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What's the best or your favorite "Grease" Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

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#5

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/9/09 at 10:34pm

Ugg, that is actually a hard question since none of them are really complete. I like the OBC for the original feel of the show and the newest recording for the sound quality and the energy.

"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"

"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
#7

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/10/09 at 2:49am

The OBCR (MgM/Polydor) preserves the original cast and the performance style of the original version of the show.

The film soundtrack (RSO/Polygram) is a mess because the songs are so hopelessly jumbled. But the performances are good and many people prefer the new songs (Grease, You're the One That I want) even if they really skew the period.

The 1994 revival (RCA Victor) is lively but no one in teh cast can sing all that well. The recent revival (Sony) mixes in many of teh film's songs dropping "All Choked Up" in favour of "You're the One That I Want." I fiand the whole thing unlistenable.

There is a London cast from the eary 1990s with Debbie Gibson which I have never bothered to seek out, and despite repeated requests the distributer of the JAY studio cast CD with John Barrowman has never sent me a copy.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

#9

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/10/09 at 3:32am

I like the 1995 cast recording the best (with Brooke and not Rosie) for the awesome orchestrations and Susan Wood's "Since I Don't Have You" which I realize wasn't in the original production or even written by the original composers, but it ends up being the best song on the entire disk thanks to Susan's kick-ass vocal performance. I could listen to it over and over and never tire of it.

I like the Debbie Gibson cast recording much better than the new Broadway cast recording, but I'm not a huge fan of stage versions incorporating the songs from the film. If I had to pick one of them though it would probably be that one.
#12

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/10/09 at 7:53am

I like the one that is damaged beyond repair.

Sorry...one of my least favorite productions of ALL time. And this was the very first b'way show I EVER saw! (WAAAAAY back in the 70's)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#13

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/10/09 at 8:41am

For me it's a tossup of the OBCR or the John Barrowman (Largely for the LOL factor of him singing the title song).

The Barrowman is pretty much complete, it has both All Choked Up AND You're the One That I Want

My least favorite is easily the 2007. Talk about watered down musack with crap performances. (Laura Osnes aside)
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#15

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/10/09 at 11:08am

The 1972 recording captures the energy of the original cast, although the sound quality is horrendous.

The 1978 recording is easily the most famous because of its popularity as a movie. I like this one because of the arrangements (including the strings and horns).

The 1993 London recording tries to sound like the 1978 recording, but the electronic drums and synthesizers of the decade get in the way (apparently they didn't use the electronic drums live, because they just happened to have them in the studio).

The 1994/95 Broadway recordings are my second least favorites because if there was ever a Broadway production that sounded like a bad Disney theme park show, this one is it. The dance arrangements sound very saccharine and sugary. Where was the spice? However, the arrangements of "Since I Don't Have You," "Those Magic Changes," and "Beauty School Dropout" are winners in my book. Especially "Those Magic Changes." If you went back and saw that production in your head (with all the flashing lights by the time he sang "I want you, I need you, I love you forever"), maybe you could probably say that was the beginning of AMERICAN IDOL, even though they didn't know it yet (in a good way)?

My least favorite of the lot is the 1994 Jay recording. The tempos sound rushed, and the rhythm section of the orchestra had pretty much no experience playing in a rock band. And the horrid accents! Whew!

The 2007 recording would have to be my fave. Mainly because of the arrangements (these ones really rock, like the score is supposed to), the kickin' band, and the sound quality and the energy. I like how for this production, the songs written for the movie are stripped of their '70s obsoleteness, and rearranged to make them fit in the '50s (i.e. a dirtier sound to "You're The One That I Want"). And there is no doubt in my mind that Max and Laura sound much better than they did on TV. All those rehearsals helped, I imagine. And of course, hands down, the BEST arrangement of Greased Lightning I have ever heard (love the motor revving sound on the guitar)!
"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid
#16

re: What's the best or your favorite 'Grease' Soundtrack or Cast Recording?

Posted: 4/10/09 at 4:51pm

I just listened to the 1997 New Broadway Recording and I liked the several choral renditions that are ala Handel's Hallelujah Chorus.

With that information, I could easily say that the movie soundtrack is still my favorite...followed by this recent 2007/08 CD...then the 1997.

In fairnress to the tour:

I just got back from Golden Gate Theater and I previewed the recent incarnation of Warren Casey and Jim Jacob's "Grease" with the latest adaptation to mirror the film version and it didn't disappoint. I was glad that I was able to go there the last minute and get a good seat at center orchestra.

I have only seen the film adaptation long time ago in the 80's and it impressed on me the wonder of musical productions at an early age.

The songs "You're the One that I Want" and "Hopelessly Devoted" became very fond to me and just like most people who haven't seen the original broadway production or any other revivals, the fusion of film and stage is very welcome.

A lot of critics put the show down because of it's watered down version but it still touches on important issues like the importance of education, abortion and makeovers!

The set is lively and the lighting even more mesmerizing and it adds to the total funkiness of the production that evokes a sense of innocent past where everybody could just have fun, appreciate the simplicity of life and jive the night away.

Taylor Hicks of the American Idol fame adds his star power and charisma to the show as the Teen Angel and a song selection from his latest album only adds to the uplifting aura of the dopamine rush that you get from the nostalgia seeing "Grease" and witnessing the talented cast!

It has always been my guilty pleasure of watching the Best of Broadway in San Francisco and when I read the news last year that "Grease" would be coming here, I wasn't that much disappointed as some other people were since I have only seen the film version. I even sugggested that maybe Jersey Boy Chris Kale Jones from the SF sit down could be in it but to my surprise, another "Jersey Boys" alum is in the cast and it is in the person of Eric Schneider as Danny.

Eric Schneider is a very adorable person specially when he plays the character of Danny because he gets to show to sides of the character as a hardened greaser but at the same time sensitive and delicate who have to earn the trust of the new girl in Rydell High that is Sandy. Eric Schneider's good looks, toned physique and raging biceps helped him show off his ability to portray the 1959 hearthrob who was well liked by almost everyone in his school. His singing ability is also very good and it complemented his partner's character of Sandy played by Emily Padgett.

Emily Padgett is a small town girl from Lewisville, N.C. and she toured in the 25th Anniversary production of "Cats". Her Broadway credits include Legally Blonde and Grease.

Taylor Hicks of American Idol plays the Teen Angel and even though he only got one scene in the production, you can apprciate the richness of his voice and an encore is given at the end of the show with a musical selection from his latest album.

Some of my favorite cast members are David Ruffin as Kenickie and Allie Schulz as Rizzo.

David Ruffin's portrayal of Kenickie is spot on but without other productions to compare it with, I can only admire the testosterone laden performance of "Greased Lightning". David did the 50th anniversary European tour of West Side Story.

Allie Schulz did the most powerful performance as Rizzo and her amazing voice helped her carry the personality of the character. Allie also performed grease in Broadway.

The rest of the cast include:

Scott Patrick Allan as Eugene
Will Blum as Roger
Bridie Carroll as Jan
Kate Morgan Chadwick as Frency
Brian Crumm as Doddy
Kelly Felthous as Marty
Dominic Fortuna as Vince Fontaine
Erin Henry as Patty Simcox
Roxie Lucas as Miss Lynch
Nick Verna as Sonny
Joseph Corella - ensemble
Preston Ellis - ensemble
Melissa Larsen - ensemble
Ruby Lewis - ensemble
Lisa Maietta - dance captain
Dayla Perkins - ensemble
Mark Raumaker - ensemble
Mike Russo - ensemble
Matthew William Scmidt - ensemble
Brooke Stone - ensemble

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