West Side Story [Cast Recording]

 

 

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Most people are trying to choose between this (the movie soundtrack) and the Original Broadway Cast recording. I am here outlining the principal differences between these two CDs.

1) The movie soundtrack contains the entire Dance at the Gym sequence, some of the best music in West Side Story. PLUS there is an absolutely tremendous trumpet player who takes an extended solo in the Mambo that has to be heard to be believed. It's not in the music, so you won't find it anywhere but here. The Original Broadway Cast recording starts at the second half of the Mambo, and leaves out the Blues number entirely (among others).

2) Jim Bryant (on the movie soundtrack) goes up to this great high note at the end of Something's Coming that Larry Kert does not attempt in the Broadway recording. Again, not in the music, but amazing.

3) The movie version of America, pitting the Sharks against their girlfriends, is far superior.

4) The movie's Prologue has been revised, and now includes the "Cool" theme as well as *most* of the original material. The two themes are interwoven in an interesting way. But you do lose a couple of great moments from the original...

5) There is no ballet sequence in the movie! Very unfortunate.

6) Much of the singing is done more musically in the Broadway Cast recording, by Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence; pay attention to their diction and phrasing, it's no contest.

7) Many of the songs (e.g. Cool) were reorchestrated for the movie, adding things like electric guitar and bass, and they're a little tacky. (If you're familiar with the music from playing it, or just know the original really well, these will drive you crazy.)

The Symphonic Dances (bonus material on the Broadway recording) are of little interest. Bernstein apparently thought some of the most gorgeous themes were too sappy for the symphony audience, so you won't hear "Tonight" or "I Have a Love" in the entire suite. West Side Story without "Tonight" is just not West Side Story.

A note: stay away from ALL RECORDINGS BUT THESE TWO! Nothing else comes close.

West Side Story is as good as music gets. There's no excuse for skimping out here, do yourself a favor and buy two CDs of it.

The movie soundtrack for WEST SIDE STORY is among one of the all time greats. A huge best selling LP, I cannot think of one individual who grew up with LPs that did not have a copy. I greatly anticipated this long-awaited "expanded and re-mastered" CD release, expecting generous underscore segments, which could not be included on the LP format. Unfortunately I was disappointed to learn that the new material is simply lifted off of the final, "mixed" film tracks, which come complete with dialog, sound effects and lengthy silent sequences. Therefore I can only recommend this release with reservations. The CD's producers have missed a great opportunity to give West Side Story's' soundtrack the ultimate audio presentation which would have been possible if the "unmixed" music masters were utilized.

