Annie: The New Broadway Cast Recording

I have been a fan of everything "Annie" since my youth,< just yesterday :-)>so, one can only imagine at how ecstatic I was when I learned that a new Broadway Cast Recording of "Annie" transitioned from a hope to a reality. Having been familiar with the Original Broadway Cast Recording, the 30th Anniversary Recording, the TV Version, the soundtrack to the TV Version, the ill fated film version with the sole saving grace of Carol Burnett, the Aileen Quinn Soundtrack, the most recent Australian Cast Recording and numerous national tours and local productions, I can confidently say that this is the paramount choice of this musical to add to your library.The CD has top notch production values and is a delight! From the moment I put this disc into the home theatre system and heard the first notes of the overture, I knew I would be taken back to Depression Era New York from the comfort of my love seat. I could see the conductor working his magic prior to the curtain rising to reveal the orphanage where it all began. The recording is a perfect combination of stellar sound and energetic vocals. As soon as the disc started, the surround sound system was utilized and balanced out the bass from the subwoofer and the front and rear channels offering the effect that we were sitting in the middle of the orchestra in the theatre. This recording sounds as though we are at a performance and the quality is nothing short of amazing.Usually, I am not an admirer of solid orchestrations being fine tuned and updated. In this case, it works beautifully! Todd Ellison and Michael Starobin took a classic score and made it even more solid with a burst of vivacious zest that complimented the memorable score. The fusion between what had been written and now re-worked was faithful yet fresh. If you fell in love with other "Annie" recordings, wait until you hear this successful attempt. The CD grew on me from the first listen.The vocals on this recording seem like they are live on stage even though they were recorded in the studio. All vocals are done in character with an incredible amount of energy. Each character is projected perfectly so just by listening to them, you feel like you are at the show. I closed my eyes several times and was taken back to New York watching Miss Hannigan and her shenanigans...Lilla Crawford is a joy to listen to as Annie. Lilla has a wonderful "New Yawk" Accent that along with a slight roughness in her voice, is so complimentary to her characterization. I love it! I am also impressed with Lilla's singing ability especially when she can belt them out. I am a fan of Andrea McArdle but Lilla is right up there with her in terms of being an ideal Annie.Anthony Warlow, who I was already familiar from the most recent Australian Production is a solid Daddy Warbucks. Throughout the recording, you can hear how Annie captures the heart of the hard as nails business tycoon who is really a soft hearted man who was missing something out of life. When he performs "Something was Missing" during Act Two, you can feel the pain and loss of him almost losing the one thing that was more important than money in his life. Solid vocals and a knowledged delivery of his character make him the ideal Daddy Warbucks since John Schuck.Sinister and evil are words that come to mind when I hear Kate Finneran portray Miss Hannigan. Absolutely brilliant! Not only does she get her point across but she is a phenomenal singer. Through her vocals, it was no surprise that someone would want to drop a mouse down her dress or stomp on her foot. Kate's interpretation is so believable and realistic that I wanted to be one of the orphans so I could stomp on her foot for being so mean :-)An interesting addition to this production and recording is the use of a narrative voice to help us transition into Depression Era New York and keep us filled in throughout the story. This was clever and effective as it had me feel as though I were listening to a radio show. On a side note, "Little Orphan Annie" was actually a radio show on WGN in Chicago that debuted 1930 before moving over the NBC Radio in 1931 through 1942.I would have given this recording five stars had it not been for the excising of essential dialogue between Rooster, Lily and Miss Hannigan during the "Easy Street" Number on this recording. Although it was a grave error in judgement for the recording, it is by no means a deal breaker in not adding this CD to your collection.As a bonus, we are given three alternate tracks featuring Jane Lynch of TV's "Glee" who will be portraying Miss Hannigan on Broadway until July 14th. (Faith Prince follows her in the role in July) Jane's approach is different thank Kate and it is nice to hear them here. What is a plus, is that we have another version of "Easy Street" which is more complete along with dialogue...There are plans to take a version of the show on a National Tour so if the producers are reading this, please book it into the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas. In all sincerity, I am certain this production would do quite well here.As mentioned, this has become my favorite "Annie" Recording to date so, if you are "Stuck with a day that's grey and lonely" just stick this CD into your player or download the songs (legally) and you can have the sun come out today, tomorrow or any day!

