Customer Reviews

1776: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1997)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a huge fan of the original play. Rather than review the play, I would like to compare the 2 recordings strengths and weaknesses.

The strength of the new cast recording is the quality of the singing. Every single performance is phenomenal and strong. There really isn't a weak or bad voice in the bunch. Brent Spiner suprisingly does a fine job as Adams.

Yet it's weakness is the very thing that makes this recording strong. Much of the charm of the original cast was that it was as much the performance behind the singing as the singing itself. Perhaps it's my bias from what I grew up to and am use to hearing, but I still prefer the original.

Still, I think more people may find this recording more enjoyable, especially if they haven't seen the play. I guess it's personal preference which you would choose. So if you prefer better singing, this is the album for you.

I was surprised at how much I liked "1776." The concept (a musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence) seems so ludicrous at first, that I was sure it must be a bad musical. I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

The CD hooked me first, with the musicals elegant tunes and poignant lyrics. The excitement of this period is fully captured in the characters and story. "1776" manages that rare blend of comedy, drama and romance. Historical characters that I had never thought much of come alive, without mockery.

I have no particular attachment to Brent Spiner or Pat Hingle, and I have never heard the original recording. I felt that both men sang proudly and well. Their voices did justice to the songs and the story.

After loving the CD so much, I had the chance to see "1776" performed. Wow! It's a great musical.

This is my absolute favorite musical, ever! The characters are wonderful interpretations of the members of the 2nd Continental Congress, and the history in the show is surprisingly accurate. I have both this version and the original, and it's hard to decide which one is better. I must admitt, John Cullum is the best Edward Rutledge, even though Gregg Edleman does a wonderful job, and Ronald Holgate will always be Richard Henry Lee to me. William Daniels and Brent Spiner are almost equal. All in all, this is a wonderful CD, for anyone interested in the history of our nation, or just in a funny and thought-provoking musical.

I celebrate every 4th of July by watching my laser disc restored version of "1776" and finally got the chance last year to see the musical when it came to town. The touring company was a result of the 1997 Broadway revival and I finally got around to picking up the CD. I too have nothing to fault with Brent Spiner's performance as John Adams aside from the fact that he is not William Daniels, which is not meant as a slight to the former but simply a restatement of the fact that the latter's performance was one of those perfect unions of performer and performance that happily happens from time to time in Broadway musicals. Listening to Daniels do "Is Anybody There?" is one of a choice handful of tracks I can listen to that will get me teary eyed. So what is special about this revival cast album is that it includes, unlike the original, Linda Emond as Abigail Adams singing "Compliments." I do not even bother trying to explain it anymore, but anytime I am listening or watching this musical and she starts to sing "I am, as I have always been...," I get emotional. So the first time I listened to "Compliments" on this CD the tears were rolling down my cheeks. I also appreciate all of the other little additions, both musically and in terms of dialogue, that are included on this cast album.

As with most revival casts the performances fall both below and above the originals. Pat Hingle is a fine character actor, but I think he is simply miscast as Benjamin Franklin. On the flip side of the coin I think Gregg Edelman as Edward Rutledge and Paul Michael Valley as Thomas Jefferson are improvements on the originals. I even like this version of "The Lees of Old Virginia" by Merwin Foard, and it is the one song in the show that usually grates on my nerves. Why anybody would have ever thought the story of the Founding Fathers haggling over the Declaration of Independence would work as a Broadway musical is beyond me, but Sherman Edwards (music & lyrics) and Peter Stone (book) most definitely pull it off. Few musicals can claim to be as educational as this one, while being as entertaining with a mix of humor ("But Mr. Adams" and "The Egg") and pathos ("Momma Look Sharp" and "Molasses to Rum"). So, overall, while not as good as the original, this version of "1776" certainly has its moments.

I have been listening to musicals for years and I must say that 1776 is one of the best. It is certainly not Stephen Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber but it has charm.

The script is incredible and some argue that the music isn't even needed but there is a great emotional journey that one can take if they allow themselves to really be there with the show. It is worth the money, if for no other reason than to explore this magnificent musical that not only reminds us of, but creates American history.

The performances by Brent Spiner, Linda Emond, Gregg Edelman, and Michael Cumptsy are superb. Though Spiner as Adams doesn't have the same vocal quality as the original Adams (William Daniels) he shines a new light on Adams and really brings the character to life.

1776 is one of the most underrated musicals in Broadway history. With clever lyrics and a creative score and set of songs, this show should be recognized as a classic. This particular soundtrack is probably the best one available. While the Original Broadway Cat recording is not bad, the singing is sub par. But that has been totally rectified (or nearly so) in this most recent rendition. Brent Spiner's dramatic rendition of John Adams is as good as William Daniels' (from the original cast) but he is a MUCH better singer. Daniels spent most of his time painfully under pitch, a problem we don't see much with Spiner. On the down side however, Pat Hingle's Benjamin Franklin is not an improvement over Rex Everhart's, and it needed to be. Also, the orchestra for this recording is a little scaled back, but fortunately that is not particularly a problem most of the time. If you don't have a terribly discerning musical ear, you may like the Original Broadway Cast recording just fine. But this recording is just leaps and bounds above it in musical quality, from my perspective. I highly recommend this wonderful soundtrack from a marvelous, though unappreciated, show.

Although it doesn't replace the original Broadway cast recording, completists will want this CD in order to have virtually the entire score on tap. Restored are the reprise to "The Lees of Old Virginia," Abigail Adams' "Compliments," and the secretary's "Is Anybody There?" The CD also includes a good chunk of dialogue (but why no separate tracks for it?). There are good performances by Brent Spiner (Adams), Michael Cumpsty (Dickinson), and especially Tony-nominated Gregg Edelman (Rutledge)--whose "Molasses to Rum" is the only performance that improves on the original recording. But the women don't make much impression; Pat Hingle is a mushy-mouthed Franklin; and the sparse orchestrations undermine some of the numbers, particularly "The Lees of Old Virginia," which struck this listener as painfully lacking the requisite zip (through no real fault of the singer).

I was lucky enough to see the play on the first Saturday of its run at the Roundabout Theater--so the only thing wrong with the CD is that it doesn't project a hologram of the performance! Brent Spiner is exceptional as John Adams; he manages the task of singing the same songs as William Daniels (orig. cast John Adams) with great panache and humor--not to mention that "Yours, Yours, Yours" with Linda Edmond as wife Abigail makes me melt, while "Is Anybody There?" gives me goosebumps of an entirely different kind! Other highlights: "Mama, Look Sharp" will break your heart, "Molasses to Rum" is chillingly good, and "Sit Down, John" makes one wonder how the Continental Congress ever agreed on anything long enough to sign the Declaration! A winner all around!

I saw this musical in NYC and have never been so moved by a Broadway show before. Brent Spiner has a lovely yet commanding voice that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck in parts - you so believe in the rightness of his convictions as Adams. All the performances are first rate, but Spiner really shines.

The argument can be made that this musical was "of its time" meaning the 1960's, but I think the songs still hold up as they entertain as well as educate us. Much of the lyrics and dialogue are authentic.

Highly recommended.

As a PURIST fan of ORIGINAL musicals, and not one who enjoys all the revivals (which indicates a lack of current writers...no surprise), I was AMAZED at how GOOD this revival is on recording. I am sorry I missed the show in New York.