Little Shop Of Horrors: Original Cast Album (1982 Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Alan Menken (Composer), Little Shop of Horrors Pit Orchestra (Orchestra), Martin Robinson (Performer), Lee Wilkof (Performer), Ron Taylor (Performer), Hy Anzell (Performer), Sheila Kay Davis (Performer), Ellen Greene (Performer), Leilani Jones (Performer), Franc Luz (Performer), Jennifer Leigh Warren (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Martin Robinson, Lee Wilkof, Ron Taylor, Hy Anzell, Sheila Kay Davis, et al.
• Orchestra: Little Shop of Horrors Pit Orchestra
• Composer: Alan Menken
• Audio CD (August 25, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B000000OMF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,843 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This version of the soundtrack to the hit musical is from the stage production, which ended rather differently than the movie: just about the entire cast (except for the backup singers) winds up as lunch for the hungry plant. As a result, this CD lacks the song "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space," which was written for the film. Instead, the recording closes with "Don't Feed the Plants," which is much more in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the musical. Little Shop of Horrors explores a wide variety of musical styles, from the rhumba-inflected "Mushnik and Son" to the I'm-on-Broadway ballads "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly Seymour." The most spirited numbers are those that feature the trio of backup singers, who perform on the title track, "Skid Row," "Da-Doo," "The Meek Shall Inherit," and other numbers with considerable energy. The recording loses something if you haven't actually seen the stage production, but hearing this CD will give you an excellent reason to do so. --Genevieve Williams

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An exuberant pop musical, differing from the film... January 13, 2005

By M J Heilbron Jr. VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was lucky enough to see this iteration of "Little Shop of Horrors" in it's original incarnation way Off Broadway back in 1982.

I loved it then, and love it now.

This remastered recording of the original show is cleanly done; this is as good as it's ever gonna sound.

Since now I am more familiar with the film version, there were a few interesting differences.

First, this is more literate - more witty. There is more dexterous wordplay here; you'll find yourself chuckling at lines non-existent in the film. Since the stage version couldn't rely on visuals in the way the film did, this stuff "fills in" a lot around the edges of the story.

Second, the ending is fatalistic...I seem to remember the ceiling covered with Audrey tentacles at the end of the show.

Third, the singing in the film is more over-the-top than this version. Compare Steve Martin's dentist to this one. This one is way more subdued, though no less demented! "Suddenly Seymour', and I realize this may be heresy in some parts, is simply better in the film...the tempo change fits the song, and Ellen Greene's vocals soar. The Greek chorus girls are a bit more sassy in song in the film, although they have more to do here.

Fourth, so many things in the film are "shown" to you, while here there are these delightful patter songs...like the one about his TV contracts and exposures.

Fifth, there are songs unique to each show. They've been mentioned in other reviews, but I have to tell you, they're more fun if you discover them on your own.

A hearty enthusiastic recommendation on this excellent remastered version!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a Happy Ending. February 3, 2005

By tvtv3 TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

The original cast recording of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS does not have a happy ending. The musical ends with the plants taking over the world and eating just about everything in sight. Nevertheless, we do get to hear some good music along the way making this modernized take on a Faustian tale a little easier to swallow. The songs and lyrics in the show were written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman and is just as good, if not better than anything they ever wrote for Disney (maybe Little Shop depressed them too much and that's why they started working for the Mouse). My favorite songs on the album are:

"Skid Row (Downtown"--a tune which embodies the longing of
achievement that every small town nerd or inner-city nobody
has ever felt.

"Somewhere That's Green"--a lovely song that Audrey sings expressing what she really wants out of life.

"Feed Me (Git It)"--the song where Audrey II begins to reveal her true nature.

"Suddenly, Seymour"--the song that every nice guy wishes the girl he loves would sing about him.

Since this is the original Broadway cast album, there are numbers missing from here that are in the movie and in the revival show. But, this was the first (well, Roger Corman's movie was first) and for that, it's a classic gem.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Musical! July 6, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

Of all the incarnations of this story, from Roger Corman's peculiar, delightful B&W quickie, to Disney's lavish adaptation of this musical version, the unadulterated La Mama stage production is the finest. There is an edge to this, a much darker shading, that the cutesified Disney version lacks (even compare Ellen Greene's versions of "Suddenly, Seymour" -- in the movie shy and restrained, here -- she knocks your socks off). And in changing the story to make Seymour more likable, and to give the film a happier ending, they miss the major point: this is, in essence, a retelling of the Faust legend. Seymour sells his soul, and Audrey II is, in fact, Mephistopheles. This ending, complete with Crystal, Chiffon & Ronette's "Subsequent to the Events" Greek chorus and the warning "Don't Feed the Plants" is much more plausible and dramatically satisfying than that in the film; the singing and interpretive performances are uniformly excellent, better than in the film; and the one song they add to the film is no consolation for the ones they drop from the stage production (such as the delightful "Mushnick & Son") -- in short, this is a great recording, and one can only wish they'd filmed the play at the LaMama in the East Village.