Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast)
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Category: Music CD
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Music CD Cover
Edition: Music CDFormat: Cast Recording
CD Release Date: 1994-09-13
Music Label: Decca Broadway
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Overture / I Guess It Was 5 A.M.
- Let's Have Lunch
- Every Movie's A Circus
- Car Chase
- At The House On Sunset
- Surrender
- With One Look
- Salome
- The Greatest Star Of All
- Every Movie's A Circus (Reprise)
- Girl Meets Boy
- Back At The House On Sunset
- New Ways To Dream
- Completion Of The Script
- The Lady's Paying
- New Year's Eve
- The Perfect Year
- This Time Next Year
- New Year's Eve (Back At The House On Sunset)
- Entr' acte
- Sunset Boulevard
- There's Been A Call / Journey To Paramount
- As If We Never Said Goodbye
- Paramount Conversations / Surrender (Reprise)
- Girl Meets Boy (Reprise)
- Eternal Youth Is Worth A Little Suffering
- Who's Betty Schaefer?
- Betty's Office At Paramount
- Too Much In Love To Care
- New Ways To Dream (Reprise)
- The Phone Call
- The Final Scene
Free Music Notes for Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast)
Free Music Review: Comparison of London and Los Angeles CDs
Hit: 5 Stars
Sadly, I haven't seen the show on stage. I found it quite enjoyable on CD. Enough of the dialogue is included to follow the story. Plus both versions include printed lyrics and dialogue.
This is a terrific dramatic musical. I give 4 stars to Lloyd Webber, et al, for songs and lyrics. I would have gone 5 stars, but there are a few songs where they get a good angsty mood going, then suddenly turn to a softer, sweeter mood. I felt they could hold the angst longer. Example: Joe singing to Betty in the final scene (after the phone call).
I purchased both London and Los Angeles CDs. I listened to each carefully and tried not to imprint on one version. Result: I favor the Los Angeles cast, because they do a better job of conveying the emotion. I also recommend L.A. if you like a darker, angsty tale. London is good if you prefer a younger, more innocent Joe & Betty.
** London (4 stars)
1. Patti LuPone (Norma) has a better voice than Glenn Close.
2. Kevin Anderson (Joe) has a sweeter, younger, higher voice.
3. Meredith Braun (Betty) has a sweeter, higher voice.
** Los Angeles (5 stars)
1. Glenn Close (Norma) does a fabulous job of conveying emotion through her voice. Because she plays a "fading" 50-something, her less perfect voice didn't detract.
2. Alan Campbell (Joe) has a deeper, darker, smoother, more adult voice. He sings most of the songs and he's better at carrying the show.
Technical note: A Windows Media Player v 11.0 bug affects the London version: you can't easily rip all the songs into Media Player, because several have the same title. There may be a work-around, but I didn't find it.
London Version Link:
Sunset Boulevard (1993 Original London Cast)
Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast) Poster
All the benefits of the London version of Sunset Boulevard are as enjoyable in the U.S. premiere version--the luscious melodies, the wonderful atmosphere, the compelling story line (adapted from the 1950 Billy Wilder film), the spectacular staircase. OK, you don't get the staircase on this CD, but you do get the later, more polished show that debuted in Los Angeles in 1994. And despite the oft-repeated themes and occasionally banal lyrics, it remains one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's more satisfying works.The most obvious difference between the two recordings, of course, is the leading-lady role. Glenn Close doesn't have the big voice of Patti LuPone--and you will miss LuPone in a big number such as "With One Look"--but her portrayal of Norma Desmond is riveting, and LuPone is so distinctive it's almost distracting. In the supporting casts, London's Kevin Anderson is extremely laid back as Joe Gillis, while Meredith Braun is very girlish as the 22-year-old Betty Schaefer; both characterizations are appropriate, but their counterparts Alan Campbell and Judy Kuhn have stronger voices, as does L.A.'s George Hearn. Lastly, the Los Angeles production is a more complete recording, totaling 122 minutes compared to 96 for London. If you're looking to pick up one recording of Sunset Boulevard, this is the one. It's also available in a highlights version. --David Horiuchi
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