Quickest release of a cast recording ?

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:15am

With all the wait I am going through about the release of Billy Elliot Cast Recording, I am thinking that usually cast recordings are released about 2 or more months after a show opens ! So, I was wondering were there some recordings that were released really early on the show's run ? I think that Boy from Oz was available quite early, but what are some other ones ?

[wildcat]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:38am

I thought most cast albums were on the shelves about two weeks after they were recorded back in the fifties and sixties.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 1:59am

MY FAIR LADY was recorded the Sunday after the opening. The first batch of jackets had been pre-printed (and included the reprise of "Just You Wait" in the song list though it is not on the record) and the pressings were in stores by the middle of teh week.

UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN was recorded on Sunday, edited, mastered and pressed on Monday and shipped to NYC stores on Tuesday.

In those days cast albums were often best sellers. they were the pop albums of their day.

Also with mono albums (and early stereo) there was a lot less editing and mixing, so the albums could in fact be quickly pressed.

[tim10086]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:01am

Thanks for the info, frontrow. I wish I had your knowledge.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:20am

You could have..just read every booklet that comes with every CD OCR. LOL!

I can't remember where my keys are but I remember how many performances NO! NO! NANETTE played in 1925! And I wasn't even aroun then.

[jam_man]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:27am

I'll admit, I didn't follow much theatre then, but I thought I read that the CD for The Producers was released actually just before opening. I think I read the review of it on Broadway.com which said that.

[wildcat]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:42am

It explains why some show albums like WISH YOU WERE HERE and THE GAY LIFE`have songs on them that were cut from the show very early in the run. In THE PRODUCERS, Roger DeBris' "Hitler soliloquy" was replaced by the "challenge tap" after the recording was released.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 2:42am

not dessa rose... i've been waiting too long, and it will still be a long time!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 3:00am

Yes, PRODUCERS was out in time for opening night.

Disney's BEAUTY AND TEH BEAST CD was recrded in previews and was sold in the lobby of the theatre before opening night.

The original LA CAGE AUX FOLLES was also taped in previews and the LP hit stores the same day the show opened. (Although teh CD didn't come out until months later.)

A hit show can spur record labels into action... sometimes.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:08am

frontrow, I knew I could count on you
So, from the more recent ones, only Producers and Beauty qualify, uh ? What about shows that preview out of town and then move to Bway ? Was Hairspray released fairly early ?

[JakeB]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 5:21am

Billy Elliot is an exception because it's a London musical. London musicals rarely get recorded these days, it's too expensive for too little demand, but Billy will be because it's not a transfer production. Perhaps there are problems with chosing which boy they want on it.

Plus - the child laws about how much they can work are very strict, so coming to record it could clash with their schooling, etc. Updated On: 7/29/05 at 05:21 AM

[jo]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 6:03am

The Woman in White was recorded directly from the Opening Night performance at the Palace Theatre ( which I suppose was equipped to do that, after it underwent extensive renovations). I think it was released fairly soon thereafter.

Re The Boy from Oz - the CD was released a little over a month after Opening Night. But the album got a real bump ( at least on Amazon), together with Wicked and Avenue Q, right after the 2004 TONYs