Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
#1Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:12pm
so, I still need to get these two cast recordings and I really don't know much about Into the Woods... I do like Vanessa Williams, so I almost got the revival recording, but I do like Bernadette too, so, before I get both, which one would you recommend to get first?
Also, I need 1776 but have no idea which one to get. So, the OBC or NBC?
Thanks for your help!!
EbonyEyez
Swing Joined: 12/3/08
#2re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:19pmI LOVE Vanessa Williams, but I don't feel she was as good as Bernadette Peters. I wasn't crazy about her interpretation of some of the songs. Her voice lacked a softness that was needed in some of the songs. For that alone I'd do the OBC for Into the Woods.
JBSinger
Broadway Star Joined: 11/12/04
#2re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:23pm
original casts for both Cds.
enjoy!
PiraguaGuy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
#3re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:30pm
OBC definitely. The only good things about the revival recording are Vanessa, some of the lyric changes for "Last Midnight", Edelman, Sieber, and an overall "newer" sound. I'd suggest just buying some tracks from it on iTunes as opposed to the whole thing.
The London recording is great too.
Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08
#4re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:30pm
PLEASE get original "Into The Woods" cast first!
I LOVE the Brent Spiner 1776
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
#5re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:32pmThe original cast recordings for both are wonderful and superior to the revival recordings. I also love the London cast recording of Into the Woods, which has a very different take on the material.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#6re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:35pm
DEFINITELY the OBC for Into The Woods!
But I don't think you can go wrong with either the OBC or the Brent Spiner 1776.
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These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#7re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:40pm
On 1776, I don't think you can go wrong with either, but you have some trade-offs. It's hard to top William Daniels as John Adams and the rest of that original Broadway cast (including Betty Buckley's great vocals on "He Plays the Violin"), as well as the full original Eddie Sauter orchestration. It's a very vivid recording and still sounds great.
The revival recording has a solid cast and a bit more of the score, including the "full bosomed" reprise of "The Lees of Old Virginia" and the very satisfying "Compliments," which resolves the saltpeter-pins argument between John and Abigail Adams. And even though it utilizes a smaller orchestration, the Brian Besterman orchestrations are also characterful.
If forced to choose, I'd probably lean toward the OBCR, mostly because Daniels is so iconic in the role.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#8re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 12:47pmOBC for INTO THE WOODS hands down.
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#9re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 1:04pmGood God, I have had this message board! No one can ever compare to William Daniels! he IS John Adams!
log13124
Understudy Joined: 6/15/08
#10re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 1:57pmThe OBC for Into the Woods, without a doubt. I enjoy the revival, but it doesn't hold a flame to the OBC. As for 1776, I'd probably go with the revival. I don't think the casting is quite as good, but the sound quality is so much better. I felt, when I listened to the OBC of 1776, that it felt like the performers were screaming a little bit and the quality was hurt a little bit by that. I think the performances are better on the OBC, but the sound quality doesn't even compare with the revival, which just puts it a little ahead in my mind.
#11re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 2:00pm
OBC for both.
As already discussed, William Daniels is iconic as Adams in 1776 and cannot be beat.
Besides the Vanessa Williams vs Bernadette Peters discussions here, the OBC of Into The Woods has Joanna Gleason in her Tony winning role as the Baker's Wife. Awesome.
joeybiltmore1
Leading Actor Joined: 2/22/05
#12re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 2:18pm
The OBC of both, no question.
And I'll second the acclaim for the London cast of ITW.
philcrosby
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/04
#13re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 2:52pm
The OBCs of both, hands down.
Though I must admit, I have never heard the London cast of 1776, and would love to.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#14re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:03pm
1776 - OBC. Period. The women on the revival are lackluster in comparison to Virgina Vestoff and the *divine* Betty Buckley. Brent Spiner does a poor impression of William Daniels, and the only one with a performance worth listening to is Gregg Edelman's "Molasses to Rum."
