Which Company Recording? — Page 3

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#51

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:28pm

I'd be interested to know the ages of those recommending the Revival over the OBC. Just curious, as it fascinates me, why some opinions on recordings are so opposite. Before this thread, I would have imagined that everyone would have chosen the OBC (not that I'm saying my opinion is THE opinion, I just assumed, from everyone I've spoke too about the Company recordings, that the OBC was universally the best). I am fascinated at this topic now. Does generational gap have something to do with it? Not that I'm old enough to have seen Company, but just curious what factors (age, taste, etc) play into preferences like these.

#52

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:34pm

Newly remastered original. You hear instruments you never heard before.

"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive. "Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot." "No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one." Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.

#53

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:37pm

Magruder: I probably will.

Kind of like me not liking 'Being Alive' being in the show. I adore the song, but have always felt that it goes againt the show as a whole as opposed to 'Happily Ever After'

But I was having this conversation with Margo and got the same thing: You'll feel differently in 15 years.

And, robbie, it is surprising that the Revival is getting reccommended.

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#54

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:40pm

I'm not crazy! Woot!

#55

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:41pm

I want to type that to a lot of stuff on here: "You'll feel differently in 15 years." Like how I listen to New Kids on the Block now, and think, "I took that seriously?" I'm cheap and still have my Company from it's first CD release. I need to buy the original now.

Updated On: 12/20/04 at 01:41 PM

#56

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:51pm

"Happily Ever After" goes over the edge into hostility and vitriol. "Being Alive," for me, strikes the right note of expectancy, leading to Company's famously ambivalent ending.

One more issue regarding the revival. The inclusion of "Marry Me a Little" near the end of Act One struck me as an odd choice, and I don't know why it should ever be included in a production of Company. "Marry Me A Little" is a song expressing someone who is ready to jump into commitment, even with certain fears and anxieties intact. If Robert is that well put together to sing that song and say "I'm ready," who needs Act Two? What's left for him to go through? It's too much, too early in the process. I don't blame any Bobby wanting to sing it, because it's a great song, but it's too self-aware for Act One Bobby.

"Gif me the cobra jool!"

Updated On: 12/20/04 at 01:51 PM

#57

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:55pm

Marry Me a Little always seemed redundant to me. I think Someone is Waiting achieves the same point.

#58

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 2:08pm

The whole process the revival took of "updating" the show to the '90s was absurd.

The show is such a product of the '70s that updating it is impossible.

And the 'Prozac' reference that Joanne makes. Why?

"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#59

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 2:13pm

Updating Company to the 90's is a lame idea. Only Scott Ellis could have beeen behind that "genius". Ugh. People can relate to the show without it being set in their time.

#60

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 2:13pm

I prefer the SOUND of the revival CD, as far as the voices and orchestrations go. But I prefer the OBC as a whole over the revival CD...does that make ANY sense? I like the clearer sound and orchestrations of the revival, but need the legendary performances of the original. It's much more meaningful.

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

#61

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:04pm

I suppose the revival CD sounds "clearer" because there are only 10 musicians playing, compared to the original orchestration, which numbered around 26, I believe. The remastered CD of the original Broadway cast recording brings out all of the colors of the original recording, which to my ears always sounded pretty good. Yeah, it's older, but I still think the sound quality is better than the revival recording.

Now, Tunick did a good job of reducing his original orchestration for the revival, but the artfulness of his original work is dimininished. It's just not the same. And a pretty, attractively sung Company just seems antithetical to a show that strives to capture New York in all of its ugly, sweaty, neurotic grandeur.

"Gif me the cobra jool!"

#62

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:12pm

Listening to the new Company recording is like listening to Cheno sing BILBOA.

Sure, she'll hit the right notes, but gimme the gutteral Lotte Lenya any day!

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

#63

re: Which Company Recording?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 3:13pm

I love "Getting Married Today" in the revival cast SO much better than the original.

"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2

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