Revival Recordings Better than the Original- Page 3

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 4:04am

Well, I do agree no one compares to Joanna Gleason as the baker's wife, but I like some of the changes they made to the show (alright, the little pigs addition was stupid, but the harmony at the end of On the Steps of the Palace is nice, and I love love LOVE Our Little World) and I like Jack's Mother sung an octave lower.

[patti+bettysgirl]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 4:23am

Sweeney Todd
Anything Goes
Cabaret
Company

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 4:41am

I'm a fan of Laura Benanti, but I think Kim Crosby's Cinderella is a lot edgier and more interesting than Benanti's, even if Benanti is probably the "better" singer. Peters is miles better than Vanessa Williams (and again, I'm a fan of Williams). Chip Zien, Daniele Ferland, and Ben Wright are also miles better than their revival counterparts.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 6:05am

Simply because it was the first Sondheim album I fell in love with as an 11 year old--the London ITW gets my vote--although I do love the OBCR and get why it's essential (I'd prob rather watch the cast on DVD though and listen to the London one).

I'm pretty shocked at all the Company revival choices--I jsut think that original cast album is gorgeous, and thrilling. I admit, for me, Company is about the 70s so those great original TUnick orchestrations that some find dated appeal to me a LOT.

Am I the only one who finds the original cast of Assassins the winner? It's not just me never liking Neil P Harris, but I find the original darker and more appealing (and vocally, on one of my fave songs Unworthy of Your Love there's no comparison--the revival is hard for me to listen to). Interesting about the orchestrations--Starobin essentially created the original recorded ones just for the CD as it was played on two (three?) synths for the Off Broadway stage version...

I do admit a lot of it is personal preference based on what we know. I LOVE the original recording of Candide, and the 70s revival, but because I saw the 1999 Royal National Theatre revision, that recording is the one I'll reach for first.

This thread becomes a LOT less fair when we talk about recordings made pre-Stereo era. It's great to have the original performances for Carousel and Oklahoma, but any real fan of the show needs a second recording to fill in all the edits, improve the sound, etc...

E

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 7:07am

this is not a "better than/worse than" thing for me, just some thoughts.

i enjoy the orchestrations on the lansbury GYPSY because they sound so much more "cartoony" than the original, it seems like theres so much humor in the music itself, as opposed to the original (which i love too, on its own merits!)

i love the revival recordings of SWEENEY & COMPANY because they sound like voices IN MY HEAD rather than ON A STAGE...i'm not talking about content, i'm talking about how the recording was engineered & mixed. i love that intimate sound!

[spidey_882]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 7:26am

Oh, and how could I forget Carousel? The 1994 revival's score is so effortlessly beautiful.

I think the problem with some of the earlier cast albums for me is that the emotion in the songs is so obviously "acted" in each number, that I have a difficult time just getting lost in the music because I'm painfully aware that the character is singing. On the more modern cast albums, a lot (though not all) of the performers are more natural in their portrayal of the characters.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:37am

Lincoln Center Revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Far more complete than the original, Merman in top form, and captures more of the flavor of the entire show. And God knows it's vastly superior to the Peters revival.

1977 revival of the King and I. Gertrude Lawrence must have been magic on stage, but a great singer she was not. I would loved to have seen her in person. This has Brynner, an Anna who can sing, and is far more complete.

2006 revival of Company solely because of Raul. This was the only Bobby who seemed to really get it, both vocally and dramatically. One of my favorite performances ever. Otherwise, the OBCR (Stritch!!!!).

1985 Concert version of Follies because of Cook, Patinkin, Stritch (sorry, don't agree with the comment about her draggy tempi -- she makes its funnier than anyone ever) and Albanese.

[Becky2]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:52am

I have to say I think I like the Sweeney Revival Cast Recording better than the original - mostly because I strongly prefer Patti LuPone's voice to Angela Lansbury's, I only wish the Revival recording had been more complete as the original.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:57am

Wonderful Town

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 11:19am

Interesting discussion, and I know this is a thread about preferences, so there is no wrong answer, even though I disagree with alot of these, especially I personally do not think that any revival of Sondheim as composer has been equalled by a revival cast...though perhaps Sunday, as I am waiting until I see it to get the cd.

The only recording I prefer to any other recording of that show is Gypsy with Lansbury. The only problem I have with that recording is the newsboy's accents

I will make one correction...in reference to Stritch's "Broadway Baby", that was the 1985 concert, not the Papermill production. Kaye Ballard played Hattie at Papermill.

I'm surprised by the preference's expressed due to better recording techniques, which is valid, but I dont enjoy more simply because recordings have become more precise with better quality. There's no doubt that many revivals, particularly where recordings are completed as in said Follies concert, but I prefer the performances I like best. I LOVE that they recorded that concert, and I loved alot of it...particularly Erie Mills and Licia Albanese...but nothing compares to the original to me.

