When you give out several dozen Memphis Cast Recording CDs for holiday gifts you are bound to get some interesting feedback from across the country.
My Mom reports that she now has four CDs to choose from: Memphis, In the Heights, Glee Vol 1., and Susan Boyle. If you see a woman in a blue Prius driving in the slow lane while rocking out somewhere in the vicinity of Seattle, WA, it might be my mom listening to Memphis.
Totally unsolicited from my boyfriend’s sister in Orange County, CA:
From right here in the Big Apple and making their return appearance on the blog, Kristel and Darin, prepared a special photo shoot to express their gratitude for sharing with them the gift of Memphis this holiday season.
And then, thanks to an Macbook and inspired by the smooth sounds of the Memphis cast, they sort of took it to the next level.
This last picture is my absolute favorite. I believe Darin is channeling Delray in “Underground.”
We haven’t really delved into the making of the cast recording yet but we will go back and revisit the process from outside the booth and from within.
What I find most interesting about the cast album is that there is no dialogue recorded. Many of the songs in the show have dialogue leading in, out, or within the body of the song itself, but in order to capture a true “rock album” type feel, the dialogue was deliberately cut from the recording session.
Some people who haven’t seen the show and are listening to the CD as if it were a regular cast album, might find it more difficult to piece together what is happening in the show itself. Others, who know the show, obsessively, might be missing their favorite lines.
For instance:
“Get outta my way and let me sing my song, 2, 3, 4″- not on the album.
“Chester, show me whatcha workin’ with, Oh!”- not on the album
“Mama will you keep up with me.”- not on the album
“Today’s fannnnntasssticallll guest.”- not on the album
Though “Here comes trouble…double trouble” is on there with a few “Hockadoo”s….
The good news is that I think people who become at first familiar with the CD versus the onstage performance will be pleasantly surprised when they finally get to see it on Broadway.
-Pleasantly surprised-Please, you will freaking love it.
The band sounds amazing on the recording, but they are incredible live. Clayton on those drums…this score requires some serious percussion work. (And having just rediscovered my love for Rock Band, drums are hard! I literally have sore quads from playing Rock Band- that is either hard core or pathetic.)
Plus, as Nick-tastic will verify, there is nothing like hearing those riffs live and in person.
If you think you are rocking out now in your Prius Mom, just wait until you get to see the show in a few weeks.
And like one radio interviewer said while speaking with Chad, “If you fall asleep during Memphis, you’re probably dead.”
Amen.
Rock on! Two things that I miss on the CD are the sound of the dancers clapping their hands in Radio and Felicia’s giggle in Someday. Yep, Memphis happiness comes in small doses… ;-)
Comment by Elke — January 8, 2010 @ 4:29 am
Oh, the giggle!! Now that you mention that, I totally miss that as well!!! good ears!
Comment by Carolyn — January 8, 2010 @ 10:17 pm