Music : Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast)
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0731452350725
Format: Cast Recording
Label: Decca Broadway
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: Decca Broadway
Release Date: September 13, 1994
Sales Rank: 74079
Studio: Decca Broadway
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
All the benefits of the London version of Sunset Boulevard are as enjoyable in the U.S. premiere version--the luscious melodies, the wonderful atmosphere, the compelling story line (adapted from the 1950 Billy Wilder film), the spectacular staircase. OK, you don't get the staircase on this CD, but you do get the later, more polished show that debuted in Los Angeles in 1994. And despite the oft-repeated themes and occasionally banal lyrics, it remains one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's more satisfying works.
The most obvious difference between the two recordings, of course, is the leading-lady role. Glenn Close doesn't have the big voice of Patti LuPone--and you will miss LuPone in a big number such as "With One Look"--but her portrayal of Norma Desmond is riveting, and LuPone is so distinctive it's almost distracting. In the supporting casts, London's Kevin Anderson is extremely laid back as Joe Gillis, while Meredith Braun is very girlish as the 22-year-old Betty Schaefer; both characterizations are appropriate, but their counterparts Alan Campbell and Judy Kuhn have stronger voices, as does L.A.'s George Hearn. Lastly, the Los Angeles production is a more complete recording, totaling 122 minutes compared to 96 for London. If you're looking to pick up one recording of Sunset Boulevard, this is the one. It's also available in a highlights version. --David Horiuchi
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Sadly, I haven't seen the show on stage. I found it quite enjoyable on CD. Enough of the dialogue is included to follow the story. Plus both versions include printed lyrics and dialogue.
This is a terrific dramatic musical. I give 4 stars to Lloyd Webber, et al, for songs and lyrics. I would have gone 5 stars, but there are a few songs where they get a good angsty mood going, then suddenly turn to a softer, sweeter mood. I felt they could hold the angst longer. Example: Joe singing to Betty in the final scene (after the phone call).
I purchased both London and Los Angeles CDs. I listened to each carefully and tried not to imprint on one version. Result: I favor the Los Angeles cast, because they do a better job of conveying the emotion. I also recommend L.A. if you like a darker, angsty tale. London is good if you prefer a younger, more innocent Joe & Betty.
** London (4 stars)
1. Patti LuPone (Norma) has a better voice than Glenn Close.
2. Kevin Anderson (Joe) has a sweeter, younger, higher voice.
3. Meredith Braun (Betty) has a sweeter, higher voice.
** Los Angeles (5 stars)
1. Glenn Close (Norma) does a fabulous job of conveying emotion through her voice. Because she plays a "fading" 50-something, her less perfect voice didn't detract.
2. Alan Campbell (Joe) has a deeper, darker, smoother, more adult voice. He sings most of the songs and he's better at carrying the show.
Technical ... Read More
Rating: -
Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" has a sordid reputation of scandals, lawsuits, botches, psychotic leading ladies and creative difference war stories that is usually reserved for run-of-the-mill Hollywood productions akin to "Heaven's Gate" and/or "Cleopatra," so it is quite shocking that a stage musical is known more for it's nasty backstory than for its music, songs and storyline. It is partly due to such a scandalous past that "Sunset Boulevard" was never able to reach it's full potential as not only one of greatest "movie adaptation" musicals, but as one of the greatest musicals, period.
Let's face, for all of it's (few) good qualities, the British World Premiere recording was and is an epic, EPIC disaster. Lousy orchestrations, flat acting, odd vocal choices and obvious overall "unreadiness."
To top it off, the show's premiere was obviously rushed after only a second workshop, which was met with "gushing" acclaim. Poor Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn must have realized only too late that all that acclaim was just people being polite and that the show was far from finished. The production had to shut down and go through numerous changes and revisions at such an insane rate, that it almost drove the cast (especially Patti LuPone) insane. It is due to this the libretto and the actual cast recording differ wildly from each other, not to mention that these never-ending revisions were no doubt responsible for the numerous (over half hour) cuts on ... Read More
Rating:  -
I tend to enjoy Lloyd Webber's work, particularly Evita and Phantom of the Opera, but I didn't find myself as swept away by the music here as by some of his other musicals. Strangely, I enjoyed a lot of the instrumental parts the most. The song "The Greatest Star at All" sounds very old Hollywood when its carried by strings in the Overture and Entr'acte, but not as satisfying as a vocal piece. Likewise, "Sunset Boulevard" works very well as underscoring for the car chase and in other places, but feels kind of goofy and forced when it's finally sung. With a few other exceptions ("As If We Never Said Goodbye", "With One Look"), most of the melodies feel uninspired and annoyingly repetitive to me. I don't normally mind lyrics that don't really follow the rules (false rhymes, bad scans, etc) but a lot of the lyrics here are cliched and uninteresting to the point of distraction for me. If you can find a way to get just a few of the highlights, I'd get that over the whole album any day.
Rating: -
I admit when I first got into Alw I relaly didn't expand beyond Pahntom and Joseph, but when I got the Now and Forever disc set that all changed. When I heard the selectiosn from Sunset I ahd knew right hen and there I needed to get sunset. So, i did and i'm loving it.
I love Glenn CLose as norma becuase she is waht norma Desmond is. i liek the rest of the cast too, but the one thing that sticks out is the music.
The overture to Sunset, as always with ALW, is very haunting and mystical , and gets the lsitener into the plot. After the overture, With One Look, Too Much in Love to Care, Sunset Boulevard, and New WAys to Dream really hit the spot. I think this version of sunset is so much better thatn the london cast. This is a very good buy.
Rating:  -
First of all, let me say that none of the actresses portraying Norma Desmond in the musical version, can hold a candle to Gloria Swanson in the film, she WAS Norma, almost literally. It was so close to her real life that it was almost creepy. And how brave of her to make a real comeback in such a role?
Now to this version. Glenn Close? No way, she can't sing it, she overacts to the point that she inter-changes her role with Cruella DeVille. You simply couldn't care less about her.
Patty LuPone delivered the goods, she certainly sang it light years beyond Close, and her performance had some semblence of sensitivity and vulnerability..
Andrew Lloyd Weber has made mistakes before Sunset, and since (The Woman In White ??), but replacing Lupone was one of the greatest in theatrical history.
I am not a huge Weber fan, but he is incomparable writing a soaring ballad. And Sunset has two huge ones in With One Look and As If We Never Said Goodbye. Beautiful. Get the London cast for Lupones riveting interpretations, skip Close's at all costs.
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