Sweeney Todd Revival Recording

[broadway_socialite]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 6:25pm

I've been wondering this for a while but never got around to asking, but on the Revival Sweeney recording, City On Fire isn't included. Was it taken out of the show? If so, why? I never got to see it. Thanks!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 6:27pm

The revival recording was only a highlights cast recording.

It did not feature every song included in the production.

[broadway_socialite]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 6:29pm

so it was in the show?

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 6:30pm

Yes, it was.

But I think only two or three songs aren't included on the revival recording. I'm pretty sure City on Fire wasn't included b/c it involved too much dialogue. I could be wrong though.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 6:31pm

Of course it was.

Posted: 9/17/06 at 6:37pm

I actually heard it was because they initially recorded it with an intent to fit it on one disc, but seeing as it was eventually divided into two discs anyway, that explanation didn't make too much sense. I would be curious to know why they didn't include City on Fire provided that they were producing two discs per recording anyway.

[broadway_socialite]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 7:13pm

Thats why I didn't think it was a highlights. If you're going to make 2 cds, why not put as much as possible on them. Bad cd producers!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 7:19pm

Originally they were going to produce only one disc, it was a last minute decision to release two, and by that time they has already recorded only the "highlights". They basically released all they had.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 7:19pm

well, there's the City on Fire segment in the Johanna reprise in the 2nd act, but yeah...they didnt include the bigger one
:)
yeah
sorry to state the obvious

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 7:42pm

Didn't this get covered whe the CD came out?

The label recorded material to fill one CD of highlights. AFTER the sessions they found they had appox 10 minutes too much, so they split all they had over 2 discs. (It would have been too expensive to bring the cast back for an extra session.)

Frankly, I think they should have cut 10 minutes and released a single CD as virtually the complete score is already available on 2 doubl-disc sets.

Posted: 9/17/06 at 7:43pm

Originally they were going to produce only one disc, it was a last minute decision to release two, and by that time they has already recorded only the "highlights". They basically released all they had.

Right, but they must have known that the "highlights" they had already recorded couldn't fit onto one disc. Unless they truly lost track of how much they recorded, they should have known that what they already had was going to have to be released on two discs anyway and gone ahead to record City on Fire.

ETA: So, frontrowcentre2, they really did lose track of how much they recorded? That's a bit sad. Updated On: 9/17/06 at 07:43 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 8:23pm

I suspect they recorded a bit more knowing some material would not make the final cut. (Lots of Lps had extra songs recorded and not used that are now seeing the light of day on CD reissues.)

But, you're right - it does smack of sloppy planning.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 9:19pm

which is a shame. City on Fire was one of my favorite moments.

And it was just amazing on stage

[little_sally]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 9:36pm

I wish they had included "City on Fire" and "Parlor Songs" on the recording. They were my two favorite moments in the production.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 9:41pm

I was a bit disappointed with this revival recording. As good as it is, I know the music pretty well and it just doesn't feel complete.

[jv92]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 9:46pm

Honestly, as much as City on Fire is thrilling and imporant, I think the highlights recording is perfectly fine. It represents the extraordinary production very well.

Posted: 9/17/06 at 11:22pm

I was actually really impressed with this recording. I bought it a while ago but didn't have a chance to listen to it until last week during a 20hr car trip. I, for one, can't stand Patii LuPone and while I didn't like her in the concert special thing-y, I actually liked her on this recording. Oddly enough, it was Sweeney, the Judge, Johanna, and Anthony that seemed stale to me on the disc. I did enjoy it, however, I would probably stick to the OBC in the future. I think most of this revival was in it's staging anyway.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/17/06 at 11:30pm

I agree that no recording of Sweeney tops the original cast recording (it's hard to top Lansbury, Cariou, Garber, Jennnings, Rice, and Merle Louise). As most reviews of this particular recording stated, the beauty of this revival lied in the live production and a lot is lost without the lush orchestrations.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 8:57am

This CD was a complete disappointment. I don't know who was making the decisions, but if the entire Original Broadway Cast Recording fit fine onto 2 discs, why wouldn't they include the same content on the Revival recording?

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 1:51pm

I like what was done with the orchestrations. Don't "miss" the original lush orchestrations (Although the original is still my favorite). It just doesn't feel complete. Especially since I saw it before the recording was released. I would like to have heard the complete show on disc in the chamber style that they are doing it in and that I enjoyed so much in the theatre. I think this show is pretty brilliant and I even enjoyed Ms. LuPone. (Who I am not a big fan of!)