records, yes records (Drowsy)

[dfwtheatreguy]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 1:17pm

did anyone else have an overwhelming urge to log-on to ebay and search for a turntable record player and some lps after seeing "the drowsy chaperone"?

i still have this urge and it's been 3 days.

are there good shows to be found on lps or is everything moving to cd???

[avab802]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 1:26pm

I'm sure you could find older shows on LP on eBay or in a used record store.

I love records and still have a bunch from when I was a kid, plus a few of my father's that he gave me. (I've already told him he better leave me his whole collection in his will too, lol.) Only problem is, I don't have a turntable! I had a stereo that had a turntable on top, but the CD changer part of it broke and I don't have the space to keep that plus a new CD player. Boo. When I move into a bigger place (hopefully soon) I want to buy a new turntable so I can once again torture my neighbors with the Sesame Street 10th Anniversary album.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 3:23pm

Don't think I paid this much for it, but check out this one:


Emerson Stereo System with Turntable, CD-R/RW Player & Cassette

[courtnyj]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 3:37pm

I had more than an urge to buy a turntable--I bought one and a whole bunch of LPs. After I received the LP version of Drowsy's cast album I couldn't resist. I also bought about 25 older cast albums on Ebay.
I love my turntable! It was cheap, but it works great and I love pulling out my old albums! I use it more than I use my CD player! I've become a regular man-in-chair!






Here's the turntable I bought: Updated On: 5/18/07 at 03:37 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 4:22pm

"...or is everything moving to cd???"

I think that's already happened. Like, over the last two decades.

And if you believe the hype, CDs are now going the way of LPs and cassettes in favor of digital files like MP3s and AACs.

[cfmiller]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 6:02pm

I collect OBCRs on vinyl. I don't get them on Ebay, as I find the sellers there tend to gouge you with the ridiculous shipping costs and minimum bids. You think they would come down a bit on this since I hardly ever see these albums bid on, and see the same sellers immediately reposting them after the sale has expired. And those numerous copies of Fiddler, South Pacific, Sound of Music, and various others they are hawking on Ebay can be purchased for a fraction of what they are demanding, and not rare at all.

I get a lot of my records from thrift shops and second hand record stores. I make the rounds whenever I am in the Chicago area. Even if you don't have access to a major metro area, you will be suprised at how many places you can find vintage vinyl. I have found a lot of great deals in some very small towns. Sure, you run across a lot of chaff, but you also find a lot of wheat, and I think the search is a huge part of the fun. Nothing compares to finding a mint Sweeney Todd double LP with libretto attached, unless it is only paying 37 cents for it (thrift store). And who even knew Quincy Jones (I think it was him, I am away from my collection right now) produced an all black version of "Guys and Dolls" in the 70's? I have the LP (thrift store). I paid a buck for it. This past week, I bought still in the wrapper for three dollars each "Bajour" and "The Rink." (Dave's Records in Chicago) I opened them up and listened to them, which will probably set some people on edge, but I don't care. They are made to be listened to.

I should also note that I have saved myself a lot of money investing in CD's for older OBC's I am interested in. I buy the vinyl, find out I either love it enough to buy the CD, hate it, or like it enough to make me glad I bought the vinyl but also happy I didn't pay $15 for a CD.

Sorry to be gushy, but I hope this helps. Happy Hunting (which, incidentially, is one of the records I am really looking forward to finding

[maybethistime]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 10:47pm

Threadjack, but the "Happy Hunting" vinyl is camp heaven and Merman is a delight. I highly recommend it!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/18/07 at 11:14pm

DFW-
Have you NEVER been into a Half-Price Books? They are ALL over the metroplex (two within a 30 minute drive of my home). While the vast majority of cast albums are on CD now, many are only on LP, and even then, a lot of them are good quality and CHEAP.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 1:51pm

Several local used record stores are clearing out their Lp's so if any of you are looking for specific titles on LP (or in 78 RPM albums) PM me.

The elaborate packages Capitol, Columbia and Victor did for some of their show albums in the 1960s are wonderful to browse.

MR. PRESIDENT - silver-foil-like cover with gatefold jacket containing colour pictures of the show, a detailed synopsis and star bio's spread over an easy to read 4 page insert. (The CD is long out-of-print too, so the LP may be all you can find.)

GOLDEN BOY - the original release included a free copy of the show's souvenir program. Also the Lp has different (better) takes of several songs. Davis felt his voice was raspy when he recorded the album and went back and re-did several tracks. The re-do's have been used on every subsequent CD and LP edition.

DO RE MI - the outer jacket had a unique die-cut outline of the Hirschfield cartoon of the cast. The actual drawing was printed on a red insert that could be seen through the die cut when the sleeve was inserted.

UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN - like GOLDEN BOY also included the show's souvenir program in its first edition. (Later pressings dropped this and replaced the box on the front cover advertising the program with one reading Original Broadway Cast.)

Then there are the shows that as yet have never been released on CD: SAY DARLING, SIMPLY HEAVENLY, ANYA, SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY, LET IT RIDE, LAST SWEET DAYS OF ISAAC, JOY, DONNYBROOK, the Lincoln Centre MERRY WIDOW, and the Columbia studio cast of ON YOUR TOES.

Also many of the shows that were on CD have been deleted and are very hard to find. Some of these can still be found on vinyl: Columbia's STREET SCENE, PETER PAN (Jean Arthur version), THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER and GEORGE M!; RCA Victor's WISH YOU WERE HERE, FANNY, HAPPY HUNTING, NEW GIRL IN TOWN, WILDCAT, TAKE ME ALONG, DO RE MI, LITTLE ME, 110 IN THE SHADE, PURLIE, and PROMENADE; as well as such fun flops as HENRY SWEET HENRY, HIGH SPIRITS, MR. WONDERFUL and JUNO.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 3:21pm

I miss gate-folded album covers! Especially the ones with additional pages. If you're a Sondheim fan, try to find one from "Anyone Can Whistle". There are photographs in it that have never appeared anywhere else.

[gcal]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 3:38pm

Add "Hello Dolly" with Mary Martin to the list of albums that have never been released on cd... I was listening to it last night.

[glimpseofstocking]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:04pm

I second the Half Price Books suggestion. I collect LPsand I've found tons of great cast album LPs there.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/19/07 at 5:15pm

"I miss gate-folded album covers! Especially the ones with additional pages. If you're a Sondheim fan, try to find one from "Anyone Can Whistle". There are photographs in it that have never appeared anywhere else."

There are great photos in the Anyone Can Whistle fold out. I second that. Good point Sondheimboy!