She Loves Me Recording

[Cordelia Fitzgerald]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 10:20pm

Should I get the original cast recording, or the revival cast recording?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 10:44pm

IMO, the original is the best.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 10:48pm

I personally like the revival slightly better than the original, but that may have to do with digital recording quality. I own both and both are in my regular Ipod playlist. You can't go wrong with either in my book.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 10:55pm

No SHE LOVES ME cast recording can top the original with Barbara Cook (at the top of her game), Barbara Baxley, Daniel Massey, Jack Cassidy, and Ludwig Donath. Such a brilliant recording of a beautiful, sweet score. Cook's "Ice Cream" is definite and it includes the underappreciated--now cut--"Tango Tragique," a fantastic comedy musical number for Massey and Cook.
If you want to get another SHE LOVES ME recording, get the '94 London revival with Ruthie Henshall. It can't match the original but I think it's a good recording and miles better than the Broadway revival cast.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 10:59pm

Get them all!
This is a score to be relished, loved, compared and savored.
Mmmmm.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 11:15pm

Massey is awful on the OBC, not to mention the tempo is at a snail's pace. To hear the perfection of Cook, get the OBC. The Revival cast recording is phenomenal (with the exception of of Diane what's her face who replaced Kuhn ; she's too nasally). The truth is that all three recordings are great to have because the score is incredible.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 9/11/08 at 11:19pm

I wish there was a recording of the Huntington/Williamstown production from earlier this year. It was really fantastic.

But I'd go with the original.

[puppet]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 12:11am

I saw the original with the amazing Barbara Cook so that is my favorite as I can still picture her especially doing "Ice Cream". Danial Massey was great on stage, so I remember his performance and the recording brings back that performance.

There will never be another cast like that so get the ORIGINAL.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 12:11am

I agree with Vespertine! It was stunning.

I own all of them- The OBC, The Original London Cast with Rita Moreno, the Broadway revival, and the London Revival. It's been 15 years since the revival, so I'd definitely say that it's high time for a revival. Too bad the Huntington production couldn't transfer!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 2:06am

Kristin Chenoweth would have been ideal for a revival back in the 90s when she won her Tony. She is probably too old for the role now, but oh how I'd love seeing her play Amalia.
I guess of the current crop of musical comedy actresses, I'd love to see Anne Hathaway, Laura Benanti, Sutton Foster, or Leigh Ann Larkin star in a Broadway revival.

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 4:37am

I am definitely partial to the original, but absolutely love the Vanilla Ice Cream in the revival. Just something about it. Either way, you can't go wrong with She Loves Me. Each rendition leaves you feeling so...well...loved.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 6:23am

What I wouldn't give for a really good remastering of that original Broadway cast recording. It has a very strange, boxy sound. Still, that's the one to start with, I think. And while Daniel Massey's vocals may be an acquired taste, I think he's charming on the recording. '

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 6:52am

I actually only have the revival, but I've been listening to it a lot the past few days; god is the score brilliant.

and I would LOVE a recording of the Huntington production, too.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 9:46am

The She Loves Me revival recording is one of my top 3 favorite recordings of all time. Every track is intensely delightful.

I vote revival.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 9:50am

I love the original recording strictly for Cook's performance, but overall, the Broadway revival is my favorite.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 9:59am

The Huntington Production introduced me to the show, after which I got a hold of all of the recordings of it I could. It was such a wonderful production that it is a shame it didn't transfer or get recorded. Brooks Ashmanskas & Kate Baldwin (and the whole cast really) were perfection.

Youtube has some legally posted clips of the Huntington Production if anyone is curious (username: HuntingtonTheatreCo).
Updated On: 9/12/08 at 09:59 AM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 10:07am

I'm not sure if Sutton has the range for Amalia.

My ideal Amalia would be Kelli O'Hara

[philcrosby]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 10:09am

The OBC with Massey, Cook and Baxley is unmatched. Get it.

The Original London Cast with Moreno is interesting ... well for her, and because it has some different material.

The Roundabout recording is dreadful.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:34am

The OBCR is very special and I always recommend that first. The two Barbaras are just incomparable in their roles. But the Broadway revival's also great. I have a pathological need to buy copies of cast recordings and videos of every incarnation of Parfumerie (even the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan You've Got Mail film which I didn't even like), so I'm not the right person to winnow down recommendations on this.

I'm going to check out the YouTubes of the Huntington Production because the show just makes me smile and I need that today.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 11:46am

Ugh, it was pathetic to see how Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, and Nora Ephron destroyed a beautiful story.
I really dislike the Roundabout cast recording.
The Rita Moreno London album is odd. I remember listening to it and they had cut a bunch of numbers, replaced it with others, is "I Don't Know His Name" in that recording?
Anyone else a fan of the '94 London revival CR?

[Jon]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 12:28pm

Let's see - the original Broadway production flopped. The original London production flopped. The London revival flopped. The Broadway revival flopped.

Yep - time for another revival!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 1:13pm

>Anyone else a fan of the '94 London revival CR? <

I like it, except for the Georg of John Gordon Sinclair. He's a little peculiar.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 3:04pm

Well Jon, how about we do it because it is an important, classic show?

[Jon]

Posted: 9/12/08 at 6:35pm

Tell that to investors.

"It's never made a profit, but you should invest your money because it's an important show."

"She Loves Me" is one of those shows that the "average theatregoer" never loves as much as "theatre folk" do.

[cooperross]

Posted: 9/19/08 at 12:48pm

"Kristin Chenoweth would have been ideal for a revival back in the 90s when she won her Tony. She is probably too old for the role now, but oh how I'd love seeing her play Amalia."

Actually she would have been a bit young then, and is a perfect age for it now.

It's not a show about 20-somethings finding love. It's a show about people approaching middle age clinging to that last desperate hope of finding true love at last, and feeling that it might be their one last chance.