Amazon.com: The original Broadway cast recording of Annie still has as much charm as it did in 1977. Charles Strouse wrote the snappy music and Martin Charnin's clever lyrics capture the misery of the Great Depression, the glitter of the upper-crust life, and the character of the FDR administration. Andrea McArdle shines in the title role, most notably with the classic anthem "Tomorrow," while Tony-winner Dorothy Loudon and Reid Shelton provide support as the hag Miss Hannigan and the benevolent Daddy Warbucks, respectively.
The 1998 remastered edition includes as bonus material 17 minutes of tape Strouse and Charnin recorded for backers' auditions in 1972. They present the seven songs with some plot structure and early ideas for characters ("Miss Asthma" was a precursor for Miss Hannigan). Many of the songs didn't survive the final cut, but "Just Wait" eventually became "Little Girls" and "We Got Annie" was resurrected for the 1982 film. "Tomorrow" also appears--touted as the song's earliest recording--and Strouse and Charnin's rendition will increase your appreciation of McArdle. You won't listen to this rough draft every time you play the CD, but you'll enjoy it if you have any interest in the show. The booklet includes the original synopsis and production notes as well as new notes by Charnin on the extra tracks, but no lyrics. --David Horiuchi
Disc 1:
Annie, musical~Overture
Annie, musical~Maybe - Andrea McArdle, Orphans
Annie, musical~It's the Hard-Knock Life
Annie, musical~Tomorrow
Annie, musical~We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover
Annie, musical~Little Girls
Annie, musical~I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
Annie, musical~NYC
Annie, musical~Easy Street
Annie, musical~You Won't Be an Orphan for Long - Sandy Faison
Annie, musical~You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile - Laurie Beechman, Donald Craig
Annie, musical~Tomorrow (Reprise) - The Cabinet, Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton, Raymond Thorne
Annie, musical~Something Was Missing - Reid Shelton
Annie, musical~I Don't Need Anything But You - Sandy Faison, Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton
Annie, musical~Annie - Sandy Faison
Annie, musical~New Deal for Christmas - Sandy Faison, Andrea McArdle, Orphans, Reid Shelton, Raymond Thorne
Annie, musical~Introductory Remarks [*]
Annie, musical~Apples [*] - Andrea McArdle, Orphans
Annie, musical~Lead-In and Song: We Got Annie [*]
Annie, musical~Lead-In - Andrea McArlde
Annie, musical~Just Wait [*]
Annie, musical~Lead-In [*] - Dorothy Loudon
Annie, musical~That's the Way It Goes [*] - Sandy Faison, Andrea McArdle
Annie, musical~Lead-In [*] - Sandy Faison, Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton
Annie, musical~Parents [*] - Barbara Ervin, Robert Fitch, Dorothy Loudon
Annie, musical~Lead-In and Song: I've Never Been So Happy [*]
Annie, musical~Tomorrow [First Public Performance][*]
"Annie "soundtrack ^ It is good CD in excellent condition. I bought it for my Granddaughter who will be performing in the play next month as one of the orphans, she is 8yrs. old and it has helped her practice at home. Thank you.
Brdwy cast album ^ I had this on vinyl but wanted to be able to listen to it in the car now and then. Its still better than all of the movies.
Voice cassette ^ I purchased a CD and an audio cassette of the movie Annie. This is a review of the cassette.
If there were a no star rating, this would be it. The cassette was defective - not even one-half of it can be heard clearly. I would think that the seller would be more honest than to SELL a defective tape.
Definitive ANNIE Recording ^ Simply put, this is the DEFINITIVE recording of this musical. Dorothy Loudon will always be the best Ms. Hannigan (sorry Carol!), Andrea McArdle will always be the best Annie, and Reid Shelton will always be the best and brassiest Daddy Warbucks. Also, the wonderful songs that were cut from the 1982 film are all here and an absolute delight: "We'd Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover," "NYC," "Getting a New Deal For Christmas," etc. Don't hesitate to buy this delightful album to a musical that is far more political than smaltzy than most people would think.
Still Great! After All These Years!!! ^ I believe it was 1978 when my parents bought me the original broadway cast recording of Annie on vinyl. It was my favorite record of my childhood and now I'm grateful to be able to have it on CD and play it for my daughter. And while not everyone may appreciate it...I'll admit I got a big misty when I heard the first public performance of Tomorrow (track 27). While it horrifies me to think that there are people out there that truly believe Aileen Quinn was a better Annie than Andrea McArdle, it's nothing new to me either. My parents took me to see Annie on Broadway at the Alvin Theater in NYC for my 7th birthday (Allison Smith was in the role at the time) and shortly after that, the movie debuted. Those I knew who had seen it on Broadway and knew what everything was supposed to sound like (and knew the storyline of the musical) were incredibly disappointed with the movie...while those who only had the movie as their reference liked (in some cases loved) it. I guess if you're a bigger fan of the movie, mabye the musical soundtrack is not for you- BUT please be aware that the creators of Annie intended to have this sound the way you hear it on this Broadway soundtrack. I recommend this to any true Annie fan out there (and now my old vinyl album can just rest in a safe place- since it's already been very well loved).
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