Finian's Rainbow (1947 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Ella Logan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 30, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004THLV
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,948 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #52 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Classic Musicals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finian's Rainbow Revisited, September 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Finian's Rainbow (1947 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

I fell head over heels in love with the score (and the sound on the remastered CD)immediatly upon first hearing of it. The recording (and the score) blew me away.

I just picked up a copy of the earlier CD edition of this recording, as a point of reference. Since I had only heard the recording for the first time a few days ago, my ears were attuned to the newer CD version.

First thing I noticed was the difference in order of songs. Nothing all that huge, but still significant. I also noticed that the voices in the later CD version come across in a sound quality astounding for recordings of 1947. Actually, when I was listening (on my way to work) to the CD for the first time, I had to pull over and examine the CD case. I had always understood that the recording was originally released on 78's: but what I heard on the CD was decidedly not 78's sound.
And this is coming from one who knows something about 78's...I'm practically knee deep in my collection of them.

I think the difference in the sound on the remastered CD and the sound I generally expect (and totally love, in its own right) from 78's is due to the going back to nearly virgin acetate discs as the masters for the CD.

Acetates tended to sound wonderful for one or two playings...but after that...they were much worse than shellac or metal masters...or even LP's (as far as surface noise and distortion were concerned). But if Sony tapped into acetates stored away unplayed for more than fifty years for the source of the CD...that would explain the amazing sound.

I did find some reviews on line which stated that there was distortion in the newer CD...expecially on Ella Logan's part. I don't exactly agree with that. I don't hear distortion (on my equipment, at least). What I do hear is more of the unique quality of her voice which may have been lost if the recordings were to be sweetened by filtering (and some of the vocal overtones thereby shaved off) in an attempt to reduce surface noise on the issued 78's.

On the acetates (and thereby, on the remastered CD edition), I notice a bit of "breathiness" and "buzz" in the voice which was probably evident when Logan was heard in life up close (and she sounds like she was miked pretty close up on the original recordings). When I listen to the earlier CD edition (as well as on the 1962 LP reissue), the voice sounds sweeter; but not better. I'd still take the newer CD version over any other incarnation of the 1947 Original Broadway Cast recording. Hands down.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Notes on the remaster, November 6, 2002

By 

Pope (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Finian's Rainbow (1947 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

First off, if you HAVEN'T heard the remastered and expanded original cast album of Finian's Rainbow, don't fret; you aren't missing much. This remaster DOES bring to light many nuances hidden on the previous CD version, which is what we usually expect in a remastered CD. I would be more than happy to give this CD 5 stars, except that the remastering process also brought the SURFACE NOISE on the original recording discs to light as well.

According to the booklet, the sources used for this CD are not the same recording discs used since the album was released in 1947. This CD is taken from alternate discs (of the same takes) that were stored unplayed for more than 50 years. These discs supposedly had fewer marks and blemishes on the playing surfaces than the original discs. The noise is not a very major problem, but it is evident on this version where it was not on the previous CD release. The distortion and noise in the show's best song, "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" is pretty bad. There is a previously unreleased track on this CD which, according to the booklet, had a swishing noise on the recording disc. This swish was digitally edited out and is not audible on that particular track. Why the same treatment wasn't applied to the rest of the scratches and pops is beyond me.

If you can get beyond the surface noise (I can't), the album is not too bad. The cast sings very well. But I would suggest that you look for the previous CD release of Finian. The monaural sound on that album is very clean and clear, with little or no evidence whatsoever of surface noise.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ella Logan and the classic Lane-Harburg score, January 27, 2004

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Finian's Rainbow (1947 Original Broadway Cast) (Audio CD)

This lovely reissue of FINIAN'S RAINBOW is a real treat. The Burton Lane-E.Y. Harburg score includes classic numbers like "Look to the Rainbow", "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?", "Something Sort of Grandish" and "That Old Devil Moon".

It catapulted the beguiling Ella Logan to Broadway stardom, in the plum lead role of Sharon; and also featured a commanding performance by David Wayne as the leprechaun Og.

This new reissue of the peerless 1947 original cast album has been remastered from the original, almost-pristine acetate master discs, which had remained untouched since the recording was originally made. These acetate discs contained alternate 'takes' of the numbers as well as additional music cues and dialogue. Presented here for the first time is the complete "That Great Come-and-Get-It Day". There are also demos of 3 songs performed by E.Y. Harburg himself.

Highly-recommended. [SONY SK-89208]