Shows where you prefer a different recording from the original?

[Fantod]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:15pm

So as a rule of thumb, I tend to always say that the original cast is better than any others just because the performers were written into the show, but there are a few exceptions for me.
The King and I - 1977 Broadway Cast Recording
My Fair Lady - 1959 London Cast Recording
Promises, Promises - 1969 London Cast Recording
Kiss Me, Kate - 1959 Original Cast Members
Merrily We Roll Along - 1994 Off-Broadway Cast
Pippin - 2013 Broadway Cast
13 Songs from Call Me Madam -1950 Studio Cast
Allegro - 2008 Studio Cast
Annie Get Your Gun - 1966 Lincoln Center Cast
What are your preferences for cast recordings that aren't the original casts?





Updated On: 10/10/14 at 05:15 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:33pm

Into the Woods - London album. I LOVE the US cast on DVD, however... I got into Sondheim from watching Act II of ITW on PBS when I was 9. Unfortunately it was their last showing -- I remember getting my mom to phone them, and found out that it was only available on laser disc (for some odd rights reason back then.) But my library had a casette of the cast album--the London one. So I listened to it about 6 times a day that Summer, and still I find the slower tempi of the OBCR hard to get used to and put on the OLC instead (plus I love Our Little World.)

I prefer the TV cast of Wonderful Town. MUCH better sound, many of the same actors, slightly more complete (Even if Waste is now oddly turned into a duet with Roz--even more odd as in the actual TV production it's just a solo.)

It seems unfair to compare the early mono R&H recordings with later more complete stereo versions--I actually play the OBCRs and a better recorded later production almost equally (the exception being Allegro--the OBCR for such an oddly composed score and its edits just rob it of any sense, with the exception of a few great numbers like Gentleman is a Dope.)

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:46pm

All better than their originals. (my personal opinion)

Bare (2007 Studio Cast)
Evita (2012 Broadway Revival Cast)
Sunset Boulevard (1994 Original Los Angeles Cast)
West Side Story (2009 Broadway Revival Cast)
The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011 London Cast)
Show Boat (1993 Toronto Cast)
Pippin (2013 Broadway Revival Cast)
Chicago (1996 Broadway Revival Cast)
A Chorus Line (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)
The Wizard of Oz (2011 London Revival Cast)
Violet (Original Broadway Cast)
The Rocky Horror Show (2000 Broadway Revival Cast)
Cabaret (1998 Broadway Revival Cast)
Promises, Promises (2010 Broadway Revival Cast)
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Original Broadway Cast)
Anything Goes (2011 Broadway Revival Cast)
Carousel (1994 Broadway Cast)
Peter Pan (1997 London Studio Cast)
On the Town (1995 Studio Cast)
Oklahoma! (1998 London Revival Cast)
Matilda (Original Broadway Cast)
La Cage aux Folles (2010 Broadway Revival Cast)
The King and I (1996 Broadway Revival Cast)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Original Canadian Cast)
Jekyll & Hyde (2012 Studio Cast)
Hair (2009 Broadway Cast)
Gypsy (2008 Broadway Revival Cast)
Guys and Dolls (1992 Broadway Revival Cast)
Grease (2007 Broadway Revival Cast)
Godspell (2011 Broadway Revival Cast)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (2012 Encores! Cast)
The Fantasticks (2006 Off-Broadway Cast)
Fame (1999 Original American Cast)
Damn Yankees (1994 Broadway Revival Cast)
Cinderella (Original Broadway Cast)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:46pm

The one that immediately comes to mind for me is the LA cast recording of Evita with Patti LuPone over the original London cast or the original concept album. The only reason I ever listen to Evita is to listen to Patti belt her face off and none of the other actresses come close to matching her performance.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:47pm

*Annie (2012 Broadway Revival)
*Anything Goes (2011 Broadway Revival)
*Cabaret (1998 Broadway Revival)
*Grease (2007 Broadway Revival)
*Hedwig & the Angry Inch (2014 Original Broadway Cast)
*How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011 Broadway Revival)
*Les Miserables (2010 Live Recording)
*Mary Poppins (2010 Australian Live Recording)
*Matilda the Musical (2013 Original Broadway Cast)
*Oliver! (2009 West End Live Recording)
*Pippin (2013 Broadway Revival)
*Porgy & Bess (2012 Broadway Revival)
*Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (2013 Original Broadway Cast)
*Seussical (2007 Off-Broadway Recording)
*South Pacific (2008 Broadway Revival)
*Violet (2014 Original Broadway Cast)
*You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival)

Updated On: 8/1/15 at 05:47 PM

[Fantod]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:50pm

JoseLee, Have you ever listened to the Original Broadway Cast of Chicago? It is absolutely phenomenal and Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon are at the top of their form. I would recommend giving it another try.

Specifically from your list, I would recommend giving these original cast recordings a second listen:

La Cage
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Guys and Dolls
Gypsy (How can anybody replace La Merm?) Updated On: 10/10/14 at 05:50 PM

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:56pm

@fantod Yes, I love it but I'm so used to hearing the amazing Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly.

