(What do you call a showtunes aficianado? I generally go with "Rob.")
Yes, I do have quite the show tune collection. I would say I easily have over 100 Broadway CDs, and also have pretty much photographic memory for lyrics. Okay, I know that didn't make sense, but what's the word for when you hear something once and remember it instantly? I can basically, after hearing a Broadway CD once or twice, sing the entire score for you.
I am not a purist for Broadway cast CDs. I usually go for the more complete rather than the original cast album, and in many cases, the revival cast albums give you the full score, since the old LPs couldn't always fit all of it. The original cast album of 1776 isn't missing much, but I believe does excise the brief, final song between John Adams and Abigail (Saltpetre, John!!!), whereas the new cast album not only restores that song, but is really a fantastic version. As sacriligeous as this may seem, I enjoy the performances on this recording more than the original one. Also, the orchestra is punchier, and the sound crisper; a lot of the orchestrations are more complex, as well, making some songs, particularly "Momma Look Sharp" darker and more melancholic than before. And "Momma Look Sharp" needed no help!. "Molasses to Rum" on that recording is like running through a medieval gauntlet; it kind of beats you up as you listen. Beautiful and powerful. Brent Spiner is a revelation as John Adams, and I would have bought it anyway just to hear Data sing "If I'm the one to do it, they'll run their quill pens through it..." I'd recommend you checking it out. Then, there's the fact that, despite how shallow this is, I have trouble taking William Daniels seriously, since he played Mr. Feeney on "Boy Meets World."
My favorite musicals are mostly 70s era--Pippin, A Chorus Line, Chicago, to name a few. Although I do love some pieces of the pre-R&H musicals, and come to think of it, R&H musicals as well, I rarely can get through them in one listen. I like my musicals more cynical and ironic. Give me Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Evita, and, most of all, Rent in their entirety...I'll take Showboat, King and I, et al. in small doses. Except for Sound of Music, which I am allergic to.
I'll have to check this out. I must say that the concept of a darker "Momma, Look Sharp" fills me with some trepidation. It's pretty damn dark to begin with! I don't have trouble taking William Daniels seriously in the role, because my first experiences with him were in the role of John Adams, not only in the movie 1776, but in the television miniseries adaptation of John Jakes's The Rebels. Not that he's typecast. The Rebels was the sequel to The Bastard, in which Daniels played Samuel Adams. He is also credited with playing John Quincy Adams in The Adams Chronicles on PBS; I'm surprised he didn't play all the roles.
Meanwhile, I have trouble taking Brent Spiner seriously (so there!), not only because of Data but also because of his role in Out to Sea, which I was subjected to as in-flight "entertainment" four times on one trip (a bad side effect to flying around the world westbound -- had I gone eastwards, I would have lost a day but gained Men In Black). It interests me that the two men who have performed the role on Broadway are perhaps most noted for playing mechanical contrivances (before Boy Meets World, Daniels was probably best known as K.I.T.T.). What exactly does this say about our founding fathers?
Meanwhile, I have trouble taking Brent Spiner seriously (so there!), not only because of Data but also because of his role in Out to Sea, which I was subjected to as in-flight "entertainment" four times on one trip...
Never has the term, "Jesus Christ on a cracker!" seemed more appropriate. I haven't been subjected to that monstrosity once, let alone four times. I feel for you, and empathize with your position, having been stuck with that simply hideous Minnie Driver film, Beautiful, where she played a model and mother to that equally hideous little girl from the Pepsi commercials. I don't have the same problem as you have with Brent Spiner, since Data was one of my childhood heroes and I thankfully was able to avoid Out to Sea thus far. While that performance may be an affront to God and nature, I would coincidentally rank Mr. Feeney in that same category. He does get some bonus points for Knight Rider, but then again he was playing a talking car!!! I always saw Data's possible silliness as being downplayed by his quest for humanity, which was very noble, uplifting, and philosophical. You are right, though, when you say that both of them have possible things on the resume (okay, I admit it, including Data) that might impair one's suspension of disbelief that this is supposed to be John Adams. Luckilly for the recording, Brent Spiner has quite a chameleonic voice, and there is no intonation that would truly call Data to mind (except perhaps for his few forays into operetta). Every time, William Daniels opens his mouth to sing though, I keep hearing, "Mr. Matthews!" Interesting what you say, though about people noted for playing mechanical contrivances playing our founding fathers; maybe one day, actual mechanical contrivances will play them. Oh, wait, they do...in Disney World!
With all this said, btw, I do like William Daniels in the role. It's just unfortunate that his voice is so darn recognizable, because it does distract me when I watch the movie or hear the Broadway recording. Not that I can't deal with it at all, though. I do love the movie, no matter what I say.
I guess this is coming down to a generation gap thing: when you watch 1776 you think of Boy Meets World; when I see George Feeney, I think John Adams.
