OBC is probably my least favorite.

EDIT: Fans of As Long as He Needs Me - I highly recommend giving Judy Garland's version a listen. Updated On: 8/24/06 at 12:44 AM

[philcrosby]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 8:24am

I grew up with the OBC recording, so I am partial to that, though the film, which I also adore is a close second.

I absolutely LOATHE the new orchestrations on the Palladium recording, and they make it almost unlistenable to me. Though I am sympathetic as to why it was done: Lionel Bart sold away all his rights and royalties to the original many many years ago and was dying a pauper. Cameron Macintosh had the score "re-done" so that Bart (a childhood hero) could regain his copyright and have some income in his final years. At least that is the story I have heard.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 8:43am

I agree with smaxie.

I like a 'rougher around the edges' type recording. For a show like Oliver! it sounds more authentic somehow.

And I agree that the artwork for the Palladium is hideous.

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 8:54am

Yeah, the artwork is really freaky looking. Strange concept for the title.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 10:21am

More than hideous, I think the artwork for the Palladium recording is reminiscent of the hideous caricatures of Jews that would run in Der Stürmer in Nazi Germany. And while I realize they cast a star Fagin with Jonathan Pryce, why is Fagin the logo, when the show is called Oliver?

[Dre2387]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 10:59am

omg! I had no idea Pryce was in the London P. version! I knew I loved the voice of Fagin but had no idea it was Pryce! Who I love now, due to DRS. He does such a great job in Oliver.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 12:58pm

The boy who plays the title role in the Jonathan Pryce version is excellent.

"Where Is Love" has never sounded better. His voice is so pure and perfect for that role.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 1:08pm

Nobody can sing Nancy's material like Georgia Brown. Get the Broadway cast recording or the original London cast recording.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 1:25pm

scooter, you're so true. I love his solos.

[HeartandMusic]

Posted: 8/24/06 at 1:44pm

My favorite is the version with Jonathan Pryce, but I have a soft spot for it bcs that was the first Musical I ever fell in love with (well, okay, Cats was first but I don't really count that because I was two...).

I just saw a production of the show at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada with Colm Feore as Fagin, and I WISH there was a recording of that cast, it was excellent!