Selections From Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast)

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of T.S. Eliot's poems may not have become Broadway's longest-running musical without the original cast to begin the raves. Which is why every aficionado of this theatrical classic will tell you that this is the one you have to own (although they'll probably tell you that you need the import original London cast album as well, the show having originated on London's West End and all). But this is the one with Betty Buckley singing "Memory"--the song that turned her into a star. While the complete two-disc set is an appropriate length for the musical that helped set off Broadway's "operatic" phase, this 57-minute highlights CD includes most of the familiar numbers, omitting the overture, "The Naming of Cats," "Bustopher Jones," "The Moments of Happiness," and the mini-epic "Growltiger's Last Stand." The show is now also available--in its entirety--as a home video, but the music still stands on its own, though some cynics have wondered why so much music only produced one hit standard. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Shortened to purr-fection - but with a quibble or two September 23, 2000
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

Because of the careful abridgement of the complete 2-CD set of the CATS Broadway Soundtrack, a cheaper version of the show has been presented here on this disc. In one foul swoop, the entire essence of the musical is captured in an hour-long condensed version, making this the purr-fect introduction to generally the evergreen long-running musical and specifically the best English-language CATS soundtrack in the world. All the major songs and scenes are included, and every cast member is given a chance to shine here. Betty Buckley's portrayal of Grizabella gives me the impression that she is better than Elaine Paige, and the former's gorgeously-sung rendition of "Memory", presented here, is convincing and powerful enough to make you feel that the Tony award she won in 1983 was well-deserved. Up to her standard is Ken Page's sonorous Old Deuteronomy. He is a perfect fit on the role, and his sonorous, bell-like voice gives the character the deserved reality. He gives a breathtaking rendition of "The Ad-Dressing of Cats." The rest of the cast, Timothy Scott, Terrence Mann, Harry Groener, Anna McNeely and Stephen Hanan, among others, who all do justice to their portrayals of the respective cats, all are given a deserved place on this disc, even those who don't feature very often in the musical itself such as Stephen Hanan's Gus: The Theatre Cat, whose portrayal of the part is MUCH better than Sir John Mills. However, this release fails to provide a good packaging, with the absence of a libretto. Yet I still recommend that you should buy this version of the show, then go on to the complete 2-CD set. This single CD is enough to introduce the beginner to the musical, and the Broadway cast is able to capture the quintisential Britishness of the work. I know that the Broadway production has closed, but don't forget to relive the "Memory" again and again!

As an aside, I have knocked off one star from my rating because of the poor packaging. Also, I would like to say that there are some small cuts in "Skimbleshanks" and "Macavity," but because these cuts came into effect on the Vienna cast CD, I don't think I ought to let this affect my overall rating.

5 out of 5 stars Great! May 17, 2001
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

Since I didn't have enough money to get the full version at the time, I opted for Selections From Cats hoping I would still get a good deal. It turned out I did! The few songs actually omitted from this version were far from classics. In this version you get all the memorable songs. There is the super famous Memory, performed very beautifully by Betty Buckley. You get Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats, which is another famous song from the musical. Plus the sexier Macavity, the energy packed Rum Tum Tugger, the upbeat Skimbleshankes, e.t.c. All the famous cats are here, and as I already stated, the only songs not included are the stuff like overtures and of course the boring Growltiger's Last Stand. This musical made Andrew Lloyd Webber super famous, and if you claim to be a musical fan and do not have this or the full version in your collection: What are you thinking?

5 out of 5 stars Good, but the musical itself is best. February 19, 1999
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I really should've given this 3 or 4 stars, but I just couldn't bear to criticize it. I love it too much. The full CD is better than just the selections, although it is more expensive. The video, of cource is he best thing you can get if you're a fan. The dancing is just as big a part as the music is. In fact, I think the dancing is even better than the music. Jacob Brent, if you're listening, you are phenominal.

