I was a cast member in the show with Lauri when she returned for the 9th anniversary of CATS and got to be on stage with her every night...Laurie's acting and her vocal story telling was like no other. Every time she sang memory I was in tears on the stage...Betty Buckley was amazing but, in my opinion, nobody performed that song and role better than Laurie. Miss you Laurie!!!
I agree, Elaine Paige does an amazing "Memory", but trust me when I say, there was no greater thrill than sitting in the theatre and hearing Laurie sing this song. Whether it was in the grandeure of the Winter Garden Theater or in an intimate cabaret setting, no one "got" this song the way she did. In a way, this song was Laurie's anthem and I for one will always be grateful for the two of them meeting...perfect singer/perfect song. I am glad I got to share this with you.
So touching, so magical! And when one is gifted with an ability to actually deeply feel what the words are saying, and bring us along on her journey, it shows us that she didn't have to always use that powerful voice to draw us into her world of music! She was an artist that painted the most fabulous pictures! *smiles*
Lovely. Got to see her in Joseph, Cats and Les Miz way back when and never forgot her. Great to be able to revisit that wonderful voice and see interviews I'd not before seen. RIP.
It touches us all because we've all shared this feeling sometime in our lives. It's about misgivings, I agree, in defference Ms. Buckley and Ms. Paige, Ms. Beechman owns this song. As if she's pulling up her own misgivings for us all to be exposed in front of our facades. Bravo
There are no words!! I wish I could have seen her live...in ANYTHING...what a powerhouse and a true talent!!! I have all her cd's. I continue to share her with everyone!!
I agree Barry, "There are no words". I worked at the Cabaret Club in Boston and was lucky enough to meet her and hear her sing many times while she was there. She was an amazing entertainer and a very nice woman. ..J
Thank you for posting this. Laurie is amazing. Her breath control troughout this song, even in the most delicate moments, give this song a depth and presence I have never heard before. I am so deeply moved by this performance, it far exceeds other performances I have seen of this song.
I was so fortunate to see Laurie in "Annie" and later "Cats". She was an amazing singer and actress. When she passed away, I felt (and still feel) a keen sense of loss. How wonderful to see and hear her sing once more.
@@littlesongbird1 She played a bunch of parts: Sophie in Hooverville, a servant at the mansion, A Star to Be (her big solo),, a Boylan sister in the Hour of Smiles and Perkins in the Cabinet scene. She probably had the most time on stage of any cast member and her voice is always audible on the original cast album.
Just beautiful. Being from the UK I'd never heard of Laurie before and was led to view this via some comments on some Elaine Paige songs. I love Elaine and do believe that Memory is her signature song, but this is superb. What a sad loss - such a shame that someone with this much talent was taken so early.
I saw her on broadway in Les Mis, she was fantine, and in the scene where she sings Come To Me, her mic fell off, and this amazing performer belted the rest of the song without a microphone.. Then I had the honor of meeting her after her show at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, and I was in awe. Such an amazing talent, stunningly beautiful, and so sweet. Easily one of my favorite talents and I really miss her voice and her smile.
. . .BRAVO!, Laurie, BRAVO!!! . . . :-) God, what an AMAZING + BEAUTIFUL Woman, she was! ..."TOUCH ME", It's so easy to leave me... O.M.G., Where'd THAT come from??? I'm just SPEECHLESS! God Bless Her Soul + RIP... To see Laurie perform this in Full CAT Makeup, watch the "Phil Donahue SHOW" taping ALSO available here on RUclips too !!!
@thehypnotstcollector This is from 1991 and was aired to coincide with the 9th anniversary of the show that October. I was her assistant at the time and she sent me back to 30 Rock that same afternoon with copies of her CD for Katie and Gene Shalit (maybe there was one for Bryant Gumbel, too. I don't remember LOL)
Thank you very much!!! I will be doing more work on the project as soon as I can get my computer back up to speed. Been having some technical difficulties of late. Keep checking back though.