I have hundreds of cast recordings. I prefer those over the originals. Probably because they have personal meaning to me. Updated On: 10/10/14 at 05:56 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:58pm

For Chicago I actually prefer the London revival cast album. It has more dialogue, Roxie's soliloquy, the act one finale and Ruthie Henshall, of course.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 5:59pm

13 Songs from Call Me Madam -1950 Studio Cast

One could argue that that IS the original recording (well one of them anyway).

As for mine:

CINDERELLA - Original Broadway Cast (those arrangements are to die for)

GIGI - Original Broadway Cast (I love the voices and actually really like the new songs)

THE KING & I - 1964 Lincoln Center Cast (RCA Living Stereo at its best)

SOUTH PACIFIC - 1967 Lincoln Center Cast (Florence Henderson actually doesn't bother me, and the stereo is amazing)

HELLO, DOLLY! - Pearl Baily (I love the mixing and voices way better than the OBC)

FOLLIES - Papermill (I still think I like this one better than even the better-sounding 2011)

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW - Roxy Cast (this is the best of them all to my ears, even over the Soundtrack)

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - 25th Anniversary Concert (Brightman & Crawford aren't much to my liking on the original)

Updated On: 10/10/14 at 05:59 PM

[Fantod]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 6:07pm

I also prefer the 2012 London Cast Recording of Singin' in the Rain (gasp) and though I don't really listen to Rocky Horror or POTO, but when I do I prefer the 2000 recording and the 2012 recording, respectively.



Updated On: 10/10/14 at 06:07 PM

[BwayFan23768]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 6:10pm

Anything Goes (1987 Broadway Cast)
Cabaret (1998 Broadway Cast)
Carousel (1994 Broadway cast)
Chicago (1998 London Cast)
The Cradle Will Rock (1985 London Cast)
Evita (1979 LA Cast)
Follies (2011 Broadway Cast)
Gypsy (1973 London Cast)
The King and I (1977 Broadway Cast)
Kiss Me, Kate (1959 OBC Members)
Les Miserables (1995 Concert)
Oklahoma! (1979 Broadway Cast)
Oliver! (1963 Broadway Cast)
Pippin (2013 Broadway Cast)
Porgy and Bess (1977 Houston Opera)
Ragtime (1998 Broadway Cast)
Show Boat (1993 Toronto Cast)
South Pacific (2008 Broadway Cast)
Sunset Boulevard (1995 LA Cast)

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/10/14 at 6:19pm

Annie ('99 TV Movie)
Anything Goes ('87 Broadway)
Cabaret ('98 Broadway)
Candide ('99 Royal National Theatre)
Carousel ('94 Broadway)
Evita ('OBC over London)
Follies (Avery Fischer Hall...for all of its flaws, the electricity on that recording is palpable)
Guys and Dolls ('92 Broadway)
King and I ('00 London with Elaine Paige)
Kiss Me Kate ('99 Broadway)
Les Miserables ('95 Dream Cast)
Oklahoma ('79 Broadway)
On Your Toes ('83 Broadway)
Promises, Promises (Original London over Broadway)
Sound of Music (Soundtrack)

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 5:03pm

Sorry for bumping this thread, but I wanted to share my thoughts on this subject. For me, these are the recordings of certain shows that I prefer:

The Music Man: 1962 Film Adaptation

The Sound of Music: 2006 London Revival

Into the Woods: 2002 Broadway Revival

West Side Story: 2009 Broadway Revival

Les Miserables: 2010 U.K. Tour Production

The Phantom of the Opera: 2004 Film Adaptation

RENT: 2005 Film Adaptation 

The Producers: 2005 Film Adaptation

Annie: 2012 Broadway Revival

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella: 2013 Broadway Production

Little Shop of Horrors: 2003 Broadway Production

The Fiddler on the Roof: 2004 Broadway Revival

Annie Get Your Gun: 1999 Broadway Revival

Grease: 2007 Broadway Revival

Updated On: 8/1/15 at 05:03 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 6:03pm

Almost every Rocky Horror cast recording, particularly the film soundtrack and Roxy cast recording, beats the OLC.

I'm partial to the revival cast recording of Little Me over the original. 

 

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 6:35pm

Wicked: German cast recording.

Les Misérables: Complete Symphonic Recording.

RENT: Film soundtrack.

Elisabeth: 2006 Vienna live cast recording. 

Next to Normal: German live cast recording. (The orchestrations seriously kick ass.)

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1992 Canadian cast recording.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 7:19pm

*Carousel (2015 Stratford Festival Recording)
*Gigi (2015 Broadway Cast Recording)
*Guys & Dolls (50th Anniversary Cast Recording)
*The King & I (2015 Broadway Cast Recording)
*Miss Saigon (2014 West End Live Recording)
*On the Town (2014 Broadway Cast Recording)
*On the Twentieth Century (2015 Broadway Cast Recording)
*Side Show (2014 Broadway Cast Recording)

Updated On: 8/2/15 at 07:19 PM

[karen24]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 8:11pm

I prefer the original cast recording of Hedwig with John Cameron Mitchell, *except* that I do love Lena Hall's version of "The Long Grift" on the NPH revival recording. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 8:15pm

Hair, Gypsy, Anything Goes, Once Upon a Mattress, Kiss Me Kate

If they'd recorded the revival of The Apple Tree I would have added that too. Never going to let it go.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 9:50pm

I'm actually very upset that The Apple Tree revival didn't record a cast album.  It's the definitive production of the show.

