PROMISES, PROMISES - OCR NEW 2 CD SET HEAD'S UP

[bk]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:18am

Not sure when our official release will get posted, but just thought I'd give a head's up, as it's a limited edition of 1000 copies.


KRITZERLAND IS PROUD TO PRESENT A VERY SPECIAL 2 CD RELEASE:

PROMISES, PROMISES
Original Cast Album
Music by Burt Bacharach Lyrics by Hal David

On December 1, 1968, Promises, Promises, the musical version of Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond’s The Apartment, opened at the Shubert and took Broadway by storm. The show was such a breath of fresh air, with its hilarious book by Neil Simon, and pop-sounding and brilliant score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. When that overture began, you knew the sound of Broadway had just changed forever – it was electric in the best way. The show garnered rave reviews and ran 1,281 performances. The show was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and took home the prize for Jerry Orbach (Best Actor) and Marian Mercer (Best Supporting Actress).

One of the reasons the sound of the show seemed so innovative was that Bacharach brought in Broadway’s first recording-type mixing board. Also his use of four pit singers doing back-up vocals was unique. The show’s orchestrations were by the young up-and-coming Jonathan Tunick, who honored the Bacharach sound while adding a few wonderful touches of his own. The cast recording won a Grammy, and the show produced several hit songs, including two for Dionne Warwick – “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” and “Promises, Promises” (she also recorded “Knowing When To Leave,” “Wanting Things” and “Whoever You Are”). Bacharach himself covered five of the songs on his A&M album Make It Easy On Yourself.

This is the third CD release for the original cast recording of Promises, Promises. The first was issued on Ryko, and then that release was reissued by Varese Sarabande. Why a third release? Simple: neither of those releases were the actual cast album as released on LP – the original mix. Ryko remixed the album from the original eight-track edited session masters and that newly mixed album was also used for the Varese release. So, this is actually the first appearance of the Grammy award-winning original album mix – newly remastered, of course. The two-track album masters were in excellent shape.

But the raison d’etre of this release was to present a second CD with a newly mixed version (from those original and great-sounding eight-track edited session masters) that, with today’s technology, could finally fix most of the issues that plagued the original cast album. As most know, cast albums were always recorded in one day (it’s still the same today, but there are a few shows that go to two and even three days), and the pressure was always on to get everything finished without going into overtime, and then to mix it quickly (frequently in a day or two) and have it in stores instantly. Compromises sometimes had to be made. And so, there have always been pitch issues with some of the vocals – they simply got it as good as they could get it and out it came. We went in, and, without compromising anything but the actual pitchiness, corrected the faulty pitches throughout. We were also able to take our time with the mix and you’ll hear things in the orchestration you’ve never heard, and even an occasional little vocal thing that was left off the original album (listen to “You’ll Think of Someone”). So, it’s a whole new listening experience, and one we’re especially happy to have been able to do. We’ve also put the tracks in their correct show order for the first time.

It is the greatest of pleasures to be able to present this special edition two CD set of Promises, Promises – the original Grammy award-winning album, and our fresh and newly remixed version in show order, with the vocals sounding like they never have before. With the brand new revival of the show on Broadway, you won’t want to miss this limited edition set of the original cast recording sounding like it never has before, and featuring the great performances of Jerry Orbach, Jill O’Hara, Marian Mercer, and the rest of the wonderful cast.

This release is limited to 1000 copies only. For this special 2 CD set we’ve kept the price at our usual single disc cost of $19.98 plus shipping.

CD will ship by the first week of August – however, preorders placed directly through Kritzerland usually ship one to five weeks earlier (we’ve been averaging four weeks early). To place an order, see the cover, or hear audio samples, just visit www.kritzerland.com.

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:25am

Wow! Excited for this!!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:28am

Great news, bk. Can't wait to hear the pitch-corrected Promises!

[tazber]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:36am

Marquise is going to jizz himself.

Thanks for the update bk!

[morosco]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:37am

Order placed.

