[Sweeney Hyde]

Has anyone heard the most recent revival cast recording? Is it worth buying? I actually don't have any of the Company recordings and I really only need 1. I loved the 2005 Sweeney recording, btw, so my intuition is that I'll love this one as well.

[shakalakababy]

i think you should get OBC recording before you get the revival

[Sweeney Hyde]

If you don't mind me asking, why?

[what_the_heck013]

I agree with shakalakababy. The performances on the OBC are immortal. It also has the most 70's feel. The 1995 recording is awful--do not get it. I'm not exactly sure how the 2006 one is.

[shakalakababy]

yeah exactly. i haven't heard the 2006 one yet either but my rule for getting musicals is to always get the OBC before the revival because i'm usually happiest with the original. And besides you're not going to hear a better "ladies who lunch" then the one by elaine stritch (in the original). not to mention the rest of the amazing original cast

[what_the_heck013]

Plus, with Doyle's shows, they are better and meant to be seen, rather than heard. I mean, yes, it's cool that Esparza accompanies himself on the piano in "Being Alive", but who cares if you aren't seeing it and just hearing it--the same effect will not be achieved.

[Salome]

Get the OBC first..Dean Jones is the only Bobby to nail "Being Alive" and Stritch owns "Ladies WHo lunch". there are some good thing no the 1995 recording but the 1996 London recording is dreadful!


Havent heard Doyle's recording yet but the production isnt brillaint.

[what_the_heck013]

I don't think that anything Doyle has done is "brilliant", but he does some great things, and his production of Sweeney will have a long lasting effect on musical theatre... I know it has on me.

[Matthew]

I saw Company the other night and I liked it more than Sweeney.

Like everyone else has said: Get the OBC, skip the first revival and move on to the second Revival.

[alex591]

I actually enjoyed the '96 london cast, its different from the other ones, plus I have seen the performance too! Very good! And I saw the 2nd revival in december, very excellent!

[Matthew]

I've been listening to the 2006 Non-stop since yesterday.

It's brilliant.
Harmonies are very tight and amazing with a lot of emphasis on Sondheim's score.
The only disappointing parts were The Little Things... and Another Hundred People.

Openning is brilliant.


Lots of dialogue featured too.

[bwayluvor31]

[Jekkienumber24601]

I got it yesterday! I love it! I think, Dean Jones sounded to old 70's baritone. I really like Raul's voice. Getting Married Today is alot faster than any recording Marry Me A Little and Being Alive are amazing!

I recommend to any new or old fan of company.

[Salome]

please..no one can beat Dean Jone's heartfelt angst as Bobby.. he acts that role from the deep reaches of his soul.

Raul was powerful but still no Dean Jones. Jones i\wasnt a "Singer" he was an actor who siang. which is why his Bobby is unbeatable.

[DriveAPersonCrazy]

salome did you see the original broadway production??

[Salome]

no..i'm not that old. lol

But iv'e seen parts of it at the mueseum in NYC.

[bwayluvor31]

[Salome]

at the NY public library. their Theatre collection hosts tons of broadway musicals.

[MrsJamieWellerstein]

I'm going to defend Another Hundred People.

It's odd, yes. But once you get used to it, you notice how great it is. Pam Meyers still wins, but Angel Desai kicks LaChanze's ass. Her buildups are weird (as I've said before, platypus), but I like them. It works very well for the song.
And you've gotta love the inclusion of the dialogue. Raul Esparza and what's-her-name who plays Kathy work well together.

[Jekkienumber24601]

I like the lower key for Another Hundred People. Getting Married Today is amazing. Oh and Dean only did 3 performances. Larry Kert took over for him shortly after opening night and was sooo good that he was allowed to be nominated for a Tony. I have to say Dean just wasn't my cup of tea and especially since he had the album and a couple of performances to get the character and he didn't have "Marry Me A Little" which is now one of my favorite songs. Plus before being alive I think Raul conveys the emotion "when he shouts stop" of how much anguish he's going through. Dean just kinda simply tells them to stop. I do like Dean better in 1993 concert, but that doesn't really count, does it?

[Salome]

Larry kert was a singer not an actor and it showed. Dean is the only bobby ive liked.

[Ulla Dance Again!]

Next time I'm in NYC, I must stop by that library and check out the theatre collection...

Anyways, I sort of like the revival recording. I only got it because of Raul Esparza but it's enjoyable overall. Although I prefer some of the orchestrations on the original. Like in "You Can Drive A Person Crazy", the girls sing the "do do do do do do" part [well, you know what I'm getting at] instead of playing it on a saxophone. And I really prefer Strich's "Another Hundred People" - her voice, in my opinion, is better. However, I like the crescendo in "Company" on the revival. It adds a nice touch.

As for "Being Alive" I like both renditions. It's always good to hear someone else sing a song, just to see what they phrase or do differently (that's why I own different recordings of Cabaret).

[Ghost]

Yup, Jones had alot of emotion in his Bobby, even though his voice was a little grating.

I probably like Adrian Lester from the donmar cast best.

Haven't heard all of Esparza's Bobby yet, but that guy has the tendency to be great in whatever role he plays.

[Salome]

Lester is my least favorite Bobby. his terrible American accent is awful. actaully most of the London revival cast recording is terrible. the late Sheila Gish's "Ladies Who Lunch" is just terrible. off key,bland and disruptive.

[cammybroon]

well, honestly how often to you come across a london recording that is actually good???

[Ghost]

[Salome]

I Agree with almost every show you mentioned having and equal or superior london recording to the broadway. especially Chicago. Henshall/Goodman and company are so much better than the broadway revival cast.

and LaMancha's cast rivals the broadway cast.


but I disagree about "Company" and "ITW' I find the London revival even more lifeless than the broadway revival. at least the broadway revival has Jane Krakowski's great "Barcelona' Bob Westnberg's touching 'Sorry Grateful".and LaChanze's dynamic "Another Hundred People".

the london album has one good performance. Sorry Grateful by CLive *damn it i forgot his last name*.

ITW- Imelda Staunton is lackluster as baker's wife. the London Cinderella is awful. but on the upside the princes ar fantastic and mckenzie is wonderful.


oh..and lets not forget the 1982 London Camelot revival with Richard Harris. a far superior recording to the OBC with burton.

[christinadaae]

So for the longest time I have only owned and known the OBC. I didin't both with the revivals.
But, last night on the Tonys, I'm sure my mind was changed. The new recording is soon to be mine! I loved Raul dearly, and they showed a miniclip of another song, and it... well, it just looked great.

[Sweeney Hyde]

I'm going to get the revival recoring too eventually...maybe not right away...but I will get it!

I went with the OBC back in Feb by the way...

[musicalfan07]

I got this today and have been buzzing to get back home to play it. I have never heard anything from the show (apart from another 100 people) before today and I'm loving it! The only bit I didn't enjoy was Babra Walsh's The Ladies Who Lunch (I thought it was screeched through.) Company is another show to my list of favourite musicals (quite alot by Sondheim.)
musicalfan07

[Salome]

Ladies who lLunch is the best song in ther show..but Walsh cant compare with Elaine Stritch in the role. (or me!)

[Don't Tell Mama]

Have you ever heard LuPone sing "The Ladies Who Lunch"? She performed it when I saw her in concert. Not a bad rendition, I might add.

It made me happy, seeing as how I wanted her to sing a song from Company and that one being a favorite.

Overall, the revival recording is fairly strong, and I was impressed with Raul as Bobby. It's fun seeing him change from character to character, and every role he has he puts his heart into it. Quite an amazing performer.