Disaster A New Musical Cast recording question and Cast Recording 101 Education

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 5:27pm

Sorry if this is a repeat, but I can't seem to find the answer here or google, but will there be a cast recording and when will it be released? And why don't shows release a recording prior to the show opening? It seems that it could help sales of people could listen to the music in advance (it seems that American Psycho is releasing its cast recording before show opens)

Also, why has ON YOUR FEET! been so slow to release their cast recording? Are there problems with the Estefans and other people singing their music? 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 5:38pm

It costs about $100,000 to make a cast recording. Some shows build them into the production budget, but frankly most shows are still raising money for the actual production during previews. So the reason why most shows don't record earlier than they do probably has to do partly with finances, and partly because they want to cast recording to reflect the final product, not the show as it's changing during previews. Having the cast recording be a fairly accurate as a representation of the final show actually becomes an important issue for future licensing.

 

I'm not sure Disaster will get a recording.  The show is struggling at the box office, and I imagine the royalty agreement would be highly complicated and expensive.  And then too the show only features 45-90 second snippets of most of the songs. It wouldn't make for very satisfying listening on disc.

Updated On: 2/29/16 at 05:38 PM

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 5:44pm

Thanks! I didn't know it was so expensive. I like to listen to the cast recording before I see a show so that I can feel more connected to the musical. That's why I was curious about Disaster! I wanted to hear the recording before I see it. But it sounds like there may not be much to listen to. Also, why does it already show a closing date for Disaster! It seems like most musicals open with an open ended run. If it was successful could it do an open ended run? 

[tazber]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 5:46pm

It costs closer to $400,000/$500,000 to record and produce a Broadway cast album.

 

These days even shows that do not do well on Broadway still record the score as it is a valuable tool for marketing future productions.

 

The American Psycho recording you mention is from the London production which has already closed. There will be a Broadway recording as well down the road according to Duncan Sheik.

 

Why On Your Feet hasn't announced a recording is one of the mysteries of the season.

 

This short link will answer a lot of your questions

 

Here's another brief link

Updated On: 2/29/16 at 05:46 PM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 5:56pm

Thanks Taz, that's a typo in my original post regarding the cost to produce a cast recording.  $500,000 for a large scale musical is much more accurate. I believe the union stipulates that cast members receive 2 to 3 weeks salary, usually in Lou of royalty, for recording a cast album, so you could see how just that amount could be $100,000.

 

This is also why some shows wait until after they have closed before doing a cast recording. Frank Wildhorn waited to do a recording of his score to Dracula, because it was ultimately cheaper to not use the original Broadway cast because of the union requirements for payment.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 6:00pm

if op wants to become familiar with the songs, all he needs to do is search google (or some music-listening service) and hear the original recordings.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 6:14pm

The absence of an On Your Feet cast album is a real mystery.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 6:21pm

A few months ago I searched on YouTube, trying to find a cover to "Live for Loving You"- and I was surprised that I couldn't find any. Not one. At the time, I chuckled and said 'well I guess Gloria Estefan doesn't want anyone else recording her music...' I was being facetious, but given the lack of cast recording for her show, maybe there is something to that. Either that or, again, some issue with royalties.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 6:28pm

QueenAlice said: "This is also why some shows wait until after they have closed before doing a cast recording. Frank Wildhorn waited to do a recording of his score to Dracula, because it was ultimately cheaper to not use the original Broadway cast because of the union requirements for payment.

"

If I remember correctly, that Dracula concept album was actually recorded while the Broadway show was still running because it was cheaper to record with separate studio singers and because a deal couldn't be reached with a label to record the original Broadway cast. It was a bit of a scandal at the time and the album remained unreleased for several years.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 8:23pm

Since this is a thread about cast recordings, I've also thought about seeing Les Miserable before it leaves Broadway in September, so I want to get the cast recording now to start listening to it, but I'm confused here because there are several choices to pick from. Ideally, I would like to hear the one from who's singing on Broadway now, but am not sure that's available. But what I see is available, confuses me. There is the original London cast recording with 31 songs available. The original Broadway version has 33 songs. The 2010 Album has 40 songs and even the film soundtrack HD 43 (items as they have labeled it). So my questions are: why do the different versions have a different amount of songs? Why doesn't each version have the same amount of songs? And which one is most closely aligned with what I can see on Broadway today? 

