Performers apparently 'sick' while recording cast albums/shows

[binau]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 7:16am

So,

I have read on this forum that Bernadette Peters was 'sick' during:

*The recording of Song and Dance. (Unsourced)
*The recording of Gypsy (Unsourced)
*The Sunday OBC taping ("(ref: Jonathan Schwartz radio interview,7/31/2005) ")

And Len Cariou was sick during the OBC of Sweeney (unsourced)

Tyne Daly *sounds* sick on her Gypsy cast album (not sure if she actually was though).

Can anyone source these claims....or provide other examples of well known recordings with 'sick' performers?

[Holbee]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 8:36am

Tyne Daly actually WAS ill when she recorded "Gypsy">

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 8:47am

Merle Louise had laryngitis when she recorded the role of the Beggar Woman on the OBCR of "Sweeney Todd." She went to see a highly-regarded throat specialist the day of the recording, and he gave her a cortisone injection directly in her throat.

As a result, she says she had never sounded that terrific singing the role, before or since.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 9:33am

If Bernie was sick during the recording of "Song and Dance," I'd never be able to tell.

William Daniels was recovering from some sort of cold/sinus infection thing when they recorded "1776," but I think he sounds fantastic.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 9:39am

Karen Olivo has said a lot of people were sick when they recorded the cast recording for In The Heights.

[sparrman]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 9:56am

Ron Holgate's voice sounds blown out on both his major cast recording appearances, Forum and 1776. (Compared to how he sounds in the 1776 movie.) I think I've heard he was sick on at least one of those occasions.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 11:01am

I seem to recall that Chita Rivera was feeling off for the original BYE BYE BIRDIE recording, which is why many people think her performance on the London recording is better.

Also .... didn't Sammy Davis Jr re-record some of his numbers for a re-release of GOLDEN BOY?

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 11:22am

Bernadette Peters missed several performances early in the run of GYPSY, so it's possible that her voice wasn't completely recovered when the OBCR was done. I never heard that Len Cariou was sick when SWEENEY was recorded, but in her biography Angela Lansbury is quoted as saying that he lost his voice during the run because the vocal demands of the role were so extreme.

Jean Stapleton (Edith in ALL IN THE FAMILY) has said that she can't listen to the OBCR of FUNNY GIRL because she had laryngitis when she sang the role of Mrs. Strakoff. Also, because of the bizarre warm-ups the vocal coach gave the cast of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, most of the performers had vocal strain by the time they made the OBCR. I read about this in a book about Sondheim that I believe was published or updated in the early '90s.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 11:35am

Not that it was ever released, but Hugh Panaro was sick when they recorded "Lestat." I talked to him the day before they went into the studio and he had a bad cough...and, of course, by closing weekend, he ended up having to miss two and a half performances due to that illness.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 11:48am

Julie Andrews was sick when she recorded My Fair Lady. I believe you can hear her sniffle on one of the tracks if you're listening closely.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 11:50am

Now THAT'S interesting, perfectlymarvelous. Do you know where in the recording??

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 11:54am

I think it might be Wouldn't It Be Loverly? but I'm not sure...I haven't listened to the recording in a long time.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 12:06pm

Re Golden Boy

I have the LP . When I got the CD, it had some alternate versions of songs & not as good as one on the LP. This may be an explanation.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 12:18pm

Peters is in remarkable voice on most of her cast recording performances - SUNDAY especially. I'd be pretty surprised to hear she was sick for that one (and GYPSY).

Supposedly Glynis Johns was sick during the recording of NIGHT MUSIC.

[noradesmond]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 2:25pm

"Julie Andrews was sick when she recorded My Fair Lady. I believe you can hear her sniffle on one of the tracks if you're listening closely."

The London Cast - Stereo recording. You can even see her holding tissue during the recording session photos - although I can't find that photo online, it is in my old LP with the liner notes.

[noradesmond]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 2:26pm

"Jean Stapleton (Edith in ALL IN THE FAMILY) has said that she can't listen to the OBCR of FUNNY GIRL because she had laryngitis when she sang the role of Mrs. Strakoff."

Not to be too picky but the character's name is Mrs. Strakosh.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 3:13pm

Mr Roxy - Yes Davis had missed several try-out performances of GOLDEN BOY due to laryngitis. When Capitol taped the cast album a few days after the opening, Sammy Davis felt his vocal performance sounded raspy. (It does, but it serves the gritty material well.) SO, some months later he persuaded Capitol to let him re-record his tracks. The newer versions reveal a smoother voice but he takes many liberties with the vocal lines adding stylizations that were not part of the original score. A product of nightclubs, Davis was easily borede giving the same performance eachg night.

The remixed LP was issued (with a different cover art) and reissued again in 1977.

There have been 4 CD releases of this title. All 4 CD editions use the re-mixed LP master. A shame no one thought to include the original tracks even if they have to be dubbed from an LP (the master tapes were said to be destroyed.)

The re-recorded songs are: "Night song", "Gimme Some", "Stick Around", "I Wanna Be With You", and "Can't You See it." Also the re-mix uses "The Fight" as the Final Track (A ballet fight scene with mostly rhythm accompaniment) whereas the original LP included a dramatic and moving reprise of "Gimme some."

Needless to say I am hanging on my my copy of the Lp.

Still, this is one of the best and most under-rated scores by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. Billie Daniels has a great number "While the City Sleeps" and shares the spotlight with Davis in "This is the Life." Even with the inferior second takes, "Night Song" and "I wanna Be with You" remain powerful.

[EganFan2]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 4:43pm

I remember hearing Julie Andrews sniffle during "Just You Wait" but I thought she was just in character. I believe it was "'Done!' says the king with a stroke..."

[bwayfan45]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 4:59pm

Many people believe that Laura Bell Bundy was sick for the MTV taping of Legally Blonde. During So Much Better you can see her wiping her nose twice.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 5:24pm

I had been convinced for years that Robert Cuccioli was sick during the J&H cast recording, since he sounded so much better live. Having heard him since then though, I'm beginning to think that really is just the way he sounds...still a great stage presence though.
Updated On: 10/31/09 at 05:24 PM

[Jon]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 5:40pm

Robert Preston's voice sounds very tired on Mack & Mabel.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 5:50pm

It certainly sounded like Bernadette was sick on the Gypsy recording. I thought she was a fantastic Rose and she sounded great all three times I saw her, but I have a hard time listening to the recording because she sounds stuffed up and strained.

[garyl]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 6:58pm

Totally agree. Wish this show could have another life..just to hear the score in a theatre again, although Encores did do it a few years back and it got raves from NYT for the score at least.

[dayao]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 7:13pm

Howard da Silva suffered a heart attack just as the recording sessions were to begin for "1776" and was not able to record his starring role of Ben Franklin. Rex Everhart sings the role on the cast album. Fortunately, da Silva did get to record his role superbly for the 1972 film soundtrack and William Daniels also sings better in the film.

[A Director]

Posted: 10/31/09 at 7:28pm

Barbara Cook - Candide

Dianhann Carroll - House of Flowers She couldn't hit a high note near the end of "I Never Has Seen Snow," so Harold Arlen say the note. If you listen closely, you can hear this.

Peter Gallagher - Guys & Dolls