I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
#0I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 4:38pm
...and it's absolutely perfect, except for one thing. This time around they decided not to include the full scene between Booth and Lee. It just starts with "Take a look Lee..." and I must say it totally and completely ruins the impact of the entire thing. But, what can we do??? Nothing. Whoever made this decision should be shot! Do I get a prize??? haha.
Anyway, the orchestrations are mind blowing and the cast is outstanding. The sound quality, too is impeccable. What are they using now? Is it something new? lol. We get more dialogue sprinkled through out the recording this time around including the scene prior to "Another National Anthem" that Byck talks us through that has been dubbed "Have It Your Way." I had never heard it before and it's great. Brilliant. But nonetheless without that final scene the recording is flawed. You'll still need to get the original off-Broadway one so you can listen to that scene. Otherwise like I said everything else is perfect. "Something Just Broke" will be stuck in my head forever. And it made me cry a little, so fu*ck those who say it doesn't belong or that it slows down the finale. It deserves to be included.
Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Cerveris and James Barbour are the standouts here. The packaging is very nice. You get a dust cover, a 48 page full color booklet with essays, complete lyrics and TONS of pictures from the show. It must have been a great night of theatre. But alas, I can't say it enough ... without that scene this otherwise godlike Broadway cast recording is just mediocre...
Updated On: 7/24/04 at 04:38 PM
#1re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 4:40pmI ordered mine on Thursday. I'm waiting by the mailbox hoping it comes today....
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#2re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 4:56pmCATS, you wouldn't have gotten the Byck monologue without the shortened Oswald scene. And it does differentiate the two recordings- I guess they wanted to give people a reason to buy the second recording other than the fact that it's different actors.
#3re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 5:06pmBut you know what ... the show is only an hour and forty minutes. They could have included an hour and twenty minutes on the CD and they only included an hour and two minutes. It's distressing. And irritating. They had an additional twenty minutes of time left and they very well could have included it and they didn't. It's about preservation. Michael Cerveris won the Tony he should have been able to record that scene. In fact, they probably recorded it and just didn't include it. That pisses me off.
iflitifloat
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
#4re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 5:31pm
I think they included Byck because right now Mario is arguably the most well-known cast member to the outside, non-theater, world...thanks to Sex in the City. I'm not knocking him, at all. In fact, I'm glad that it was included.
I've listened to the original recording so much that it's a little difficult for me to step back and assess what is or isn't better or worse...as opposed to just being different. The short version of what I think is that there seems to have been considerably more time put into the recording and production of the original. The new CD has much more of a "you at at tonight's performance" feel to it. The other difference of which I am now more aware, is that the orchestration is very different. I miss the strings...especially in The Ballad of Booth. It didn't matter to me during the live performance, but I notice it much more on the recording. The CD also underscores what I knew all along...that neither actress was strong vocally...but again...I'm not logging that as a complaint because their portrayals of their characters was perfect. Priceless. Were I in casting, I can only hope to have chosen as well.
The bottom line is that I am just plain grateful that this recording was made at all. And the booklet that accompanies the CD is outstanding. Lots of great pictures from the show.
And in the minutiae department. My favorite line...the one that gives me chills...remains the same on both recordings: "Let them cry dirty traitor. They will understand it later..."
Sueleen Gay: "Here you go, Bitch, now go make some fukcing lemonade." 10/28/10
Updated On: 7/24/04 at 05:31 PM
#5re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 6:17pmI just got my copy today, and having never heard the score except for the Tony Awards, I'm enjoying it.
#6re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 6:37pmYay! The mailman just dropped mine off! I'm so excited, I can't wait to play it! I really miss ASSASSINS!
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
Dannry
Swing Joined: 6/7/04
#8re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 7:18pm
I was actually suprisingly unimpressed with the recording. iflitifloat hit the nail right on the head - there is no sense of being in the experience of the show due to the crystal clear vocals. It literally sounds like all the people are standing right in front of you singing - not on a stage presenting the piece as it was meant to be heard in the theatre. These vocals are so loudly mixed that they detract away from the BRILLIANT orchestrations.
On the plus side - the packaging is EXCELLENT - lots of cool information and photos. And on the whole, the CD is a really neat new take on the show -- but I'll never be complete if I don't have both the new and old CDs at my side.
#9re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 7:38pmI agree. You need both. And get the book as well. lol.
BwayTheatre11
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/03
#10re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 8:21pmAmazon.com says that the estimate shippment date is August 4th. Will I still get it before that? Does it just say that because the official release date is the 3rd?
CCM '10!
jayem1968
Stand-by Joined: 6/9/04
#11re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 9:59pmDammit! Dammit! Dammit! Mine didn't show up in the mail today so I guess I have to wait until Monday when I get home from work.....ahhh....what a bummer!
Everybody goes down well with beer.
#12re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:40pm
BwayTheatre11, the CD is on sale at PSClassics.com so cancel your pre-order at Amazon and order it at PSClassics and you'll get it before the third. It only takes about three days. Unless they sold out... 
Updated On: 7/24/04 at 10:40 PM
#13re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:56pm
I can't wait to buy it...
Now that I know the cd is worth...
how is the booklet? have an special case or a regular case?
Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!
cabarethed
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/03
#14re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 10:59pmI ordered mine right after midnight on Thursday morning and got it this afternoon! I don't think it's going to be leaving my car for a looooong time. Absolutely wonderful! I was having a terrible day, and this is exactly what I needed. The booklet is wonderful, but I am very disappointed they didn't include my favorite pic of O'Hare and Baker. Oh well.
#15re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/24/04 at 11:17pmThe CD comes in a "dust case" (if that's what you call it) and the CD and booklet are in the case. The actual CD case doesn't have a cover on the front, but it has one on the back... which is a cool idea. And the booklet is full color lyrics, notes, etc. etc.
#16re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 1:00amI sent an e-mail to psclassics expressing how I feel. I'm sure they won't respond, but at least someone will read it...
#17re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 1:03amDo the liner notes include a full synopsis of the show? And how much of the show could I gather from the recording? I didn't get the chance to see Assassins, and I'm contemplating getting the CR.
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
#18re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 1:09amA full synopsis IS included. You pretty much get the idea from listening to the CD, but if you don't get the off-Broadway CD as well, then at the least get the book and read that final scene. It's so important to the piece. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY LEFT IT OUT!!!!!!
#19re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 1:12amJust Victor Garber saying "Attention must be paid" in that perfectly smooth Southern accent is worth the money.
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
smellslikepoo
Swing Joined: 7/25/04
#21re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 3:02pmHow did you guys already get you cd if it doesn't come out until august 3rd?
#22re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 3:30pmIt was available on the psclassics website, but I'm hearing rumors that they already sold out...
BudFrump23
Broadway Star Joined: 5/20/03
#23re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 3:39pmI don't know about you...but I'm kind of glad the whole JWB-LHO scene is not on the CD. I always skip that track when I listen to the old recording, because I want to hear music, not speeches. I already know what happens in the scene...and, it really isn't as powerful as seeing it on stage.
I'm as jumpy as a virgin at a prison rodeo!
#24re: I got my ASSASSINS CD today....
Posted: 7/25/04 at 3:46pmWell, you're werid. I'm so over this now. It's just a shame. End of story.
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