All that said, I think it's our own perceptions and memories that guide our opinions on this subject. I cant understand anyone preferring the mediocre revival of Into the Woods over the original...but I might feel different if I saw the revival first.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 4:05pm

The only reason I would prefer any Revival to an OBC is due to completeness.
I bought (but didn't see) the Pacific Overtures revival, but couldn't get past the teeny, tiny orchestrations. it's one of the reasons I won't buy the new Sunday. The new Chorus Line may be more complete and perhaps better sung, but it doesn't have the same energy and period sound of the OBC. The "wacca-wacca" guitar sound is just not the same and the new one sounds too clean and "studio." Give me those raw 70's sessions any day.

[BJC899]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 4:12pm

For me, 110 in the Shade came to my mind. I can't barely get through the OBC of that. Also,The Sound of Music with Luker is more enjoyable then the OBC.

...how can anyone say that the revival recording of ACL is better then the original?... :)

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 4:53pm

I like the revival of How to Succeed.... scores better than the original. Michelle Lee is better than Mullaly any day, but the quality and new orchestrations can't be beat.

[RyToast1]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 5:09pm

I'd have to say that I enjoy the Patti LuPone recording of Gypsy over any others.

take this as you will...

[FuturePenny2]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 5:17pm

I always like to say nothing beats the originals BUT i do have to say the Little Shop revival recording.. is pretty damn amazing haha.

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 5:18pm

JBSinger, I feel like that is one of the strongest driving points behind the older recordings, that vivacity of an older day. Recordings like Company and A Chorus Line thrive on that sound to me and what make them so much better and more thrilling than their newer counterparts.

The 1998 Cabaret revitalized the orchestrations in a positive way and breathed more life into the score so I do prefer that over the original 1966.

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 5:24pm

Michele Lee didn't perform on the Original Broadway Cast Recording of "How To Succeed..." Bonnie Scott originated and recorded the role of "Rosemary" in the Original Broadway Cast. Lee was a Broadway replacement that went on to do the film version.

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 5:29pm

oh, thanks, retroboy. My bad. Well, then in that case, I still like Bonnie Scott better than Mullaly's nasal Rosemary.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 6:31pm

I'm probably alone, but I love the A CHORUS LINE revival cast recording. I just can't listen to the original for some reason. I know everyone here loves them, but I think some of them are not that great of singers...

[Urban]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 11:57pm

I use to tease a friend about 'liking' the revival of ITW better then the OBC because I knew it use to get his goat. However I have to admit nothing can top the OBC for the most part (though granted I just am not a fan of Joanne Gleeson - take that as you will).

On the other hand I loved the darker tone the London CR took as well.

Still nothing can top the OBC just for that 'energy' it seems to project.

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 12:13am

110.
42nd vocally... but the revival orchestrations were awkwardly empty...

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 12:18am

>42nd vocally... but the revival orchestrations were awkwardly empty...<

Apart from the numbers that were new for the revival, both the original production and the revival of 42nd Street used the same Phil Lang orchestrations.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:37am

I actually find the ITW original a TAD too safe--though i love we got bits of music that were dropped very soon after it was done (in Very Nice Prince and Moments in the Woods I think...) By the DVD the tempi and everythign were faster and it feels more right--but then I'm conditioned by eharing first the London ITW which is breakneck speed.

So no one else prefers the original Assassins? *cry*

"The 1998 Cabaret revitalized the orchestrations in a positive way and breathed more life into the score so I do prefer that over the original 1966. "

WIth Cabaret the show feels SOO different to me that I almsot can't compare

[Urban]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 8:27am

Eric, I am sure I posted eons ago that I am with you 110% that nothing can top the OCR of "Assassins". The revival sounds too popish and light for my tastes (and I agree with you, you only have to look at "Unworthy of Your Love" to see the huge difference.

It felt like it was just 'sung' and nothing emotive got passed through it, which I always felt the OCR had (in that shiver down the spine way).

In fact I feel alot of Sondhiem revivals are like that, they sound pretty but it feels like they are just singing it and nothing more. Compare "Moments in these Woods" between the OBCR and the revival. The revival just sounds like it is sung while you can feel the Baker's Wife have all these conflicts, emotions and feelings running through her brain in the OBCR.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 8:48am

The Assassins revival recording is valuable for including "Something Just Broke," and a bit of the fabric of the show, with the playoffs, etc. But that original Off-Broadway cast is hard to top. Victor Garber, Terrence Mann, Annie Golden, Eddie Korbich, Jonathan Hadary, Debra Monk, Lee Wilkof, Greg Germann and Patrick Cassidy are incredibly vivid on that recording. There are some very good performances on the revival recording too, particularly Marc Kudisch and Neil Patrick Harris, but the original is still my preferred as well.