My thoughts of CATS Selections From The Original Broadway Cast Recording

I love listening to show music. Unfortunately my obsession sometimes leads to spending money on a CD which I technically already have in my collection. This is one such purchase.

The Original Cover of the Selections From The Original Broadway Cast Recording

I became a fan of CATS when my friend Tom took me to see CATS while we were both in NYC in 1992. At the time, the only two songs I'd known from the show was Elaine Paige's rendition of Memory and Paul Nicholas' version of Mister Mistoffelees from my Andrew Lloyd Webber Premiere Collection cassette tape. After Tom and I left the Winter Garden Theatre, I HAD to have both 2 cassette versions the Original London Cast and Original Broadway Cast recordings of CATS and when I discovered there was a highlights album of the Original Broadway Cast, the OCD completist in me knew I had to have it also.

Traditionally, highlighted musical theatre albums feature selections from the main body of the complete recordings. The first thing that struck me odd with this particular recording is the fact the album doesn't include the famous Overture. The opening track is Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats followed by a 41 second track entitled Solo Dance. 15 tracks on the disc with an odd little interlude but no Overture???

The rest of the tracks are obvious choices for a highlights album, with the exception of Grizabella. Rather than using the complete rendition of Grizabella the Glamour Cat, which gives a little insight of the character, the version on this album is the "reprise" featuring 2 lines of the tune followed by the abridged act one version of Memory.

As with most Andrew Lloyd Webber cast albums, a few "single" versions replaced the theatrical versions, I guess with the hope of generating radio airplay for more record sales. The renditions of both "The Jellicle Ball" and "Memory" have been specially recorded with different orchestrations than those used in the theatre and on the Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording. The rendition of the Jellicle Ball is the same version used for the 1982 World Cup. Track 13, Memory, sung by Betty Buckley seems to mimic the orchestrations and lyrics as the original Elaine Paige recording though most notably without the flute playing the same melody as Elaine. Buckley's rendition ends with a high note rather than the lower note heard on the complete album. The performances of the Original Broadway cast are top notch. We are treated to a few "Before they were stars" moments, notably the names Harry Groener, Diana Fratantoni and Terrence Mann may sound familiar, which makes the recording a bit more exciting.

Is this my favorite recording of CATS? No, that honor goes to the 1985 Original Australian Cast Recording which reflects most of the more modern tweaks and changes to the show after the Broadway production had opened. Would I recommend this album? Sure but only if you are a completest looking to collect all of the recordings or at least a fan of the music looking to occasionally enjoy the music of CATS without committing to listening to two hours of the score.