Disc of the Day #3 - Bar Mitzvah Boy (OLC)

[longtimelurker2]

I've just listed the following CDs for sale on Amazon under the seller name ShowTunes:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main?ie=UTF8&asin=B00000DBV7&isAmazonFulfilled=0&isCBA=&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&seller=A2CBRI5F6XRI96

Please note that in all instances, I have listed my discs for less than the next lowest available price. Thanks for checking it out!

***************

This Thursday.

September 20th.

EVERYTHING on Sale!

The link above should take you there, and I'll also re-post the link on Thursday.

One. Day. Only.

Thanks :)

[longtimelurker2]

Good morning.

Giving myself a Monday morning bump to kick-off the week. Several discs sold yesterday, and more will be posted tomorrow including the London Cast of The Hired Man, the London cast of No, No, Nanette (super rare) and the Australian cast of Beauty and the Beast featuring Mr. Hugh Jackman as Gaston!

Further listings will include Dame Judi Dench in The Good Companions, the original London Cast of Cabaret and the legendary Royal National Theatre production of A Little Night Music.

Link in above post.

Thanks!

[frontrowcentre2]

Why are you selling such a fantastic collection? (What? no WHOOP-UP??)

Amazon marketplace buyers (like E-bay buyers) tend to shop with the "garage-sale" mentality and don't usually pay full collector's prices.

Hope you do well.

[longtimelurker2]

Thanks frontrowcentre2 for your kind message. It really is a fantastic collection that has given (and continues to give me) great pleasure. One of my goals for 2012 was to go all digital, and after a whole lot of importing, I've finally made it through my entire CD collection. I still have cassettes (yes, cassettes!) and LPs to deal with....

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Amazon. Having done a bunch of research on the topic, I was sometimes surprised to find things I thought were valuable were not, and other things go for much more than anticipated. As to Whoop-Up, I still have my copy of that beloved CD. I'm only selling the really rare stuff on Amazon, and surprisingly, there are already a handful of copies listed for around $30. Buyers need to be careful though because the CD-R & the MP3 also listed seem to be just taken from the 17 track LP and not the 28 track CD that includes all of those delicious bonus tracks.

A lot of the less valuable items in my collection I sold to the great folks at Academy Records. For anyone reading this who hasn't been there, it's definitely worth a visit.

[longtimelurker2]

New titles just listed. Several prices lowered. Link in first post will take you there!

[Overkill]

UGH. I'd LOVE to get my hands on a copy of Minnie's Boys. Pirated or otherwise. Too bad I'm broke. :/

I'd love to see it retooled a tiny bit and revived at Roundabout or something. The score is great, especially "Mamma, A Raibow".

[castlestreet]

Nice collection- I may snag one of two myself. I refuse to get rid of my CDs as my rare collection is quite extensive... if I could only get my hands on the Australian single CD with Debra Byrne I'd probably break the bank!

[longtimelurker2]

Yes, Overkill, I'd by tickets to a Minnie's Boys revival too. If the CD is too pricey, other sellers have the LP listed for significantly less:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005N8R5CA/ref=sr_1_5_up_1_main_olp?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347405641&sr=1-5&condition=used

[longtimelurker2]

Thanks, castlestreet. I wish I could help you out with the Debra Byrne CD. At least, there are a bunch of YouTube videos to help keep you busy until the CD single turns up! It's also fun to catch Hugh Jackman on the cusp of worldwide fame.

Generally, it seems Australian cast album CDs tend to be fairly rare. I also have the Australian 42nd St and Blood Brothers to sell, but they're so rare that Amazon doesn't even have a listing for them.

[bk]

I don't know, call me crazy, but the one CD everyone was interested in, the A Little Night Music with Judi Dench hasn't been on amazon, and I've checked since the link was first posted and since I received an advance e-mail. That must have gone very fast and I'm sure all of us would be interested to know for what price.

[longtimelurker2]

Hi Bruce!

All three of the Judi Dench CDs garnered a crazy amount of interest, but I have yet to list them. Sorry for any confusion. I'll definitely give a heads up when listing time for those approaches. There seems to be such interest that I was debating going through eBay for those (plus the promos that can't be listed on Amazon - Reba in Annie Get Your Gun & The Beautiful Game interview/demos), but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle of setting up an account just for that.

[castlestreet]

The Judi Dench CD seems to be a really hard one to get your hands on. I bought mine when it first came out from Footlight for $25.00- those were the days!

