Stephen Sondheim, Donna McKechnie, Laurence Guittard, Dee Hoty - Follies - The Complete Recording (1998 New Jersey Cast)

And the Cultists Feud...

Oh, the FOLLIES lovers love to squabble over the "definitive" version of this astounding score. Well, maybe there isn't any. And, God knows, the Lincoln Center concert was just plain embarrassingly bad, as the original recording suffered horribly from rushed numbers, about a third of the score cut, and sloppy production.

This double CD set...you believe they loved the show. Then, Mckechnie was born to age a bit and sing Phyllis. OK, yes, Collins was absolutely perfect as Sally. Yet Mckechnie sounds just like the quintessential matron who can sing decently, and it's right for the character. Wholesome, trying very hard, etc.

Tony Roberts as buddy? Eh. But it's interesting that Guittard's pretty excellent vocals as Ben are needed (McMartin was of course weak), while Dee Hoty's terrific voice suffers in comparison to Alexis Smith's strained and amateurish singing. Smith was so damn regal, the vocal flaws worked in her favor. We don't expect or even want a queen to have a golden voice.

Best of all - with this set you get the cut songs. Especially the splendid 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'. That one number alone makes this a must-have. November 24, 2008

Absolutely definitive recording of this score!

This is the most complete and best recording produced of Stephen Sondheim's fabulous invalid "Follies." It is an inherently flawed show, of course, but a wonderful score nonetheless (its Sondheim, after all). While the original Broadway Cast will feature the standout performances (as Sondheim typically writes his music tailored to the specific talent), this is much more complete and the performers are, by and large, outstanding. A not-to-be-missed addition to any collection of Sondheim or musical theater fans! September 16, 2008

It's not perfect but it IS complete and unique

I have to admit I am biased against this recording as it is the main reason that the 2001 Broadway revival of "Follies" was not given a cast recording. However, I have to say this is an excellent cast recording with brilliant production values and orchestrations.
The cast are all brilliant vocally, if a little lacking in enthusiasm when compared to previous cast recordings.
Laurence Guittard and Donna McKechnie define the roles of Ben and Sally. Together they give a magnificent, soaring rendition of "Too Many Mornings" while McKechnie shines in the torch ballad "Losing My Mind".
Dee Hoty is unfortunately quite forgettable in the role of Phyllis. "Could I Leave You" lacks passion, power and becomes rough and angry rather than cynical and witty. Her performance is solid and appropriate but it just cannot stack up to past renditions of this brilliant part.
Unfortunately the same must be said of Kaye Ballard as Hattie Walker, Liliane Montevecchi as Solange La Fitte and Tony Roberts as Buddy, each of whom throw away excellent songs with studied but mediocre renditions. That said, "Buddy's Blues" is excellent - with the exception of Stella Jordan's Margie, who is a little overdone.
Ann Miller is an excellent choice for faded filmstar Carlotte Campione - on paper. Her rendition of "I'm Still Here" is excellent - but hardly definitive. However, she gives a fantastic rendition of the bonus track "Can That Boy Fox-Trot", which was cut from the show in 1971.
That must be credited as the best feature of this recording, the presence of songs cut from the show over the years, especially "Pleasant Little Kingdom", "Uptown/Downtown" and the brilliant dance number "The Story of Lucy and Jessie".
Overall this is a really great cast recording - a must for any fans of "Follies" thanks to the fact that it does at last furnish the COMPLETE score with all songs that have been added and cut over the years.
The cast is excellent and deliver performances that never let their characters down. However, they do not stack up to performances given on previously released cast recordings. August 7, 2007

As Changeable as a Chameleon, with All That Entails

The cult musical of all cult musicals, FOLLIES has had several cast recordings and all of them (except perhaps the London recording from the 80s) have their champions. This is one of my very favorites, in that it is the most complete: it not only has all the songs used for the 1998 Paper Mill production but every song that Sondheim used in other productions, including "The Story of Lucy and Jesse" and the songs he originally wrote for the show but later replaced during its evolution. The orchestra here is terrific, and this has by far my two favorite cast members ever in the parts of the elder Stones. Laurence Guittard is genuinely moving in "Live, Love, Laugh" without stooping for pathos, while Dee Hoty to my mind owns the part of Phyllis more than even Alexis Smith and Lee Remick did (she's a stunner during her striptease number, "Ah! But Underneath," the wordplay of which shows Sondheim both at his most florid and his catchiest). Ann Miller takes some getting used to as Carlotta, as does Tony Roberts as the elder Buddy; Donna MacKechnie is a surprisingly effective Sally, and is in beautiful voice. April 1, 2007

Not perfect but worth a listen

Nobody can approach the magic of the Original Broadway Cast for performances - Dorothy Collins in particular. But that recording is severly truncated and has numerous technical glitches. This recording of the 1998 Paper Mill production is technically flawless - the orchestra sounds AMAZING - and it is a nearly complete recording of the score. It even contains alternate songs or songs deleted and replaced along the way. For those reasons alone, this is a touchstone for Sondheim fans. On the minus side, the vocal performances here are uneven. Ann Miller has a great(albeit croaking)good time with I'm Still Here and Can That Boy Foxtrot. And Liliane Montevecchi rips it up in Ah, Paris. But the rest of the performances I found less exciting. Still . . . . . February 26, 2007

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