I'm a bit abashed for not mentioning, in my last post, William Daniels's wonderful turn as the German private detective Heinrich Himmel in the sixteenth episode of Soap:
HIMMEL: I love it. So classically American. A problem we never have in Germany. No impotence, no smog --
Now, I do know "Soap"! Not as well as my mom does, though; she is one of the show's hugest fans, so I've been exposed to it quite a bit over the years. She was one of those people who sent in letters to keep it on the air, and practically tore her hair out not knowing what would happen to Jessica at the end. I haven't seen all of the episodes, and the ones I have have been random and out-of-order (very difficult when you're watching that show!). Luckilly for me, the first season is coming out on DVD on Sept 19th, so I'll get to see that episode then!
And yeah, I guess it's not totally fair for me to be down on Daniels for Feeney, when that actually happened after 1776. Weird how generational gaps work, eh?
Yes, I do have quite the show tune collection. I would say I easily have over 100 Broadway CDs, and also have pretty much photographic memory for lyrics. Okay, I know that didn't make sense, but what's the word for when you hear something once and remember it instantly? I can basically, after hearing a Broadway CD once or twice, sing the entire score for you.
I am not a purist for Broadway cast CDs. I usually go for the more complete rather than the original cast album, and in many cases, the revival cast albums give you the full score, since the old LPs couldn't always fit all of it. The original cast album of 1776 isn't missing much, but I believe does excise the brief, final song between John Adams and Abigail (Saltpetre, John!!!), whereas the new cast album not only restores that song, but is really a fantastic version. As sacriligeous as this may seem, I enjoy the performances on this recording more than the original one. Also, the orchestra is punchier, and the sound crisper; a lot of the orchestrations are more complex, as well, making some songs, particularly "Momma Look Sharp" darker and more melancholic than before. And "Momma Look Sharp" needed no help!. "Molasses to Rum" on that recording is like running through a medieval gauntlet; it kind of beats you up as you listen. Beautiful and powerful. Brent Spiner is a revelation as John Adams, and I would have bought it anyway just to hear Data sing "If I'm the one to do it, they'll run their quill pens through it..." I'd recommend you checking it out. Then, there's the fact that, despite how shallow this is, I have trouble taking William Daniels seriously, since he played Mr. Feeney on "Boy Meets World."
My favorite musicals are mostly 70s era--Pippin, A Chorus Line, Chicago, to name a few. Although I do love some pieces of the pre-R&H musicals, and come to think of it, R&H musicals as well, I rarely can get through them in one listen. I like my musicals more cynical and ironic. Give me Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Evita, and, most of all, Rent in their entirety...I'll take Showboat, King and I, et al. in small doses. Except for Sound of Music, which I am allergic to.
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Meanwhile, I have trouble taking Brent Spiner seriously (so there!), not only because of Data but also because of his role in Out to Sea, which I was subjected to as in-flight "entertainment" four times on one trip (a bad side effect to flying around the world westbound -- had I gone eastwards, I would have lost a day but gained Men In Black). It interests me that the two men who have performed the role on Broadway are perhaps most noted for playing mechanical contrivances (before Boy Meets World, Daniels was probably best known as K.I.T.T.). What exactly does this say about our founding fathers?
Reply
Never has the term, "Jesus Christ on a cracker!" seemed more appropriate. I haven't been subjected to that monstrosity once, let alone four times. I feel for you, and empathize with your position, having been stuck with that simply hideous Minnie Driver film, Beautiful, where she played a model and mother to that equally hideous little girl from the Pepsi commercials. I don't have the same problem as you have with Brent Spiner, since Data was one of my childhood heroes and I thankfully was able to avoid Out to Sea thus far. While that performance may be an affront to God and nature, I would coincidentally rank Mr. Feeney in that same category. He does get some bonus points for Knight Rider, but then again he was playing a talking car!!! I always saw Data's possible silliness as being downplayed by his quest for humanity, which was very noble, uplifting, and philosophical. You are right, though, when you say that both of them have possible things on the resume (okay, I admit it, including Data) that might impair one's suspension of disbelief that this is supposed to be John Adams. Luckilly for the recording, Brent Spiner has quite a chameleonic voice, and there is no intonation that would truly call Data to mind (except perhaps for his few forays into operetta). Every time, William Daniels opens his mouth to sing though, I keep hearing, "Mr. Matthews!" Interesting what you say, though about people noted for playing mechanical contrivances playing our founding fathers; maybe one day, actual mechanical contrivances will play them. Oh, wait, they do...in Disney World!
With all this said, btw, I do like William Daniels in the role. It's just unfortunate that his voice is so darn recognizable, because it does distract me when I watch the movie or hear the Broadway recording. Not that I can't deal with it at all, though. I do love the movie, no matter what I say.
Reply
I'm a bit abashed for not mentioning, in my last post, William Daniels's wonderful turn as the German private detective Heinrich Himmel in the sixteenth episode of Soap:
HIMMEL: I love it. So classically American. A problem we never have in Germany. No impotence, no smog --
BOB: -- No Jews.
HIMMEL (to Chuck): Please to put the toy away.
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And yeah, I guess it's not totally fair for me to be down on Daniels for Feeney, when that actually happened after 1776. Weird how generational gaps work, eh?
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