Best CHESS recording?- Page 2

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 11:58am

In the regional production I saw, Judy McLane played Florence and I wish I had a recording of it. While it was more like the Broadway book, Judy's performance was electrifying. I will never forget her Nobody's Side, which stopped the show.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 12:00pm

I saw Judy McClane as Florence at Sacramento Music Circus, and she was fantastic. Same thing happened during "Nobody's Side" every night.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 12:05pm

MYB - Thank you!! I knew it wasn't just my imagination. I didn't know if anyone else remembered seeing her in the show. To me, she was unforgettable. I think I saw the show 4 times in 2 weeks.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 1:24pm

Yep! It was a beautiful production all-around, actually. Robert McCormick was Anatoly (whatever happened to him?), Steve Blanchard (long before BATB) was Freddie, and Rebecca Eichenberger was Svetlana.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 4:45pm

MYB - Sounds like exactly the same production I saw. It really was wonderful. I think the only weak spot was the choreography for One Night in Bangkok, which was a little too "stagey".

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 4:52pm

London Cast. Nothing beats Elaine Paige/Barbara Dickson on "I Know Him So Well"

The Broadway cast seems to be more heavy on electric guitar sound.

[harmonyfye]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 5:14pm

It is all about Elaine Page!! By far..Nobody's side!! That song kick A**. But if yiu can grab the Actor's Fund Concert with Groban, Pascal and Foster..it definitely has its ups.

[vassey]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 5:30pm

It has to be the concept cast for performance - nobody beats Elaine Paige's Florence who simply ROARS in Nobody's Side, or Korberg in Anthem. However, by the end of it you'll still have no idea what is going on, only the Danish cast makes any sense story wise, even if it does sound a little 'flat'. Broadway has the brilliant Overture/Prologue, but has nothing else to get excited about, but if they had recorded ALL of the the Broadway songs, it could have been a contender.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 6:17pm

I dont think she needs the song, or the reprise of Anthem. It's all part of the Americanized book.

Unless I'm misinterpreting you, Florence's short reprise of Anthem at the end was part of the original London production as well. Elaine Paige (and later Grania Renihan) did electrifying versions of it. I think it ties the show together, and frankly can't imagine the musical ending as satisfactorily any other way.

I've never liked Heaven Help My Heart. Musically, it kind of stops the show dead. I suppose it's good in terms of seeing some vulnerability in Florence. I think Someone Else's Story is a much stronger song, but agree that it doesn't make any sense for Florence/Freddie. One of the changes I actually really love in later productions is giving Someone Else's Story to Svetlana as it fits more naturally into her story.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/25/08 at 10:45pm

I thought "Someone Else's Story" was about Florence and Anatoly?

Overall, I prefer the OLC.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 1:59am

My favorite recording is the For Archive Purpose only pro-hot video that isn't supposed to be available to anyone but somehow ended up everywhere on the internet (how does stuff like that happen?). But as I am sure that is not legal, I say go with the OBC recording. I think it's great, and you can get it on amazon for $25.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 2:35pm

I can't believe all the posts that suggest the London version had a stronger book than the Broadway production. Based on the OBC recording and seeing the UK tour (after the London production closed) I would say the Broadway production sounds to have a much stronger narrative arc.

I would agree that the Danish recording is the best so far but it is such a good score that it can be worth having several recordings. I've read somewhere that the immediate London concert, even if it isn't recorded, is supposed to be a test for a possible revival. Maybe the best recording is still to come.

[Miss B. L. T. Down]

Posted: 4/26/08 at 6:37pm

The Broadway version. Mullet-haired Elaine Paige is so shrill and shriekish on the London recording and let's face it, it's hard to imagine two men fighting over her. The believablity of that is tough to swallow.