[MRPURPLE2012]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 8:28pm

Kevin Chamberlin posted on Disasters twitter saying they plan to record it at the end of the month https://twitter.com/DisasterMusical/status/702999650018709504

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 8:41pm

Braniff Forever said: "Since this is a thread about cast recordings, I've also thought about seeing Les Miserable before it leaves Broadway in September, so I want to get the cast recording now to start listening to it, but I'm confused here because there are several choices to pick from. Ideally, I would like to hear the one from who's singing on Broadway now, but am not sure that's available. But what I see is available, confuses me. There is the original London cast recording with 31 songs available. The original Broadway version has 33 songs. The 2010 Album has 40 songs and even the film soundtrack HD 43 (items as they have labeled it). So my questions are: why do the different versions have a different amount of songs? Why doesn't each version have the same amount of songs? And which one is most closely aligned with what I can see on Broadway today? "

 

The most basic answer is that the entire show just doesn't fit on two discs. Since it's a sung through show every second of the show is fair game for a cast album but most of the time they don't want to add an extra disc for the maybe 20 additional minutes. So they pick and choose whats important for them. In the case of the OBC and OLC it was even more restrictive because they were filling 2 50 minute LPs rather than 2 80 Minute CDs.

 

The 2010 version is probably closest to what you'd see onstage, as the show has been continually tweaked over the years. The 1988 Symphonic recording is the most complete of the prominent version at that time. And the London album is my personal favorite with IMO the best performances.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 8:42pm

To answer your question Braniff, the 2010 live cast album is the one that will be closest to what is performed on Broadway today. That album is a recording of the 25th anniversary UK tour that inspired this revival though the cast is not the same.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 8:58pm

Thank you for the Les Mis answer! Did you see it ? The current one on Broadway? I've seen the movie twice but never a stage version

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 9:06pm

There is less of a reason for recording this than there was for Amazing Grace.

[Braniff Forever]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 9:13pm

So you don't think Disaster will be a long running musical even with Seth Rudetsky? 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 10:10pm

Nope

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 10:34pm

The Amazing Grace cast album is actually pretty good in spite of the missing songs.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 2/29/16 at 10:41pm

Braniff Forever said: "Thank you for the Les Mis answer! Did you see it ? The current one on Broadway? I've seen the movie twice but never a stage version"

 

The only version I've actually seen onstage was the 25th Anniversary Tour which like CATS said inspired the current Broadway incarnation. I enjoyed it but my particular performance has some insane tempo issues. I doubt that was a problem anywhere else though.

[HSky]

Posted: 3/1/16 at 12:35am

The 2010 UK album also has John Owen-Jones as Valjean in addition to being closest to the current orchestrations, so I agree and recommend that if you're looking for the recording closest to how it stands on Broadway.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/1/16 at 3:05am

Braniff Forever said: "So you don't think Disaster will be a long running musical even with Seth Rudetsky? 

 

"

It is scheduled as a limited run, it's not selling well, so it might be a stretch to even complete that. ONLY die-hard theater fans know who Seth is.....his name won't sell many tickets.

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 9:18am

Okay, looks like they haven't recorded it yet, but they will be! It's official!

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 5:13pm

YES! Can't wait!

 

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 5/3/16 at 6:16pm

I know they're expensive to produce, but PLEASE LORD let there somehow be a recording of the new Robber Bridegroom. Putting it in writing here counts for something...right?

[Baiseur82]

Posted: 5/4/16 at 9:04am

JudyDenmark said: "I know they're expensive to produce, but PLEASE LORD let there somehow be a recording of the new Robber Bridegroom. Putting it in writing here counts for something...right?

 

"

I want that recording so badly too Judy! I don't think it's going to happen though