1. Overture/Back Stage Dreamland - Emy Baysic, Sylvia Dohi, Rona Figueroa, Lydia Gatson, Margaret Gates, Kevin Gray, La, Zoie Lam, , Sonia Swaby, Orchestra 2. Heat Is on in Saigon - Emy Baysic, Sylvia Dohi, Rona Figueroa, Lydia Gatson, Margaret Gates, Kevin Gray, Zoie Lam, Christine Langner, 3. Movie in My Mind - Joanna Ampil, Emy Baysic, Sylvia Dohi, Rona Figueroa, Lydia Gatson, Margaret Gates, Zoie Lam, Christine Langner, Sonia Swaby 4. Transaction - Joanna Ampil, Hinton Battle, , Peter Cousens, Kevin Gray, Company 5. Dance - Joanna Ampil, Peter Cousens, Kevin Gray 6. Why God Why? - Peter Cousens 7. This Money's Yours - Joanna Ampil, Peter Cousens 8. Sun and Moon - Joanna Ampil, Peter Cousens 9. Telephone Song - Hinton Battle, Peter Cousens 10. Deal - Peter Cousens, Kevin Gray 11. Wedding Ceremony (Dju Vui Vai) - Joanna Ampil, Emy Baysic, Peter Cousens, Sylvia Dohi, Rona Figueroa, Lydia Gatson, Margaret Gates, Zoie Lam, Christine Langner 12. Thuy's Arrival - Joanna Ampil, Charles Azulay, Peter Cousens 13. Last Night of the World - Joanna Ampil, Peter Cousens 14. Morning of the Dragon - Tito Abeleda, Zar Acayan, Alan Ariano, Azoulay, Francis J. Cruz, Kevin Gray, Norman Kauahi, Juan Pineda, Ray Santos 15. I Still Believe - Joanna Ampil, Ruthie Henshall 16. Back in Town - Tito Abeleda, Joanna Ampil, Alan Ariano, Charles Azulay, Francis J. Cruz, Kevin Gray, Norman Kauahi, Pine, Ray Santos 17. Thuy's Death/You Will Not Touch Him - Joanna Ampil, Charles Azulay, , Company 18. If You Want to Die in Bed - Kevin Gray 19. Kim & Engineer - Joanna Ampil, Kevin Gray 20. I'd Give My Life for You - Joanna Ampil, , Company
Disc 2
1. Entr'acte - Orchestra 2. Bui Doi - Hinton Battle, , Choir 3. Revelation - Hinton Battle, Peter Cousens, Ruthie Henshall 4. What a Waste - Kevin Gray, Company 5. Please - Joanna Ampil, Hinton Battle 6. Chris Is Here - Joanna Ampil, Hinton Battle, Kevin Gray 7. Kim's Nightmare - Joanna Ampil, Charles Azulay, Hinton Battle, , Peter Cousens, Company 8. Room 317 - Joanna Ampil, Ruthie Henshall 9. Now That I've Seen Her - Ruthie Henshall 10. Confrontation - Hinton Battle, Peter Cousens, Ruthie Henshall 11. American Dream - Kevin Gray, Company 12. Finale - Joanna Ampil, Peter Cousens
This is an excellent album, especially for anyone who is seriously interested in the show. It contains ALL of the music from the libretto, not just the major songs. It is the most complete albun you can buy. I highly recommend it.
Good, but not the best Submitted on: 2009-02-18
I purchased this CD as well as the Original Cast recording to familiarise myself with the music as I will be auditioning for Miss Saigon later this year.
I must say although the music is fine, the original cast recording is much better. The voices are generally weaker in this version compared to the original cast recording especially the Engineer's role. Not as much character comes through the voices, and there are slight changes in tempo compared to the original cast recording which can irritate. For example, the first scene with the Engineer and the bar girls backstage seems rushed, unclear and indistinct compared to the original. Also there seems to be a couple of numbers missing from the start of Act II?
This CD is ok if you want to familiarise yourself with the music of this great musical. You can tell that the music is written by the same composer as Les Mis - you get the same sorts of chords, key changes, rececitive and arias as Les Mis - but if you want to hear a "best performance" version, get the original cast instead.
Great recording, but in the shadow of the OLC cast Submitted on: 2009-01-13
This is a really great recording, the orchestra is powerful and as the name suggests it's a complete recording. But when you compare it with the power of the performances of the OLC cast, it really pales. I own both but I actaully rarely listen to this recording, because the OLC one is so very much better.
Overall, nothing beats the OLC Submitted on: 2008-05-23
I do like this recording because it does include all of the numbers including the amazing MORNING OF THE DRAGON, which is sung much better on here than on the OLC. Lea Salonga's KIM will always be the definitive Kim and Claire Moore's ELLEN is the best out of all of the casts. Henshall is WAY too bright and edgy with her voice. The role needs warmth as is evidenced by Claire Moore's voice. I saw both casts and I much prefer the OLC overall. Simon Bowman's vibrato is way too big and he goes out of tune. I don't like ANY of the Johns..yuck. If I had to pick one I would pick Peter P. from London and for sure NOT Hinton B. Jonathan Pryce was the best engineer. Gigi is much better in London than on this CD. Keith Burns, for all his faults, is a great Thuy and his "rock" voice is excellent for this. All of the other Thuys were so weak and wussy. I could never take them seriously.
The chorus is much better on this recording than on the OLC. I always felt that OLC Chorus forced too much and it was sometimes out of tune.
All in all nothing beats (and nothing will beat) the OLC. I know people who worked on the show in London from the beginning and have agreed that the OLC is, by far, the best overall.
Superb Saigon Submitted on: 2007-01-26
Wonderful to be able to catch the entire essence of Saigon. The highlights are good but, to be able to catch EVERY aspect of the show.....is amazing. Completely suggest for any diehard fan!
Miss Saigon
Good, but not the best
Overall, nothing beats the OLC