What is the best recording of OKLAHOMA!?

[BruceWayne5148]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 7:23pm

Other than the original cast of course

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 7:38pm

I have not heard the John Rait or the Laurence Guitard recordings, so out of the Hugh Jackman or the soundtrack I would go with the soundtrack.

But, I guess you read my mind because of course my answer was going to be the OBCR.

[Weez]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 8:06pm

Well, I'm very taken with the 1998 Royal National Theatre recording, because Hugh Jackman is very wonderful. So's the rest of the cast though, and it's lovely that the song 'Lonely Room' is included, because it's often missed out of other recordings. Which sucks, 'cos it's an amazing song. :3

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 8:08pm

Hugh Jackman

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 8:11pm

i enjoy the '79 revival, which has christine ebersole as ado annie to boot

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 8:20pm

Had they recorded the Broadway revival with Patrick Wilson and Justin Bohon then Hugh could take a hike, but alas they did not.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 8:29pm

The 1979 revival is great. The score sounds fresh everytime I listen to it.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:13pm

I know you said excluding the original cast recording. But the thing is, that recording, considering how old it is, is so wonderful. Aside from the fact that it's the gateway drug for so many of us (me excluded, mine was the OCR of Camelot as I was there in '61 opening night age seven) it's simply amazing to consider it's the very first true original cast recording. The cast all went on to such great success and frankly, I get goosebumps listening to the overture.

So all-in-all, it's goping to have to take one helluva recording to top the original for me.

Please resume the conversation EXCLUDING the OCR.
Sorry to steal your thread.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:17pm

My fave is the '79 revival.

[BruceWayne5148]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:29pm

i too love the original cast but i already have it and was looking into another one to get because the one i have is missing some music and has some extra medleys at the end. i wish patrick wilson had a recording! or better yet of him in carousel. his "if i loved you" is AMAZING

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:33pm

I also wish that the Patrick Wilson version had been recorded. I like Hugh Jackman as an over-all performer, but his singing technique makes my skin crawl.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:34pm

My favorite is the Hugh Jackman recording, which now is strangely out of print.

[BruceWayne5148]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:42pm

out of print? i have seen it in at least three borders in the past week. it's on itunes also.
i'm not sure how i feel about hugh. i am hesitant to buy that recording. i'm not sure i like how he belts the whole thing. geeze all the tenors are getting the classic baritone roles! lol

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:46pm

Well I'm not saying he's the finest Curly on record, but overall, I think it's the best sounding and most complete album.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 9:58pm

Yeah, what's with tenor favoritism nowadays?

[mamaleh]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:06pm

For me, hands down, it's Hugh's version, all the way. He acts the role as he sings it, which greatly adds to the enjoyment of the score. Wilson was barely OK, but, as history bore out, not Tony-worthy. Hugh, on the other hand, has a sonorous bari-tenor, and he makes you feel all of Curly's hidden vulnerabilities. He IS Curly, warts and all.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:07pm

Yes, the recording IS out of print.

If your Borders has it, that just means that no one has bought the last copies.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:09pm

http://www.amazon.com/Oklahoma-1998-London-Richard-Rodgers/dp/B00002EPLJ/sr=1-4/qid=1158890933/ref=sr_1_4/102-8317843-4982514?ie=UTF8&s=music


Cheapest copy is $59.99

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:28pm

I think Hugh is very very good, MUCH BETTER than Patrick Wilson, whom I thought was horrible, in my opinion. But, to say he is CUrly is just wrong. Alfred Drake and Gordon McRae own Curly. They have unbelievable charisma and warmth and they really know how to handle that score. Overall I like the original better, becuase of Alfred Drake and the ensemble, but the movie does have Shirley Jones, who is the best Laurey I have ever seen or heard and she makes Gordon McRae sound a lot better then he does by himself.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:34pm

1998 with Hugh Jackman. No competition. That CD is just amazing. I am not a huge fan of the show, but I can listen to that CD over and over again.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:42pm

Unfortunately, I didn't see Mr. Wilson - but I did see Buntrock, and he had a great voice. that's all I remember.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 10:42pm

I'm a HUGE "Oklahoma!" fan!

I actually like the original recording the least.
The John Raitt recording is bizarre, it's sorta...cold...I dunno.
The film soundtrack is ok - not good, not bad. Love MacRae's voice.
The 1979 with Guittard and Andreas is FANTASTIC. Harry Groener and Christine Ebersole as Will and Annie are the best on record, and Andreas is SUCH a fresh Laurey. Some of the tempos are a little slow, though.
The 1998 recording with Jackman has the best orchestrations, easily. The sound is SO full, and just gorgeous. But this cast doesn't have the amazing performers the 1979 does.

for me, it's a tie between 79' and 98'.

There's also a Nelson Eddy studio recording I've never heard.
and a selections recording of a 1980 london revival, which I've also never heard.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 11:11pm

Depends on what your definition of "best" is. For me, it would be performances, and the film's, cannot be beat. So, I'd say the soundtrack recording. The vocals and orchestrations are unsurpassed, particularly Curly and Laurey.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 9/21/06 at 11:41pm

My biggest problem has always been the re-orchestration of the show. Oklahoma is so pure on the OCR. It's like a chamber piece. The orchestra balances perfectly with the cast (and let's face it, it's how the composer envisioned it). The movie is WAY to lush. It takes all the charm and originality out of the sound and Hollywoodizes it. And any time the orchestrations are re-written, it becomes another show for me.

[jo]

Posted: 9/22/06 at 12:59am

I think the score is best appreciated if one sees how the songs are acted out.

I was introduced to OKLAHOMA! via the movie version. And while I enjoyed watching and listening to Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones, I did not appreciate it as much as I did the film version of CAROUSEL.

But then I saw the stage version of the RNT OKLAHOMA! onstage the Lyric Theatre in London in 1999 and saw the filmed version later on DVD - and I thought it actually had a rousing score and quite a story which I failed to appreciate initially.

As to Hugh - just watch him singing and acting out THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON THE TOP - just perfect segueing from song to dialog to song!

So goes for his version of OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING and PEOPLE WILL SAY WE'RE IN LOVE.