 | |
List Price: $17.98 | | Label: Angel Records
Salesrank: 18310
Released: February 20, 1996 |
| Our Price: $9.96 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
|
| Media: Audio CD |
|
Company - A Musical Comedy (1995 Broadway Revival Cast) Track Listing:
1. Overture
2. Company
3. The Little Things You Do Together
4. Sorry-Grateful
5. You Could Drive a Person Crazy
6. Company (reprise)
7. Have I Got a Girl for You
8. Someone Is Waiting
9. Another Hundred People
10. Getting Married Today
11. Bobby Baby (introduction)
12. Marry Me a Little
13. Bobby Baby (finale)
14. Side by Side by Side / What Would We Do Without You?
15. Poor Baby
16. Tick Tock
17. Barcelona
18. Ladies Who Lunch, The
19. Company (reprise II)
20. Being Alive
21. Bows
Editorial Review:
Expectations ran high for this 25th anniversary revival of Company. Boyd Gaines's Robert was surrounded by a solid cast, though once again the women particularly shone: on "Barcelona" Jane Krakowski shows why she was a respected Broadway actress way before television discovered her in Ally McBeal, while Veanne Cox navigates the treacherous rapids of "Getting Married Today" with the assurance of a true New Yorker for whom singing fast is routine (does she even breathe?). Debra Monk won't make us forget Elaine Stritch on "The Ladies Who Lunch," but she's more than adequate as she roars down this ultimate showstopper. "Marry Me a Little," not in the 1970 version, is included. Of the three Company recordings that are widely available, this is the only one to include the complete lyrics. --Elisabeth Vincentelli
Company - A Musical Comedy (1995 Broadway Revival Cast) Reviews:
what happend? 
2007-02-22 - with the roster of big named broadway talent ,you would think this revival,which is closer to the original than any other production,would make for a good recording. it did not.everyone seems to be not in good form. even the usually amazing la chanze cranks out a lackluster marta.
the orchastrations are nowhere as good as the original.it soft of reminds me of a community theater production of actors trying to play the characters so differently from the originals that they end up underdone. there are very few standouts.....actually only one. jane krakowski, who i believe would have been a better marta.anyways, buy this cd if you are a completist.if you need the song marry me a little buy the putting it together cast recording the voices is better and the arrangement is even better
Mixed Company 
2005-03-24 - It took 25 years for a Broadway revival of COMPANY to happen. When it did it was a production by the Roundabout Theatre Company announced for a limited run and though there were rumors the show would transfer to another Broadway theatre, this was not to be. There are changes to the text and orchestration here. The orchestra is reduced to fourteen players, less than half the size of the original. Recording techniques have changed since 1970 and the singers now all use isolation booths. The result on the record is not the sound of all voices blending into an ensemble but of 11 individual voices. This is most apparent in You Could Drive a Person Crazy. Debra Monk sounds too young and lacks world-weary quality needed for Joanne and screams too much in The Ladies Who Lunch, but La Chanze makes a wonderful Marta, belting out Another Hundred People in a style all her own.
Sondheim mad a few lyric changes. "Much the simplest of crimes" becomes "much the cleanest of crimes." And the line "I could understand a person if a person was a fag" was changed to "if he happened to be gay."
Boyd Gaines had been sidelined during the run of the revival with throat problems. He shows no sign of strain in any f his tracks, and this version restored Marry Me a Little for him to sing at the end of Act One. If the others don't quite match the original cast, they at least offer an interesting alternate.
It's the little things
2004-09-27 - I'd like to get proponents of the three versions of "Company" I'm aware of - the OBC, 1996 London, and this 1996 Broadway Revival Cast - and put them in a room together to "discuss" which one is the best. And better, put a large table in the center of the room, piled high with fruits and doughnuts and the sort, and see how long it takes for the food to start flying.
I actually have all three of those recordings. An ex gave me a cassette of the 1996 Revival Cast, then she bought me the 1996 London cast CD, and after the OBC was remastered on CD, I went and bought that for myself (after we broke up). Each recording has its high points, and in a geeky song-to-song comparison, each recording has songs which are done better than on the other two. But this 1996 Revival Cast has the least. It doesn't help that the actor who plays Bobby is kind of bland, and his "Being Alive" was a disappointment - a song that when I listen through line by line, listening to what it says, usually gets me all verklempt. "Getting Married Today" is the most technically proficient performance of that song, and still amazing at that, but the singer sacrifices the desperation and frantic emotion needed to really deliver that song.
