| Title: | Welcome to the CD Notes Conference |
| Notice: | Welcome to COOKIE |
| Moderator: | COOKIE::ROLLOW |
| Created: | Mon Feb 17 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Mar 03 1989 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1517 |
| Total number of notes: | 13349 |
I recently got the Original London Cast recording of the musical CATS, released as a two-CD set by Polydor (the LP was on Geffen). The performances are the same wonderful ones on the LP. The CD has some background hiss, only to be expected since the recording (and probably mixing) was analog. Interestingly enough, this is the first CD I've seen where the contents were different from the LP. On the CATS LP, the song "The Old Gumbie Cat" has only verses 1 and 3 (2 was omitted for space reasons). The CD has all 3 verses. On the other hand, "The Jellicle Ball" is one minute longer on the LP than on the CD, 8:50 as opposed to 7:50. Being thoroughly familiar with the music from playing the LP incessantly, this caught me by surprise--I backed up and listened to the track again while watching the time counter on the CD player because I though it had mistracked and skipped ahead. Another amusing point is that the selections and track numbers printed on the CD itself were taken from the LP; they don't quite match what's really on the CD, and the time for "The Jellicle Ball" is given as 8:50 instead of 7:50. I'm somewhat disappointed that they thought they had to cut a minute out of "The Jellicle Ball"--there seems to be enough playing time left over on the CD that they could have included it--but having all three verses of "The Old Gumbie Cat" makes up for it. "The Jellicle Ball" is one of the dance numbers, and most of the music is repetitions of themes from previous songs. If they had to make a cut somewhere, I'm glad it was there. I recommend this recording to fans of the musical. --PSW
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154.1 | SMILEY::EPPES | Tue Sep 17 1985 09:43 | 22 | ||
I got this disc (set) yesterday, and I have to admit I'm disappointed. However, my disappointment is due to the fact that I'm used to the Broadway version, not the London one. The instrumentation in the London version is a bit different -- I think there is more synthesizer/keyboard/ whatever. I do like having the extra verse of "Bustopher Jones" (which is also absent from the Broadway LP). But "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" is *completely* different from the Broadway version, and I like the Broadway version better. Would anyone be interested in this 2-disc set? You can have it for $20 (I got it on sale for $23). It's only been played once, and I'm not likely to play it again. Much as I try to remain open to different versions of things, I'm just too used to the Broadway version. And since that is basically the one I saw (in Boston), I'm kind of attached to it (so to speak). I work at ZK and my DTN is 381-2316. Or contact me by mail. Is the Broadway version of "Cats" available on disc? I've never noticed whether the discs I looked at before I finally bought it were London or Broadway or what. (silly me...) -- Nina | |||||
| 154.2 | SMILEY::EPPES | Wed Sep 18 1985 11:39 | 3 | ||
My "Cats" disc set has found a new home. -- Nina | |||||
| 154.3 | American version? | FSGG::MMOFFITT | Mon Sep 22 1986 10:42 | 7 | |
I noticed the other day that CATS is now available on the Geffen
CD label. I would assume that the Polydor was probably an import,
therefore. Now the question:
Is the Geffen version the 'honest-to-gosh' American version?
(I will note that the word 'Broadway' appears in several places
on the label.)
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| 154.4 | CD recording is slow | YOGI::BLAIR | Sun Jun 07 1987 12:59 | 12 | |
We have the Geffen recording on record (The really useful Company
LTD). I got the CD from the Arlington library and compared the two.
Everything seemed identical EXCEPT the speed.
The CD I had played at a slower speed than the disk (yes, my turntable
is not pitched fast). I also compared a Billy Joel CD with record
and they were identical through the whole side of the record.
I can't recommend the CD.
-Wayne Blair
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