Track Listing

1. Beautiful Girls
2. Don't Look at Me
3. Montage: Rain on the Roof
4. Waiting for the Girls Upstairs
5. Who's That Woman?
6. In Buddy's Eyes
7. Country House
8. Too Many Mornings
9. I'm Still Here
10. Right Girl
11. Could I Leave You?
12. One More Kiss
13. Love Land
14. Love Will See Us Through
15. Buddy's Blues
16. Losing My Mind
17. You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Ah, But Underneath
18. Make the Most of Your Music
19. You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Ah, But Underneath
20. Beautiful Girls

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11981 in Music
• Released on: 1995-10-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack

Customer Reviews

A stunningly recorded account of a Sondheim classic
This 'Follies' disc is a reissue of the 1987 London Cast Reording, originally on two discs (Social Dancing, a more or less inconsequential Act Two opener, has been omitted). This production featured a heavily rewritten version compared to the original 1971 production. Songs were cut and replaced, others were moved around and a new, happier ending was tacked on. Though the changes divided the critics (and the many Sondheim disciples), this CD is a fantastic record of that show.

The disc's trump card is the casting of its principles. Julia McKenzie has been described as 'the definitive Sally' and, listening to this, it is hard to diasgree. She has an extraordinarily versatile voice, and a genuine understanding of Sondheim's music and lyrics. Diana Rigg impresses in her first major musical role as Phyllis, bitter and sophisticated, spitting out 'Ah, But Underneath!' with great style. Daniel Massey and David Healy, as Ben and Buddy respectively, are just as impressive.

The supporting cast aquit themselves less well than on the now-classic recording of a star-studded gala concert of the show in the mid-eighties, due to their innate 'Britishness' and being equipped with fewer powerhouse voices (the concert featured Barbara Cook and Elaine Stritch, among others). Still, this is a minor quibble.

The engineering is astonishing, giving Jonathan Tunick's luminous orchestrations both a warm intimacy and a showbiz sheen that is breathtaking in its detail.

It's a shame that the prologue music is cut, as well as Vincent and Vanessa's tango, and there are no bonus tracks of the cut songs, but these can easily be found elsewhere on other 'Follies' recordings, and on Sondheim Anthologies. This CD is highly recommended for Sondheim enthusiasts, or for people looking for more challenging musical theatre with a traditional Broadway feel.