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Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1991 London Revival Cast)
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1991 London Revival Cast)
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (22) - Disc #1

If you were to think this 1991 London revival cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat sounds a lot like the 1992 Canadian revival cast and the 1993 Los Angeles revival cast, you'd be right. All three use the g...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice
Title: Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1991 London Revival Cast)
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Decca Broadway
Original Release Date: 10/22/1991
Re-Release Date: 10/13/2003
Album Type: Cast Recording
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
Style: Musicals
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 731451113024, 031451113049, 031451935245, 731453735149, 731451113048

Synopsis

Amazon.com
If you were to think this 1991 London revival cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat sounds a lot like the 1992 Canadian revival cast and the 1993 Los Angeles revival cast, you'd be right. All three use the glitzy version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's school-cantata-turned-musical based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, which debuted with this London revival in 1991 and became the basis for most subsequent productions, as well as the video version. Yes, the "Joseph Megamix" is here, along with the witty lyrics and catchy melodies that borrow freely from country, calypso, French cafés, and Elvis--as well as favorites "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," and "Go, Go, Go Joseph." And orchestral credits, cover art, and running time are almost exactly the same, leading one to believe that the various casts recorded their vocals over the same prerecorded orchestral tracks. So is there any difference between the three? Yes, the singers, most notably the role of the narrator and the title character. This London production starred Linzi Hateley as the narrator and Australian pop singer Jason Donovan as Joseph. For the 1992 Canadian cast, former teen pop sensation Donny Osmond took over the title role, with Janet Metz as the narrator. In Los Angeles in 1993, Michael Damian was Joseph and Kelli Rabke the narrator. All the narrators are solid, though Hateley is probably the best overall. The biggest difference is Osmond, the clear winner with a terrific voice and irresistible warmth, contrasted with Donovan's somewhat thick and heavy singing and Damian's rather deliberate pronunciation. You really don't need more than one of these Josephs, and the Canadian cast is the one to have. --David Horiuchi

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CD Reviews

A JOSEPH soundtrack that sweeps the board perfectly.
Yi-Peng | Singapore | 01/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the Joseph recordings I have heard, I feel compelled to say that this version with Jason Donovan in the eponymous title character is the best of all I've heard. The well-balanced cast gives an energetic performance of this Andrew Lloyd Webber score, even though the recording quality in some of the big production numbers is a little muddy that you cannot make out what is being sung. Nevertheless I feel this is an enjoyable and somewhat unbeatable recording of this well-loved score.



Jason Donovan gives a realistic portrayal of the eponymous dreamer-hero. Although his voice may not have the richness of Donny Osmond's portrayal, he acts the part convincingly and gives solid renditions of his songs. He really understands the essence of the character, and he never fails to incorporate this into his glossy polished performance. The fact that he performs the role with a sense of being naive gives him an edge over his contendors. Linzi Hateley as the Narrator is a real treat for the ears. She has the lung-power of the late-lamented Laurie Beechman of the Broadway cast, but she infuses her portrayal with charisma and a keen enjoyment of telling the story. Her intelligent portrayal of the Narrator is one of solid musical values and subtletly, as in the Act Two opener, Pharaoh Story.



Perhaps the most impressive part of this performance is David Easter's portrayal of the Elviessque Pharaoh. Not only does he give an authentic Elvis accent, but he really makes the part his own and includes a few touches of humour into his "Seven Fat Cows" song. Besides delivering a convincing Elvis impersonation, he acts the part and tickles the listener pink with his touches of humour, giving a deliciously ripe 3-D characterisation. The brothers, though they are more human on this recording than others, deliver powerful choral backings and make the most of their songs. Nicolas Colicos's "One More Angel," Philip Cox's "Canaan Days" and Johnny Amobi's "Benjamin Calypso" all resonate for an extremely long time in the memory. It's true that Nicolas Colicos and Philip Cox could be a little bit more authentic with his accent, but they are enjoyable standout potrayals nonetheless. Johnny Amobi's "Calypso,", I should say, is the best rendition of all those I've heard. The supporting chorus contribute superlative quality performances, though you can't hear them on some numbers, resulting from the slightly poor mixing job, that does not affect the high quality of the recorded sound. This doesn't matter as you can make out what they are singing, so keep the libretto booklet in handy. As for Aubrey Woods and his cameo appearances, he makes the parts of Jacob and Potiphar his own, and delivers an extremely fierce and powerful roar towards the end of Potiphar's song. The orchestrations are well done and well-characterised,. This is not as cheesy as some may think, as only two synthesisers were used.



Overall, I can safely say that because of the highest quality performance presented on this recording, if you want to buy just one record of this entertaining musical, you should make it this one. As much as I revere Donny Osmond's solid portrayal of Joseph, I know that nobody can ever go wrong with this solid, handsome and well-balanced interpretation that gives you a certain kind of spirit and atmosphere."
The British Recording
A 13 Year Old Play Goer | Los Angeles, California | 06/07/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is my fourth, and the only one I own of a British cast. By the time I got it, I knew the entire show inside out, from the Prologue to the Megamix. So I could really pay attention to the performers and not focus so much on the material.I found this cast to be a little too low energy during "Go Go Go, Joseph," and the Megamix, but I suppose that's because they're British, and Brits are more reserved than Americans. Jason Donovan is just as good a Joseph as Donny Osmond, as far as his performance goes. In fact, I think Donny might have been copying him in some parts. Jason seems to be the least reserved of the cast members. And I just love his accent. Linzi Hately is one of my two favorite narrators, Kelli Rabke being the other. I love the way she sings her parts in "Jacob and Sons/Joseph's Coat." Everyone else is all right. The brothers are all eccelant, exept for the one who sings the line "Let no tear be shed," in "One More Angel in Heaven." I don't care for basses.But the rest of them are good. For some reason, I think they seem more human on this recording than on some others. I like the brothers, in spite of what they do to Joseph, and I hate it when they are portrayed as thugs, or as violent by nature. That isn't a problem with this cast. And Johnny Amobi does the best "Benjamin Calypso" of all time. David Easter would be my favorite Pharaoh, but for that I thought I heard him call Joseph "Sugar" in one part. That dosn't sound like something I would call him if I were the Pharaoh. Aubrey Woods is the only Jacob/Potiphar that I know of who is good in both roles, and not just one. Overall, I suppose this recording is the best quality of the four that I own."
THE Definitive recording of Joseph and the ......
Get What We Give | Georgia | 10/13/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the more recent recordings of Joseph, this London revival recording is by far the most superior! Nothing against Michael Damian or Donny Osmond, but Jason Donovan really brings an emotional level to this production that I've not seen before. Once upon a time a hugely popular daytime drama actor in Austrailia, Donovan and fellow soap actor Kylie Minogue hit it big in the recording industry. While neither of their talents we really marketed properly (they we force fed songs from same outfit that produced Rick Astley), their voices are really quite remarkable. Donovan's voice is superb and Joseph really let's us hear that. Get this recording and you'll never need another of this, Lloyd Webber's one and only really really great musical!"