The new Masterworks Broadway site

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 11:20pm

Masterworks Broadway have redone their website, now it includes the full cast album catalogs of of both Sony (formerly Columbia) and BMG (originally RCA Victor.)

Weekly articles by Peter Filichia will highlight various aspects of the different records. And ...best of all...the news is that titles that were formerly deleted will be restored (some possibly as downloads only, but at least available at reasonable prices) as well as titles that have previously not been reissued on CD.

Click on the album covers to see essays on each show and pictures of the recordings sessions.

Very exciting for us collectors.

Check it out!


Masterworks Broadway

Updated On: 2/7/10 at 11:20 PM

[peerrjb]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 2:53am

Thanks for highlighting this. What an interesting site!

[morosco]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 1:00pm

The photos at this site are AMAZING.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 2:46pm

The site is great and the photos are priceless.

You can almost see the frustration on Sondheim's face in the "Do I Hear a Waltz" photo.
http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/sites/broadwaymw6/files/imagecache/preview/photos/FRANCH_Sergio_phB.jpg

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 3:24pm

I think that picture appears in the book "Sondheim - A Life". I just read it and I think it was in there.

I download the podcasts from this site from time to time.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 4:08pm

I lvoe the candid shots of Donna McKechnie on the Chorus Line page.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 10:13pm

What titles that aren't currently on CD do the have?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/9/10 at 12:22am

There are not that many that have never been on CD...

RCA Victor:
THE SAINT OF BLEEKER STREET
THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER (Complete version - studio cast)
THE MERRY WIDOW (1964 Lincoln Center cast)
ANDROCLES AND THE LION (TV cast)
HALF A SIXPENCE (Movie soundtrack)
THE BELIEVERS
INNER CITY

Columbia titles...
REGINA (NYCO)
SONG OF NORWAY (Jones Beach theatre cast-ex rec of this score)
LI'L ABNER (movie soundtrack)
THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
THE ZULU AND THE ZAYDA
BLACKBIRDS OF 1928 (1960's compilation of OC singles)
1776 (movie soundtrack)
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (movie soundtrack)

There are several that were either issued in the U.K. by Sepia or other PD labels (MAKE A WISH, SEVENTEEN, CALL ME MADAM, TWO'S COMPANY) or were out on CD once but no longer in print (FANNY, JAMAICA, FIRST IMPRESSIONS, SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING, GEORGE M!)

[tazber]

Posted: 2/9/10 at 5:49am

Thank you so much for all these updates FRC. You are such a treasure chest of knowlege.

Of the titles that out of print, Fanny, Jamaica, and First Impressions are available on itunes.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 2/9/10 at 5:36pm

Kinda on topic: I discovered that the itunes version of The Pirate Queen (a Masterworks title) has 3 bonus tracks not included on the cd release. Neato.

If they could get the NYCO recording of REGINA out on cd I would flip!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/10/10 at 12:07am

Thanks, Taz I did not not know that FIRST IMPRESSIONS was still available as a download.

DRG made an arrangement with Sony to release a number of titles in runs of 5,000 copies each for 5 years (or until stock runs out.) The FIRST IMPRESSIONS disc vanished very quickly from the catalog. They can't have sold out all 5,000 copies already!

Download are, of course, a good back-up but I still prefer the actual CD with the jewel box, liner notes and J-card.

[[tos]fan999]

Posted: 2/10/10 at 12:11am

I hope they release the 1776 film soundtrack on CD, remastered of course. I have a rip of the vinyl and I listen to it constantly!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/10/10 at 6:18pm

Or, re-release the cast album with the movie soundtrack cuts as bonus tracks., Both albums should fit on a single CD.

The cast album has better sound but the performances are better on the movie soundtrack.

[bryan]

Posted: 2/10/10 at 7:10pm

i hope they put out inner city on cd

[[tos]fan999]

Posted: 2/22/10 at 9:07pm

Has anyone heard about them re-releasing the OBCR of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?? I searched on the site and didn't come up with anything. There isn't even a page for the LP.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 11:19am

The album of VIRGINIA WOOLF was 4 Lp records so it would be at least a 3 CD set, which would be very expensive and would probably sell a small number of copies. It has been suggested that this might make an ideal candidate for a download, but I imagine they would have to get Albee's permission and that is one show he guards like a hawk.

Masterworks Broadway is devoted to musicals, not plays.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 11:39am

I really wish I could find a decently priced copy of First Impressions. Downloads may be great for some people, but I'm with FRC, I like the case, disc, liner notes, et al.

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 1:53pm

great site.
love the photos. especially the one of dick gautier during the BBB recording sessions that i just had to have it.
why wasn't he in the film version instead of that godawful jesse pearson character?

[twinbelters]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 1:57pm

Here, here. I sold my copy of Woman of the Year years ago and don't expect to get it back anytime soon. I have to believe it will be reissued again at some point, likely by Decca. Also, I missed The Pirate Queen while it was in print for that half-second, but I don't feel like it is a big loss.

Just so happy to have my Whoop-Up!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 2:18pm

Pirate Queen is OOP?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 3:00pm

I still see it on Amazon...price has dropped to like 10 dollars though.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 7:10pm

If you look most of the in-print titles under Broadway masterworks have cut the list prices to around 8.98 for single CD's. (The list price that all CD reissues should have been at all along!)

HUSK: The notes in DRG's CD of FIRST IMPRESSIONS were a reprint of the original LP notes. It wasn't like some of the other reissues which had new and updated notes.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/23/10 at 8:00pm

FRC_
You say that like I have it on LP.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/24/10 at 2:11pm

True...I forget that some people here missed the entire LP era!

At any rate, I will keep a watch for an extra copy to turn up in any of our local used CD stores.