[longtimelurker2]

Yes, the Judi Dench Night Music recording is one of the rarer ones out there. With the billing "JONATHAN SHALIT presents the recording of" on the cover of the booklet and "Impresarioed by Jonathan Shalit" on the inside, this recording was ever so briefly available. Add in the fact that it's a rare Sondheim recording headlined by a beloved Oscar and Tony-winning Dame with a stellar supporting cast, and you have a perfect storm for collectibility!

[longtimelurker2]

I have just added more CDs to the account linked in the first post (including the much desired Judi Dench recordings).

The account is currently inactive, but I will activate it again at 5:00 EST. This seems like the fairest way to give everyone a shot at these recordings.

Thanks!

[EricMontreal22]

Wow, I'm glad I bought my Judi Dench Night Music when it was new, as well--not long after seeing her in it.

One question,why is the OBCR of Cabaret going for so much??

[longtimelurker2]

Hi Eric:

Great question. I meant to post that explanation here, and now you've reminded me. That is not the OBC of Cabaret but is the OLC with Judi Dench. Because of it's rarity, Amazon did not have a place to list it (individual sellers can't create new items) so I listed it as collectible under the OBC with the following explanation within:

"IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not the item pictured, but is the very rare Original London Cast Recording starring Judi Dench alongside Lila Kedrova, Peter Sallis, Kevin Colson and Barry Dennen. This CD is Sony West End SMK 53494 There are some scuffs on the jewel case, but otherwise, the condition is better than very good and closer to like new!"

Likewise, I needed to list the CDs of The Good Companions and the London No, No Nanette under LP while they are really CDs. All this is explained in the inside notes, and now, thanks to your question, I've gotten to explain it here.

Glad you have a copy of the Dench Night Music. From what other sellers have told me, it looks to be a mighty good investment (plus being a terrific recording).

[bk]

Well, looks like the Judi Dench Night Music has gone to some happy collector :)

[EricMontreal22]

Ah, I shoulda known. I thought at first it was prob the London release from West End Sony--but then when I clicked I was surprised (I didn't read your comment, lol...)

[longtimelurker2]

Yes, the Judi Dench A Little Night Music sold very quickly and will soon be enjoying a lovely new home.

[longtimelurker2]

I thought I'd start a "Disc of the Day" post to highlight some of the recordings for sale. First up, the Original London Company of Spend, Spend, Spend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spend_Spend_Spend

Notably, Spend Spend Spend won the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, Critics' Circle Award and Barclays Theatre Award for Best Musical. It was also nominated for an Olivier Award as Best New Musical, but like The Lion King & Mamma Mia!, famously lost to Honk!

It was nominated for a total of seven Olivier Awards and won for Best Actress in a Musical. The great Barbara Dickson (who stars as Viv and is well-known for Evita, Chess and Blood Brothers) won against competition which included Rachel Leskovac who played Young Viv.

Adding to the collectibility of this disc is the fact that it never received a full distribution. It was only available at the theatre and through mail-order (I'd imagine Dress Circle acquired some copies too).

My Amazon listing for this album:

http://www.amazon.com/Spend-Legend-Nicholson-Original-Company/dp/B009219GI0/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A2CBRI5F6XRI96

[castlestreet]

I bought the Aussie 42nd Street and Blood Brothers from him on amazon- purchased them on Wednesday and already have them! Great items- thanks for putting your collection out there!

[longtimelurker2]

Dear Castlestreet: Thanks for your kind post. I'm glad to hear the discs arrived safely, and you're enjoying them! Also, a very special thank you for adding to my 5-Star Feedback on Amazon. As a new seller, I really appreciate that. :)))

[longtimelurker2]

For the second day of Disc of the Day, I thought I'd go for a Kander & Ebb double-feature.

First-up, chronologically, is the 1968 Original London Cast Recording of Cabaret. Like most of the Sony West End series, this disc went out of print very quickly and has been long prized by collectors. The major selling point of this recording is, of course, the presence of Dame Judi Dench as Sally Bowles and she is, well, perfectly marvelous. Her peerless acting and that sui generis voice bring freshness to a score which for many of us can sometimes feel overly familiar. Anyone who can make the title tune seem vibrant and new is someone special. Sharing above the title billing with Dame Judi is another Oscar & Tony winner, Lila Kedrova as Fraulein Schneider, and the other principals include Peter Sallis (Baker Street's Dr. Watson, best know for his 37 year run on the British sitcom Last of the Summer Wine), Tony nominee Kevin Colson, and Barry Dennen (Jesus Christ Superstar's Pontius Pilate and Streisand's former gay boyfriend). Apropos of nothing, Dennen will sell you an autographed Pontius Pilate movie print for $49.95 or record a personalized outgoing message for your answering machine for only $225.