This in not meant to be disrespectful but I closed my eyes at the start of the song and was convinced it was a young Betty Buckley singing. Has anyone else found that! I love Laurie Beechman though - I think I wore out that Joseph album listening to Laurie sing “Pharaoh Story” so I’m not biased towards Bettey Buckley. Laurie performs this brilliantly!! Xx
@GearingDestroyer Hi! I have a tape of her cabaret act in Boston that a fan made and sent me. It is from a little handheld recorder but I have been able to clean it up and remaster it. I would love to hear a clean recording from your soundboard if sucha thing exists. Having known Laurie for 16 years I am sure it was recorded. Feel free to contact me, would love to talk to you sometime.
I was a cast member in the show with Lauri when she returned for the 9th anniversary of CATS and got to be on stage with her every night...Laurie's acting and her vocal story telling was like no other. Every time she sang memory I was in tears on the stage...Betty Buckley was amazing but, in my opinion, nobody performed that song and role better than Laurie. Miss you Laurie!!!
I agree, Elaine Paige does an amazing "Memory", but trust me when I say, there was no greater thrill than sitting in the theatre and hearing Laurie sing this song. Whether it was in the grandeure of the Winter Garden Theater or in an intimate cabaret setting, no one "got" this song the way she did. In a way, this song was Laurie's anthem and I for one will always be grateful for the two of them meeting...perfect singer/perfect song. I am glad I got to share this with you.
She truly was one of a kind. I saw her perform for almost 16 years and she constantly surprised and amazed me. I miss her.
What a great song and a wonderful performance- Laurie died too young thank god we have clips like this to remind us how wondersul she really was
this lady is magic... still touching hearts with her lilting and pure voice. i wish i could have seen her perform this live -
taken too soon for sure
So touching, so magical! And when one is gifted with an ability to actually deeply feel what the words are saying, and bring us along on her journey, it shows us that she didn't have to always use that powerful voice to draw us into her world of music! She was an artist that painted the most fabulous pictures! *smiles*
Lovely. Got to see her in Joseph, Cats and Les Miz way back when and never forgot her. Great to be able to revisit that wonderful voice and see interviews I'd not before seen. RIP.
It touches us all because we've all shared this feeling sometime in our lives. It's about misgivings, I agree, in defference Ms. Buckley and Ms. Paige, Ms. Beechman owns this song. As if she's pulling up her own misgivings for us all to be exposed in front of our facades.
Bravo
What a great talent she had. I could listen to this for hours.
-jcr
There are no words!! I wish I could have seen her live...in ANYTHING...what a powerhouse and a true talent!!! I have all her cd's. I continue to share her with everyone!!
I agree Barry, "There are no words". I worked at the Cabaret Club in Boston and was lucky enough to meet her and hear her sing many times while she was there. She was an amazing entertainer and a very nice woman. ..J
Thank you for posting this. Laurie is amazing. Her breath control troughout this song, even in the most delicate moments, give this song a depth and presence I have never heard before. I am so deeply moved by this performance, it far exceeds other performances I have seen of this song.
I'm not a broadway guy , but that was touching , beatiful , yet sad. A truely haunting score.
Oh my gosh what an amazing voice! I had never heard Laurie sing Memory before so that was lovely. Thank you for posting this, it realy made my night.
I went to high school with Laurie. We knew she would be a star.
I knew Laurie in high school. We all expected great things from her. She didn’t disappoint.
I was so fortunate to see Laurie in "Annie" and later "Cats". She was an amazing singer and actress. When she passed away, I felt (and still feel) a keen sense of loss. How wonderful to see and hear her sing once more.
Who did she play in Annie?
She was in the original production of ANNIE, in 1977.
@@littlesongbird1 She played a bunch of parts: Sophie in Hooverville, a servant at the mansion, A Star to Be (her big solo),, a Boylan sister in the Hour of Smiles and Perkins in the Cabinet scene. She probably had the most time on stage of any cast member and her voice is always audible on the original cast album.
