On the Town (1992 London Concert Cast)

Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Betty Comden & Adolph Green (Composer), Michael Tilson Thomas (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Thomas Hampson (Performer), Tyne Daly / Samuel Ramey (Performer), David Garrison (Performer), Frederica von Strade (Performer), Kurt Ollman / Evelyn Lear (Performer), London Voices (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Thomas Hampson, Tyne Daly / Samuel Ramey, David Garrison, Frederica von Strade, Kurt Ollman / Evelyn Lear, et al.
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas
• Composer: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden & Adolph Green
• Audio CD (September 14, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records / DG
• ASIN: B000001GI4
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,987 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. On The Town: I Feel Like I'm Not Out of Bed Yet

2. On The Town: New York, New York

3. On The Town: Presentation of Miss Turnstiles

4. On The Town: Gabey's Comin' - Pickup Song

5. On The Town: Taxi Number: Come Up to My Place

6. On The Town: Carried Away

7. On The Town: Lonely Town

8. On The Town: High School Girls

9. On The Town: Lonely Town - Pas de deux

10. On The Town: Carnegie Hall Pavane

11. On The Town: I Can Cook Too

12. On The Town: Lucky to be Me

13. On The Town: Times Square: Finale, Act 1

14. On The Town: So Long, Baby

15. On The Town: I Wish I Was Dead

16. On The Town: Ya Got Me

17. On The Town: Ain't Got No Tears Left

18. On The Town: Pitkin's Song

19. On The Town: Subway Ride And Imaginary Coney Island

20. On The Town: The Great Love Displays Himself

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly competent studio cast recording of the show, June 13, 2002

By 

A. Andersen (Bellows Falls, VT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Town (1992 London Concert Cast) (Audio CD)

While the vocal performances here do not match the re-assembled original cast recording of 1960 in terms of dramatic and comedic interpretations, Tilson Thomas' reading of the score is every bit as good as Bernstein's himself in the 1960 recording. In terms of tempi, rhythmns, dynamics and sound this orchestral reading is the twin of Bernstein's. So one asks oneself, why assemble a studio cast to do it over again when the original is so exceptional??? We may never know the answer but the reading which was simulcast on PBS was amusing at moments, thanks to Comeden and Green's narration and filling in synopses of the dialogue lines skipped over, and the performance was well received by the audience. Here it is re-recorded without the audience.

The only thing I can point to is the inclusion of three numbers dropped out of town before the show's opening - Gabey's Comin/Pickup Song, Ain't Got No Tears Left, and The Intermission's Great. These make up for 7:54 minutes rightfully deemed unworthy of inclusion in the frozen show (especially the latter which is stupid beyond belief - although R&H stole the concept for their Intermission Talk in ME AND JULIET). The nightclub numbers So Long, Baby and I'm Blue are extended 31 seconds and 19 seconds respectively (they were shortened by these 50 seconds to fit onto the 1960 LP release.

So what do you have here that you don't have on the 1960 cast album? 50 seconds of the original show and 7:54 minutes of songs never used and of less than stellar quality.

Very little reason to prefer this over the original, especially with the vocal performances not up to par. Small wonder it went out of print rather quickly. Stick to the 1960 recording.

(For purists, that original LP release was unable to fit two numbers recorded for it onto the two sides of vinyl - DO RE DO and I UNDERSTAND. The former was added when the LP was re-released (to accompany the 1971 revival) and when it made its debut on CD, I UNDERSTAND joined it for a complete recording.)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes, this is the great recording of "On the Town"!!!!!!!!!!!, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: On the Town (1992 London Concert Cast) (Audio CD)

I love this recording because there are many songs composed by Comden/Green/Bernstein. I think this musical is lovely, and far better than the movie version starring Gene Kelly. But compared with the musicals in these days, it seems to be old and it's not good to stage again. But you want to hear this musical, it's a must buy.

Frederica von Stade, who have sung Maria in "The Sound of Music" and Magnolia in "Show Boat," sings well the role of Claire. I like her singing very much. She and the rest of cast sings beautiful songs like "Carried Away" "Some other time." I can't understand why the former reviewer hate the singers. They are great, aren't they? Marie McLaughlin (why do they make recording CD by her?) and Samuel Raimy, Thomas Hampson are very special singer!

And, Leonard Bernstein is the very special person for all the people lives in Sapporo, Japan. Because he established "Pacific Music Festival" in Sapporo, 1989. Thanks to him, we can hear the soloists of Wiener Philharmoniker at the live or Michael Tilson Thomas' conducting. So, this album means special things to me.

You did a great job, Mr. Bernstein!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Recording, August 19, 2002

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Town (1992 London Concert Cast) (Audio CD)

This is a good recording of this very enjoyable work. The quality of singing is fine and the orchestral work is particularly good. The music itself is really fun and well above the level of the great majority of Broadway musicals, including better known works like Oklahoma. This is the first of a group of excellent musicals; On The Town, Wonderful Town, and West Side Story, written by Bernstein and collaborators in the 40s and 50s. All are excellent and incorporated music and dance in innovative ways. West Side Story is the best known and most performed but I believe that the music in On The Town is the best of the group. All of these musicals, in one way or another, celebrate New York City.