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#26

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/12/05 at 11:17am

Thanks frontrowcenter. After reading that statement, "Theater aficionados and audiophiles are two different areas of expertise", I was about to throw in the towel. I agree with your assessment, however I did find an annoying echo sound in the original "Cabaret" release which was cleaned up with the reissue. There was also a lack of mid to lower bass response in "Chorus Line" that was corrected with the next remastering (just got the SACD release and the multi channel re-mix is very impressive). Of all show releases on CD, the two biggest offenders that were fortunately redone were "SeeSaw" and "Dance A Little Closer". It's comforting to know that in certain cases an accomplished sound engineer can do wonders in remastering the source material. As far as theater aficiondos and audiophiles being two different areas of expertise, I've got to disagree. Many of us have spent our hard earned dollars putting together our stereo systems. Most audiophiles tend to be into classical music and opera and often seem to branch out into OBC recordings. Every review in CD magazines (Gramophone, CD Review, Sound & Vision) rate the sound on new CD releases whether it be pop, rock, heavy metal, soundtracks or OBC recordings. In a case where show CD'S are reissued claiming that the sound has been remastered, why wouldn't that be addressed by Suskin or Mandelbaum?

Updated On: 4/12/05 at 11:17 AM

#27

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/12/05 at 12:57pm

The truth, Demitri2, is that they may not even be able to tell if it "sounds better." Not every person who knows theatre is enough of an audiophile to make that call.
"Now and then life hits you on the back of the head with a sock full of wet porridge. How you handle that is up to you." - Tim Rice
#28

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/12/05 at 1:12pm

In addition to the sound quality issue there is also teh matter of how recordings are done. Most cast albums until fiarly recently were done with the cast and orchestra performing live in one large room (see the COMPANY cast album documentary for an example.) This gives the older albums a large spaceous sound. But many younger listeners, weaned on pop albums perfer the more intimate style of miking with singers and instruments isolated on different tracks and mixed by the sound engineers. I find many recent cast albums have a dryer more "intimate" sound, but in gaining that they lose that open sound that makes the older albums sound like they are recorded live in the theatre even though they AREN'T!

Even some serious long-time collectors I know never did replace the horrible early issues on MUSIC MAN and FUNNY GIRL on Capitol with the later (and much better sounding) Broadway Angel editions. To them the originals sounded fine.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

#31

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/13/05 at 1:39pm

*whips out minimal knowledge of recording*

Has compression changed the sound of things over the years, as well? I only have a vague understanding of this kind of stuff, so feel free to laugh at my silliness if the question is completely off.
#32

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/13/05 at 3:00pm

As many posts have pointed out, you never really know till you listen to the old & new side by side!

MANY of the releases that debuted on CD in the mid 80's sounded no better (And sometimes worse) than the LPs. Digital technology has improved immensely in the meantime. It will be interesting to hear if these sound much better!
#33

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/13/05 at 3:46pm

I like the idea of both Sweeney and George but I would like to hear bonus tracks to Company (unless Marry Me a Little was the only like cut song cuz then they have no need to)
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
#34

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 4/13/05 at 7:53pm

Re: COMPANY - There are 3 cut songs that have been frequently recorded. Marry Me a Little, Happily Ever After and Multitudes of Amys. The last is an especially beautiful song. It was dropped before rehearsals began, as was Marry Me a Little. Happily Ever after was replaced in Boston bt Being Alive.

re: Compression: Not a stupid question at all! Most older recordings were heavily compressed and for Lps, the used to use what was called the RIAA curve for standard equalization. Early Cds were often taken frome these heavily compressed Lp master tapes. That is why we need the "re-mastered" versions.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

#35

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:29pm

Did anything come of this? I looked on the RCA Victor web site and I didn't see anything, when I search Into the Woods it comes back with nothing. I can't find any re-issue of Into the Woods on Amazon either.
#37

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/17/06 at 4:07pm

Does anyone have an update on these reissues? I've heard September 2006 as a release date, but also just 2006. I hate to invest in the older versions and then have to come up with the cash for the reissues, but I'm also getting kinda tired of waiting. Wasn't Valentine's Day the original release date? Yawn.
#38

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/17/06 at 4:15pm

"I just hope they increase the volume on SUNDAY and INTO THE WOODS. Why are they so quiet?"

No kidding!! I thought I was beginning to go deaf when I popped in Sunday the other day.
"When you're a Jet, / You're a Jet all the way, / From your first pirouette / To your last grand jete." --Brian Kaman
#39

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/29/06 at 10:11am

Anyone know whether this is going ahead? I really want a copy of the original Sweeney Todd 2-cd with Angela Lansbury. Although this version is still available as a "highlights" version, it doesn't include "greenfinch & linnet bird" which is my favourite. The recently released version isn't as good on this song, in my opinion.
#40

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:55am

Does anybody know, does a demo of the cut SITPWG song "Yoo-Hoo" exist? I've never heard it.
#41

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:59am

Are they out yet or aren't they?
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."
#43

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/30/06 at 11:36pm

It's taken long enough. Sept 27th of last yr, Feb 14th of this yr . . .

They just aren't coming!
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

Updated On: 7/30/06 at 11:36 PM

#44

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/31/06 at 12:57am

The reason INTO THE WOODS and SUNDAY IN THE PARK are so quiet is that they were originally released on Lp's.

In order to fit that much material on one LP side meant limiting the volume. (Louder passages require more groove space.) With SUNDAY, Sondheim agreed commenting "volume is not what this show is about."

Each Lp side of SUNDAY ran 35 minutes! A normal Lp side would run 23-25 minutes, and sometimes a good deal less. (Even at that they could not fit all of Act One onto one LP side, the break came in the wind chimes.)

INTO THE WOODS did squeeze all f act One onto one side coming in around 37 minutes.

WOODS was the final Sondheim cast album to have an LP release. By the time ASSASSINS opened everything was CD and cassette only.


As for the reissues, the first thing up from Sony/BMG will be an extensive 4 CD Sondheim box set, which will be a 6-month exclusive from Playbill records before having a general release. The set will include cast album cuts from all Sondheim shows (except FOLLIES, which EMI would not negotiate so they use tracks from FOLLIES IN CONCERT. Still, EMI did negotiate use of FOURM and PASSION masters) and many rare demos including the original TV soundtrack of EVENING PRIMROSE (never commercially released) and the privately recorded backers audition for SATURDAY NIGHT which has circulated amongst Sondheim fans for years.

After that we will hopefully see the reissues appear.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

#45

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 7/31/06 at 1:07am

I can't wait for Sunday. It's out of print now and I can't afford $40 for someone's old copy on Amazon!
I know this groc'ry clerk...
#46

re: Sondheim Reissues bonus tracks

Posted: 8/4/06 at 3:06am

Check out used CD stores for a more reasonably priced copy.

The reissue should be worth waiting for. But for a quick fix, see if your local library cas a copy of the original.

MARK

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

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