Little Shop Of Horrors: Original Cast Album (1982 Off-Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This version of the soundtrack to the hit musical is from the stage production, which ended rather differently than the movie: just about the entire cast (except for the backup singers) winds up as lunch for the hungry plant. As a result, this CD lacks the song "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space," which was written for the film. Instead, the recording closes with "Don't Feed the Plants," which is much more in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the musical. Little Shop of Horrors explores a wide variety of musical styles, from the rhumba-inflected "Mushnik and Son" to the I'm-on-Broadway ballads "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly Seymour." The most spirited numbers are those that feature the trio of backup singers, who perform on the title track, "Skid Row," "Da-Doo," "The Meek Shall Inherit," and other numbers with considerable energy. The recording loses something if you haven't actually seen the stage production, but hearing this CD will give you an excellent reason to do so. --Genevieve Williams

Little Shop Of Horrors: Original Cast Album (1982 Off-Broadway Cast), Music, Alan Menken, Alan Menken, Ellen Greene, Franc Luz, Hy Anzell, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Lee Wilkof, Leilani Jones, Martin Robinson, Ron Taylor, Sheila Kay Davis, Howard Ashman, Cast Recordings, Music Theater, Musical Theater, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Show Tunes, Showtunes / B'way

Little Shop Of Horrors: Original Cast Album (1982 Off-Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating:

Puts the petal to the metal!

A Charming, Often Brilliant Little Musical

Little Shop Of Horrors

Fun

Quaint, but Enjoyable!

Little Shop Of Horrors: Original Cast Album (1982 Off-Broadway Cast)
Howard Ashman
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Little Shop of Horrors (2003 Broadway Revival Cast)

Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop Of Horrors (1986 Film)

Gypsy - A Musical Fable (1959 Original Broadway Cast)

The Little Shop of Horrors

ASIN: B000000OMF
Release Date: 1992-08-25

Tracks:

Prologue (Little Shop Of Horrors)
Skid Row (Downtown)
Da-Doo
Grow For Me
Ya Never Know
Mushnik And Sons
Dentist!
Somewhere That's Green
Feed Me (Git It)
Now (It's Just The Gas)
Closed For Renovation
Suddenly Seymour
Suppertime
The Meek Shall Inherit
Sominex/Suppertime ll
Finale (Don't Feed The Plants)

Amazon.com

This version of the soundtrack to the hit musical is from the stage production, which ended rather differently than the movie: just about the entire cast (except for the backup singers) winds up as lunch for the hungry plant. As a result, this CD lacks the song "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space," which was written for the film. Instead, the recording closes with "Don't Feed the Plants," which is much more in keeping with the spirit of the rest of the musical. Little Shop of Horrors explores a wide variety of musical styles, from the rhumba-inflected "Mushnik and Son" to the I'm-on-Broadway ballads "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly Seymour." The most spirited numbers are those that feature the trio of backup singers, who perform on the title track, "Skid Row," "Da-Doo," "The Meek Shall Inherit," and other numbers with considerable energy. The recording loses something if you haven't actually seen the stage production, but hearing this CD will give you an excellent reason to do so. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Puts the petal to the metal!.......2007-05-11

Until just this month, I had never seen "Little Shop" or heard any of its music. But when my kids put on the show at their high school, suddenly I was fascinated by all things Seymour and Audrey. This 1982 cast production of the music is a perfect memento of the play and a capable tribute to the terrific work of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, respectively, the composer and writer. This is one of several versions of "Little Shop" that are in circulation, and adds a layer of campiness to the dark original. Like the original (and unlike the movie) it does shrink from the dealing with the Faustian consequences of its characters' choices.

After listing to them, it's guaranteed that these songs will be running through your head for weeks. I'm especially tickled by "Skid Row," the urban ensemble piece that sets the scene for the action. "Somewhere That's Green," sweetly showcases Audrey's warped dream of a better life in the suburbs -- "a grill out on the patio...and an ironing machine". And everyone loves the "Dentist" piece, sung partially through a gas mask - a risky proposition that works, at least on the album.

The 1982 version of "Little Shop" may not continue to wear well, with its many dated references to 1950s personalities - Donna Reed, Jack Paar and Hedy Lamarr. But no matter, there is plenty of wonderful music to keep your car stereo or IPod busy for weeks.

A Charming, Often Brilliant Little Musical.......2006-08-09

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, best known for their superb songs for the Disney classics Beauty and the Best and The Little Mermaid, were also prominent in the theater. However, the crowning achievement of their work for theater (mostly Off-Broadway) was Little Shop of Horrors. Menken perfectly blends theater music and pop music and Ashman's lyrics are always witty and excellent.
The small cast has plently of talent. Let's begin with Ellen Greene, an exceptional actress who will be best remembered for this role of Audrey. Although her dialouge reading isn't prominent on this album, her singing certainly is. And what a singer she is! She's perfect.
Ron Taylor, best known for his role of Bleeding Gums Murphy on The Simpsons, is great as Audrey II. I prefer him to Levi Stubbs in the film and the fellow who played him in the overblown Broadway production.
Lee Wilkoff, an Off-Broadway veteran (later to star in the original Playwrights Horizons production of Assassins) is a fine Seymour. He sings nicely and pulls the role off well.
The guy playing Mr. Mushnik is just fine and the man who plays Orin the Dentist among other parts is excellent.
The Greek Chorus of Urchins, a creation of Mr. Ashman's, make a great musical excellent. These girls are perhaps give the best performances for a recording of this show.
This is a great musical. It's slowly becoming a modern classic and deserves to become one!

