Converting Vinyl to MP3s

Writing yesterday about the Donnybrook YouTube clip got me thinking about the many shows that have still not come out on CD, of which Donnybrook is one. Because I've long since traded in my turntable for CD players and iPods and such, I have a pretty significant stack of vinyl that I never listened to.

But then I was at Costco one day and I came across a nifty device called the Ion USB turntable, which turns vinyl (and even cassettes) into MP3 files for your iPod or other digital-music device. There are certainly similar devices on the market, but the Ion is incredibly easy to install and use, and I've been having a blast converting my beloved old record albums into something that I can actually listen to. So far, I've ripped and burned the following shows:

• You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (TV cast)
• High Society (London cast with Natasha Richardson and Stephen Rea) (CD released but out of print)
• Show Girl (Broadway cast with Carol Channing)
• Hello, Dolly! (London cast with Mary Martin)
• The Threepenny Opera (1976 revival with Raul Julia, Ellen Greene, and Blair Brown)

And next on my list of LPs to covert are: 

• Donnybrook (Broadway cast)
• Of Thee I Sing (TV cast with Carroll O'Connor, Cloris Leachman, and Michelle Lee)
• Maggie Flynn (Broadway cast with Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones) 
• The Cradle Will Rock (Off-Broadway revival with Jerry Orbach)
• Let My People Come (Off-Broadway cast)

I'm eagerly anticipating being able to listen to all of the above, although I'm sure that much of it will be atrocious, especially Let My People Come, a sort of Oh, Calcutta! wannabe. Much of the stuff I've already converted has been disappointing (Hello, Dolly!) if not downright painful (High Society).

But it has been very interesting comparing various translations of The Threepenny Opera, including the 1950s Off-Broadway production with Bea Arthur, Lotte Lenya, and Charlotte Rea, as well as the 1994 London revival at the Donmar Warehouse. It's fascinating to see how different translators find ways to bring Bertolt Brecht's lyrics to life in English, all to the stunning theatricality of Kurt Weill's music. The stuff of master's theses, I know, but I find it fun in my own parochial way.

Anyone care to weigh in on the cast recording you'd most like to see come out on CD?

Comments

[Matt]

My previous top-wished-for not-on-CD recording was the 1974 CANDIDE, which was finally released in the past year. Now I'd say it's ANDY CAPP, a British musical based on the comic strip (I've got 2 different LP-to-CD dubs, but it's not the same as a remastered copy).

[Scot Colford]

Dude, we're so in sync. I've already burned SHOWGIRL and LMPC. (I can't type out the whole title without giggling.) As I've done with AN EVENING WITH BEATRICE LILLIE, DOONESBURY, and NEW FACES OF '56. The bad thing is that I still will end up buying them when they come out commercially, like NEW FACES OF '56!

Matt, I'd love to trade you something for the ANDY CAPP!

[Steve.On Broadway (SOB)]

Chris, Thanks so much for the tip. I still have ALL my vinyl, which amounts to about 750 records of the 33 1/3, 45 and even 78 varieties. I love the scratchy sound the really old ones contain, and will have to do what you've done.

[Esther]

Thanks Chris! I'll definitely check out the turntable. I still have all of my vinyl, too. Although my collection doesn't begin to rival Steve's. ;-)

[Leonardo]

"Woman of the Year" with Lauren Bacall. It's available on CD, but IF you can find it, it's usually $75.00 to $100.00 bucks. I've got the record, but the cd would be fab!!

[Kevin]

I would love "Donnybrook!," but most of all I would love a digital release of "A Time for Singing." The LP rip I have is of superior quality than most, but it would be nice to have remastered audio to bring out the nuances in those gorgeous orchestrations.

[Jeff H]

I would love to see "Philamon" released (if only for the hot number "The Streets of Antioch Stink" and "I'd Do Almost Anything to Get Out of Here and Go Home". Also on my list is "Something's Afoot" (I do have the VHS tape of the televised production with Jean Stapleton and Andy Gibb!).