The arrangement of "Little Shop of Horrors" for the 1986 film

Does anyone ever feel like the musical arrangement for the song "Little Shop of Horrors" is so much punchier and exciting in the 1986 film? The use of brass especially is great. The intro in the stage version has always felt a little too laid back, especially those first couple bars.

I've always wondered why Alan Menken didn't apply that to the many arrangement changes he's made to the score.

It’s the synths. Real honest to god walls of eighties studio synths as opposed to the thin, tinny onboard keyboard synths used in the original cast recording.

You can’t beat the gurgling synth bass and drum machine intro on “Dentist!”

Yes, absolutely.

darquegk said: "With all the rearrangements the score has had over the years, I'm shocked no production has yet used the "piano fades in over the slow organ wash of the Prologue, then suddenly explodes" hook from the film's opening number. It hits so hard like a punch in the gut when that beat finally hits!"

Exactly this. But perhaps as someone said here, that could've been Bob Gaudio's idea and Menken can't use it for the stage versions without paying him.

Or my other thought is Menken maybe felt that opening didn't capture the "Da Doo Run Run/One Fine Day" esque openings of the sixties beehive era he wants for that song.

The way the score is written, it's like the front half is more 60's pastiche, and after Git It it lives more in 80's pop land

Updated On: 2/14/22 at 03:08 PM

I think the original Off-Broadway recording more effectively aids in the creation of a "B-movie" mood. I think the film soundtrack is overproduced. No complaints on a technical level, it's quite beautifully realized. I just don't think it fits the mood of the piece as effectively. I'm surprised to hear the comment that the movie version seems "faster" because the Off-Broadway sounds more rapidly sung to me (and I'm not saying that because of the additional verse and musical bridges added for the film).

joevitus said: "I think the original Off-Broadway recording more effectively aids in the creation of a "B-movie" mood. I think the film soundtrack is overproduced. No complaints on a technical level, it's quite beautifully realized. I just don't think it fits the mood of the piece as effectively. I'm surprised to hear the comment that the movie version seems "faster" because the Off-Broadway sounds more rapidly sung to me (and I'm not saying that because of the additional verse and musical bridges added for the film)."



I agree actually. The OOBC is my go-to. I don't listen to the film as much because I think it's "bigger" than I like the show to be, but that works for a movie adaptation (I prefer the show to the film). That said... I didn't love the current revival recording either.

Also, people don't care for the revival from the 2000s recording?

I get people thinking to put this show on a broadway stage lost something, but the soundtrack is really lovingly done I thought and Kerry Butler finds her own Disney-esque Audrey voice well.

"Don't Feed the Plants" has never been more exciting. That is Alan Menken's best edit to the score.

All the harmonies on that album are very crisp.