Re-Recordings of shows

I know that Wonderful Town had a recording with Brooke Shields even though one with Donna Murphy was already made. Is it possible that they would do that for SJB in Anything Goes? Adam Pascal in Memphis?

Don't forget Vanessa Williams' KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. What a great recording.

I think there is no chance for SJB to be re-recorded.


Memphis seems to surprise a lot (e.g. the filming), so who knows. But just statistically because it is very unusual to record replacements in shows, it seems unlikely. Maybe they'll release the single of "Memphis Lives in Me" on iTunes that they recorded in a studio, though (there is a video of it somewhere, YouTube?). If the show closes in January a live album of the final performance wouldn't be entirely redundant in their collection of merchandise..

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Updated On: 11/30/11 at 04:31 PM

I'm not sure if Pascal would be seen as a big enough reason to re-record by any record company--especially now that it seems re-recordings of cast albums are all the less common. I mean they didn't bother with Sister Act despite some major music changes...

Didn't people think (and hope) that this would happen with Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch when they took over A Little Night Music? Those replacements certainly would have called for a re-recording, even though I adore the Zeta-Jones / Lansbury recording!

So many interesting comments... I think there's a big difference in the Brooke Shield's WONDERFUL TOWN and Vanessa Williams' fabulous KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. As I understand, the Shield recording was simply substituting her vocals on the previously recorded one with Donna Murphy.

The KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN was an entirely fresh production (different producer I think) and with all three leads (add Brian Stokes Mitchell and Howard McGillin) giving splendid performances. A terrific album in its own right.

I'd like to know if some of the older posters have an opinion about the two recorded versions of GOLDEN BOY. The original release, recorded within days of opening night -- as was the norm in those days -- and later on, Sammy Davis, Jr. complained that his vocals sounded "tired." (He was probably quite exhausted at the time.) At some point, he went back in the studio and replced his vocals -- at least on his many solos. Frankly, perhaps because I fell in love with the original version, I prefer it to the new and "improved" one. Davis was obviously more relaxed on the latter take, but I thought he "jazzed" around with the vocal arrangements too much.

I assume most folks who know the recording(s) at all, probably prefer the second one, but not me.

Any other opinions out there???

Brooke Shields also recorded Grease after the Rosie O'Donnell recording

I'd like to know if some of the older posters have an opinion about the two recorded versions of GOLDEN BOY. The original release, recorded within days of opening night -- as was the norm in those days -- and later on, Sammy Davis, Jr. complained that his vocals sounded "tired." (He was probably quite exhausted at the time.) At some point, he went back in the studio and replced his vocals -- at least on his many solos. Frankly, perhaps because I fell in love with the original version, I prefer it to the new and "improved" one. Davis was obviously more relaxed on the latter take, but I thought he "jazzed" around with the vocal arrangements too much.

I assume most folks who know the recording(s) at all, probably prefer the second one, but not me.

I also prefer the original album, partly because it was my introduction to GOLDEN BOY and when Capitol reissued the LP in 1977 I bought it to replace my worn original, I was startled at all of the changes.

For me, a large part of the problem is that after months in the role certain vocal mannerisms had crept in Sammy's performance, pulling the music away from what the songwriters had originally laid out. Also some lyric changes...a reference to Bing Crosby in "Can't You See it" is changed to Davis' rat-pack buddy Dean (Martin.)

Yes, on the first edition there is a raspy quality to his voice, but the performance has more character insight.

The most troublesome change is the loss of the finale - a dramatic reprise of "Gimme Some" - On the remixed LP they included "The Fight" which is mostly percussion and not nearly as effctive a close to the album.

I was surprised that NONE of the CD editions chose to restore the original tracks, even if it meant transferring them from an LP copy, since the master tapes were supposedly destroyed when the chages were made. Bruce Kimmel was the first person to issue GOLDEN BOY on CD so maybe he can report on what is in Capitol's files.

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*edited* Sorry, I guess that's what you meant--I mis-read it as a brand new production of the show, but yeah it wasn't just re-recording some vocals.

I believe it was recorded in Toronto actually when it premiered there but I could be wrong--it may not have been released till the production moved from there to London.

But I guess you're right--I don't know how long the show lasted in London after the Broadway opening (not long I think) but I suppose the chorus, etc, would be either the London or Toronto cast and at least some of that would change for Broadway. But (correct me if I'm wrong) all of the leads were the same, including Merle Louise.

If Stephanie J. Block has a ton of cash to throw at the producers, sure, she'll get a recording.

Not a full recording, but Bailey Hanks recored "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde when she joined the cast.