Customer Reviews

Guys and Dolls (1995 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording)

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4 star:		(1)
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Guys and Dolls has been very well served on CD. This recording on Jay Records is a diamond in the rough. Several years ago there was a Broadway revival starring Nathan Lane and Peter Gallagher. From that wonderful production came a great CD, which every fan of this musical should own. The subject of this review is a studio recording made in 1995. It is in everyway just as outstanding a CD as the Broadway revival recording. In it are Kim Criswell as Adelaide, and Emily Loesser (Frank's daughter) as Sister Sarah. Both sing their roles with idiomatic charm. An added bonus to this very complete (2 CD) recording are new renditions of some tunes found only in the movie (starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando), including "A Woman in Love". It bears repeating, grab this recording before it goes out of print. I promise buyers will be delighted with this gem.

This is probably the best recording of this show I have heard. The singers are great and Sarah is good. The singer has trouble in a few spots but overall still performs Sarah better than the other recordings I have. The orchestra on this CD is absolutely incredible. They have a hot, tight sound and make the show come alive! An interesting point about this CD is that the music is obviously extended since a lot of the music doesn't appear in the original score. There is a song called "Pet me papa, Papa pet me now" that is excellent. I don't think you will be disappointed in this CD set at all!

This is certainly the definitive recording of Mr. Loesser's music. It is likely the most complete recorded version we have. I personally prefer the more modernly orchestrated 1992 Cast Recording, but this is definitely the most accurate.

There are a few performances that (in my opinion) are not the best we've heard. Stubby Kaye is still the best Nicely-Nicely. Nathan Lane was a great Nathan Detroit. This album shines though with Emily Loesser's fantastic performance as Sarah. She sings the role as if she was born to do so - it easy for her. Every song she sings is a highlight, and I often end up getting just a bit excited if I know one of her songs is queued up.

All in all this particular album is good. Ms. Loesser is the highlight, and undoubtedly the accuracy of the music will prove useful to those producing the show in theatres (the 1992 Cast Recording is good, but don't get used to it, directors!). It is certainly worth owning.

Without question, the best played and sung performance to date. And don't forget, the most complete. Grateful to all involved for serving Frank Loesser's beautiful, witty and gutsy score so carefully. Proves that there are no reasons to change a musical score in any way to serve a production. I am not a purist (although I am a classically trained pianist), yet stick to the original all others who dare -- or should I say can! The orchestra is superb and very much alive. I hope that other musical shows that have not yet been given the full score recording treatment get similar attention to detail should they show up on disc.

As I happily begin re-listening to this delightful 2-CD soundtrack, I can't help but be grateful to the powers-that-be who were wise enough to produce this recording. Every GUYS AND DOLLS fan should own it, because it is, in my humble opinion, the definitive recording. It is far superior to the others I have heard and own in its completeness and in its trueness to Loesser's score, which is such a pleasure to hear. Bottomline: It's brilliant! Order yours NOW!!

I love this musical, and have always lamented (no pun intended) the fact that half of Loesser's music rarely ends up on Cast Recordings. This studio recording rectifies all of these discrepencies and provides us with some truly unique and memorable audio performances; there are even a few bonus tracks for the history buffs in the crowd. But for me, the true reason to buy this CD is to hear the full score and the full orchestrations of Runyonland, Havana and the Crap Shooters Dance. As a director who stages a lot of musicals and who has performed the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson six times to date I can tell you that this CD is a real asset for show preparation as well as pure enjoyment. If you're a stickler for consistent accents you may be disappointed at times with some of the vocals, but it ain't for lack of tryin'. These artists are first rate and, though sometimes miscast, in my humble opinion, the effort and the artistry is still there without a doubt. I'm sure that the late Frank Loesser must be smiling broadly to know that his entire creation is completely captured once and for all for us to enjoy. And I'm sure that Frank wouldn't be too unhappy that Emily Loesser stars in the piece, either! Buy it and enjoy!

Listen, and you are bound to be humming this play all day long."pet me poppa, poppa pet me goood,"