On the plus side, I don't think there should ever be a comparison to Elaine Stritch's "Ladies Who Lunch", I think our panel can agree to put down the tomatoes and kruellers and give that song to the Original Broadway Cast. Given that, the 1996 Revival version is quite well executed and hits all the emotions and nuances required of that most nuanced of songs. This version is the only one that makes me laugh *every* time she hits that last 'I'll drink to that' - you know the one. It's a little over the top, but it's so gold. I liked the version of "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" best on this recording because it has the cleanest execution and the women really hit the Andrews Sisters-esque close harmony, the precision of which makes the song work just a tiny bit better than the other versions. It's a competent recording, and an update on the OBC (there are more parallels between the two Broadway recordings than with the London), and it's obviously a better sound recording.
My favorite of the three? I know I'm gonna get pelted with jelly doughnuts, but I like the London best *throws up arms defensively*. It's the little things in that recording, like the 4 bars of swing, breaking the rhythm in one of the chase sections of "What Would We Do Without You?", that I'm always listening for now, and isn't on either of the Broadway recordings. There are a whole bunch of just little things I listen for that I like when I put on the CD - a syncopation, an inflection, a different bit of orchestration - oh, the orchestration on the Revival cast is excellent, a lot of little subtle additions. Finally, I liked Adrian Lester's Bobby on the London recording the best because he just sounds very natural, whereas the other Bobby's sound more like formal singers. It's the little things.
A True Original After All These Years 
2004-08-02 - Nearly 35 years after its original Broadway premiere, Stephen Sondheim's "Company" remains one of the most unique and daring works of musical theatre ever. The true definition of a concept musical, the show enschews a traditional, linear plot in favor of vignettes that offer insight into the lives and psyches of married Manhatannites. The show is centered around Bobby, who is the only one of his friends who isn't married and trying to figure out why.
Of course, such a daring concept wouldn't matter if the show wasn't any good, but Sondheim has written a stellar score for this one. Although it initially isn't as melodic and memorable as some of Sondheim's more famous works ("Sweeney Todd," "Into the Woods"), repeat listenings reveal a depth and subtlety that is unfortunately uncommon in most theatre scores. Unassuming songs like "Sorry-Grateful" and "Someone is Waiting" may not instantly grab the listener, but if you surrender yourself to them you will find deeply moving and insightful songs about love and longing.
That's not the say that the show doesn't have its fair share of showstoppers. The title track grabbed me from the moment to first notes were sung, with its endless rounds and lines of counterpoint proving what a master of songcraft Sondheim truly is. And of course, the show ends with "Being Alive," one of Sondheim's most haunting and beautiful melodies ever.
Endless debate has been waged over the merits of this cast and the original, and the simple answer is that the original cast is slightly better. This is only natural, since Sondheim has been quoted as saying he writes for specific actors and believes that if you truly write a great part for a particular person, then anyone can succeed at it. Which this revival proves in spades, with the entire cast doing an excellent job with the difficult music.
However, for some odd reason all the best songs in this show seem to go to women. Veanne Cox does a fabulous job on "Getting Married Today," with such crisp diction and such a frenzied edge to her voice you have to wonder if she ever breathes. LaChanze belts out "Another Hundred People" with confidence, and Debra Monk expertly handles the showstopping "Ladies Who Lunch." She won't replace Elaine Stritch (no one will), but on her own merits Ms. Monk is more than capable of handling the role.
Sondheim buffs need this CD because it includes "Marry Me a Little," and song added after the show's 1970 New York premiere, as well as the full lyrics. It also sports a crack cast performing one of Sondheim's better scores. Newbees might do better to check out the original cast album first, but this revival is certainly worth a listen.
A different side of Sondheim
2004-07-14 - If you want to see a new side to sondheim then I truly suggest this CD. It is different from his touching and more profound musicals. Bobby is the only person who is single amongst a group of friends, and each of these friends are giving him advice and trying to get him married. The score includes great musical numbers from a variety of well-knowns including Jane Krakowski, Robert Westenberg, and LaChanze. Highlights on this CD as opposed to the one from the 70's version are the addition of Bobby's number Marry Me A Little. Also Getting Married Today is a hilarious number done with in a deadpan style reminiscent of Madeleine Kahn. I promise that you will not be dissappointed. The only thing that could make this CD better would be the presence of Elaine Stritch, just because she is amazing.
