Which Assassins recording?

#1

Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 10:58pm

Alright, I'm making my Christmas list and I need to be specific with my parents, or they have trouble... So, which recording of Assassins would you recommend?

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Why do we play with fire? Why do we run our fingers through the flame? Why do we leave our hands on the stove, although we know we're in for some pain? -tick...tick...BOOM!

#2

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:08pm

Even though the original recording doesn't contain "Something Just Broke" (as it hadn't been written yet), I'd lean more toward that recording. The revival version has its virtues, including one of the Byck monologues, some linking musical material here and there, but I think that original cast is just hard to beat. Others may disagree...

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"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#3

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:11pm

I agree, and disagree. Your right in that the original cast has some unbeatable performance, but I would say get the new cast recording. The orchestrations are revamped and makes the score sound even better - it's brilliant.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#4

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:12pm

The OBCR. I feel the sound quality and orchestrations are much better.

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CCM '10!

#5

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:14pm

When you say OBCR do you mean the original or the newer one...technically the new one is the ONLY BCR. I'm not being nitpicky or nasty, I'm just confused.

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#6

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:22pm

Should have been OCR, simple mistake. (Blue cover)
The new revival recording is the only "Broadway" recording of the show. (Revival poster on the front)

I am impartial with the recordings, thought I do wish the revival had sounded like it did in the theatre. It was much darker, and less marchy marchy sounding - too many CLEAN flutes and crap, it's not the same as it was in performance sadly. They also shouldn't have recording the morning after the Tony Awards (and their afterparty). No one was tip-top on the recording.

#7

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:25pm

Yeah, I do like the lean, scrappy sound of the orchestrations on the 'revival' recording. But just considering Victor Garber, Terrence Mann, Jonathan Hadary, Debra Monk and Annie Golden's performances are just so vivid on that original recording, I still go back to that one.

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"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#8

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/1/04 at 11:38pm

I have both recordings of this show and I have to say that while I like both I like the new Assassins better. I think the overall sound is better.

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"The weight of this sad time we must obey, Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most; we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long"-Edgar in King Lear

#9

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 10:10am

I would buy the OCR for the sole reason it has the full scene between Booth and Oswald. I don't care for Cerivas in the revival anyway.

#10

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 10:14am

Both are extremely good. Marginally, I prefer the original cast. "Something Just Broke" is only on the newer recording and is an extremely moving moment in the show. My advice, if you have the money get them both. The Off-Broadway cast is unserpassed.

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TWOGAAB "A Class Act" will never die!

#11

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 10:49am

GET BOTH!!!

How many times do I want to scream that at people when they say, 'Which should I get???'

GET BOTH!!!!

It won't break the bank!

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"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#12

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:07am

I prefer the original. To me, the performances are better (nothing against the wonderful Broadway cast, mind you). I'm not a Mario Cantone fan, so I skip over those tracks on the new CD anyway and Something Just Broke is interesting, but not a memorable song and really didn't add much to the show for me.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#13

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:09am

Alright...if ya really can't get both.

I agree with Mister Matt. Thought the Broadway cast was impeccable, the recording doesn't capture the magic of what happened on stage.

The original, with its thirty-three piece orchestra and some of the most respected names in musical theatre is truly remarkable.

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"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#14

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:14am

the New one!...... Doesnt Neil Patrick Harris mean anything to you people? Enough said!

#15

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:15am

Not as much as Patrick Cassidy, junior.

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"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#16

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:34am

Patrick is yummy. I'm glad I got to see him and Shirley Jones in 42nd Street. That was a lot of fun.

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"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#17

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:37am

Seeing Patrick Cassidy out of his clothes is a near-religious experience.

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"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#18

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 11:45am

And seeing him make out with John Dosset still makes my Mr. Happy do a little dance.

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"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#19

re: Which Assassins recording?

Posted: 12/2/04 at 10:05pm

I prefer the OCR, but I do wish that they would remaster it.

Has anyone else noticed the bizarre problem with "Unworthy of Your Love"? It appears to have been mastered at a volume that is a quarter of the volume of the rest of the CD. I always have to turn it up.