@@markhummel8907 That’s where I saw her! :)
Just beautiful. Being from the UK I'd never heard of Laurie before and was led to view this via some comments on some Elaine Paige songs. I love Elaine and do believe that Memory is her signature song, but this is superb. What a sad loss - such a shame that someone with this much talent was taken so early.
Simply beautiful and sadly tragic.
Amazing! What a beautiful voice!
I have to say... She's a wonderfull singer :)
I knew Laurie in high school. She always had great talent.
I saw her on broadway in Les Mis, she was fantine, and in the scene where she sings Come To Me, her mic fell off, and this amazing performer belted the rest of the song without a microphone..
Then I had the honor of meeting her after her show at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, and I was in awe. Such an amazing talent, stunningly beautiful, and so sweet.
Easily one of my favorite talents and I really miss her voice and her smile.
. . .BRAVO!, Laurie, BRAVO!!! . . . :-)
God, what an AMAZING + BEAUTIFUL Woman, she was!
..."TOUCH ME", It's so easy to leave me... O.M.G., Where'd THAT come from??? I'm just SPEECHLESS! God Bless Her Soul + RIP...
To see Laurie perform this in Full CAT Makeup, watch the "Phil Donahue SHOW" taping
ALSO available here on RUclips too !!!
Brilliant! What a wonderful voice...
@thehypnotstcollector This is from 1991 and was aired to coincide with the 9th anniversary of the show that October. I was her assistant at the time and she sent me back to 30 Rock that same afternoon with copies of her CD for Katie and Gene Shalit (maybe there was one for Bryant Gumbel, too. I don't remember LOL)
Oh, well I was working on memory!!
she is one of the best Grizabella's ever
between Elaine Paige, Dianne Pilkington & herself, Laurie is the best singer i have ever heard out of those 3. God rest her soul
When this aired in c1993 I recorded it and memorized the words.
Thank You!
People are you still remember her? Last comment was more than 4years ago
The most emotional version I have ever heard. Vocally and physically, she wasn't at her best here. But still, astounding.
I loved Ms. B and miss seeing her on the great white way.
"It's so EaEaEasy to leave me!" ......love that.
Thank you very much!!! I will be doing more work on the project as soon as I can get my computer back up to speed. Been having some technical difficulties of late. Keep checking back though.
This in not meant to be disrespectful but I closed my eyes at the start of the song and was convinced it was a young Betty Buckley singing. Has anyone else found that! I love Laurie Beechman though - I think I wore out that Joseph album listening to Laurie sing “Pharaoh Story” so I’m not biased towards Bettey Buckley. Laurie performs this brilliantly!! Xx
Thank you for your honesty and comment. The intro is part of the bigger picture, which is the tribute movie I have been making.
@UndercoverCracker Ya got that right! But I do love the contrast between Laurie and Betty, totally different and I love them both
She died?! I have just found this today... I love her vocal impressions better than Paige or Buckley. WOW she is totally smooth and sounds like a pro
@GearingDestroyer Hi! I have a tape of her cabaret act in Boston that a fan made and sent me. It is from a little handheld recorder but I have been able to clean it up and remaster it. I would love to hear a clean recording from your soundboard if sucha thing exists. Having known Laurie for 16 years I am sure it was recorded. Feel free to contact me, would love to talk to you sometime.
where is the well deserved applause!!!!!
oh wow is this intro long without a video to watch
s.t.u.n.n.i.n.g.
anybody know . . . what she already sick at this point?
what a voice!
I like her version over Pages version.
I think Elaine Paige is the best Grizabella. She sings memory with so much feeling and emotion.
good but the intro was very long and not relly needed.
watch?v=SWXFSvwOjEg
Watch also famous czech version - HELENA Vondráčková
She is good yes but I also prefer Elaine Page.
Cats was an awful show. I