THE NEW ROCKY HORROR SHOW:
25 Years Young--Live Recording (1998)

*CD*
1998, Damn It Janet Records, DAMJAN 2CD

CAST:
Usherette/Magenta: Laurie Brett
Janet: Simona Morecroft
Brad: Stuart De La Mere
The Narrator: Nicholas Parsons
Riff Raff: Georgie Hayes
Columbia: Gael Johnson
Frank N Furter: Jason Donovan
Rocky: Ross O'Hennessy
Eddie/Dr. Scott: Mark White
Phantoms: Bekki Carpenter, Craig Giovanelli, Amanda Jane Manning, Nathan Taylor

MUSICIANS
Musical Director & Keyboards: Peter Whitfield
Drums: Paul Matthews (uses Premier Percussion, Meinl Cymbals & Promark Drumsticks protected by Hardcase)
Bass Guitar: Alan Prosser (uses Elites Bass Strings)
Guitar: Mark Jackson
Saxophone & Panic MD: Dave Webb
Original musical arrangements by: Richard Hartley
Sound by: Wigwam Acoustics
Musical direction by: Peter Whitfield
Sound engineers: Gary Kenyon & Colin Ashman
Production sound engineer: Ken Woodward
Recorded by: Gregg Jackman on The Fleetwood Mobile
Mixed by: Gregg Jackman & Paul Wright at Sarm West Studios
Assisted by: Matt Crawford
Pro Tools editing by: Dave McCracken for Sarm Management
Face Off Radio Edit:
Re-mix and additonal production by Face Off for Anthonik Productions Ltd.
Wand Radio Edit
Wand re-mixes by Paul Masterson
Representation: Backlash Music Management

Recorded at Theatre Royal, Norwich
Booklet photos by Hugo Glendinning
Produced in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Published by Druidcrest Ltd

RUNNING TIME: 70:21

..........and yet another RHS recording released in the UK. This 1998 cast recording is probably the best European cast album ever recorded. (Well, next to The Whole Gory Story, that is.)

This album was recorded live at a performance of TRHS, which is not a first, considering that the 1980 German Cast and the 1995 Finnish Cast recordings were also recorded live. However, this live recording does a better job of capturing the energy in the audience as well as on stage. There is a good amount of audience participation featured, but not too much. The producers of this recording put just the right amount of audience interaction on the disc; it doesn't get repetitive and boring.

One thing I want to mention right off is Nicholas Parsons performance as the Narrator. Personally, I really have never enjoyed the role of Narrator/Criminologist. I understand the purpose of the character, but I've never heard a Narrator until Parsons that I actually enjoyed. On this recording, Parsons not only makes a fabulous deliverance of O'Brien's silly dialogue, he interacts with the audience, insulting them, inviting their catcalls, and adding to the insanity with his ad libs. (When the audience first yells "A**hole!" in response to Brad Majors' name, Parsons retorts with "That's a side of him I don't know....") His Narrator makes this album worth a listen or two alone, and is my favourite aspect of this recording.

One thing that puts this album in my favour is that it includes all the songs, as well as some dialogue. The spoken dialogue is placed before and after the songs to fully enhance the live experience and bring the live show into your living room. You'd expect the dialogue to be a little more exciting, but most of it comes off sounding like the over-acted line reading in The Whole Gory Story, but since there is only minimal dialogue, it doesn't really hurt the recording.

Jason Donovan, who plays Frank N. Furter, is a pretty big celebrity in Europe. I have a cast recording of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat featuring Donovan, and I expected his Frank to be real cheesy and queeny. I was surprised to hear that Donovan sounds nothing like he did when he played Joseph. There are times on the recording where he really overacts and goes overboard, but with Frank, that's okay sometimes. I know that the topic of "Who's the best stage Frank other than Tim Curry?" is a hot topic with the European fans. I've had a lot of people praise Howard Samuels and Anthony Head. Unfortunately, I've not had the honour to see any of them, but from judging the performances on the recordings, I'd say I like Jason Donovan better than Howard Samuels, Tim McInnerny, Robin Cousens, and every other Frank featured on European recordings with the exception of Tim Curry. (Why, oh why, oh WHY did they never make a recording with Anthony Head?!?!?!?!??!?!?) Donovan's performance is a pretty good one, and if his Frank is as good live as it is on the recording, I'm really sorry I didn't get to see him either. Highlights of Donovan's on the album are the 'Charles Atlas Songs,' 'Don't Dream It,' and 'I'm Going Home.'

The rest of the cast is also pretty dynamic as well. Janet (Simona Morecroft) has quite a set of lungs on her, and she doesn't make the role too silly and campy, which gets done too much in some productions, I think. Morecroft's 'Touch Me' is one fine performance. Georgie Hayes' performance of Riff and Laurie Brett's Magenta are also very entertaining, although I really don't care for the vocal effects done before 'Super Heroes'---what is up with that?

The one standout track on this recording is 'Once In A While.' Just like the 1992 Australian Cast and the 1995 New Zealand Cast recordings did with 'Eddie's Teddy,' 'Once In A While' is transformed into a country-western ballad. Maybe it's the young farmboy in my blood, but I really enjoy this new arrangement. The song features an all new-vocal arrangement that features the Narrator (!) and a more upbeat ending. Okay, so Stuart De La Mere's Brad sings it a little corny, but it really grows on you after a few listens.

The musical arrangements for the rest of the recording are all pretty much the same, although there is some fine guitar and percussion in 'Rose Tint My World.' Considering that this is a live recording, I think the band does a fine job on this album. The songs are all rockin', and you won't be disappointed with the music.

There's only one thing I have to nitpick about this recording. Am I hearing things, or is that Kenny G playing on 'The Sword Of Damocles' and 'I'm Going Home'??????? Whoever it is playing that horn, it really ruins the music. It makes the songs lean towards being elevator music, and that isn't too good in my opinion. Get rid of Kenny and his geeky horn, and you've got some perfect tunes.

And finally, what would a 1990's TRHS recording be without a few remixes of 'The Time Warp' at the end of the recording???? Okay, I HAVE to get this off my chest: I'm sick to death of 'The Time Warp' as it is. It's the show's "hit" song. Fine enough. But why is it that every TRHS recording that has come out in the last few years has to include a 'Warp' remix?!?!?! I haven't been impressed with any of them, and this recording is no exception. This disc features not one, but TWO 'Warp' remixes. I'm not gonna rant too much on them--if you like the other million 'Warp' remixes out there, you'll probably like this one too. But hey, can we get a remix of another song....PLEASE?????????

--kev j.b.
10 February 2000

MISSING TRACKS: NONE!

*****AVAILABILITY*****
Currently in print and available in the UK. This disc was not released in the US, but you can get imported copies easily. Footlight Records, Memories Of The Past and The Official TRHS Website all offer it for sale.

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