The Broadway Cast Recording

The Broadway cast recording is a different story from the London cast recording.
Though the names are not too starry, save for a few, the performances turn out
to be better than the London cast recording. CATS has more character than before
due to the revisions, and this soundtrack makes the London soundtrack sound like
a concept album ONLY. The singers, who sing as crisply as their London
counterparts, give just the right character to the respective cats they are
portraying, especially Betty Buckley as Grizabella, who seems to have just the
right voice for singing "Memory" (the full version of which she does better on
the Selections version, using the standard lyrics) and Terrence Mann as a
mischievous Rum Tum Tugger. Ken Page gives a sonorous portrayal of Old
Deuteronomy, and Timothy Scott is an innocent Mr. Mistoffelees. Stephen Hanan is
the best Gus: The Theatre Cat, giving a melancholy portrayal, yet projecting his
voice very well indeed. If you do not want me to go on talking, all I can say is
that for the newcomer to CATS, you should buy this Broadway soundtrack with
Betty Buckley. This is the DEFINITIVE version of CATS, but it is slightly ruined
by the absence of the Pekes and the Pollicles. I would recommend the abridged
version as strongly as the complete set, with the same numbers as on the London
abridgement. It has better performances of "Memory" and "Jellicle Ball."
However, I warn that the package for the Selections is ruined by the absence of
a cast list and a libretto. NOTE: This recommendation is also true for people
who are unable to get the Broadway cast recording in their home countries.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording is available in both complete and abridged
versions:
Polydor 5214632 - Complete 2-CD set
Geffen 22031 - Complete 2-CD set
Polydor 5214634 - Complete 2-Cassette set
Geffen 2G5G2031 - Complete 2-Cassette set
Polydor 5214622 - Abridged Single CD
Geffen 22026 - Abridged Single CD
Polydor 5214624 - Abridged Single Cassette
Geffen M5G2026 - Abridged Single Cassette

NOTE: The Broadway cast recording of CATS is soon to be reissued on Decca
Broadway, with the same catalogue number as the current Polydor reissue, like
all the other Andrew Lloyd-Webber records on Universal.

by Yi-Peng