[Disney-Bway27]

Just out of curiosity. Of the hundreds of different cast recordings of all of Sondheim's shows out there, which of the recordings is your least favorite?

I'm gonna have to go with the Broadway revival of Pacific Overtures. Pacific Overtures is one of my favorite Sondheim shows and the revival recording just doesn't hold a candle to the OBC or even the ENO recording (which I've noticed isn't as well-liked as I thought it would be!).

So. Yours?

[SomeoneLikeYou]

Aside from about 3 performances, does the revival cast recording of ITW even need to be said here?

Yes. lol

[Disney-Bway27]

Haha, how did I forget about that one?

Come to think of it, with the exception of the 2006 revival of Company and 1996 Forum, I'm not too crazy about many of the Sondheim revival recordings, lol. Pacific Overtures and Into the Woods are next to awful, and the Sweeney Todd revival is mediocre at best.

[dolbinau]

Pacific Overtures ENO. .

Hard decision between that and 1996 (London) Company.


I enjoy Vanessa Williams as the witch in the 2002 ITW revival, and I enjoy the Sweeney revival recording.

[Disney-Bway27]

^ Really? Wow! As you know, I love the ENO recording of Pacific Overtures, lol. Vanessa Williams was probably the best part of the revival to Into the Woods.

[Barberous]

That WSS recording with Michael Ball. He's so wrong for Tony.

[Salome]

no. the best part of the revival of ITW was jOhn McMartin as the narrator/mysterious man.

also greg edelman & christopher sieber were wonderful princes.

williams was adequate (a shame because she owned spiderwoman)

the rest of the cast was not good at all.

[dolbinau]

What do you think is the worst cast recording ?

p.s. What do you think of 1985 follies?

[SomeoneLikeYou]

Is that the one with Barbara Cook and George Hearn? They're amazing in everything they do.

[LeocadiaBegbick]

I hated the London recording of Into the Woods. Julia McKenzie was a woefully miscast Witch and it wasn't one of Imelda Staunton's best performances either. Only Clive Carter as the Baker was good.

[Moci]

I'm probably going to be controversial, but...

Follies: Original Broadway Cast

Yes, the performances are unlikely to ever be bettered and the score is fantastic, but as a recording it's terrible. It's a shame that Capitol refused to record a 2 LP set as the score is cut to shreds and what did make it sounds as if it was recorded in a concrete garage.

Thank goodness that it preserved what it did, but it's such a wasted opportunity that more wasn't recorded at a higher standard, just because Capitol didn't think that it'd sell back in 1971.


or

Sweeney Todd: Broadway Revival Cast

The actor/musician concept really worked as a production, but on disc it sounds small and meagre and so, as a listening experience, pales in comparison to the Original Broadway Cast Recording. Add to that the fact that it was originally intended to be a 1 disc release, but too much was recorded, so in the end it became a 2 disc set, but with less of the score present than on the OBC yet over an hour of free space on the CDs. Plus there's the fact that Patti LuPone's accent travels over several continents, but never manages to make it anywhere near London, which stops it from being as good as it could have been.

[Disney-Bway27]

[Salome]

[Please,Hello]

Bounce anyone. Bounce, not road show but the bounce recording.

[dolbinau]

[Dvarg]

Tataaa!

I give you The London Theatre Orchestra and Cast West Side Story

This is the worst recording of any musical.

The end.

[Salome]

[Please,Hello]

I think the music it just the worst sondheim score ever. It dosn't matter who is in it but how they play the part. Road Show is close to a alright score but it's no cigar. Every song in Bouce sounds the same to me. The cast may be good but the music......was just........not the best sondheim score......at all..........ever.........never.

[Brock07]

Into the Woods Revival. I can't even listen to it. My ears bleed.