Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1993 Los Angeles Cast)
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Description
If you were to think this 1993 Los Angeles revival cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat sounds a lot like the 1991 London revival cast and the 1992 Canadian 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 the 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. The 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. For this 1993 Los Angeles cast, 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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Excellent Version of JosephTuesday, March 29, 2005
This is perhaps my most favorite verison of Joseph. Kelli Rabke is absoultley amazing as the narrator. She brings energy and pop to the narrator making the show overall much more livley. However, Michael Damion does horrible in his role of Joseph. His voice passes however but does not even compare to Donny Osmonds. Despite this minor inconvienance, this cd is a must have and you should defenetly make it part of your library.
1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:
easily the bestMonday, February 14, 2005
If you're deciding on which version to get, I definately recommend the LA cast. I understand Damian has a weak voice, but honestly, what do you expect. Do you think the bible version of Joseph was a teen pop star?!? What a joke! Some say Damian is too breathy, but, remember, it's not just a vocal performance. He was fitting into the character. I'd like to hear your voice after being locked up in a prison cell awaiting your death! If you're going on amazing lead singer, knock yourself out, get the Canadian version. Listen to that awful narrator til your ears bleed. If you're looking for the whole piece: good acting, good vocals from EVERYONE in the cast, and an enjoyable CD, get the LA cast.
0 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Ok, but canadian version is betterFriday, October 08, 2004
The music is pretty good, but I think that Osmond's singing was better overall. If you are going to buy only one copy of the music you probably would be better off with the Canadian one instead. If, for whatever reason, you already have the canadian one and want to own more than one version of the music this recording is good enough for you to buy.
1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:
personal preferencesWednesday, June 30, 2004
I have the LA cast and the Canadian cast for this soundtrack. Personally, I like the LA cast better because of the narrator. Joseph is weak, but liveable. In the Canadian cast, the narrator is uttererly annoying by trying to prove what a great singer she is. It just doesn't work. On the other hand, Donny Osmond is the best Joseph I have ever heard. The best of both worlds is Maria Friedman and Osmond in the video. But, which recording to get depends on whether you prefer a strong narrator (LA) or a strong Joseph (Canadian).
2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Kelli Rabke and Donny Osmond!Thursday, December 11, 2003
This CD is great because of Kelli Rabke. She is BY FAR the best Narrator on any "Joseph" recording. Michael Damian makes this recording weak. I seriously tend to skip his tracks. If you want to hear a GREAT Joseph, get the Candian version with Donny Osmond. He's amazing! It's too bad Osmond and Rabke couldn't be paired on a recording together. If you're looking for a good female voice to sing to, though - a good Narrator - look no further than this CD.