I also think that the London cast recording of Into the Woods is the better album, but the performances on the OBC are definitive. 

I also prefer the 2011 Follies recording to the original.  I didn't like the staging of the production,  but I like the revival performances a lot more (I know that, that's a very unpopular opinion).

I also prefer the encores! recording of Merrily we roll along.  I like the OBC a lot, but the encores album pops a bit more.

I also far prefer the 2003 Nine cast recording to the OBC.  It's a grand cast and I prefer Banderas' voice to Julia's. 

[DigificWriter]

Posted: 8/1/15 at 10:28pm

Some more shows and the recordings thereof that I prefer:

Peter Pan: 2014 NBC LIVE! Production

My Fair Lady: 2001 London Revival

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: New Musical Cast Recording *

* Does anybody know who the stars of this particular recording (which has a release date of 200 are? I've not been able to find any information on the album anywhere

Updated On: 8/2/15 at 10:28 PM

[broadwayboy972]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 12:06am

I prefer the revival recording of Anything Goes. It seems like the recordings change so much, but I love Sutton Foster and Laura Osnes as well as the slight lyric changes and what seems to be slightly different arrangements. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 12:52am

Jeffrey, which recording is the 50th anniversary of Guys and Dolls? I have several and I'd like to add it if you think it's terrific.

VintageSnarker, the lack of a new recording of The Apple Tree gives me pangs of sadness whenever I think of it. The original is a wonderful recording, but Kristin Chenoweth, Marc Kudisch and Brian d'Arcy James together singing that wonderful score would be so terrific. Maybe PSClassics will record a tenth anniversary recording in 2016!

Some recordings I prefer to their original:
Follies (Live at Lincoln Center)
Guys and Dolls (1992 Revival)
Finian's Rainbow (2009 Revival)
Les Misérables (The Dream Cast)
How to Succeed (1995 Revival)
Brigadoon (Shirley Jones)
Hair (2005 Actor's Fund Benefit Recording)
Dreamgirls (the movie soundtrack and benefit recording are both terrific)
Nine (2003 Revival)
Chicago (Movie Soundtrack)
Hairspray (Movie Soundtrack)
Oklahoma! (1998 London)
South Pacific (2006 Carnegie Hall Concert...I think Reba is the perfect Nellie Forbush)

 

After thinking, it seems like 9 times out of 10 I truly prefer the original recording (or don't pick favorites). So many of the musicals in my collection (especially Sondheim and Rodgers) have so many recordings per musical there's not really a point in picking a favorite, but as a point of reference the original usually works best. I usually love each one for various reasons.

Updated On: 8/2/15 at 12:52 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 1:35am

South Pacific - 1967 Lincoln Center Cast

Cabaret - 1998 Broadway Revival Cast

Those are the two that come to mind the quickest. I know there are several others. For some reason I just love Florence Henderson as Nellie. For Cabaret it is all about Alan Cumming.

[TheBoyFromNC]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 2:07am

I rarely get to actually go see a show, so I get my theatre fix purely by listening to cast recordings. So I end up preferring cast recordings that have the entire show. With that in mind, I usually choose to listen to these over the originals:

Dreamgirls (2001 Actors Fund Benefit Concert) [what a cast, right?!?]

On The Twentieth Century (2005 Actors Fund Benefit Concert)

Parade (2007 Donmar Warehouse) [it helps that I adore Bertie Carvel's Leo]

Passion (2013 Off-Broadway)

Bare: A Pop Opera (2007 Studio Cast Recording)

Les Miserables (Complete Symphonic Cast Recording)

Sunset Boulevard (American Premiere Recording)

And it's not the whole show, but I exclusively listen to the revival cast recording for Pippin. I can't stand the OBC's orchestrations - they ruin the whole thing for me.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 8/2/15 at 2:24am

- The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012 Revival) [I prefer the performers and I like that they included all the murderers]

- Cool Rider (aka the stage version of Grease 2) (2015 Studio)

- Anything Goes (2011 Revival)

- Finian's Rainbow (2009 Revival)

- Gypsy (2008 Revival)

- On the Town (2014 Revial)

- Reefer Madness (2006 Movie Soundtrack)

- Chicago (2002 Movie Soundtrack)

- Cinderella (2013 Revival)

- Matilda (2013 Broadway) [Because the London album WAS first]

- Pippin (2013 Revival)

- Promises, Promises (2010 Revival)

- The Rocky Horror Show (2000 Revival)

- Violet (2014 Revival)

- Xanadu (2007 Broadway) [I count the movie as the original]