Now how about that London Cast Recording?

[bk]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 9:58am

As I've mentioned before, they can't find the paperwork for the London album - and without it they cannot license. It's really sad. I was going to put this out late last year, but I kept delaying it, hoping for better news. I had the album masters for London and everything. I even had them transferred. In the end, legally they can't do it, even though I told them I'd indemnify them. Still, hope springs eternal and eternal springs hope, so if they find what they need to find, it's all ready to go.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 10:46am

While it pains me to pass, the money just isn't there.

I did, however, wanna say thanks for all the time you do put into these!

[wonkit]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 10:47am

Bless you, bk! The order is in.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 11:11am

Very interesting release. But like Husk, funds at the present time don't allow me to pick this one up.

It is a shame about the London Cast. Total shame.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 12:48pm

Excellent! It does indeed sound different from the samples you've provided. So it wasn't Woman of the Year after all. Looking forward to receivning this and supporting your business, bk.

Now what about getting on Decca about Donnybrook!, my most desire cast recording yet to be seen on cd. Have you ever sought out Decca titles?

Thanks for the hard work!

[bk]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 7:10pm

Decca is Universal and Universal has proven a tough nut to crack as they go through their endless owners.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 8:41pm

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[bk]

Posted: 6/14/10 at 8:49pm

You left out a key OMG! :)

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 6/15/10 at 11:44pm

Why were a couple of the songs taken out of show order originally? It's always bothered me.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 12:02am

Time limitations on a vinyl disc had to do with how the songs were configured and edited on the original 1968 release.
Updated On: 6/16/10 at 12:02 AM

[bk]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 3:23am

I'm not sure it was just that in this particular case. I think they might not have wanted Grapes of Roth as the third track because that was two instrumental tracks in the first three tracks of the album. I don't know why they moved Where Can You Take a Girl.

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 5:10am

I'm surprised that you guys didn't find Jill O'Hara's solo version of the title song. Legend has it that she recorded it for the original 1968 release but that it was vaulted.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 12:38pm

I don't care what Peter Filichia's ex-wife thinks, I love Jill O'Hara! I would love to hear this cut. How have you come across this knowledge, Marquise?

I'll toss an "OMG!!" in too!

Too bad Decca/Universal is in such flux. I would think if Ankles Aweigh can make it to CD so can Donnybrook! What might the issue be? Lack of interest?

(Just between you and me, I hear the 1958 recording of Blitzstein's Regina will be on CD before the summer is out. That's one step in the right direction!)

[bk]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 6:19pm

"I'm surprised that you guys didn't find Jill O'Hara's solo version of the title song. Legend has it that she recorded it for the original 1968 release but that it was vaulted."

Well, let me just say this - seventeen years ago I began putting "hidden" tracks on CDs I produced. I became well-known for it. It's funny to see other Broadway labels emulating us now, including the new Promises recording. So, let me say - don't shut off your player after the final track on CD 2 and you might just be a very happy camper re Jill O'Hara's Promises version. :)

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 7:02pm

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Updated On: 6/16/10 at 07:02 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:05pm

While on the subject of bonus tracks, I've never seen the show before, so I'm wondering what that little bit of music that Sean introduces actually is?

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:08pm

CATS, you're asking on the wrong thread. This is a thread for the re-release of the ORIGINAL 1968 BROADWAY CAST RECORDING as a 2 DISC COLLECTOR'S EDITION from Kritzerland not the The New Broadway Cast Recording.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:22pm

bk mentions the bonus track on the new Promises, Promises CD in his last post, why would it not be relevant here?

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:26pm

Dude, he's referring to the bonus track at the end of the second CD of the upcoming re-release of the ORIGINAL 1968 BROADWAY CAST RECORDING. Updated On: 6/16/10 at 08:26 PM

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/16/10 at 8:31pm

My apologies CATS/ I just re-read bk's original post and saw where he mentioned the new recording. I was too excited about the upcoming bonus track on the OBC 2 Disc set to care.