Why is the Sweeney CD so Incomplete?- Page 2

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 9:00pm

But, I really wouldn't call this a highlights cast recording. For one, highlights are usually a SINGLE disc cast recording. Second, in the Golden Age and even after scores took MAJOR cuts on cast recordings and they weren't considered "highlights."

85-90% of the sung score is on this recording, so I don't really think that is highlights.

Highlights would be certainly be that originally tracklisting that was floating around, that only had 19 songs.
Updated On: 2/2/06 at 09:00 PM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 10:16pm

Maybe Nonesuch can use iTunes to release at least City on Fire?

(I know, but one can dream...)

City on Fire. It's such a powerful moment of the show, and so amazing to listen to, that really the only point where the CD really feels incomplete. I just wish they took advantage of the opportunity to add a couple of minutes of music, isn't there enough space on the CD?

Otherwise, it's a beautiful, unique recording. It's rare to find an epic sweep of a tale portrayed so intimately.

Updated On: 2/2/06 at 10:16 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 10:48pm

I think that we should all be happy that a CD was even made! That was not the plan originally...

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:23am

God bless the OBC recording, my holy grail.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 1:31am

I think this recording fails to capture the excitement of seeing it on stage. I imagine this Sweeney may enter the repetoire though. It kind of feels like listening to a book on tape. Hopefully, newcomers to Sweeney will continue to choose the original Broadway cast recording, as it remains definitive and the best introduction to this play.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:12am

We don't even know if City on Fire, etc, were recorded.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 2:38am

And we all know what happens when CD's are not up to par...

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/3/06 at 3:09am

There was an article written about this. I'll try to find it. In the meantime, what happened was that they had planned to release a mostly highlights cd, so they only recorded some of the songs, not all. When they saw they had too much material for 1 cd, they tried to get the cast back, so they could record the rest of the songs. But it was impossible to get them all (too expensive: the recording session cost one week's salary).
So, they just took the material that had been recorded, and released it in 2 cds.

I'll see if I can find a link with more accurate info.