Customer Reviews

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1991 London Revival Cast)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Of the Joseph recordings I have heard, I feel compelled to say that this version with Jason Donovan in the eponymous title character is the best of all I've heard. The well-balanced cast gives an energetic performance of this Andrew Lloyd Webber score, even though the recording quality in some of the big production numbers is a little muddy that you cannot make out what is being sung. Nevertheless I feel this is an enjoyable and somewhat unbeatable recording of this well-loved score.

Jason Donovan gives a realistic portrayal of the eponymous dreamer-hero. Although his voice may not have the richness of Donny Osmond's portrayal, he acts the part convincingly and gives solid renditions of his songs. He really understands the essence of the character, and he never fails to incorporate this into his glossy polished performance. The fact that he performs the role with a sense of being naive gives him an edge over his contendors. Linzi Hateley as the Narrator is a real treat for the ears. She has the lung-power of the late-lamented Laurie Beechman of the Broadway cast, but she infuses her portrayal with charisma and a keen enjoyment of telling the story. Her intelligent portrayal of the Narrator is one of solid musical values and subtletly, as in the Act Two opener, Pharaoh Story.

Perhaps the most impressive part of this performance is David Easter's portrayal of the Elviessque Pharaoh. Not only does he give an authentic Elvis accent, but he really makes the part his own and includes a few touches of humour into his "Seven Fat Cows" song. Besides delivering a convincing Elvis impersonation, he acts the part and tickles the listener pink with his touches of humour, giving a deliciously ripe 3-D characterisation. The brothers, though they are more human on this recording than others, deliver powerful choral backings and make the most of their songs. Nicolas Colicos's "One More Angel," Philip Cox's "Canaan Days" and Johnny Amobi's "Benjamin Calypso" all resonate for an extremely long time in the memory. It's true that Nicolas Colicos and Philip Cox could be a little bit more authentic with his accent, but they are enjoyable standout potrayals nonetheless. Johnny Amobi's "Calypso,", I should say, is the best rendition of all those I've heard. The supporting chorus contribute superlative quality performances, though you can't hear them on some numbers, resulting from the slightly poor mixing job, that does not affect the high quality of the recorded sound. This doesn't matter as you can make out what they are singing, so keep the libretto booklet in handy. As for Aubrey Woods and his cameo appearances, he makes the parts of Jacob and Potiphar his own, and delivers an extremely fierce and powerful roar towards the end of Potiphar's song. The orchestrations are well done and well-characterised,. This is not as cheesy as some may think, as only two synthesisers were used.

Overall, I can safely say that because of the highest quality performance presented on this recording, if you want to buy just one record of this entertaining musical, you should make it this one. As much as I revere Donny Osmond's solid portrayal of Joseph, I know that nobody can ever go wrong with this solid, handsome and well-balanced interpretation that gives you a certain kind of spirit and atmosphere.

This recording is my fourth, and the only one I own of a British cast. By the time I got it, I knew the entire show inside out, from the Prologue to the Megamix. So I could really pay attention to the performers and not focus so much on the material.I found this cast to be a little too low energy during "Go Go Go, Joseph," and the Megamix, but I suppose that's because they're British, and Brits are more reserved than Americans. Jason Donovan is just as good a Joseph as Donny Osmond, as far as his performance goes. In fact, I think Donny might have been copying him in some parts. Jason seems to be the least reserved of the cast members. And I just love his accent. Linzi Hately is one of my two favorite narrators, Kelli Rabke being the other. I love the way she sings her parts in "Jacob and Sons/Joseph's Coat." Everyone else is all right. The brothers are all eccelant, exept for the one who sings the line "Let no tear be shed," in "One More Angel in Heaven." I don't care for basses.But the rest of them are good. For some reason, I think they seem more human on this recording than on some others. I like the brothers, in spite of what they do to Joseph, and I hate it when they are portrayed as thugs, or as violent by nature. That isn't a problem with this cast. And Johnny Amobi does the best "Benjamin Calypso" of all time. David Easter would be my favorite Pharaoh, but for that I thought I heard him call Joseph "Sugar" in one part. That dosn't sound like something I would call him if I were the Pharaoh. Aubrey Woods is the only Jacob/Potiphar that I know of who is good in both roles, and not just one. Overall, I suppose this recording is the best quality of the four that I own.

My parents should have known that I would become a musical theatre actress because at age 8, I walked down to the record shop on the corner and aclmly chose this cd. it was mainly because I thought the cover was pretty, but hey, it still counts, right?

I was hooked from Hately's first, breathy yet powerful words . . . Some folks dream of the wonders they'll do before their time on this planet is through . . .

My entire family knows Joseph inside and out, backwards and forwards, and I love it still, at age 20. That original copy was worn out, and so were my two subsequent copies. I have heard other ecordings and seen the dvd as well as participated in a few productions myself, but in my mind, none can compare to this, the definitive Joseph.

Hately screams out the high g's and belts the low f's. She rocks with emotion and swirls with despair along with Donovan, who aside from being great looking can also sing incredibly. He is really the only Joseph I have heard or seen who captures both the innocence of the 18 year old boy at the beginning and the wise, knowledgable man Jseph becomes at the end. Donovan's best song is the unforgettable any Dream will do, while Close Every Door and joseph's Deams are teriffic as well. Hately's best would be her Prologue and Pharaoh Story, which is the best song in the entire show.

Forget Donny Osmond, Philip Scholfield and Michael Damian! Jason Donovan is THE Joseph. Hear him, and bow before his awesome vocal talents. Hey, I'm exaggerating, but at least listen to the recording that changed my like, okay?