I think this is the best recording of the musical Annie that you can buy in the USA, and play in your CD player, or listen to MP3s on other devices. It sounds like what it would sound like if you saw the show live. the orchestra does not sound like a karaoke CD because the orchestra sounds clearer, therefore, better, then on any other recordings of Annie. ( I don't know why) The new orchestrations are not that different than the originals. They manged to preserve the quality of the actors vocals better then on the 30th Anniversary Recording. Lilla somehow has too much tone quality, and sounds better live, but at least she didn't get robbed of her's on this recorded version of Annie, like Marissa O'Donnell did.Now I have few grips:1. The recording is incomplete. (the Final "Tomorrow (Reprise)" with the full cast is missing, along with the middle verses of "Easy Street" and "You Won't be an Orphan for Long"2. If they HAD to have a narrator, the narration should have been on separate tracks from the score, to make it easy skip. and don't put so many lines on some songs. The "Tomorrow" reprise is the one that I am going to take the time to point out.3. It's nice that the Original Broadway Cast Recording and the 30th Anniversary Recording and the 35th Anniversary Recording ALL,have extra tracks, HOWEVER compared to the first two major USA Recordings of Annie these three tracks with Jane Lynch are USELESS. Especially since not every cast of Annie was recorded.counterpoints to grips:1. If the 30th Anniversary Recording had included the "N.Y.C. (Reprise)" it would not be a big deal that they took out what was taken out on this recording. At least put in the Final "Tomorrow (Reprise)" on this recording.2. Jane Lynch sings well, and one of the lesser well known songs from the score on the Tony Awards, because of her.Annie: The New 2012 Broadway Cast Recording is the definitive Annie recording, and it has me looking forward to the Annie recordings of tomorrow.

This soundtrack is one of my favorite's of all time. I have the Original Broadway Cast Recording which is great (Their's nothing like it) but .... I saw this production in March 2013 with the Original Revival cast and they are nothing short of spectacular on this recording!!! The entire recording is amazing ... simple as that. The new orchestrations are amazing and the cast sounds stunning. The standouts on the recording:~ Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan (Perfect Casting Choice, I think so) Her version of "Little Girls" Is beautiful, she puts a spin on Miss Hannigan like no one has ever done before~ Lilla Crawford .... she can belt. Best Annie since Andrea McArdle, enough said.~ Anthony Warlow, he hides his accent very well and he sounds amazing singing with Lilla!So in the long run, I will be playing this cast recording forever ... it is one to put on the shelf beside the ORiginal Broadway Cast Recording of Annie & Phantom of the Opera! TOTALLY worth the money!

I had the pleasure of seeing this production on Broadway twice - in October 2012 and again in April 2013. Both times I enjoyed the show immensely. So, it's great to have this cast album as a reminder of those two nights. I especially enjoyed seeing fellow Australian Anthony Warlow in his long overdue Broadway debut. He makes a terrific Daddy Warbucks. His Phantom of the Opera in Australia was also magnificent. No one else in the cast matches Warlow's level of singing tho Kate Finnernan makes a great MIss Hannigan. It's good to see a younger actress play the role for a change. And, the inclusion of Jane Lynch's versions of Miss Hannigan's solos is a delightful bonus. All up, a fine album that records the music from a wonderful night in the theatre.

Perhaps one of my favourite musicals... I've staged three productions. I feel that a little more could have been added such as snippets of dialogue as a CD allows the space. The performances are excellent!

bought this for grandkids 5, 3 and 3, all girls, after taking the 5 year old to a local production.They love it and now all three are singing the songs.dt

It's a great recording , love the music!

Saw the original London Production of Annie back in 1979. This is a lovely new recording of an old favourite! Will enjoy listening

The orchestration is sadly lacking as are the actors . characterisations. Easy street is a big disappointment. Save your money.