This 18 track recording runs 58.5 minutes vs. the 17 track, 54.3 minute Broadway cast recording.

Reminder: As mentioned upthread, due to the rarity of this recording, Amazon does not provide a proper spot for listing this recording so I have listed it as Collectible under the banner of the Original Broadway Cast. You will see this is all explained in the listing details. After all, no one is going to pay that kind of money for the readily available Original Broadway Cast (not even at the recently departed Colony).

My Amazon listing for this album:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001VRDRGU/ref=dp_olp_collectible?ie=UTF8&condition=collectible&m=A2CBRI5F6XRI96

Today's second recording is the Australian Cast Album of Chicago. This 1981 recording of the Sydney Theatre Company Production is also a bonanza for leading lady lovers. Roxie is played by Nancye Hayes who is a major Australian musical star. Hayes was the original Australian Charity Hope Valentine and went on to star in such roles as Mrs. Lovett, Dorothy Brock, Liliane LeFleur and Edith Bouvier Beale (the older). She's also played both Lily St. Regis and Miss Hannigan!

Opposite her as Velma is Geraldine Turner who will be familiar to cast album collectors as Reno Sweeney in 1989's Anything Goes and for her two volumes of the Stephen Sondheim Songbook. Terence Donovan who plays Billy Flynn has done a lot of TV and stage work but is perhaps now best known as the father of Jason Donovan. Judi Connelli who plays Matron Mama Morton is a well-known for cabaret, opera and musical theatre star whose roles include Norma Desmond, Carlotta Campion, Mrs. Lovett and most recently, Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins.

The tune-stack for this 18 track, 55.9 minute album is similar to that of the 54.4 minute original Broadway cast album.

My Amazon listing for this album:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000J9VG/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&m=A2CBRI5F6XRI96

As always, thanks for your interest!

[longtimelurker2]

Courtesy of the highly recommended Theatre Aficionado at Large.

http://theatreaficionado.tumblr.com/post/26775961082/judi-dench-as-sally-bowles-sings-title-song-from

[longtimelurker2]

There will be no Disc of the Day entries for Minnie's Boys, Alan Menken & Tim Rice's King David or Hugh Jackman in Beauty and the Beast because they have been SOLD!

11 out of 25 discs sold in 1 week.

Check out the 14 remaining discs here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aag/main?ie=UTF8&asin=B0001S3V6G&isAmazonFulfilled=0&isCBA=&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&seller=A2CBRI5F6XRI96

[longtimelurker2]

Happy Rosh Hashanah! I thought I'd celebrate the first day of 5773 with a show for my people. A special "hello" to those of you who are sitting in temple and reading this on your iPhone.

Bar Mitzvah Boy originated as a 1976 BAFTA award-winning BBC1 television play by the late Jack Rosenthal. Rosenthal, whose widow is actress Maureen Lipman, also won a BAFTA in 1977 for writing the teleplay for Saturday's "Disc of the Day" Spend Spend Spend.

The musical version of Bar Mitzvah Boy, which follows the events leading up to the Bar Mitzvah of Eliot Green, opened in 1978 at Her Majesty's Theatre where it ran for only 77 (or 78 depending on the source) performances. In a day and age where it can now take a decade for a musical to make it to the stage, it's interesting to note that the teleplay was broadcast on September 14, 1976, and the musical opened just over two years later on October 31, 1978. A revised version resetting the story in Brooklyn via an American Adaptation by Martin Gottfried and featuring some new songs played briefly in 1978 at off-Broadway's American Jewish Theatre.

With a book by Rosenthal and lyrics by Don Black, the show features a score by Jule Styne. THE LEGENDARY JULE STYNE! This alone makes this disc a must-have. Direction was by Martin Charnin in the window between the original productions of Annie & the musical version of I Remember Mama.

Pye released two singles from the show, I've Just Begun and This Time Tomorrow. Both featuring star Barry Angel, these singles are not included on this disc, but can be found on a collection of singles cleverly titled A Slice of Pye.

This recording, another one from the rare Sony West End series, has 17 tracks and a running time of 47.3 minutes.

As the ad said, the show will "be on the stage for a long time...the album will be on your turntable even longer."

My Amazon listing for this album:

http://www.amazon.com/Bar-Mitzvah-Boy-Jack-Rosenthal/dp/B001EFEV3C/ref=?ie=UTF8&m=A2CBRI5F6XRI96