Little Shop Of Horrors.......2006-05-29

I loved the 1986 movie with Ellen Greene. I bought this wonderful CD from Tower Records. I was so happy. I looked at it.
Then I placed it in my brand new boombox. It was so cool. And Ellen Greene was Audrey on this CD. I was also happy that she was on there.
Songs/Rated by me:
1.Prologue (Little Shop Of Horrors) 4/5
2.Skid Row (Downtown) 5/5
3.Da-Doo 3/5
4.Grow For Me 4/5
5. Ya Never Know 5/5
6.Mushnik & Son 5/5
7.Dentist! 3/5
8.Somewhere Thats Green 5/5
9.Feed Me (Git It) 6/5
10.Now (It's Just For Gas) 4/5
11.Closed For Renovation 5/5
12.Suddenly,Seymour 5/5
13.Suppertime 4/5
14. The Meek Shall Inherit 3/5
15.Sominex/SupperTime II 5/5
16.Finale (Don't Feed The Plants) 5/5
Total: 71/80

Fun.......2006-04-05

I'm a sucker for the whole "This is where it all began" aspect of original cast albums, not matter how simple or rough around the edges they be (The 1973 London cast of The Rocky Horror Show is a perfect example), and it's these humble recordings that are usually, if not always my favorite. That being said, Little Shop of Horrors is quite possible my favorite musical. Of every show that grace smy stereo, this is probably the only show that I truely feel is absolutly perfect. I have no gripes what so ever with this show. Since as far back as I could remember I've always felt that it balanced humor and heart with more then just a dash of coolness like no other show avant or apres has ever been able to do.

But I digress, getting back to the matter of cast recordings. The biggest gripe I could have with a cast recording is that it's incomplete. Anything less then the entire score recorded in it's entirety is painful for me. That's this recordings major flaw. It's pretty sparse. It's more of a highlight recording if anything, as it includes most of the best tracks, with the exception of a few add ons.

The main tracks it does include (Suddenly Seymour, Feed me, Dentist, Somehwere That's Green, Grow for Me...You know the ones) are fortunatly either diffinitve or pretty damn good. The Feed me here is, at least in my oppinion, the best ever recorded. Ron Taylor as Audrey II is amazing. Probably only second best to Levi Stubbs in the movie (although the Feed Me there isn't nearly as good). We also have the Amazing Ellen Greene here, and that NEVER hurts. She's heartbreaking.

You couldn't ay this is the definitive recording - the 2003 Broadway cast probably takes that honor, if only because it's complete - but this album is a wonderful light into how it all began. Highly recomennded.

Quaint, but Enjoyable!.......2006-04-01

I really like this show. I must say that it is better live and with all of the tracks. This version doesn't include all of the material included in say the newer (less pleasing) Broadway version.
Ellen Greene shines as Audrey, but I must say that the girl I saw, Tari Kelly, in the national tour is superior. She has a funny way of saying her words which adds to the character, but then she gets into this weird little kind of soultry, kind of soprano, and kind of belty voice. She did this more in the movie version, but in the song SUDDENLY SEYMOUR, she gets into it and it detracts from the song. But I do give her an A because, I mean, she made the role. Every actress sculpts themselves based on her performance. She's got to be good.

Ron Taylor is much less satisfying. He sings beautifully with ease and flare. That's a bad thing! Seymour can have a good voice, but it has to be character fitting. Mr. Taylor just sings too prety. GROW FOR ME lacks the nerdiness. SUDDENLY SEYMOUR is weak until Audrey comes in, and even then, it is lacking something. Because of that this is my least favorite version of SUDDENLY SEYMOUR. I give Mr Taylor a C, just because I feel his MEEK SHALL INHERIT is haunting.

Lee Wilkoff is good, but forgettable. Some of his funnier lines are left out, which detracts from his character. The guy who plays Mushnik is okay, but also forgettable. The three girls are okay, but one of them sings like she wants to be a soprano but can't get up there like she wants. MEEK SHALL INHERIT is done well by the three, but the title song is lacking.

The guy who plays Orin and all the others is good. His DENTIST is plain, patly because of the blah orchestrations and partly because of the weaker lyrics. *I feel DENTIST is one of the most lacking songs in the show, the worst is CLOSED FOR RENOVATION!* But the guy is eally good in MEEK SHALL INHERIT. I love those lyrics! His voice does sound a little bit the same for every part, but that is understandable knowing that he doesn't have his costumes.

The writers of this play eally did a great job. There are many standouts on this CD such as:

SKID ROW
GROW FOR ME
YA NEVER KNOW
SOMEWHERE THAT'S GREEN
NOW
SUDDENLY SEYMOUR (just because it's good)
MEEK SHALL INHERIT
SOMINEX
DON'T FEED THE PLANTS

This CD is a great listen. I highly suggest it. I feel it is the bets recording of the show. The movie version takes second place, while the new version takes third. I fel original is best. However, the larger number of tracks on hte other CD's are really a great thing.

Thanks for Ellen Greene and some really great writers, this CD is must buy!

4 stars?

2 stars for Ellen Greene
1 star for the writing
1 star for the guy who plays Orin, Lee Wilkoff, and MEEK SHALL INHERIT

Music:

Music

Music