The original, Bottom Line version of LEADER OF THE PACK--revive it!

[ztJdBrVa]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 8:37pm

I am reading Darlene Love's bio, MY NAME IS LOVE, and she outlines the story of how the original smash musical based on Ellie Greenwich's songs was essentially destroyed by a Broadway production that changed the title to THE ELLIE GREENWICH MUSICAL, reauditioned everyone, got rid of much of the cast, choreographed the show to look like an eighties video instead of a sixties piece, substituted a poor sound system, shrank and shrank Darlene Love's part (DL, who had been stealing the show every night!), unwisely changed a perfectly fine usage of Ellie herself into a major starring role of the production, and--worst of all--substituted loud medleys for complete songs faithful to the original records.

Darlene fought it every inch of the way, but no one would listen (she was instead insulted and told to shut up). And soon, no audiences were listening. She writes, "Amazingly, LEADER OF THE PACK did get a Tony nomination as best musical, mostly because only one other musical opened that season, BIG RIVER, and there must be at least two nominees for the category to be viable. We were all set to do 'River Deep-Mountain High' on the broadcast, but then at the last minute they decided on one of those wretched medleys."

I say the ORIGINAL of this work must be revived!

Rodney

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 10:51pm

Amen, sista!

I love Ellie Greenwich, Annie Golden, Darlene Love, and all of the music from LEADER OF THE PACK. Had it been done right, this show could have been the "JERSEY BOYS" of 1985. But what made the original so great was that Ellie played Ellie, Annie played Annie, and Darlene played Darlene. Though I have no doubt they could get together some great talent to bring the show back to life. There would just need to be investors and producers who believe in the project, and smart marketing. There really is a wonderful, true story of a singer and a chart topping band within this show and I would LOVE to see a revival, done right! (I would love to hear Annie Golden rip into "Be My Baby" live, though.) Perhaps this could happen as a benefit concert, or an Encores production to see how it is received.

Updated On: 2/15/07 at 10:51 PM

[ztJdBrVa]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 9:22am

This should be Darlene's next big project after HAIRSPRAY. I'd like to see newcomers like Diane DeGarmo and Ashley Parker Angel involved also.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 9:42am

While 1985 was certainly a dry season, with several categories eliminated, what she said is historically inaccurate. Grind and Quilters were also nominated for Best Musical in 1985. I think Leader of the Pack is a fascinating musical, and I especially love the song Rock of Rages. There certainly is a great story in there. Wasn't Marc Shaiman involved somehow in the show? I need to check IBDB on that one... It's also interesting how similar in genre the show is to Jersey Boys...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/07 at 9:45am

I saw the Broadway version three times, and wasn't even living here yet. Yes, it had flaws, but Pattie Darcy, Darlene Love, Annie Golden, and the charming and sweet Ellie Greenwich (she and I became friendly and exchanged Christmas cards for years) made up for them.

I would also love to see the original version if they could find castmembers to equal that talent.

[ztJdBrVa]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 8:53pm

I'm sure that's true, and that the show was still enjoyed by some. But according to the book, it was not smash hit it had been, Darlene was very unhappy at what the show had become, and Ellie merely sort of let herself be led and persuaded to do things that in hindsight she might not do now.

If producers were truly greedy (and also smart this time) they would revive this original!

[stagegrrrl]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 8:55pm

yeah.
cause that's what's missing from broadway.
a jukebox musical.
we did this show when i was in high school.
it should stay there.

[ztJdBrVa]

Posted: 2/17/07 at 9:12pm

Which version?

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:30pm

*bump*

I never saw this production but received the OBC vinyl Lp as a a gift. It was an absolute favorite of mine. Does anyone here know if the cast album was ever released on cd? I would love to get my hands on it.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:35pm

I was under the impression that a cast album wasn't even made on LP. It's certainly not on CD or cassette tape. Are you sure it's a cast recording, or is it just the album that the song "Leader of the Pack" came out on?

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:39pm

It was the Original Broadway Cast Recording with Dinah Manoff, Patrick Cassidy, Annie Golden, Patti D'Arcy, Jasmine Guy, Darlene Love and Ellie Greenwich herself. It was a 2 Lp set released on the Elektra Records label in 1985. The album cover opened and in the center were pictures from the actual production.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:41pm

*jaw drops*

I've been looking for a LEADER OF THE PACK cast recording for years. Lucky boy. There has never been one on eBay or Amazon.

Updated On: 3/5/07 at 11:41 PM

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/5/07 at 11:47pm

I've been searching ebay and amazon in vain to track down a copy of it to no avail.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:02am

Tada!
http://castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=2624

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:19am

*passes out*

[allvocal]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 1:17am

I did this show 10 years ago.. It was a lot of fun... and the music is great...I could only ever find the OBC on cassette. Not sure it would do well if it tried to make it to the B way now though.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 9:05am

I had the OBC on cassette as well.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 9:16am

There was a one LP highlights version of Leader of the Pack, and a two-disc LP that also included most (if not all?) of the dialogue. I think the complete version was also issued on cassette.,

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 9:18am

I think there was a highlights version on cassette, and then a full version. I had the full - it may have been two cassettes?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 3:56pm

Just got the recording... I LOVE THIS SHOW/ RECORDING!!!!!!

I keep laughing at how great and quirky Dinah Manoff is... she was in Grease. AND LEADER OF THE PACK!!!!

I also just read a bunch of the original New York reviews. So interesting.

I hope Encores and other such series start mining the 80's for material. I know, I know, some of it is abysmal. But some of it is very worth a second look.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:44pm

Tnis thead makes me want to throw up

[JRybka]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:54pm

you make me want to throw up. Some of us who are not so "perfect and classy" such as yourself Broadwayboy had this double cd and listened to it as often as I listened to my Into the Woods and other shows. Just because a show is not Sondheim (and even SONDHEIM can make some clunkers) does not make it automatically trash.

Now.. if you would like to say something constructive....

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 8:55pm

It was such a fun show i really enjoyed it

[Jon]

Posted: 6/23/07 at 9:03pm

This was the version in which Paul Shaffer played Phil Spector, right?

Actually, a Phil Spector jukebox/biography musical seems like a good idea right about now...

[jezi]

Posted: 6/24/07 at 12:17pm

I did this show a number of years ago with a church group and even though it's totally a flawed show, the music makes it a favorite of mine.
I remember in the cast we had a cassette copy of the OBC recording that we had copied over and over to share. After that, I searched for a long time trying to get a real copy of it.. even if it was only on record. I went to a lot of record stores around Long Island and eventually asked at Colony. At the time they did have a copy but they were asking $100 for it, my jaw dropped open and the man told me well 'it's rare and out of print'. Being a college student at the time, I simply could not spend that kind of money on a record.
I tried another old record store on LI and they didn't have it at their one location but said they had it at another. I don't know why I never found it there before, but I was able to finally get it for about $16 and after I paid, I told the man they wanted $100 for it in the city. He had the same look of shock I did at Colony.

I'd love to see a re-worked version come back... the music alone would be worth it. :)