THis is one of the best available recordings of West Side Story, but there are many things that have caused me to lower the rating. I'll go thru the Tracks
1. Overture - This is the ONLY place I have ever been able to find a recording of the Overture, Johnny (conductor) plays it very very fast, but nonetheless, musicians will love this track.
2. Prologue - I prefer this version to the Original Broadway version, but it has it's negative points. The bwest part is that the Fugue from "Cool" is weaved in and Out of this, as well as the music from the "Somewhere" Ballet and Nightmare.
3. Jet Song - Good version of the song, they change the words from "ever mother loving street" to "f***king ever lovin' street" at the end, which I think is unnecessary.
4. Something's Coming - They re-wrote the Song in a different key for the Movie, but it's a good version, with a very cool flute/oboe riff at the end.
5. Dance at the Gym - i) Blues - They totally rewrote this one too for the Movie, I like it, but the Trumpets have the melody the whole time rather than trading off with the Trombones, and they add a repeat in the song. . .but nonetheless it rocks. I'm glad someone finally played the guitar audibly on this track.
ii) Promenade - Nothing to say here, This is almost a filler, it is the scene where everyone forms two circles and walks around before dancing.
iii) Mambo - Slowest version I've ever heard in my Entire life, but it Works. It has an extended "D Trumpet" solo in it. It's not bad.
iv) Cha-Cha - Shortened significantly, bringing in the Vibraphone solo too soon.
v) Meeting Scene - Finally!!!! An album with the Meeting Scene!
vi) Jump - one of my favorites, it's nice to see this one too finally on album.
6. Maria - Very good perfromance both by the musicians and singers. Nothing changed here.
7. America - This scene and the lyrics were Completely re-written for the Movie, i don't know why. Instead of the girls only, it has The Sharks and their girls singing about the pros and cons of living In America. But this is the most well-known version and is enjoyable.
8.Balcony Scene (Tonight) - Nothing is changed, it's still the classic scene and classic song.
9. Gee, Officer Krupkee - This scene was rewritten from "Cool" to "Krupkee." Why? I don't know. But this is my favorite version of this song, although they change some lyrics.
10. Intermission Music - Was this even in the movie? Well it's the only version I've ever come across, but there's not much to complain about, only that the RUMBLE is supposed to be before intermission, but then again The Movie changed alot of things.
11. I feel Pretty - Extended version with Lines from the Movie, but I have yet to find an exact version. The Acoustic Nylon (Spanish) Guitar sounds good and is the foreground., the way I think Bernstein wanted this song to sound.
12. One Hand, One Heart -I never liked this song, but it sounds fine, nothing much changed here, if anything.
13. Tonight - Fast version, the Jets screw up their first line!! The actors cannot sing this one very well, and the lyrics and "who sings what" is all jumbled up and changed around severly.
14. The Rumble - Excellent Performance of the Rumble done by the Orchestra! This is the hardest song to play in all of West Side Story.
15. Somewhere - Talk about killing songs . . . Not only was the Ballet Sequence totally written out of the movie, but Somewhere was shortened and has Tony and Maria singing it rather than A Girl.
16. Cool - Almost made into A Rock song with the Electric "Plucked" bass and changing the Key to Bb until the Fugue, this song has changed for the better in my opinion. I love this version, the guitar can actually be heard, where as in the original you can't here it at all!! (Was it even there? It's written in the part). I love this song, CRANK IT UP!
17. Boy Like That/I Have a love - Superb performance, nothing changed.
18. Finale - Beautiful, except that in the last chord, the orchestra does not hit the low F# that is written in the part, so that annoys me, then again they didn't do it in the Broadway version either.
19. End Credits - Bernstein didn't write this, but It's nice music for the end of the movie.

So all in all i gave this CD a 4 out of 5, it's definitely worth buying, just aslong as you aren't looking for an exact performance of the original score, then go and buy a different version.

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5.0 out of 5 stars My candidate for the greatest musical of all time...
This show is probably the most powerful musical I've ever seen. It tackles an age old tragedy of love versus hate and succeeds in telling it where most people fail. Read more

Published on May 1 2004 by Mercy Bell

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like musicals ...
If you like musicals, then I promsie you you will love West Side Story, based losely on the tale of Romeo and Juliet, a stunning story about racial tension, coined a musical... Read more

Published on Feb 26 2004 by Alex Ball

5.0 out of 5 stars As close as we may come to a definitive album of this score
Leonard Bernstein seems always to have thought of "West Side Story" as an opera, and that's where its problems begin. Read more

Published on Feb 12 2004 by Gene DeSantis

5.0 out of 5 stars As close as we may come to a definitive album of this score
Leonard Bernstein seems always to have thought of "West Side Story" as an opera, and that's where its problems begin. Read more

Published on Feb 12 2004 by Gene DeSantis

5.0 out of 5 stars Remastered and extended movie soundtrack
First off, the real star of this disc is the orchestra. With a 70 piece orchestra available for the film. Read more

Published on Feb 4 2004 by Mark Andrew Lawrence

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece in a long and neverending tradition
This film is one more adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in a long unfinished series. Bernstein composes a masterpiece though on the theme. Read more

Published on Aug 11 2003 by Jacques COULARDEAU

5.0 out of 5 stars The absolute best recording
"West Side Story" features some of the greatests music ever to reach both the stage and the big screen. Read more

Published on May 13 2003 by ebounder620

5.0 out of 5 stars Correction
Correction to vervainemorgan review. Natalie Wood had a particularly bad singing voice as revealed recently on NPR by Rita Moreno and an original recording of the sound track... Read more

Published on May 12 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Correction
Correction to vervainemorgan review. Natalie Wood had a particularly bad singing voice as revealed recently on NPR by Rita Moreno and an original recording of the sound track... Read more

Published on May 12 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Best of all West Side Story CDs
This CD is for anyone with an appreciation for the musical and the story itself. As the soundtrack that follows the translation of this great musical into a film format, the... Read more

Published on Mar 4 2003

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