[MunkustrapQC]

I prefer the OLC, but the OAC is great too!
I heard too much the OBC (12 hours a week during rehearsal since september) so I prefer some change!
I heard once the french cast and I was rolling on the floor laughing! It suck, but it's very funny to heard our favorite song in french...with Rocky Tam-Tam, Amélie Ron-Ron, Le Vieux Mathusalem and Matamor!

[Flitterbug]

It's not patriotic, I assure you, but I preffer the Australian recording... Not entirely sure why. It just never fails to make me smile (and let's face it, that guy trying so hard not to laugh is a winner).

[darkmage]

The original French cast is 1989 or thereabouts.

My fave isn't on the list. It's the Hamburg 1986 cast. It's a pretty straight translation of the original English, much better than the 1983 Vienna one IMHO. And it was recorded live so the sound quality is amazing.

[Rumpelteazer2006]

Are there any recordings where Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer actually sing their song? I can't seem to find one other than the DVD....

[darkmage]

Depends on what language you're looking for. In the OLC they do, but it's a different tune. The Aussie version is for all intents and purposes the 'full' version of the song.

Most of the international cast albums do the same thing except the languages are different.

[VictoriaTWC]

My all time favorite has to be the full Dutch version (I'm biased, since I'm part Dutch anyway . Next up is the French cast album, not for it's studio quality or singers, but just for the fact that all the show in recorded in there, including Pekes and Pollicles, and Misto's solo dance.

Purrs,
VTWC

[OldDeuteronomy]

Misto turned out kinda weird on the French album. it SOUNDS like (at least to me) they left off the words "the original conjuring cat" in the opening. am I right?

[Yip1982]

I think my answer will probably be interesting to you, as a Singaporean fan of the show.

I first got to know CATS through the OLC version, that I bought as a 2-CD set in 1993 when CATS was first staged in Singapore. It was the only official version of CATS on CD that I could find. At that time I didn't even know that CATS had an OBC recording that I would eventually like more. Although the OLC version of the musical was the first CATS recording I heard, I found that the OBC just grew on me since I first heard it in 1996. It has become a lasting favourite and has supplanted the OLC version. While I know you tresure the OLC because of Elaine Paige and the variants, and the originality of this version, I felt that it wasn't "sparky" enough. This was where the OBC came in. I got hooked on this version and admire it much more. Not just for the revisions that I liked much more than the original version of the score, but for the sheer theatrical energy of the performance.

I later listened to the Australian cast recording, and even though I liked some of the performances, I found it to be a little too clinical for my taste. It did include the Pekes and the Pollicles but I didn't think it was done in a satisfactory way. I have also managed to get the two German and French recordings. They were a revelation to me not because of the language but because of the overall sound. They also included more music than any of the English recordings. The French version was the most complete version, but I think that the sound on this version is so far removed from the sound that ALW would like us to hear. After the novelty of these non-English versions wore off, I felt much better with CATS sung in English, appreciating that the original T.S. Eliot words made the show tick.

So, I think I can comfortably vouch for the OBC version, especially since it's been recently reissued in a remastered version that makes it sound very much alive.

[mantarnia]

My vote went for the austrailian. The OLC was just pipped at the post because of the terrible cut which suddenly appeared in the jellicle ball when it was released on cd, which was not present on the original vinyl album.

[OldDeuteronomy]

you mean the horrendous edit that we've known for years (the obe that to the the slow part) didn't appear on the LP version?? how odd. I've bought the London Cast Album on both Cassette AND CD and the funky Edit is always included.

[jcstar]

I detest the OLC. Just nothing on it I like. The Broadway cast (in comparison) is so much better.

I love the French recording. IT ROCKS!! Gay Marshall is an amazing Griz. The orchestra is fantastic.

My only complaint is there's not enough bass in the tracks. I want them to remaster it.

Andy.

[Rumblepurr]

I voted for the the Australian recording of the four. Primarily, I like this version because it has all the songs - which the OLC and OBC do not have. I like the Tugger "Ummm" instead of the 'no', his minor-key "abow-ooo-wow..." and the fact that only Gus the Theater Cat has the "Aussie" accent.

Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat

[mantarnia]

[Cassandra]

My favorite is the French recording just for sheer completeness. I love having the whole show intact (except for a couple minor cuts of repeated music). I understand the translation leaves something to be desired, but that, to be frank, doesn't matter to me since I don't speak a word of French!

My next favorite would be the Austrian highlights. I get such a feeling of high energy from this recording, it's a shame they didn't release the whole show. I find it super fun to sing along with, even curiously moreso than the Hamburg recording (and, again, me not speaking a word of German). And I love Steve Barton as Munkustrap.

[potter_severus]

I think the 1986 Hamburg Cast is one of the best versions I've heard.
But the Czech one is just.... amazing, the sound, instruments, voices...just.... beautiful !!!!!!!
A several weeks ago I uploaded the Jellicle songs from the Czech cast in a webpage so you can hear it. But I think it is not allowed to put the link here...

Anyway, that's my choice, the Czech cast is the best...EVER !!

[Mungojerrie_rt]

Definately the Australian. Its just so much more fun than the others. Not to mention it is the only complete English recording. The Growltiger's Last Stand can't be beaten. (Ok, maybe by the Hamburg one)