Preview the new KING & I cast recording

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 10:11am

Amazon MP3 has previews of all the tracks from the new 2015 Broadway cast recording of THE KING AND I.  Total running time: 1 hr 01 min 38 sec

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 10:15am

I am so disappointed with the cuts made.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 11:41am

There's plenty of room on the disc. I'll never understand it.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 11:47am

Oddly enough (it just occurred to me) I feel that way about a lot of Decca Broadway or Masterworks Broadway releases.

[juice23]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 11:49am

I hope Kelli's young lovers reprise was recorded as a bonus track for somewhere :/

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 11:56am

Masterworks Broadway did the same thing with the last South Pacific revival when they only recorded the first portion of "Honey Bun" and left off the rest (and best?) part of the song. At least in that case though they recorded the act one finale and Kelli's "Some Enchanted Evening" reprise in the second act. The Barnes and Noble version even had additional "Bali Ha'i" reprises. This is just downright lazy.

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 5/24/15 at 10:28pm

A cast recording is enormously expensive to produce. Keep in mind that The King and I currently boasts one of the largest casts and orchestras on Broadway, and they've all got to be paid. It's safe to assume these songs were cut to stay within a budget.

[vfd88]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 1:31am

I'm glad Small House made the cut!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 2:25am

"A cast recording is enormously expensive to produce. Keep in mind that The King and I currently boasts one of the largest casts and orchestras on Broadway, and they've all got to be paid. It's safe to assume these songs were cut to stay within a budget."

Most cast albums don't make any money though. If they're not doing it out of love or making these things for the fans who the hell are they making them for?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 2:33am

With 80 minutes available on a CD there's no excuse not to record at least 1hr10mins worth of music.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 12:57am

No iTunes bonus tracks either.

https://itun.es/us/8Qxy7

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 1:00am

According to that iTunes track listing, A PUZZLEMENT has been cut by about a minute. Seriously, what is up with this recording? Also, looks like they didn't record the opening scene with the boat's entrance, which has some beautiful orchestrations. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 1:08am

God the news about this recording just keeps getting worse and worse. I hate to complain since I should be thankful that this got recorded at all, but at the same time, this recording seems more like a "highlights" CD than a complete recording.

Updated On: 5/26/15 at 01:08 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 1:12am

I have no problem complaining. It's a complete disappointment. I'm sure what's there will sound gorgeous but the omissions are heartbreaking.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 1:13am

^ Heartbreaking, of course, but also, unforgivable in my book.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 5/27/15 at 7:25pm

Did anyone notice "A Puzzlement" being shorter in the show too? Did they trim it during previews for some reason or is the cut really just for the recording?

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/27/15 at 7:50pm

I enjoyed Watanabe in the show...but the less I have to hear him on the recording the better.

But O'Hara's 'Hello Young Lovers (Reprise)' being cut is uncalled for.

Updated On: 5/27/15 at 07:50 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/1/15 at 11:55pm

It's available to download on iTunes now. What they actually decided to record sounds beautiful but the album is so incomplete it's distracting. There's no dialogue to open the recording or set up "I Whistle a Happy Tune." We don't get much dialogue at all until "Shall We Dance." The finale track includes the "Happy Tune" reprise but then the end of the album is truncated to make it sound like the show ends with Kelli's last line. I'm greatful for what they did record but I mourn the loss of the album this could have been.

[Fantod]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 1:23am

Listening to it know. I'm so thankful they decided to get rid of most dialogue. I'm one of the very few people who really doesn't like dialogue on my cast albums. It's certainly better quality than any recording of the score yet, and I think it will be my go to album for the score, unlike the totally flat 2008 South Pacific recording.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 1:30am

Just bought from Itunes, although I prefer Amazon. Can't wait to listen.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 1:33am

Well, Ken Wantanabe is more understandable on the recording than he was when I saw the third preview. I love what they recorded, but still can't get over what they cut.

Updated On: 6/2/15 at 01:33 AM

[MackTheKnife2]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 2:12am

I don't quite hate the new Overture, but I really don't understand why they decided to change it, the original Overture is one of the most, if not the most, beautiful overture ever.

It's a shame some songs didn't get recorded, but what is on the cast recording sounds amazing.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 2:21am

Welcome me to the club who really doesn't care for dialogue in a Broadway album Fantod, it's admittedly distracting. After listening to the entire thing, I really, really, really love it despite the cuts; the performances are great and I can understand Ken Watanabe like a book. I was worried about the Overture at first but after hearing it, I personally don't mind the shortening of it really, could I wish for the full version? Yes, but it sounds amazing and they kept the glorious ending to it which makes it fine to me.

One of the best albums of THE KING AND I to truly buy as part of your collection.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 2:31am

I just wish it had been released by PS Classics - it would have been much better handled in terms of material. And seriously, only 62 minutes on a disc that (potentially) holds 80? It's just unacceptable, and downright bad, producing - to me at least.

[Fantod]

Posted: 6/2/15 at 2:49am

Why the hell did you block me, Sally? I always thought we were fine.