Cabaret (1999 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) [Original recording remastered]

Cabaret (Related Recordings), Marcus Allen Cooper, Judi Dench, Caroline O'Connor, Maria Friedman, John Owen Edwards, Fred Ebb, Jonathan Pryce, Jule Styne, John Kander, Gregg Edelman, JAY Masterworks Editions | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B00000I132
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,020 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Willkommen

2. So What

3. Don't Tell Mama

4. Telephone Dance

5. Perfectly Marvellous

6. Two Ladies

7. It Could Not Please Me More

8. Tomorrow Belongs to Me

9. Why Should I Wake Up?

10. Sitting Pretty

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Entr'acte

2. Kick Line

3. Married

4. If You Could See Her

5. What Would You Do?

6. Sally's Revolt

7. Cabaret

8. Break Up

9. Finale Ultimo

10. Curtain Calls

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Reference; Mediocre Recording, July 2, 2002

By 

A. Wright "dfwmd" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabaret (1999 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) (Audio CD)

This is an excellent recording to use as reference. As a music director for a production of Cabaret, this recording was released just in time. Very helpful for choreographers who need to hear the 'bells and whistles' of the percussion part in dance numbers such as "Money Song" and "Fruit Shop Dance".

Any director, choreographer, and music director mounting a production of the 1987 revision really should listen to this as it is the only recording of Cliff's new solo "Don't Go" (but if you have a choice - use "Why Should I Wake Up?" instead), and the 1987 "Money Song" as published by Tams-Whitmark.

Judi Dench is marvelous in her solos, but to be honest, the rest of the performances fell flat for me. I felt the energy was low, and the dialects and diction left much to be desired.

If you are a Cabaret collector, a Judi Dench fan, or a music director or other such production team member, this recording will interest you greatly. However, for listening pleasure, stick to the original Broadway and Broadway Revival cast recordings. The only tracks unique to the recording are "Don't Go", the 1987 "Money Song" and some dance and incidental music. All other tracks can be found on the Original Cast, Revival Cast, and Film soundtracks, and with the exception of Dench's numbers, all are performed better on those recordings.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best All Around Cabaret, January 27, 2000

By 

Paul Terry (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cabaret (1999 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) (Audio CD)

I have searched high and low for a Cabaret soundtrack that could be the perfect one. Unfortunately there is not a perfect one, but if there is one that makes it closest out of all the recordings I would have to say this is the one. I think Pryce and Dench do a wonderful job. Sally is done above average, unfortunately I think she disappoints on "Maybe This Time." (The soundtrack which has the only great recording of this song would have to be the movie) However, she is much better that the most of rest of the recordings (the other great one being the original broadway cast). The best part about this Cabaret is that every song is on this soundtrack, which is immpossible to find in any other Cabaret soundtrack. If you would like to find an alternative to this one, it would be to purchase the Original Broadway and movie version, otherwise this is probably the best choice for a Cabaret recording.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cabaret out of the closet!, July 26, 2001

By 

Mr. James A. Church (Berkshire, England, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cabaret (1999 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) (Audio CD)

Hi. You wonder why Earth is so popular? I think it is because there are recordings such as this around! And it is there I start my revue:

This version of Cabaret is a real special gem for Cabaret fans. It has a number of pushing and pulling factors. The C.D. is essentially utilising the original book, music, lyrics and orchestrations as conceived by the authors, performed on double C.D.

This Studio Cast has recorded the majority of the music featured in the original Vocal Score, including the much loved, and sometimes much missed Telephone Dance, Fruit Shop Dance and Sitting Pretty, despite missing a few incidentals but including Sallys Revolt and the Break Up (with dialogue!). All of the music is in its original orchestrations and played by the National Symphony Orchestra; large and well rehearsed! They performed the technically difficult Telephone Dance and Sitting Pretty with great, noticeable enthusiasm, as well as the Kick Line being very good- sometimes throughout the C.D. there are uncertainties with the tempo. There was an over-exaggerated reverb throughout, although one gets used to the echo after a while!

I particularly wanted to buy this C.D., instead of the original Broadway version, because of the performers: Dame Judi Dench (playing Fraulein Schneider); the lyricist Fred Ebb (playing Herr Schultz); Maria Friedman (playing Sally Bowles but best known for The Witches of Eastwick and the Joseph video); Jonathan Price (playing M.C.); Gregg Edelman (playing Cliff); and many other well-known faces!

Although I say that the performances were generally well-judged, I must admit that I was a little unsure of the standard of some of the singing, especially the Jewish shopkeeper with the broad American accent! At least he knows his words quite well! I was pleasantly surprised at Dame Judis performance. Although not a singer, her acting and accent are just perfect for the part and gains almost top marks (50 marks to be precise!). Some people say that Maria Friedman plays Sally a little over the top. I cant help but notice that Friedman found some of her songs a little bit too hard to sing for her range and that she lost a lot of emotion in Cabaret itself. She plays her, in some places, over the top, yes, but I agree with some that this is how Sally is supposed to be. Her eccentric performance got me laughing!

Another reason why I bought this C.D. was because they included many bonus tracks. They added some of the Cut Songs. These include Dont Go and I Dont Care Much. They also added Songs especially composed for the movie (Money, Money, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time etc) as well as a very interesting merge of Sitting Pretty and Money, Money as arranged for the 1987 revival. These being preformed, I think, by the Studio Cast. Excellent!

The written commentary with it is also interesting (simple yet detailed synopsis and information regarding the genesis of the show). The booklet also contains photos of the performers recording the C.D.

In summary: While singing isnt admittedly the best, this package is a library of entertainment for the Cabaret fan especially, and would be advisable to buy if you, e.g. knew the performers and would like to take advantage of the bonus tracks and variety of music, as well as if you want a more up-to-date recording (1993-2000).