Cameron Crowe Loves Recording ‘Almost Famous’ Cast Album

NEW YORK (AP) — Cameron Crowe believes the spirit of a place lingers long after the moment has passed. That’s what makes recording the Broadway cast album ‘Almost Famous’ so special to him at New York’s iconic Power Station studio.

« It’s like going back to the roots of why I love music and what I love about records, » Crowe told The Associated Press during a break in the recording session.

Working in the control room alongside fellow producers Tom Kitt and Scott M. Riesett, Crowe called the process « completely authentic » as they led the cast, chorus and band at different multi-studio studios. levels.

« I have this thing where I believe the spirit of a place, the spirit of what happened in a room remains. The house you lived in, you can go and visit. You can feel that happened to you when you lived there,” Crowe said.

Some of the hottest rock and pop albums were recorded at the legendary studio, including Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The River’, David Bowie’s ‘Scary Monsters’ and the Rolling Stones’ ‘Tattoo You’.

Standing against the soundboard, Crowe wears that pride on his forehead as he tells the latest version of his story through music. More than any other project, « Almost Famous » was a deeply personal coming-of-age story for Crowe when he wrote and directed the 2000 film, loosely based on his experiences as a teenage music journalist.

« It was the movie we had to do because ‘Jerry Maguire’ did really well. And so for that to become what we’re bringing to Broadway just means the power of the music.

This potency grew with the addition of original songs, allowing Crowe – with enormous help from composer Kitt – to turn the stage version into something more than his cinematic love letter to rock ‘n’ roll. These songs allowed Crowe to tell a more personal story.

« I thought, if we’re going to do something for the theatre, for the stage, maybe it’s this personal story filled with music that could make people feel this kind of elixir of film. And that has always been our goal,” Crowe said.

Prior to the interview, Crowe sat down next to Kitt for another pass to « Something Real, » one of the songs written for the stage version which includes a tribute to Deep Purple’s « Highway Star. »

Next on the agenda was a cover of Led Zeppelin’s « Ramble On. » Interestingly enough, the age-old track blended well with the new songs in a morph of classic rock and show tunes. Crowe credits Kitt with finding that « sweet spot » between the two genres.

« Tom understands what the songs of the day sounded like, » he said. « He’ll write a song that could have been on ‘Madman Across the Water’, » Elton John’s album.

But the admiration goes both ways. During another recording break, Kitt credits Crowe with introducing him to the music of the era.

« Cameron is someone who is just a walking encyclopedia when it comes to music, » Kitt said. « So I was looking forward to learning from him and hearing new songs and new tones that would inform the work, » Kitt said.

Released by Sony Masterworks Broadway, the cast recording of « Almost Famous » will be available for digital purchase and streaming along with the physical releases on CD and vinyl on March 17. Of course, for now, fans can still catch the show at the Bernard Jacobs Theater on Broadway.

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