Sweet Smell of Success/Showboat Cast Recordings
Sweet Smell of Success/Showboat Cast Recordings
#1Sweet Smell of Success/Showboat Cast Recordings
Posted: 10/22/10 at 2:06am
I'm contemplating buying the cast recording of The Sweet Smell of Success as I've recently become a huge fan of Kelli O'Hara and Brian D'Arcy James and this catches both of them fairly early in their Broadway careers. I can't get a good sense of it from the 30 second clips on iTunes, but I've heard "I Can Get You in JJ." Just wondering if this is one that's worth buying or if there are a few standout songs that I should stick to. Thanks in advance!
Updated On: 10/22/10 at 02:06 AM
#2Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 2:48amBuy it!! It's one of the great broadway scores of recent years. It's my most-played OBCR.
#2Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 2:51amGet it! The score is fabulous. It was the book that everyone complained about.
TrpleThreat89
Understudy Joined: 8/9/10
#4Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 10:23amI love the score, and the whole CD is worth buying even just to hear BDJ sing "At the Fountain." Hope you enjoy!
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#5Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 12:26pm"At The Fountain" is gorgeous. And the album is fantastic. It's my most-played OCR on iTunes.
#6Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 2:44pmit is a very often played recording on my itunes (due to sydney falco being a dream role) and is really a cool show. enjoy it!
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
#7Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 3:08pmThanks, everyone. As I browse Amazon.com to order this cd, I'm also having the hankering for a Showboat cd. Any suggestions on the best one(s)?
#8Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/22/10 at 5:54pm
For historical accuracy you won't get anything more definitive than John McGlinn's 3-Cd set of the entire show plus various cut and added songs, nearly 4 hours of SHOW BOAT material.
http://www.amazon.com/Kern-Hammerstein-Frederica-Sinfonietta-Ambrosian/dp/B000I2ISLS/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1287782741&sr=8-13
There is also a single disc of highlights but it sounds like what it is: bits clipped out of a longer recording.
If you want a single disc of the key numbers it gets a bit trickier. Livent's disc of the 1993 Toronto production is quite good but it preserves a revised version, and while the performances are great, it is a really "dry" recording - no reverb at all. It's also out of print; mixed in with Livent's assets it could be a long time before we ever see it released again. But used copies are fairly plentiful, and inexpensive. (There are several used copies for ONE cent each!)
http://www.amazon.com/Show-Boat-Premiere-Cast-Recording/dp/B000001ZBA/ref=sr_1_44?ie=UTF8&qid=1287783631&sr=8-44
Although not authentic, the Columbia studio cast with John Raitt and Babara Cook is quite enjoyable, but it has been sanitized into a very "white bread" SHOW BOAT.
http://www.amazon.com/Show-Boat-1962-Studio-Recording/dp/B00004THLR/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1287784267&sr=8-7
Beyond these discs is mostly a pick and choose to get your favorite version of each song as no single disc has everything.
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
#9Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/23/10 at 4:58pmDefinitely go with the John McGlinn. It's glorious, plus the liner notes (well, actually more like a substantial book) provides wonderful background material too.
#10Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/23/10 at 5:03pmThanks for all the recommendations for both cds. That Showboat is a little expensive for me right now, but it'll go on my Christmas list for sure. And Sweet Smell of Success is on its way to me right now! You all have helped immensely!
#11Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/23/10 at 5:18pm
Maybe sliiightly off-topic, but if you're a fan of both Kelli and Brian, you should check out the recording of 'Dream True' if you haven't already. It also features Jason Danieley.
http://www.amazon.com/Dream-True-Ricky-Ian-Gordon/dp/B000FWH1NM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1287868660&sr=8-3
#12Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/23/10 at 5:43pmThanks, dragon. I actually have that cd, but haven't given it a good enough listen to get into it yet. It'll be on my list of to-listen-on-the-subway for the week, though!
#13Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/23/10 at 9:57pmIf you look, you may be able to find the complete studio Show Boat for cheap. I finally bought one for 5 bucks used at an FYE near me. One of the best purchases I have made.
#14Sweet Smell of Success Cast Recording
Posted: 10/25/10 at 12:29amYes, check out the Amazon marketplace listings. A great way to affordably fill gaps in your collection. Also in New York check out Academy on 18th street and if you get to Princeton NJ The Princeton Record Exchange has hundreds of cast album CD's under $5.
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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