Definitive Rodgers and Hammerstein Albums?

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 8:53pm

Hello all,
So I am trying to come up with a list of the best album for each Rodgers and Hammerstein show, and here is my list so far. Is there anything that you would change or add to this list? Thanks.

OKLAHOMA - 1980 Broadway Cast
CAROUSEL - 1965 Lincoln Center Cast
STATE FAIR - 1996 Broadway Cast
ALLEGRO - 2008 Studio Cast
SOUTH PACIFIC - 1967 (I know the original Broadway cast is technically better, but the fact that it isn't in stereo bothers me)
THE KING AND I - 1964 Lincoln Center Cast
ME AND JULIET - 1953 Broadway Cast
PIPE DREAM - 1955 Broadway Cast
CINDERELLA - 1957 Television Cast
FLOWER DRUM SONG - 1959 Studio Cast
THE SOUND OF MUSIC - 1959 Broadway Cast

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 8:55pm

I actually prefer the 2013 OBRCR of CINDERELLA over the 1957 Television Cast. The orchestrations are absolutely gorgeous!

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 10:00pm

Cinderella- 2013 recording. You cannot beat those Troob orchestrations.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 10:31pm

Though I agree that the orchestrations on the 2013 cast are lovely, to me nothing can beat Julie Andrews when it comes to her portrayal of Cinderella.

[Tom5]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 10:43pm

I preferred Leslie Ann Warren over Julie Andrews because I believe there was a touching fragility in her singing and acting that was more in line with the character. (This is also the first and last time I would place Julie Andrews in second place for anything)

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 11:01pm

I definitely would sub in the 2013 CINDERELLA and the Encores! PIPE DREAM and the soundtrack of SOUND OF MUSIC, but the rest matches my list pretty closely. It's odd because usually most people prefer the OBC of SOUTH PACIFIC and the 1977 KING & I

Updated On: 8/11/14 at 11:01 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 11:03pm

OKLAHOMA!- Film Version- 1955
CAROUSEL- Lincoln Center Production- 1965
STATE FAIR- Film Version- 1945
ALLEGRO- Studio Cast Recording- 2008
SOUTH PACIFIC- Lincoln Center Production- 2008
THE KING AND I- Film Version- 1956
ME & JULIET- Original Broadway Cast Recording- 1953
PIPE DREAM- Encores! Production- 2012
CINDERELLA- Original Broadway Cast Recording- 2013
FLOWER DRUM SONG- Original Broadway Cast Recording- 1958
THE SOUND OF MUSIC- Film Version- 1965

Updated On: 8/11/14 at 11:03 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 11:27pm

Definitely South Pacific - Lincoln Center 2008.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/11/14 at 11:31pm

What's the 1959 Flower Drum Song studio cast?

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 12:00am

EDIT: I was way off target, as Mr. Nowack pointed out, so just disregard this moment.

Stereo was "invented" right after the FLOWER DRUM song original Broadway cast album was released, so the producers decided to have it re-recorded a few months later in the much nicer sounding stereo. It's pretty difficult to find a hard copy, but it is on Spotify if you have that.

Updated On: 8/12/14 at 12:00 AM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 12:17am

^^^^^^
I think you must be mistaken, I'm positive the FLOWER DRUM SONG OBC was recorded in true stereo from the beginning.

While stereo LP technology wasn't invented until the middle of 1958, Columbia began recording with multiple channels at the end of 1956. BELLS ARE RINGING was the first cast album recorded in true stereo, although its stereo release didn't come until late in 1958 (WEST SIDE STORY was the first cast album released in stereo, in September 195. They slowly released all of them, with a few exceptions like Cole Porter's ALADDIN, which went unheard in its full stereo until the CD release.

FLOWER DRUM SONG never would have been recorded in mono, for not only was the recording method available, but the LP technology was as well. The album wasn't released until early 1959 though, and it is peculiarly labeled as "1959 Studio Cast Recording" on iTunes.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 12:27am

Okay, I was completely wrong. I did some digging around on Castalbums.org (which is a great resource) and found out that the studio cast recording was just when they decided to record additional songs to include on a new release, so the 1959 album is just longer.

Updated On: 8/12/14 at 12:27 AM

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 1:10am

Sorry if I got a bit rambling. For some reason I find the switch from mono to stereo fascinating, and know an obscene amount of information about it. It's the same thing with the switch from 78s to LPs.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 2:24am

I find it fascinating as well--so no need to apologize. Those late 1950s Columbia stereo cast albums still sound, to my ears, magnificent--including Flower Drum Song (I'm still confused by mjohnson's post--what new songs were recorded?)

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 7:30am

I'm still waiting for iTunes to release the '94 recording of Carousel...

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 8:49am

I'd swap out the 1964 Lincoln Center King & I for the 1977 Broadway revival album with Brynner and Constance Towers.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 8/12/14 at 3:52pm

I also agree on swapping out the 194 King & I for the 1977 cast recording. Rise Stevens does nothing for me. Her voice is pretty, but I find it to be a bit too operatic for the role. She also seems to lack character in her portrayal oh Anna on the recording. Constance Towers, on the other hand, is simply sublime.