The Civil War question

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:20pm

I recently bought the "Nashville Sessions" recording of The Civil War and have enjoyed it. What are your opinions of "the complete work" recording? Is the expanded material worth the purchase price? Also, was there not a cast recording, only these two studio recordings? And is the "Nashville Sessions" simply a "higlights" of the complete work recording? Any help/advice appreciated.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:21pm

Ok, the Nashville recording is like a highlights version.......no, there was never a cast recording.....and the Complete Album is worth every single penny. I have cried so many times listening to it. I think it is Wildhorn's masterpiece. "Tell My Father" is GORGEOUS!!!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:40pm

The Complete Work features some chorus numbers that included original cast members. I like it for By the Sword. I enjoy the CDs, but hated the show. I left at intermission.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:41pm

i like the the complete work alot better. mostly cause i'm not a country fan but also cause it has all the tracks included

[andyf]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:41pm

And here I thought it was just going to say:

"WHY GOD, WHY???!"

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:43pm

I heard the actual show was bad, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the complete recording.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 4:25pm

THE CIVIL WAR master speaks***

lol

You NEED, I repeat, NEED to get the Complete Work. It has everything on the Nashville plus more. All the extra songs are just as good if not better. Spider is correct. THE CIVIL WAR is alltogether the best music Frank has ever written and it sounds more alive with actual county/pop singers than it ever could on stage with Broadway singers. It's funny that it was his least successful show even though it was his most powerful music.

[Caleb]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 5:46pm

Yes, you need to get the complete work if for no other reason than to hear the late, great Carl Anderson's glorious performance of 'Sarah'. This is, perhaps, my favorite song ever. I don't know if I've ever heard something quite so beautiful, especially in the hands (and voice) of Carl Anderson.

Caleb

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 5:47pm

"Sarah"--yet another one of those songs that made me cry.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 5:51pm

Best songs from The Complete Work

Trisha Yearwood doing "The Honor of Your Name"
"By the Sword/Sons of Dixie"
Shiloh doing "Judgement Day"
Gene Miller doing "Virigina"
Hootie and the Blowfish doing "Freedom's Child"

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 6:01pm

Um, I have to disagree with some of your selection, bronx. In my opinion, the top 10 songs are (and not in any particular order)

1. "Brother, My Brother"
2. "By the Sword/Sons of Dixie"
3. "Tell My Father" <-- My favorite song (I cried so hard)
4. "Virginia"
5. "Sarah" (I cried so hard)
6. "Father How Long?"
7. "I Never Knew His Name"
8. "How Many Devils?"
9. "Regimental Drummer"
10. "Glory"

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 7:27pm

Great score & great show

We enjoyed the show immensely as did the audience that gave it a rousing standing O that lasted a full 2 minutes

To try & musicalize a subject like the Civil War took a lot of guts but they pulled it off

One of my favorite songs was " The Glory"

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 7:41pm

Sorry. I always had the impression Svengali was his least successful? The music I've heard of that is phenomenal

[PitPro2004]

Posted: 12/20/04 at 8:04pm

Ditto!

Carl Anderson's Sarah always makes me cry. Gilles Chaisson's never did, but it was because of seeing the show live, that I bought the CD. I just tear up every time I hear it.