#lrcr

I personally think that like the 2014 recording, the 1989 recording doesn't do justice to the cast, especially to Lea. I've heard raw recordings and I can surely say that the raw recordings were a lot better than the official ones. It sounds more realistic and you can feel the emotion that the actors project even more. The raw recordings prove all the more why the show has won so many awards and has gotten rave reviews, both then and now.

I wish the new recording was done in-studio. I love the idea of a live one, but I prefer to hear the very best version of the actor's voices, and I think is only captured with the many takes that are tried in studio. Also, I would feel I could more fairly compare the OLC album to this one. As it stands, I think they were just collected too differently to compare casts. I don't even factor in the Complete Symphonic Recording, it was just recorded in such a disconnected way (and I think it showed).

I made a playlist of all versions of the cast recordings (OLC, complete symphonic, revival cast, gala recording, and several bootlegs) and I've been listening to it all week. I think Lea is still the best Kim. Objectively, it's really hard to find fault in her. Her voice is crystal clear, she nails every note, and her delivery is so emotive. Any criticism of her is really more subjective. That's not to say the other Kims are bad. But in the technical aspect, Lea just nails everything

The idea of a live cast recording is really great and unique but I really wish they just did a studio recording instead.

I really like Brammer but he's awful at the Live Cast Recording. I don't know if he was nervous or if my love for him has kept me deaf the two times I've seen him playing Chris, but his Why God Why is horrible there.

I am beyond pissed that I can't listen to the new Miss Saigon Cast Album without paying $40 to get the hard copy in the States. I just want to hear the music...

I don't like how they changed a lot of the lyrics in the new production. Things like at the end where Kim used to sing a reprise of I'd Give My Life For You isn't there and I think that gives the ending far more emotion and depth because it reminds the audience of her promise.

Eva's voice on the cast recording confused me a whole lot. I felt like her voice is all over the place.