Travelling Light (cut from the original product [*]
Guys & Dolls, film score: A Woman in Love - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys & Dolls, film score: Pet Me Poppa - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys & Dolls, film score: Adelaide - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys and Dolls, musical: Travelling Light (cut from the original production) - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys and Dolls, musical: Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys and Dolls, musical: Adelaide Meets Sarah - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys and Dolls, musical: Marry the Man Today - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Guys and Dolls, musical: The Happy Ending / Guys and Dolls - National Symphony Orchestra, Loesser, Frank
Rich in humor, romance, and appealing characters, to say nothing of some of the most exuberant and lovingly crafted songs to be found in any show, Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls is as close as you can get to a perfect musi... more »cal. In the theatre, it's impossible not to get caught up in the swinging title song, the tender duets of reforming gangster Sky Masterson and mellowing Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown ("I've Never Been In Love Before"), or the risqué nightclub set pieces and comic lamentations of the perennial fiancée, Miss Adelaide ("Take Back Your Mink"). Here, for a complete recording, the show springs to life in the studio thanks to some sympathetic performances and John Owen Edwards's taut conducting. Kim Criswell is an excellent Adelaide, funny and touching in her frustrated attempts to get Nathan down the aisle. Most poignant of all, Loesser's daughter Emily sings Sarah Brown's songs with a natural simplicity. They are well matched by Gregg Edelman and Tim Flavin as their respective beaux. It's a treat to hear, with the added bonus of songs written specially for the 1955 film. --Piers Ford« less
Rich in humor, romance, and appealing characters, to say nothing of some of the most exuberant and lovingly crafted songs to be found in any show, Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls is as close as you can get to a perfect musical. In the theatre, it's impossible not to get caught up in the swinging title song, the tender duets of reforming gangster Sky Masterson and mellowing Salvation Army missionary Sarah Brown ("I've Never Been In Love Before"), or the risqué nightclub set pieces and comic lamentations of the perennial fiancée, Miss Adelaide ("Take Back Your Mink"). Here, for a complete recording, the show springs to life in the studio thanks to some sympathetic performances and John Owen Edwards's taut conducting. Kim Criswell is an excellent Adelaide, funny and touching in her frustrated attempts to get Nathan down the aisle. Most poignant of all, Loesser's daughter Emily sings Sarah Brown's songs with a natural simplicity. They are well matched by Gregg Edelman and Tim Flavin as their respective beaux. It's a treat to hear, with the added bonus of songs written specially for the 1955 film. --Piers Ford
CD Reviews
Grab this Recording...and I mean quick!
Peter Prainito | Lombard, IL USA | 12/31/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Guys and Dolls has been very well served on CD. This recording on Jay Records is a diamond in the rough. Several years ago there was a Broadway revival starring Nathan Lane and Peter Gallagher. From that wonderful production came a great CD, which every fan of this musical should own. The subject of this review is a studio recording made in 1995. It is in everyway just as outstanding a CD as the Broadway revival recording. In it are Kim Criswell as Adelaide, and Emily Loesser (Frank's daughter) as Sister Sarah. Both sing their roles with idiomatic charm. An added bonus to this very complete (2 CD) recording are new renditions of some tunes found only in the movie (starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando), including "A Woman in Love". It bears repeating, grab this recording before it goes out of print. I promise buyers will be delighted with this gem."
Excellent Recording
showreviewer | United States | 12/31/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is probably the best recording of this show I have heard. The singers are great and Sarah is good. The singer has trouble in a few spots but overall still performs Sarah better than the other recordings I have. The orchestra on this CD is absolutely incredible. They have a hot, tight sound and make the show come alive! An interesting point about this CD is that the music is obviously extended since a lot of the music doesn't appear in the original score. There is a song called "Pet me papa, Papa pet me now" that is excellent. I don't think you will be disappointed in this CD set at all!"
A-plus!!!
showreviewer | 07/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Without question, the best played and sung performance to date. And don't forget, the most complete. Grateful to all involved for serving Frank Loesser's beautiful, witty and gutsy score so carefully. Proves that there are no reasons to change a musical score in any way to serve a production. I am not a purist (although I am a classically trained pianist), yet stick to the original all others who dare -- or should I say can! The orchestra is superb and very much alive. I hope that other musical shows that have not yet been given the full score recording treatment get similar attention to detail should they show up on disc."
Excellent as a reference, some good performances
C. Van Patten | Mohawk, NY USA | 11/19/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is certainly the definitive recording of Mr. Loesser's music. It is likely the most complete recorded version we have. I personally prefer the more modernly orchestrated 1992 Cast Recording, but this is definitely the most accurate.
There are a few performances that (in my opinion) are not the best we've heard. Stubby Kaye is still the best Nicely-Nicely. Nathan Lane was a great Nathan Detroit. This album shines though with Emily Loesser's fantastic performance as Sarah. She sings the role as if she was born to do so - it easy for her. Every song she sings is a highlight, and I often end up getting just a bit excited if I know one of her songs is queued up.
All in all this particular album is good. Ms. Loesser is the highlight, and undoubtedly the accuracy of the music will prove useful to those producing the show in theatres (the 1992 Cast Recording is good, but don't get used to it, directors!). It is certainly worth owning."
First Complete Recording a real treat
Scott A. Hurst | Ontario, Canada | 06/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this musical, and have always lamented (no pun intended) the fact that half of Loesser's music rarely ends up on Cast Recordings. This studio recording rectifies all of these discrepencies and provides us with some truly unique and memorable audio performances; there are even a few bonus tracks for the history buffs in the crowd. But for me, the true reason to buy this CD is to hear the full score and the full orchestrations of Runyonland, Havana and the Crap Shooters Dance. As a director who stages a lot of musicals and who has performed the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson six times to date I can tell you that this CD is a real asset for show preparation as well as pure enjoyment. If you're a stickler for consistent accents you may be disappointed at times with some of the vocals, but it ain't for lack of tryin'. These artists are first rate and, though sometimes miscast, in my humble opinion, the effort and the artistry is still there without a doubt. I'm sure that the late Frank Loesser must be smiling broadly to know that his entire creation is completely captured once and for all for us to enjoy. And I'm sure that Frank wouldn't be too unhappy that Emily Loesser stars in the piece, either! Buy it and enjoy!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1