Customer Reviews

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1982 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This was my first recording of Joseph. I owned it even before I saw the play on stage for the first time. Before I got the revival recordings, I would listen to this one sometimes as much as three times a day. I thought it was perfect. Now, I don't find it perfect anymore, but I do like it. Bill Hutton has an absolutely beautiful voice.I've never heard anyone do vibrato quite like him. But I don't think that he has quite the right kind of voice for his role. I think Donny Osmond's voice is much better suited for the role of Joseph. Laurie Beechman sounds as if she comanded the stage more than Joseph did. She does such an amazing "Pharaoh Story," that sometimes I just skip to that track on the CD and leave the rest unlistned to. And she gets very in to the songs. I'm sure that if she hadn't been a woman, she probably could have played Joseph. The brothers here are just the opposite of the ones on the revival recordings.While the revival brothers basicly sound good as individuals, but not so good as a group, these sound great as a group, but only so-so as individuals. Napthali sounds so much like a woman that I thought he was the narrator until I read otherwise. I don't know who's idea it was to have Potiphar do his own song, but it is interesting. I don't own the recording that has a male narrator, but with this CD, I get a taste of what it might be like. Tom Carder does an almost perfect Elvis impression, but I just don't like him as much as some others. This recording may not be the best of the bunch, but it was my first. It helped me get hooked on an amazing musical.

Alright, I have been in this musical twice, and have heard many recordings of this and most of them have been good. This recording is by far the absolute best thing I have ever heard. Laurie Beechman is phenomenal as the narrator. She almost brought me to tears. Her voice just like traveled up my spine and gave me chills. The guy who plays Jospeh, Bill Hutton, is so corny and simple and it fits better than any other person I have heard. I have always loved that fact that Pharoah is supposed to sound like Elvis, and Tom Carder just does it better than you will ever hear. Don't bother with any other recording of this musical. You will never EVER find a better version of the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat anywhere!

This original BW cast recording of Joseph is not only the most enjoyable one that I have heard, it is also the defining character that shaped this timeless Biblical story into a theatrical masterpiece in simplicity which has captivated community theatre audiences, as well as Broadway theatregoers, for decades. I have experienced Joseph from the stage, the audience, and at virtually every level of performance expertise and I still say that this cast recording is powerful, captivating, and ultimately timeless. The newer cast renditions are marvelous but they "trick up" the arrangements and play to the taste of today's "bigger is better" movement in theatrical productions. My perception of this story is one of ultimate simplicity to appeal to the "child" in us all, yet Webber and Rice have managed to allow the "adult" in us all to be thoroughly filled with the wonder and passion of the Biblical story of this wonderful man, Joseph. The recording brings forth, in unerring fashion, the sheer dynamic force of the personality of every character which is highlighted by a truly magnificent rendition of the narrator. In short, as this review is certainly not, this is a recording showing all the "colors" which the Biblical story intended and worthy of anyone's time to hear!!

I like this version much better than the Canadian cast with Donny Osmond. First, the sound levels are not so extreme - in the Canadian version, I have to up the volume to hear the intros to the songs, then lower it when they get into the full-chorus productions, very annoying. In this version, it all flows smoothly. Donny Osmond is good, but I think Bill Hutton is just as good, and Laurie Beecham is so much stronger than the Canadian narrator. I had this version on LP and asked for the CD as a gift; unfortunately, I got the Canadian version so I am now buying myself this one. Next, I guess I need to try the London cast...

Re: the debate about whether this is a "real" musical. Just like TV and film, theater is NOT always about sophistication, and among "just for fun" musicals, this one certainly ranks near the top! And it is not only because it is usually a big, flashy production -- I have seen it performed on Broadway, dinner theater and in amateur productions by a high school, a mixed-ages community theater group, and an under-12 drama troupe. All were excellent! The high school performance had to be done in a gym because their auditorium was under renovation, and even without a lot of sets to change or fancy lighting, it was awesome (lots of creative ideas and props like Groucho Marx nose & glasses on the Ishmaelites go a long way in a simple story with such fun music!) And while the storyline is simplistic and somewhat confusing (what is the moral anyway? the egotist wins? oh no, that's right, follow your dream), and the use of canned song genres like Elvis, country, calypso is pretty cheesy, I find most of the songs to be pretty clever, i.e., the list of colors in the coat is a very interesting composition. And the lyrics have lots of sophisticated lines and humor, the butler as the "Jeeves of his time" for example.

Oh, and now that I'm a mom of a 3- and 1-year-old, I'm glad to have at least one musical that I can play without getting a request for a change to a children's CD! Go go go Joseph![*]

This CD of the Broadway version from more than 20 years ago is still fresh, entertaining, and features singing that is top notch! In particular, Narrator Laurie Beechman's performance is superb--she has one of the best singing voices you will ever hear! The songs are very catchy, and will stick in your head all day. The audio quality is also quite good. I enjoyed the 1990's Canadian version (with Donny Osmond and Maria Friedman), but this is the CD to buy--because of Beechman's incredible performance.

This is the musical which introduced me to musical theater, so Joseph will always be a personal favorite. I much prefer this recording to the harder rock edge of the concept album, or the overdone, glitzier Broadway remake versions with Donny et al. If you are looking for a recording which captures the small-scale heart of Lloyd Webber's creation, THIS is the one to get.

Out of the many versions of this show out there, I feel that the original Broadway is still the best and I can summarize my reason for this in just two words: "Laurie Beechman". Thats it, end of story -- her warm, powerful belt makes this show what it is, and all others who have played the role of the Narrator, either before or after, have never quite managed to live up to the standard she created. This recording is a gift to us all -- her voice, that lovely wonderful voice will always soar so long as this recording exists.

Thanks to a charismatic chorus of cuties and the UNSTOPPABLE talents of the sorely missed Broadway belter LAURIE BEECHMAN, this is the best recording of the schmaltzy-iest (but undeniably charming) musical of all time. A little bit goes a long way, but for nostalgia purposes and a few selected numbers of quality, JOSEPH still keeps going. Own it for fun...every now and then give it a listen and you'll be surprised to find yourself singing along or tapping your toe. Hey, once a year cotton candy tastes good, right!?

i have listened to every cast recording of this show that is available, and by far this is the only one that DOESN'T suck.. if you are thinking of buying this musical.. this is the version you should choose!

I bought this CD on a whim, because I love musical theatre, and knew that my local theatre was going to be having auditions for this show soon. As soon as I heard the first line of the prologue, sung by Laurie Beechman, I was ENRAPTURED!! I absolutely LOVE the way she sings the part of the narrator on this CD. Her high belt is awesome. All the songs on this soundtrack are extremely catchy...I never thought I'd end up liking it as much as I did. I haven't heard the other cast recordings of this show in their entirety, but I have heard clips of the different narrators, and they pale in comparison to Laurie Beechman. The other female narrators all seem to be high and breathy, while Beechman has a strong, powerful voice. This version has made its place in my heart as the definitive "Joseph" version. I am actually auditioning for a production of this show next week, and I want to play the role of narrator with such a passion!!