Which is the better "Saturday Night" Recording?

[Pippin]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 10:26am

I have the Bridewell production from 97, and enjoy it, but am I missing out on a better recording? I haven't heard the 2000 2nd Stage recording.

could anyone explain any major differences between the two, and put down which recording you prefer?

[WOSQ]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 10:47am

David Campbell is in the 2nd Stage production and was Sondheim's personal pick for the role. He is one of the finer singers around these days plus he can act and even moves fairly well.

I felt the first recording was just a recording and the second one was an album of a show.

Updated On: 2/4/09 at 10:47 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 10:56am

The 2nd Stage recording is the better one, plus has "Montana Chem.," which I think is a fun song.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 11:23am

Get the 2nd Stage recording. It is beautifully produced and the performances surpass the other disc (which I'm not a fan of).

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 2/4/09 at 4:29pm

In some ways, I prefer the somewhat grittier approach on the Bridewell recording, but the Second Stage recording is better sung and has a real orchestration, even if I think Tunick's orchestrations for this show are kind of weak. If I could have only one recording, I'd pick the Second Stage recording, but I wish there was a better one.

Posted: 2/4/09 at 7:09pm

My only concern with Tunick's orchestrations are I'm not sure how 50s they are--but I don't find them weak, for the small ensemble I think they're superb and blow away the Bridewell.

The thing is the Bridewell is largely an amateur or semi pro cast isn't it? At the time it was the only recording we thought we'd get--so I was thankful for it.

But no comparison--as soon as I got the Off Broadway recording I don't think I've put on the other CD even once. It really made me fall in love with the score, it's more complete (Montana Chem is basically a new song SOndheim wrote to fill what he saw as a gap though) the cast is good, the accents are far better. If you even kinda like the other CD, I recommend getting the Off Broadway in a heartbeat.

I'm gonna disagree with Nobodyhome and say I dunno how we could get a much better recording than this. Updated On: 2/4/09 at 07:09 PM