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Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

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#1

Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 6:00pm

Sometimes we hear about a show coming out that doesn't interest us personally, or we don't care too much to see what it's about, etc... Have you ever bought a recording of a show, not expecting much of the music, but being seriously impressed after listening to it?

I had this experience with "The Boy from Oz"... when the recording first came out around Christmas time, I was thinking "a Hugh Jackman musical"??, but wound up buying it-- expecting it to be nothing worth listening to. As it turns out, i think it is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining cast albums out there.

Anyone have any similar experiences?
And if she'll say, "My darling, I'm yours!" I'll throw away my striped tie and my best pressed tweed, all I really need is the girl...
#2

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 6:07pm

This happens to me when I sometimes buy recordings of older musicals I've never seen. I play Irene and Can-Can all the time. I was pleasantly suprised by the the recording of The Life, another musical I've never seen. Most recently, I wasn't expecting much from Bat Boy but I love it. What a hoot!
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
#3

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 6:16pm

I got You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown since my school was doing it and I'd heard good things about this Kristin Chenoweth character. But really, I wasn't expecting much from a Charlie Brown musical. A few listens later, I loved the album and became a Chenoweth fan. One-character-actress or not, she does that one character awfully well.

Updated On: 7/20/04 at 06:16 PM

#4

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 6:21pm

Bat Boy was the same with me. I had heard of it and when I listened to it in Barnes and Noble I ended up buying it and now I listen to it all the time...I'm lstening to it right now as a matter of fact.
You aren't feeling overwhelmed are you?
#5

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 10:50pm

I wasn't too interested in picking up the Broadway recording of Little Shop of Horrors, as I already had the Off-Broadway album and was very happy with it. But I just picked up the Broadway recording recently and love it! I don't necessarily like it BETTER than the Off-Broadway recording, but there's just a lot of different approaches that's really interesting. Plus the inclusion of numbers I'd previously not heard and the demo songs (which I LOVE) is great.
#6

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 10:51pm

I too was pleasantly suprised by The Life. I bought it based on liking other Cy Coleman shows, and it has become one of my favorites. Similarly, I got The Rink trying to fill out my Kander and Ebb collection, and I really like it as well. I've never been to the area where the show is set, but, somehow, the score and performances make me feel like I know the place.

More recently, I got the same feeling from Taboo. I knew Boy George was an underrated songwriter, but I never imagined he could construct such a great score as opposed to just a collection of good songs.

Zack
Pass it on - Take a kid to a show.
#7

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 10:56pm

The new Broadway cast of Little Shop and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (The original London cast).
#8

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 11:05pm

I love the OBC of Parade. I hat that I let that show pass by without seeing it, but I love the recording so much. the show came and went so quickly.
Please visit Bitchy Waiter
#9

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/20/04 at 11:05pm

the new Little Shop cast album. I didn't know what I'd think of it because I really enjoyed some of the songs from the film soundtrack, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Kerry Butler's take on certain songs & Douglas Sills
"What could a computer do with a lifetime supply of chocolate? I am now telling the computer exactly what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate!"
#10

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 12:02am

I think the reason why THE BOY FROM OZ cast recording has been quite a success is because the songs themselves in the sequence they are presented in the album do a great job of telling the story of Peter Allen. It captures the flamboyance and joie de vivre identified with Peter and the occasional poignant moments that marked his life. The songs are also very well sung by Hugh and the major leads ( one of the strong points in this otherwise critically panned show is the stellar performance, vocally and acting-wise, of its cast).

A cast recording which grew on me more than I expected it would is PASSION by Stephen Sondheim. I heard the Broadway CD before I saw the actual transfer of the production in London. And I enjoyed listening it so much that by the time I saw it at the West End, I knew most of the songs and recitatives.




Updated On: 7/21/04 at 12:02 AM

#11

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 1:27am

The Boy from Oz rocked my socks. At first I was a wee bit hesitant, but then I realized how nice it was....and how cute Hugh is.
Real men are tenors.
#12

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 1:35am

i like how they did boq's last note in the wicked recording of dancing through life (w/ the cast coming in with the final chorus under it) far better than the live version
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#13

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 1:47am

SEUSSICAL.

When I first heard of the musical my thoughts were that it was going to be a kiddie show - and that is would be stupid by mixing all the stories together. "Why?," I thought. "Why not just do a Grinch musical?"

But I went to Barnes & Noble and listened to it, out of curiousity, and I purchased it after I heard "Alone in the Universe." I was pleased with mainly everything, but that song sold it for me.

So I got home, listened to the entire CD...for the entire day. All the rest of the afternoon, into the night, into the very early morning. I couldn't get enough of it - and had to see the show, so I organized a trip to see the show - saw it with Cathy Rigby, and thoroughly enjoyed it! It is now one of my favorite shows.

The end.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#14

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 3:10am

POTO. I didn't want a recording AT ALL, but I was told that I needed to hear the songs before I saw the show. I immediately fell in love with the music, and I adored Steve Barton (Raoul), and was absolutely devasated to find out he had passed.

As it turned out, once I saw the show I didn't like it that much (proves again that ALW is the King of Crap [and that's a whole other thread]), but I will still return to my ancient recording every once and a while.

Updated On: 7/21/04 at 03:10 AM

#15

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 3:20am

no comment..........
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#17

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 4:09am

lol
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
#18

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 7:12am

I'd have to say "Mack & Mabel" the OBC..never saw the show, but then again it is Bernadette.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson
#19

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 7:43am

I have never seen "The Wild Party" by andrew lippa and bought that. The more I listen to it the more I like it.
#20

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 11:06am

A big problem I have with the BFO music, is that it plays in my head constantly!! Make it stop!!!!!
#21

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 2:10pm

Delphine, you let me down. POTO is one of my very favoritest shows. Damn you and your diffrent-ness!
Real men are tenors.
#23

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 2:38pm

Naked Boys Singing


A Party with Comden And Green

Over Here!

Seesaw
"MAY YOUR LIFE BE AS BRIGHT AS BROADWAY AT NIGHT"
#24

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 2:44pm

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
BroadwayWorld: A home for the dangerously unhinged
#25

re: Suprisingly Good Cast Recordings

Posted: 7/21/04 at 6:59pm

NO!! Delphine, my little French darling, you must understand the deepness of the Phantom's love!! HE LOVES HER!! A LOT!!

But I agree on the whole recording thing. It's lovely. But I fear the movie version.

Got off topic there. Sorry. My love for POTO runs deep. *sheepish grin*
Real men are tenors.

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