FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#0FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:48pm
I've really gotten into Sondheim latly, I guess its about time, but I'm looking into buying a recording of Follies, since I know its a pretty famous musical and I'd like to expand my musical knowledge. However, which recording is best?
New Jersey Revival
Original
Concert
#1re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:51pmactually, I like the 1987 London revival the best, but then the New Jersey recording is awesome because it includes *I believe* every song ever written for the show. The original is okay, but really, for me, it's so incomplete it's hard to enjoy as much as the others.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#2re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:51pmOriginal had they not chopped it to bits. that being said, would have to say the Papermill Playhouse one. A video of either one would have been heaven
Poster Emeritus
FranklinShepard-Inc.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/04
#3re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:53pm
All have their pros and their cons.
For originality get the OBC, for mood and best performance get the concert and for a complete take (in terms of nothing being left back) get the New Jersey cast.
To conclude: get the concert cast. OBC is far too short and has too much cut out. And the New Jersey cast is in my ears a little too bloodless, well just a tiny little bit
FranklinShepard-Inc.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/04
#4re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:56pm
hmm, almost every song, Catsnyrevival 
it left out "It was't meant to happen" which you'll find on one of the tribute albums.
And yes, the London cast is nice indeed, and has some more great songs (of whom a few aren't on the New Jersey cast either, like "Make the Best of your Music")
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#5re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 5:58pm
I can't seem to find the London Revival. I plan on going to Barnes and Noble later to see what they have. I might go with the 1998 revival just because I like "contemporary" recordings...although I really like the Originals cover art haha. i know I shouldnt base things on the packaging ha.
Updated On: 11/15/05 at 05:58 PM
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#6re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:01pm
Buy them in this order:
NJ Papermill Playhouse revival
Original Broadway cast
Concert Version
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
jacco
Stand-by Joined: 7/29/05
#7re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:04pmThe Concert Cast is one of my all time favorites....
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#8re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:06pm
I'd go with this order:
OBC
Papermill
Concert
London
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#9re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:07pm
Well, if i buy more than one, then i'll never listen to both, so its pointless. on a related note....would you even recommend Follies? Any other Sondheim shows I should look into?
I already have
Saturday Night (i think i lost it though)
Into the Woods
Company
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#10re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:10pm
A Little Night Music
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Updated On: 11/15/05 at 06:10 PM
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#11re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:11pm
Follies is an essential part of any collection (multiple recordings) and you SHOULD eventually get:
Sunday in the Park with George
Sweeney Todd OBC
A Little Night Music OBC
Pacific Overtures OBC
Merrily We Roll Along OBC
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 11/15/05 at 06:11 PM
#12re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:20pm
Follies is a MUST!
(You should also try to see someone, anyone, do a production of the show. It adds considerably to the experience.)
Sweeney, Merrily, and A Little Night Music, (all OBC) I would buy immediately.
Actually, the recent Assassins revival is a must as well. (I only say that one because I have not heard the O off-Bway cast)
PO, and Sunday I personally also love, but I think you can take some time before you get them.
I have the Papermill Follies, and love it.
I will be getting the rest but, I keep hoping the OBCR will have a remastered edition with additional songs. Is there a chance for that?
I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.
#13re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:34pm
I don't know about buying the OBC first, mainly because it is such a hacked up version of the beautiful, practically flawless score. I love the Papermill recording if anything because it has the full score plus many extra songs that were cut from the show. Not to mention wonderful performances from Dee Hoty, Donna Mchecknie, Laurence Guittard and Kaye Ballard.
Also, as much as I love the concert as well I'm not the biggest fan of Elaine Stritch's "Broadway Baby", it feels like something that would be more entertaining to hear/see in person rather than listen to it on the cd.
I'd say get Papermill first, and then the OBC and then the Concert.
And Rentboy, YES I would recommend Follies, over and over and over...This score is a MUST! And absolute MUST!
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#14re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 6:55pm
You basically need them all. In addition, you should also get the Sondheim tribute album with the blue cover with the "Scrabble" letters on it, for some invaluable additions.
The original leads, Dorothy Collins and John McMartin singing "Too Many Mornings" with the lead-in "Pleasant Little Kingdom" (much better than the version that's on the New Jersey recording). Dorothy and Alexis Smith doing "Losing My Mind" and "Could I Leave You" with much more moxie than on the OBC.
Almost more importantly, the best versions of "I'm Still Here" performed by Nancy Walker (that has basically ruined all other performances of it) and "Buddy's Blues" with the late and still missed Larry Blyden and Chita Rivera and Donna McKechnie as Sally and Margie!
Though what you really need is a good bootleg of the original cast. If you have one of those, you don't need the OBC CD.
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music
"Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70
"Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#15re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 7:41pm
I wrote a comparison of the main three on my blog awhile back. It's there somewhere:
governorslaton.broadwayworld.com
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#16re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:08pmYeah, i'm holding out for the new sweeny recording - i want it so bad. I just found the musical theater section of my college's library and I'm so thrilled. It has all the librettos for all the Sondheim shows, and the books. I'm currently reading "Everything Was Possible: The Birth of Follies" So that has sparked my interested.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#17re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:16pm"Everything Was Possible" is a great book -- one of the best ever written about the creation of a show. I would think that after reading that (or WHILE you're reading that) you might want to listen to the OBC to hear the performances that are discussed in such detail in the book.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#18re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 8:22pmYeah, that's what I was thinking Margo. I love books like this, just to see how much works goes in there. There's also tons of books written bout Sondheim, like one is a Critical Essay book that talkes indepth about him, so i'm hoping to read that next. But i'm still torn b/w obc and whatnot. I guess I'll go to Barnes and Noble and see which they have, hopefully they wont have all 3.
flirtandflounce
Understudy Joined: 8/10/05
#19re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 10:45pmWho's on the Papermill recording?
#20re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:15pm
All 4 recordings are worth owning. Papermill is the most complete, but the OBC is hard to beat performance wise. I think besides Barbara Cook, the concert is overrated. The London recording has some divine performances, plus songs not on the other 3 recordings.
Dee Hoty, Kay Ballard, Donna McKechnie, Ann Miller, and others are on the Papermill recording.
#21re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:39pm
Well, footlight.com has a London CD, but it's just highlights.
FOLLIES LONDON 1987 (HIGLIGHTS)
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
#22re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:41pm
Dresslight.com has the London recording. The website indicates "1989" but I'm pretty sure this is of the 1987 revival.
LONDON FOLLIES RECORDING
"Do you know ChrisLovesShows?" "Yes. Why, yes he does!"
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#23re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/15/05 at 11:54pmI say buy them all and make a playlist of the complete score to keep. Pick the best performances (anything but the Donna McKecknie or Mandy Patinkin or Carol Burnett performances will do) and make the best cast recording of Follies never assembled!
PEACE.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#24re: FOLLIES Recordings - which one?
Posted: 11/16/05 at 12:25amsounds like a lot of work. I listen to samples and i'm not sure I'm that excited about it anymore lol, but i'll probably pick up the Papermill recording.
