Being Alive – Company OBC, 1970 – Dean Jones

January 22nd, 2010 | by admin |

Disney film star Dean Jones (”Love Bug”)gave a brilliant performance of “Being Alive” in Sondheim’s 1970 original production of “Company.” Then two weeks into the run, he dropped out due to marital problems.

Jones was replaced by Larry Kert, famous for originating the role of Tony in “West Side Story.” Kert received a “Best Actor” nomination for “Company” and his performance of “Being Alive” was added as a bonus track to the cast album when it was reissued in 1998.

This excerpt is from the highly recommended Region 1 DVD “Company: Original Cast Album” of the 1970 recording session. See more 1970 excerpts at
http://www.theBestArts.com/CompanyOBC/
For videos from the 2006 revival, see
http://www.theBestArts.com/CompanyRevival/

Browse our website at http://www.theBestArts.com for more great dance, music and musical theatre performances.

Duration : 0:5:10


[youtube am8qrrZAtP4]

  1. 25 Responses to “Being Alive – Company OBC, 1970 – Dean Jones”

  2. By Moline102553 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    According to Craig …
    According to Craig Zadan’s “Sondheim & Co.”, Mr. Jones was going through a very painful divorce (he has long since remarried). Mr. Prince offered to allow him to remove himself from the show after the opening, freeing himself enough to make the part his own, which he did. Larry Kert was his standby with the intent of touring the show, and went into the lead instead. This film clip really gives one an idea of the subtext of the song; bravo, Mr. Jones.

  3. By kennyb40 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    I havae always felt …
    I havae always felt that this is the most emotionally stirring version of the song. Jones was going through a divorce when he did this and it was too painful for him to continue to do the show because of that. I think that is why his rendition is so moving.

  4. By tet43 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Isn’t it truly …
    Isn’t it truly ironic, that a man who chose a creative profession, and obviously has natural creative and musical gifts, would then choose a life of religious conservatism.Though Mr.Jones does not regard or respect my life as a gay man, I will not reciprocate.I still have regard for his musical abilities, and still think this is the best perfomance of this song I have seen.

  5. By loismbreiner on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    You are hearing the …
    You are hearing the only recording Dean Jones made. He sang for the cast album then left the show.

  6. By DCNY31279 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    No he is still …
    No he is still alive.

  7. By ReneeDeborah on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    I always preferred …
    I always preferred his version over Larry Kert’s. I like Raul’s but Dean’s is the gold standard!

  8. By garciagirl03 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    I don’t know if …
    I don’t know if Dean Jones is still with us, if he is I hopes he knows that this song is perfection and I am so gratefull that I found his version!

  9. By actsoccermusic on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Just been listening …
    Just been listening to lots of different versions of this song. This guy definitely has the best all around performance! It is amazing!

  10. By DownInMontegoBay on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Anthony Perkins? …
    Anthony Perkins? THAT I’d like to hear. These performers … no one understands they are a “triple threat” — this background in theatre is often forgotten when someone ends up in TV and film. And the musical talent. They do everything.

  11. By DownInMontegoBay on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    My God this guy can …
    My God this guy can sing. I can’t believe this. Wonderful, wonderful play and song.

  12. By bearpork on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Jones replaced …
    Jones replaced Anthony Perkins who was originally cast in the role. I wonder if any copies exist of him singing it as I’d be very curious to hear it.

  13. By 11777766 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    For me, Sondheim’s …
    For me, Sondheim’s greatest song, and the most deep musical expression of the man himself..

  14. By jemb2000 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Well, the OLC is …
    Well, the OLC is really just the OBC with Larry Kert’s vocals dubbed over Dean Jones’

  15. By VRNProductions on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    It is? I thought …
    It is? I thought that track was a recording of him after he replaced Dean Jones on the OBC.

  16. By jemb2000 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    It’s the same …
    It’s the same recording.

    Each to his own, anyway.

  17. By VRNProductions on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    I’ve only heard the …
    I’ve only heard the bonus track of him doing “Being Alive” on the OBC recording, so I don’t know how he sounds on the London Cast.

  18. By jemb2000 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Monotonous? …
    Monotonous? Unemotional? I don’t know if Larry Kert recorded more than one version but if he didn’t, I can’t see how one could describe his singing on the London Cast version as unemotional. Yikes.

  19. By VRNProductions on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    I listened to a …
    I listened to a recording of Kert’s version one time. The singing was flawless, but it was the most unemotional, monotonous version I’ve ever heard. It was almost umbeleivable. He must have sounded a lot better live if he was nominated for a Tony.

  20. By alecs1976 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    it’s all in the …
    it’s all in the throat….

  21. By anthemnv on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    yes, this is the …
    yes, this is the most memorable performance of not only great Sondheim, but most likely the best Broadway song of all time. This song affects me like no other. I read the words at my mother’s funeral. This is such an important song…..

  22. By fmercury91 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    He actually left …
    He actually left the show because of the poor reviews it had gotten during the out-of-town showings. Harold Prince struck a deal with Jones to replace him with Larry Kert on the basis that Jones opened on Broadway for the first couple of weeks and do the cast album. Although Larry Kert was the one nominated for the Tony in the Best Actor in a Musical category.

  23. By 4llewellyn on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    This is the most …
    This is the most searing performance of this song. With true respect to the many others who have sung it, I think Dean Jones is the only one who became a perfect lightning rod for all all the agony and longing that Sondheim poured into this.

  24. By edbogus on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    Beautiful kick …
    Beautiful kick singing…thanks for uploading this wonderful “behind the scenes” performance!

  25. By p6105 on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    What a crock. …
    What a crock. Jones didn’t leave “Company” because of marital problems. He found Jesus. Too bad JC had him throw away a brilliant career. As for “Staying alive”, I’ve seen poor, dying Larry Kert do it. Yawn. Esparza is excellent but no one has ever touched Jones’ soulful performance.

  26. By ivetastedblood on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply

    what a hater
    what a hater

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