If you're a fan of Cats, I suggest you buy the video before you buy the music. The little things that aren't included in the selection make a big difference. If you do buy the music, get the full version. Believe me, it's worth the extra money.

2 out of 5 stars Highlights from this score are all you really need! March 10, 2004
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

CATS has always inspired a mixed reaction...see some of the other reviews this CD has garnered.
When I first saw the show back in 1982, I felt it was a lot of hoopla over nothing. Oh, the original set in the Winter Garden theatre was sight to behold: The stage stretched out into the auditorium and the walls were decorated with junk yard trash..scaled to a cat's eye view (i.e. 2/12 times its normal size to give us a cat's perspective.) During the overture the "cast of cats" dashed about the audience flashing their bright eyes...starling some and amusing others. Soon they were all up stage singing:
"Jellicle Songs for Jellicle cats....Jellicle Songs for Jellicle cats....Jellicle Songs for Jellicle cats....Jellicle Songs for Jellicle cats....Jellicle Songs for Jellicle cats...."

and I thought... ok...what's the point?

I admired the dancing and the spectacle. But when all was said and sung, I could see no compelling reason for this show to exist. Some of the songs are quite catchy (I prefer the American version of "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer", I rather like "Bustopher Jones" and "The Old Gumbie cat") but, after a half hour it starts to get boring because it's not about anything. (Story: Hal Prince was asked to direct the show and wondered what it was about. Was Lloyd Webber was trying to make some sort of political statement? "Hal, it's about cats!" the composer explained. Exit Hal Prince!) By the time we get to the show's big aria "Memory" so much tedium had set in, that as beautiful as the song is and as well sung as it was, I dreaded the endless applause fearing an encore would only keep us in the theatre longer. Happily the finale arrived and we are told (finally) what the point of this show is: "A cat is not a dog." I lost three hours of my life to learn that???

Neither the original London cast nor the Broadway cast album include "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" (though the number really has to be seen to be fully appreciated.) The London cast has Elaine Paige as Grizabella while the American Cd offers Betty Buckley. The best bet is to go for the single CD of highlights from the U.S. production: you get all the best songs and none of the filler.

5 out of 5 stars Not the best recording to date, but great nonetheless July 25, 2004
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

I must start by saying that in my own opinion no other cast will be up to par with the one on the video of cats, so I am a bit spoiled by the wonderful voices on the DVD version showcasing Elaine Paige, Veerle Casteleyn, Jacob Brent, and John Partridge. Alas, there is no CD recording of the cast on the DVD! I do not own the Original London Cast and have never heard it, so I can't compare it to that either! So I will review the CD of its own accord.

The sound quality of this CD is quitw good! The music does not overpower the voices, which occurs on some musical casts. Musically, the CD is not strong. I'm talking about the orchestration. It is fair, but of course not as good as the DVD.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT. I downloaded my from itunes for under ten dollars, which fit my budget. The full CD wasn't offered on itunes, but it is offered on amazon. It is quite pricey though, so I bought this version. You get THE ESSENTIALS- the most memorable songs of the musical.

Betty Buckley is a strength of the CD. Although I prefer Elaine Paige because Paige sounds older and more mature, Buckley does well in "Memory." The speed of "Memory" is faster than versions I have heard by Paige, and I think that is a bit distracting. But her voice is good, there's no doubt about it.

KEN PAGE is quite a strength on this recording. He is also featured on the DVD cast. He has a strong and wise sounding voice that is perfect for the voice of Deauteronomy. He does well with "The Ad-Dressing of Cats."

TERRENCE MANN is a good Rum Tum Tugger, but he can't be compared to JOHN PARTRIDGE on the DVD because Partridge is simply far superior vocally. Mann does well in "Rum Tum Tugger" and "Mister Mistoffelees" (Two of my favourite songs! Those are my two favorite male characters!)

I am overall satisfied with this recording because it contains all the essentials. Very well done. The DVD is also a MUST purchase!

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