Into the Woods- I prefer Bernadette, Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason to Vanessa Williams, Stephen deRosa and Kerry O'Malley. I like the orchestra better on the revival. MY vote would go for the London production.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#15re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 3:13pm
I also vote for the OBCs of both, although all three recordings of into the Woods have their points, even the revival recording (though I didn't like the production at all onstage). There area few odd lyric mistakes on the OLCR (and they do seem to be mistakes, not changes, they should have been caught).
Having said that, I'm not wild about any of the recordings of Into the Woods. I think a really great recording of that score has yet to happen.
The London cast of 1776 has its points. There are some good performances. I'm not sure if it's because the orchestra wasn't expanded for the recording or if a smaller orchestration was used in the theatre, but some very interesting different instrumental colors come through, especially on "Molasses to Rum."
Several of the principals sing better than their counterparts on the OBCR (though the women are vocally weak in comparison with Vestoff and Buckley), but the OBC has more passion. Still, the London recording does make for an interesting listen.
Updated On: 1/26/09 at 03:13 PM
#16re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:07pmI would give anything to be in a production of 1776. Too bad it's not performed often. I assume the number of male performers and costume budgets are a bit excessive for most regional and amateur companies.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#17re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:09pm
I didn't even know there WAS a London cast of 1776. That's kind of adorably ironic. 
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy
#18re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:13pm
I concur with everyone else, go with the OBCs for both.
....but the world goes 'round
#19re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:13pmAnother vote for OBC for Into the Woods. Bernadette is very good. Joanna Gleason is wonderful.
ShbrtAlley44
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/1/03
#20re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:19pm
Me too, Mister Matt!
Get the OBCs. I prefer Gregg Edelman's "Molasses to Rum" and the London cast "He Plays the Violin." I really can't take Betty Buckley's version of the song - it's so harsh. I mean, girlfriend can obviously belt her face off but I just don't like it on that song. Love the woman on the London recording. But you need to have William Daniels as Adams. Spiner drives me up the wall - "It's a MAHHHstahPEYYYCE!"
#21re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:51pmDaniels is not only iconic and impossible to beat as Adams, it's one of THE great musical theatre performances. Get the OBC.
#22re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 4:54pmI would say the OBC for Into the Woods. Vanessa Williams brought something new and different to the role, but that something didn't transfer to the recording.
#23re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 5:06pm
The OLC of 1776 was on LP (briefly) from EMI and has never made it to CD. I have a copy and it is very well done, but as everyone here has stated the role really belongs to William Daniels.
Daniels had a bad cold the day the cast album was made so he is not in great voice. Howard DaSilva suffered a heart attack and missed the session so his understudy Rex Everhart took over. The film soundtrack (also NOT on CD as yet) has Daniels in better voice and DaSilva, but cuts the essential "Cool Cool Considerate Men." Ideally get a CD transfer of the film soundtrack and add in the missing material from the OBCR.
As for INTO THE WOODS - as with any Sondheim score - always Always ALWAYS start with the original cast, then if you like the show explore the alternates.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#24re: Cast Recordings of Into the Woods and 1776
Posted: 1/26/09 at 5:25pm
The OBC of INTO THE WOODS is superior to the revival. The role was written for Bernadette Peters, which is not to say that no one else could sing it well, as Vanessa Williams does on the revival recording. But as a permanent record of the score for listening at home, the OBC is tops.
The OBC for 1776 is definitely superior to the revival but it lacks the brilliant Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin (Da Silva was recovering from a heart attack and could not participate in the Broadway Cast recording).
The best recording ever of 1776, with one exception, which could be corrected on a CD reissue, is the 1972 film soundtrack which not only has the majority of the Broadway Cast, including William Daniels and Howard Da Silva, but also features superb expanded orchestrations by Eddie Sauter that really enhance the score. The exception is that the soundtrack LP omits the song, “Cool, Cool, Considerate Men”, which was recorded and filmed but cut from the film before its theatrical run; the song was restored to the film for the recent DVD home video release and the missing song is included along with a few other reprises on the briefly available 63 minute CD that I have which came with the Japanese deluxe laserdisc of the restored film. If the soundtrack is finally reissued on CD in the US it would not only be the best but also the most complete recording of 1776.
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