Customer Reviews

Hair: The Musical - 1993 Original London Cast Recording

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

 

 

Had previously owned Broadway cast version on LP. Compared to that recording, songs on this one have less life and exhuberance, or are overproduced. If Amazon posted samples of "Hair", "Where Do I Go" or "I Got Life" or some others, you could hear the overproduction (more chorus and orchestra, less spirit from the singer). I bought this CD because of the great reviews on Amazon for this version and accusations of bad production quality for the Broadway cast version CD. This one also has a lot of non-musical dialog, which hurts the musical flow. I played this one once and haven't played it since. I'll go get the version I grew up with.

This CD is, in my opinion, the best recording of the music from "HAIR". The arrangements are very good and does not have the "noise" heard on the original Broadway CD due to limitaions in 1960's technology. It also contains all of the songs from the show and some dialogue. The only downside to it is when "Flesh Failures" segues into "Let the Sunshine In", the volume drops instead of building like on previous recordings.

This has got to be the best recording of HAIR EVER!!! The ensemble singing is spectacular, the solo songs are great the the orchestrations are fantastic. John Barrowman does a fantastic job a Claude. His rendition of "Where Do I Go?" had got to be the best version of that song I've ever heard. Now, eventhough this CD gets 5 stars, I do have two complaints... the guy who plays Berger cannot sing very well (in my opinion) and where is "Don't Put It Down?" That is a great song. I am greatful for the inclusion of "All You Have To Do," and "Dead End." Both are really great songs. Basically, if you own the other three Hair CD's, (which I do), then you have to get this version. It's definately better than the HORRIBLE Original London Cast CD. The singing on that one is awful. And, it's got a better sound reproduction than the OBCR. All you have to do is give up all desire and BUY THIS CD!!!

I thought this CD beats every other recording of Hair - including all the foreign versions. The new dialogue brings back a lot of memories. The cast is superb! The band is sensational! Although it's a bit too expensive, it is absolutely worth owning.

I got a copy of this and was REALLY excited because of the new songs. I also heard that it included doses of dialogue. It came in the mail, and I love this CD. The cast is pretty good and so is the band. It is not reminescant of the horrible 1980's Australian version of 1990, I believe. "All You Have to Do" Is good, so is the War instrumental following it. The Australian version sounds like it is being accompanied with bagpipes!
I love the new version of Dead End. I have a few things to say about it though. I found it a bit too glossy and overproduced for Hair. Hair is the defination of RAW, experimental theatre. Today's theater ruins a lot, like Cabaret which came to my town. It was way too glossy. This Hair seems like the phony broadway musicals of today, which is slightly ok. I am only saying that because phony broadway did give Hair a new style. I still think you should get it. This should go in every Hair collection. I like the dialogue. As previously said, it could have been overdone, like the 1968 Mexican cast album which included most of the dialogue, and gets very tiring after listening to at least half an hour of it. I think they put the right amount in it, and includes one of my favorite parts, the dialogue before The Flesh Failures. The cover art and booklet is great to, some people want it to be the new Hair logo. Also, this is one of the most recent recordings. I say don't bother with the new benefit CD. Maybe, the epitome of Hair. Get this and the 2001 Vienna Cast.

I've grown out of most of my adolescent obsessions, but my love and collection of "Hair" soundtracks remains. In my opinion, this 1993 London Cast recording rates as one of the best; I would even go as far to say it ranks higher than the Original London Cast recording.

What I like about this particular soundtrack is the frequent doses of dialogue before songs like "Donna." It could have easily been overdone, but the producers of this soundtrack seem to have found just the right balance. The dialogue makes the characters and the story tangible....so tangible that I'm hungry to see a live production of "Hair" again soon. Instances like Claude Bukowski's pals reminding him that he's not from Manchester, Berger introducing his longing for Donna, and the Tribe's quick tirade leading into "I'm Black" really make this soundtrack stand out.

This is also one of the few "Hair" soundtracks that includes Claude's brief dialogue upon becoming invisible to his comrades during "The Flesh Failures." Call me picky, call me histrionic, but I've always found these lines -though admittedly melodramatic- really moving! I've always wondered why they weren't included in every "Hair" soundtrack.

I'm a sucker & a mark for this musical; while I have never heard a "Hair" soundtrack that I disliked, I can honestly say this version will blast through my speakers as frequently as the Original Broadway Cast and the French Cast. This CD is well worth the price tag.