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is Andrew Lloyd Webber's first staged musical work and his first staged collaboration with his best lyricist Tim Rice. The very first musical they wrote together, called `The likes of us', didn't reach the stage at that time and was put there for a single special performance in 2005, luckily, captured on CD and also available here at Amazon.

With `Joseph', it all began when in 1967 Lloyd Webber and his friend Rice were commissioned by the head of music at Colet Court School, London, to write a religious concert for the school choir. Joseph was first presented in 1968 and, after further performances at St Paul's Cathedral and the Roundhouse in London, and the Edinburgh Festival, opened in the West End in 1973. It wasn't much of a success, however, until Lloyd Webber bought back the rights to it in the early 90-is, reworked it and put on stage a very successful production that has been put in many other countries in the world and filmed for a special DVD.

The plot takes motives from a well known biblical Old Testament story of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob, patriarch of Israel, and the coat of many colours that Jacob gave to Joseph as a sign that he is the special one among his sons. Joseph's older brothers became jealous and sold Joseph to be a slave in Egypt, telling their father that he's been killed by a passing goat. After being imprisoned by his equally jealous master, Joseph helps the pharaoh in solving his enigmatic dreams and becomes his first adviser who saves Egypt from the great famine. Back in Canaan, Joseph's brothers and father are starving and so the brothers go to Egypt where food is in abundance. Joseph recognizes them, but not vice versa. After he learns them a lesson because of their past behaviour, Joseph is reunited with his brothers and father in Egypt.

This is one of those Lloyd Webber shows that are aimed at everybody, the young and the old (just like `Cats' or `Starlight Express'. The songs are mostly pop and a merry note can be found in most of them. Also, this show is supposed to be fun, so there are numerous musical styles in it. For example, there is a country song that the brothers sing; at the other point they sing a French chanson with the French accents. The pharaoh sings like Elvis and one song is in a calypso tone. Overall, it's a nice whole of diverse songs and singing styles. Tim Rice has written his funniest lyrics, blending beautifully with the score. The most notable songs are "Any dream will do" and "Close every door" sung by Joseph and the big number "Jacob and sons" .

This London cast recording features Jason Donovan, the Australian pop singer as Joseph and Linzi Hateley as a female narrator. Donovan's voice isn't as strong as that of the American Joseph Donny Osmond, but his voice has the boyish charm that Osmond lacks. Hately's soprano follows the speedy tempo of her songs with ease. She hits all the high notes with ease and remains one of the best Joseph narrators to date. The children choirs add a special touch to most of the songs.

The booklet contains photos and full lyrics. Unfortunately, the sound on this original CD release is not the best. Luckily, there is a remastered one released in 2005, so I would suggest getting that one.

The flashy production of Joseph can be seen at the DVD of the same name with Donny Osmond playing the lead. Joseph remains a part of Webber-Rice trilogy that cannot be overlooked.

Jason Donovan and the vivacious Linzi Hately do this classic a great service I just love the opening and the megamix at the end.
Hately opens the production with a charming prologue about dreams coming true, followed by a well synthesized and smooth rendition of Any Dream Will Do, possibly the best known song from this production.
The lively Jacob and Sons/Joseph's Coat both speeds up the pace and introduces us to the basics of the story, as do Joseph's Dreams.
One more Angel In Heaven is done here with a strong country & western emphasis, and Potiphar comes through in a way that makes the transition from Canaan to Ancient Egypt come alive from your music player.
Close Every Door is done quite beautifully, as the pace slows down to this sad song.
Go, Go, Go Joseph adds a high energy flavour to this upbeat and lively score. Pharaoh's Story and Stone the Crows combine an Elvis syle with musical theatre, and Benjamin Caplypso is done with a really autnhentic sounding Carribean/Calypso style.
The Finale and Joseph megamix combine all the talent of the cast for a stunning final splash, of a production that splashes with colour.

Of the more recent recordings of Joseph, this London revival recording is by far the most superior! Nothing against Michael Damian or Donny Osmond, but Jason Donovan really brings an emotional level to this production that I've not seen before. Once upon a time a hugely popular daytime drama actor in Austrailia, Donovan and fellow soap actor Kylie Minogue hit it big in the recording industry. While neither of their talents we really marketed properly (they we force fed songs from same outfit that produced Rick Astley), their voices are really quite remarkable. Donovan's voice is superb and Joseph really let's us hear that. Get this recording and you'll never need another of this, Lloyd Webber's one and only really really great musical!

Arrived on time, and just as ordered. What more could one ask? I already knew that I loved almost everything by Andrew Lloyd Webber

I was actualy in this musical and the music is a jaw droper its increadibul. i would recomend this to any one with a wide range of musical likings! i give it five starst and 2 thumbs up

Webber's rather slight musical needs the best possible talent to be successful. The gimmicky score and too precious lyrics can only be salvaged by energetic performances and this version does not have talent to support the play's faults. Jason Donovan is an adequate Joseph but seems to play the role so straight that the humanity in the character is lost. Linzi Hately's narrator is no match for others recorded in the role and David Easter's Pharoh has very little of The King in him. Not recorded with clarity, and with a rather bizarre club mix at the end, this version could be missed unless you want a keepsake for this particular production.

This recording is kinda cheesy. A lot of the songs use a synthesizer, and it sounds like music that a toddler would use to learn the colors or the alphabet. This version isn't all bad, though; I reeeeeely like "Close Every Door" and "Who's the Thief". They're a lot more powerful than the rest, because they've got a lot less of that toddler-ish style. The CD is not entirely bad, but I would advise you to buy another version, because this musical is way to good to be ruined by a cheesy recording of it.