LISTEN: Sample  1 - Sample  2 - Sample  3    
A nyomorultak (LES MISERABLES)
Radioton Records Hungary, LP - SLPX14111 - 1988
Runtime: 47:45

Track listing:

SIDE A
1. A nap vége (At the End of the Day) [Full song]
2. Mit tettem? (Valjean's Soliloquy) [Cuts the opening strains on the strings, goes straight for the horns]
3. Álmodtam egy álmot (I Dreamed a Dream) [Cuts the intro, goes straight to the strains leading to "I dreamed a dream in time gone by..."]
4. Váracska (Castle On a Cloud) [Full song]
5. A ház ura (Master Of The House) [Full song]
6. Csak rád várt egy szív (A Heart Full of Love) [Full song, missing the guitar intro]
7. Egy nap még (One Day More) [Full song]

SIDE B
1. Csillagok (Stars) [Full song, transposed up significantly]
2. Senkin már (On My Own) [Full song]
3. Eskü a barikádokon (The Barricade) [Upon These Stones II, starting at the "Red and Black" instrumental; cuts off just before the Loud Hailer's entrance]
4. Néhány csepp esö (A Little Fall of Rain) [Full song, includes full intro, starting with the keyboards into "Good God, what are you doing?!"]
5. Vezesd haza (Bring Him Home) [Full song]
6a. Kutya kutyát zabál (Dog Eats Dog) [Cuts one verse]
6b. Javert öngyilkossága (Javert's Soliloquy) [Thénardier's laugh is interrupted by the keyboards that usually come out of "It is either Valjean or Javert!" and the Suicide starts with the string part, "How can I now allow this man..." Also, while I don't think the song is transposed up, Javert certainly dies...interestingly.]
7. Üres szék, üres asztal (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables) [Full song]
8. Hallod-e a nép dalát? Finále (Finale) [DYHTPS reprise]

The Original Budapest Cast of Les Misérables was recorded in 1988 at Hungarian Radio Recording Studio, Budapest, and released on LP and cassette later that year by Radioton. This album preserves one of the productions documented in the Stage by Stage video, the Hungarian Rock Theater production, one of the first non-replica versions of the show, which according to the documentary had a cast and crew of 150 singers and musicians. I don't know how many of that cast and crew remained when the production transferred to Budapest to be performed in repertory, but the album does sound bigger than your typical production of the show.

The overall feel of this album is difficult to describe. I don't know what the album's producers were trying to accomplish with the song order, but it decidedly does not function as a listening experience. AEOTD leaves Fantine at the end to jump into a flashback to Valjean's change of heart, after which we return to Fantine's despair, already in progress. The cuts and selections chosen to compile the album are just as jarring, but I'm sure it's simply a case of the album's producers being blithely unaware of what would resonate with listeners. As to the cast, it is certainly a step back into rawness, but not in the same way that London was raw. The performances tend more toward the pop/rock vein than most productions, but they rarely go full tilt in that direction, sometimes just flat-out screaming vaguely on-key (Look to the ends of both Soliloquy's for examples of this). The tempi on "Stars" and "Bring Him Home," turn the songs into races, and the upward modulation in "Stars" actually made me check the speed of my turntable upon first listening. All that being said, this record is still a fascinating look into Les Mis' nascent international life, and merits a listen for its ambitions, if not its achievements.

The record is in EX condition and the cover is M- !

NM : Near Mint.

Record = is as good as new and clear. May have some minor paper scuffs or/and tiny hairlines.   

Cover = as new with maybe the slightest signs of wear on corners, edges, spine or surface.

EX : Excellent.

Record =  Still very clear with more hairlines or/and some small scuffs.

Cover = there is a bit wear on corners, edges and surface, slight wrinkle, minor writing on back. 

VG+ : Very Good+.               

Record =  clear but you can see some light scratches and/or some small scuffs across the surface.   

Cover = is still looking good, but there is some wear on corners & edges,slight creasing. There are split in the seams, wear or/and small sticker damage on the surfacewithout any major defects.

VG : Very Good.

Record = you can see many noticeable scratches or scuffs, some may cause distracting surface noise. 

Cover = there is real wear on corners, edges and spine.There are splits in the seams, serious surface-wear,  price sticker damage, small tears or duct tape seam repairs, other not too significant  flaws or damage.

G : Good.

When I put a record on Ebay with this grade then it well be a very rare one. In that case I will describe the imperfections on this record in detail.

Priority shipping to EUROPE:

1 LP:      $12
2-3 LPs: $22
4-8 LPs: $34

Priority shipping to AMERICA - AUSTRALIA - ASIA - AFRICA:

1 LP:      $15
2-3 LPs: $26
4-8 LPs: $38

I am sorry to announce that I will no longer be shipping by unregistered mail to ITALY, GREECE, SPAIN, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, South & Central America, Africa, Asia (except Japan), please add  $5.00 per package.

ALL LP'S ARE PACKED WELL AND RECORDS ARE ALWAYS REMOVED FROM JACKET WHEN MAILING UNLESS SEALED!

UNREGISTERED PACKAGES ARE SHIPPED ENTIRELY AT THE BUYER'S RISK FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE. REGISTERED MAIL FEE IS:$5.00.

Payment:

Paypal /no extra fee/