question for the music brain-trust

[cellio]

I have a bootleg cassette tape of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat made by, at the latest, 1989 (probably a few years earlier). I am now trying to replace this recording, or at least come close.

I believe it is a London recording. The narrator is male and this is important to me; it's the reason I have always preferred this one to the Broadway version. (Look, I'm not chauvinist; I just think the part works better with the lower pitches.) It is not this one despite the timing; I don't recognize Peter Reeves. It is possible that it could be this one, but I can find no samples to listen to. And, finally, it is not an earlier edition of this one, though if I can't find "mine" this is probably the one I'll buy. (The most important roles are the narrator and Joseph, both of whom I like in the samples here. The rest of the sampled ensemble is weaker than I'd like.)

So I turn to you, oh diverse and helpful friends. Do any of you share my affection for this musical, and if so, do you have any clue what edition I might have or where I could find samples of #2 above?

Thanks!

Comments

[hlinspjalda.livejournal.com]

We're huge fans of this musical too; it used to be my challah kneading music when I was in college. Our version had a male narrator too, but it doesn't seem to be represented above. All I know is that it was from the 1970s, and we never had the vinyl.

No help, I know. *sigh*

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

Well, my first question is... are you sure of the date? You could have the original cantata (out of print). Can you provide a list of the songs and the total time? If it is the cantata, I do have it on LP, and have burned it to CD and MP3. Take a look at the wiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_and_the_Amazing_Technicolor_Dreamcoat), and you may be able to determine better the version by the songs that are included.

[cellio]

Heh. Of course there would be a Wikipedia page. I should have thought of that.

On review of my tape it is possible that I do have the London 1973 version (first link above). There's been some damage on my tape that affected the opening song, which is what I used to say "nope, not the same narrator", but further sampling suggests that I was wrong.

My version does not have the prologue that was added when the show went to Broadway; it starts with "Jacob and Sons". (I wonder if any post-1982 version kept that structure.)

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

If you don't have the prologue, you either have the 1973 or the original cantata.

[cellio]

Thanks -- that certainly narrows it down. Would you be willing to share a sample from the cantata with me?

[cahwyguy.livejournal.com]

Sure. Let me know what song you want, and give me an email address.

[grouchyoldcoot.livejournal.com]

Is gwendolyngrace on your flist? If the question is about musicals, she'll know the answer!

[cellio]

I'm not aware of her reading my journal. Do you think she'd be receptive to a question out of the blue? (Though I might have found it; see comment above.)

[grouchyoldcoot.livejournal.com]

Gwen says:

"The 74 studio cast album (which she says it isn't) is the only one listed with a male narrator in my musical recording guide. There were some Joseph concept albums I think, but I don't know the versions."

[cellio]

Please pass on my thanks!