The Perfect Follies Recording?

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 2:57am

Given the fact I'm buying tickets this weekend for the upcoming Encores! production of Follies starring Victoria Clark, I'm on such a Follies high. I recently read some old threats on different opinions about the best Follies recording. I have the four major recordings of the show that I know of (Original Cast, Concert Recording, London Cast, and Papermill production) as well as different Sondheim albums with songs from the show, so since I'm so excited about Follies I decided to make a "perfect" Follies album combining different renditions of the songs from the show. I was wondering what some people thought should be included on this "perfect" recording.
Some of my picks so far are:
"Don't Look At Me"-Donna McKechnie, Laurence Guittard (Papermill)
"Rain on the Roof"-Betty Comden, Adolph Green (Concert)
"Ah, Paree"-Liliane Montevecchi (Concert)
"Who's That Woman?"-Phyllis Newman (Concert)
"Buddy's Blues"-Larry Blyden with Donna McKechnie and Chita Rivera (1973 Sondheim Evening)
"It Wasn't Meant to Happen"-Craig Lucas (Marry Me A Little)
"I'm Still Here" and "Broadway Baby" are hard choices...

Updated On: 9/8/06 at 02:57 AM

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:54am

I must say, I love Kaye Ballard's Broadway Baby from papermill recording.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 8:36am

As much as I wish the originsl had been a two disc set so we could have heard the full score performed by the first cast, my favourite overall is the Papermill. The London recording goes a little too bizarre sometimes, and the concert version... well, it plays like a concert version. But the Papermill has a very unique flavour to itself, and having something that has the full versions of the Bolero d'Amour and the entire Follies sequence intact makes it all the better.

As much as I hated the production, it still would have been nice to have the Roundabout. That way, I could listen and see what *should* have been on that stage. :)

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 9:46am

I've never heard any of the recordings all the way through, but my favorite version of "I'm Still Here" is the concert version with Carol Burnett.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 10:18am

"I'm Still Here" was defined by Nancy Walker in the "Scrabble" album.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 10:21am

While Yvonne de Carlo's performance of "I'm Still Hear" delivers more punch than the others, I think my favorite version is the one on the Papermill recording.

I actually really dislike Carol Burnett's performance of it.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 10:35am

Nancy Walker's version IS terrific. A little fast, though, but it lets the orchestra swing, which I like.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 10:43am

I'm still here belongs to Yvonne De Carlo. She has nuance, strength, and perfect phrasing. Nancy Walker's rendition is a little to weak for me, but still great.

Losing My Mind belongs to Dorothy Collins and I like Julia McKenzie's version of Buddy's Eyes. Also, Ethel Shutta does the best rendition of Broadway Baby.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 10:52am

She can't beat De Carlo, but Elaine Stritch's version is brilliant.

"Losing My Mind" probably does belong to Collins, but due to recording technology, it is stunning (and my favorite) on the 1998 Recording.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:38pm

Foscas, Alxeis Smith did not do "Who's that Woman" on the concert recording. That was Phyllis Newman. Love her version- sounded like so much fun.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 1:34pm

I know DeenaJones, I was reading over my original post and realized my mistake, I just confused them because Alexis Smith played Phyllis in the original production. Will edit now.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 1:42pm

Actually, my favorite "Losing My Mind" is Donna Murphy's rendition in the Wall to Wall-Sondheim (not in any Follies recording, but I'm just looking for the best renditions of each song regardless of where they were performed). Dorothy Collins' version is disarming but the quality of the recording is not too great.
I've been listening to Nancy Walker's "I'm Still Here" and I'm trying to see which one I like better between hers and Elaine Stritch's version on her At Liberty performance, I believe what I like better about Stritch's is her intro about how women in their 40's sing the song ("where have they been?" says laStritch).
How about "Too Many Mornings," since it's my favorite song in the show I seem to like each version I've listened to (though my least favorite is the Marin Mazzie-Jason Danieley on Opposite You due to the way-too-fast tempo).

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 3:30pm

Donna Murphy does a great job up until the end when she hits a really flat note, but everyone forgives her for it, cause its donna and we love her!

I think the best losing my mind I have ever heard, although it is not recorded, was sung by Maria Friedman at her cabaret. It was so powerful and you could see the tears in the corner of her eye.

Too Many Mornings...George Hearn does such an amazing job with it!

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 5:21pm

The best Too Many Mornings is the original again. No one enters the song like Dorothy Collins, so much longness and heartbreak, on the line, How I planned.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:21pm

The video of the concert did a hatchet job on I'm Still Here

If only the original had been 2 discs and if Papermill had been videotaped

[Producer2]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:28pm

carol burnett's "i'm still here" is the best. i saw donna mckechnie recently on tv at the hal prince salute in the park. i don't know why she sounds like she's saying "i'm still hair" at the end. a reviewer had pointed that out when she played the part.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:50pm

I've never heard a perfect recording of the show...the OBC recording - while greatly flawed - is the best I've heard.

[Millie Lammoreaux]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:50pm

Barbara Cook's take on "In Buddy's Eyes" from the concert version is a knock-out.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:58pm

Nothing can beat Yvonne De Carlo's "I'm Still Here"

A masterpeice

[morosco]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 9:13pm

"Barbara Cook's take on "In Buddy's Eyes" from the concert version is a knock-out."

Absolute bliss. I never fail to get goosebumps when she sings the lyric "and all I ever dreamed I'd be....". ~~~sigh~~~

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 2:18am

I like Cook's "In Buddy's Eyes" except for when she sings the very last line which happens to be "in Buddy's eyes." I like McKechnie's version, her performance was so criticized by most people but I enjoyed it when I saw her.
Dorothy Collins' "Don't Look At Me" is so on-spot, but I like that the Papermill version has the dialogue before Ben joins her in the song.
I dislike Burnett's "I'm Still Here," it lacks the humor Stritch so well adds to it. Although Walker's rendition is probably the best.
"Broadway Baby" is a hard choice because Kaye Ballard's rendition is the only one that has the montage at the end, but I prefer Elaine Stritch to Ballard.
Does anyone have a favorite "Live, Laugh, and Love"? (I despise the fact they massacred it in the Original Cast because John McCartin makes a great job with what he was given).

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 2:24am

I didn't see the original production of "Follies." But of the three that I've seen (concert at Lincoln Center, Papermill, and B'way revival), I'm voting for the Broadway Revival. It was moving, despite Marge Champion.

Unfortunately, it wasn't recorded. So to answer your question, get the Papermill recording. It's the most complete. It ain't the original, but it's complete.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 7:40am

How about Dolores Gray singing "I'm Still Here"? I saw the London production with Gray and she gave a wonderful rendition of the song. Gray has been loved by London audiences for decades since she did a lot of famous American Musicals in London.Incidentally she looked great, too.
David Healey, who played Buddy in the London production, once told me that the London production was going to come to NYC but that Frank Rich's negative review of this 1987 FOLLIES scared off the producers and the move never took place. It had a long run in London, though. It was a thrilling show as far as I'm concerned.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 8:42am

I saw Dolores Gray do I'm Still Here in London and she blew the roof off the theatre! It was a truly amazing show. I am surprised the critis didn't like it. It was also Maria Bjornson's (sets/costumes for Phantom) last show I beleive- STUNNING sets!

[philcrosby]

Posted: 9/11/06 at 8:44am

I missed seeing Dolores Grey, but saw her replacement, the amazing Eartha Kitt. WOW.