Search - Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice, David Friedman, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Pit Orchestr :: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1982 Original Broadway Cast)

KISS-Keep It Simple Silly

Michael Dotson | Parkersburg, WV | 08/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This original BW cast recording of Joseph is not only the most enjoyable one that I have heard, it is also the defining character that shaped this timeless Biblical story into a theatrical masterpiece in simplicity which has captivated community theatre audiences, as well as Broadway theatregoers, for decades. I have experienced Joseph from the stage, the audience, and at virtually every level of performance expertise and I still say that this cast recording is powerful, captivating, and ultimately timeless. The newer cast renditions are marvelous but they "trick up" the arrangements and play to the taste of today's "bigger is better" movement in theatrical productions. My perception of this story is one of ultimate simplicity to appeal to the "child" in us all, yet Webber and Rice have managed to allow the "adult" in us all to be thoroughly filled with the wonder and passion of the Biblical story of this wonderful man, Joseph. The recording brings forth, in unerring fashion, the sheer dynamic force of the personality of every character which is highlighted by a truly magnificent rendition of the narrator. In short, as this review is certainly not, this is a recording showing all the "colors" which the Biblical story intended and worthy of anyone's time to hear!!"

The ABSOLUTE best!!

Weezy | 02/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alright, I have been in this musical twice, and have heard many recordings of this and most of them have been good. This recording is by far the absolute best thing I have ever heard. Laurie Beechman is phenomenal as the narrator. She almost brought me to tears. Her voice just like traveled up my spine and gave me chills. The guy who plays Jospeh, Bill Hutton, is so corny and simple and it fits better than any other person I have heard. I have always loved that fact that Pharoah is supposed to sound like Elvis, and Tom Carder just does it better than you will ever hear. Don't bother with any other recording of this musical. You will never EVER find a better version of the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat anywhere!"

Adding to the debate, this is my favorite version

Weezy | 05/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I like this version much better than the Canadian cast with Donny Osmond. First, the sound levels are not so extreme - in the Canadian version, I have to up the volume to hear the intros to the songs, then lower it when they get into the full-chorus productions, very annoying. In this version, it all flows smoothly. Donny Osmond is good, but I think Bill Hutton is just as good, and Laurie Beecham is so much stronger than the Canadian narrator. I had this version on LP and asked for the CD as a gift; unfortunately, I got the Canadian version so I am now buying myself this one. Next, I guess I need to try the London cast...Re: the debate about whether this is a "real" musical. Just like TV and film, theater is NOT always about sophistication, and among "just for fun" musicals, this one certainly ranks near the top! And it is not only because it is usually a big, flashy production -- I have seen it performed on Broadway, dinner theater and in amateur productions by a high school, a mixed-ages community theater group, and an under-12 drama troupe. All were excellent! The high school performance had to be done in a gym because their auditorium was under renovation, and even without a lot of sets to change or fancy lighting, it was awesome (lots of creative ideas and props like Groucho Marx nose & glasses on the Ishmaelites go a long way in a simple story with such fun music!) And while the storyline is simplistic and somewhat confusing (what is the moral anyway? the egotist wins? oh no, that's right, follow your dream), and the use of canned song genres like Elvis, country, calypso is pretty cheesy, I find most of the songs to be pretty clever, i.e., the list of colors in the coat is a very interesting composition. And the lyrics have lots of sophisticated lines and humor, the butler as the "Jeeves of his time" for example.Oh, and now that I'm a mom of a 3- and 1-year-old, I'm glad to have at least one musical that I can play without getting a request for a change to a children's CD! Go go go Joseph![*]"