Which Finian's Rainbow Cast Recording is the Best?

[MisterSnow89]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 5:02pm

Hey everyone,

Before this current revival of Finian's Rainbow came about, I knew very little about the show. But following this production has really sparked my interest in it, and I really want to get a cast recording to familarize myself more with show. However, I'm unsure of which is the best. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 5:04pm

I prefer the off-Broadway revival with Malcolm Gets to the OBC. Better sound quality (as is the case with most modern recordings).

Both are a great choice if you just want to familiarize yourself with the music, though.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 5:13pm

There also was a recording of the 1960 City Center revival -- don't know if it's available on CD now or ever was, for that matter. It's far more complete than the OBCR and I prefer it to the Off-Broadway version. And, it has the advantage of the full orchestrations. Cast includes Jeannie Carson, Howard Morris, Biff McGuire, Carol Brice and Bobby Howes (father of Sally Ann). Do avoid at all costs the film soundtrack. Hopefully, the currenmt production will inspire a complete recording.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 5:21pm

The dueling piano Irish Rep album, with Melissa Errico as Sharon, Max Von Essen as Woody, Malcolm Gets as Og, Jonathan Freeman as Finian and Terri White, is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever heard.

[A Director]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 5:45pm

Go with the original cast recording from 1947.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 6:06pm

I vote for the Irish Rep cast recording with Melissa Errico. The orchestrations are scarce as noted above, but it's great.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 7:41pm

I think we did this already in one of teh FINA"s RAINBOW thrteads but briefly:

The original 1947 Broadway cast has just been re-released on CD (http://www.amazon.com/Finians-Rainbow-Original-Broadway-Recording/dp/B002M2Z3QU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256771942&sr=8-5)
The advantage is that this IS how the show sounded when originally done. But it was recorded on 78's, so the songs are abridged to around 3 minutes each and this transfer reveals some surface noise from the masters.

The 1960 revival cast (http://www.amazon.com/Finians-Rainbow-1960-Broadway-Revival/dp/B000002W1I/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256771942&sr=8-7) is more complete and has better sound. The CD is technically out-of-print but is available as a CR-R from ArkivMusic.

The 1968 film soundtrack (http://www.amazon.com/Finians-Rainbow-Burton-Lane/dp/B000IAZNBI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256771942&sr=8-2) has that boxy Warner soudnstage sound, and teh re-arranged teh songs to give Fred Astaire a chance to sing (and dance) as Finian. The earlier CD release by Rhinio Handmade includes some extra material left off the Lp, but teh 5,000 copies old out very quickly and that version is expensive when found.

A 1962 studio cast on Reprise features Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Marin and others. It's fun as a "pop" collection, but not a proper recording of the show. It's only available in a boxed set with similar albums of GUYS AND DOLLS, KISS ME KATE, and SOUTH PACIFIC. (http://www.amazon.com/Reprise-Musical-Repertory-Theatre-Finians/dp/B00004XN1K/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256772688&sr=8-22)

The Irish rep cast with Malcolm Gets is enjoyable bit I miss the full orchestra as heard in the two Broadway recordings, but the Ferrante & Teicher style piano accompaniment is acceptable. Not sure about the sound quality as my copy has a lot of static. (http://www.amazon.com/Finians-Rainbow-Repertory-Theatre-Recording/dp/B000641A7C/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1256771942&sr=8-9)

For my money the 1960 cast balances good sound quality with great performance sand covers most of the score, so overall it's the best buy.

[YipHarburg]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 7:42pm

As much as I adore Ella Logan in the OBC recording, I find myself listening to 1960 revival most. It really is the best.

Also, the film Soundtrack is pretty good.. if only for Petula Clark.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 7:57pm

Let us hope that the 2009 revival proves to have the best recording.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/28/09 at 8:23pm

Lets hope it even makes it through the winter first...

[allofmylife]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 2:34am

Dear Lord, it has to be Ella Logan. She IS Sharron (and was a very interesting performer and personality) and I just love her interpretation of songs we all know but nobody had ever heard before on opening night. What must it have been like to hear Glocca Mora for the very first time? My body tingles just considering the thought.....

[monestere]

Posted: 10/29/09 at 6:28am

The best combination of performance and sound has to be the 1960 revival cast recording with Jeannie Carson, Biff McGuire, Howard Morris & especially Carol Brice's superb vocal of "Necessity". The early stereo sound is still quite clean and the full sized original orchestrations are used.

The 1968 film soundtrack uses Ray Heindorf's gorgeous expanded orchestrations played to perfection by the 65 piece Warner Bros studio orchestra. That combined with Petula Clark's still unsurpassed vocals of "Look to the Rainbow" & "How are Things in Glocca Morra" plus excellent vocals by Tommy Steele and Don Francks makes for a wonderful listen. The icing on the cake though is Ken Darby's fantastic choral arrangements which leave every other recording of Finian's Rainbow in the dust. Unusual for a film, the soundtrack album features the entire score, even "Necessity", which was cut from the film after previews.

You can't go wrong with either of these recordings but the 1960 revival is more representative of the score as heard on stage and the soundtrack can be enjoyed mostly for Petula Clark with a large orchestra and chorus that no stage version could ever equal.

Updated On: 10/29/09 at 06:28 AM

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/7/09 at 2:03am

Does anybody know if the current revival will have a cast recording? The songs were beautifully sung by the company.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 11/7/09 at 7:21pm

It is reported that there will be a new Finian cast recording.

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/7/09 at 7:23pm

The Irish Rep cast recording is heavenly--Melissa Errico was born to sing Sharon's music.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/7/09 at 7:25pm

Actually its been reported that there will be a revival cast recording if the money is raised to record it. I think the verdict is still out on how this revival is going to do at the box office.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 2:39pm

Thank you.

Updated On: 11/8/09 at 02:39 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/25/09 at 7:14am

From Playbill:

The cast and musicians of Broadway's Finian's Rainbow were told Nov. 24 that a studio date has been set to preserve their work on a new cast album of the classic Yip Harburg-Burton Lane score.

Producers David Richenthal, Jack Viertel and Alan D. Marks announced that the cast and orchestra of the critically-acclaimed revival will head into a Manhattan recording studio on Dec. 7. The new Broadway cast album will be produced by Tommy Krasker for PS Classics. The label anticipates an early February street date.



Link to Playbill