Good morning. In 1970, when Company opened on Broadway, the lead role of Bobby-Baby was played by Dean Jones. Mr. Jones, it is said, did not like the show he was in. He was going through some personal problems at the time and Company touched upon themes that exacerbated those problems. He was also having trouble with the role itself, feeling that Bobby was too much the observer and it was difficult to find his emotional throughline. In tryouts and previews, he was struggling and cranky and the producers decided that part of his problem was that he was afraid the show was going to be a hit. If it was, he'd be trapped playing a part he didn't like for a year. So they went to him and said, in effect, "Look, we can't replace you now but if you'll just relax and give us an opening night performance, we'll find a replacement as soon as possible after that." Jones agreed.
Company opened in New York on April 26, 1970. On May 29, Larry Kert took over the part of Bobby. As Pat O'Neill wrote me this morn…
There was even a rushed second version of the cast album, with Kert replacing Jones. They did it, I recall, by simply dubbing Kert's versions in over Jones's, so that occasionally it sounds like both of them are in there, singing. That version of the cast album is no longer available — only the Jones version — but I heard back when I was in college, when Company was brand new and the musical fans in my circle all thought Kert was a big improvement over Jones. Listening now, I'm not sure.
My understanding is that Kert wasn't recorded until a couple years later when he opened in the London production of Company. The "London cast recording" was not really a recording of the London cast, which included Kert, Elaine Stritch and a few other members of the New York production. Instead, they took the New York recording and dubbed Kert over several of the tracks…so, yes, there are two Bobbys heard in there, with Jones also audible. Most references say that only one number — "Barcelona" — was recorded anew with Kert but I think that's wrong, I believe they also recorded Bobby's big solo, "Being Alive," and that's the number that's included as a bonus track on the CD that's now available of the New York Company company.
The London LP with Kert overdubbing Jones was pressed in a small quantity and is hard to find. I know one Sondheim fan who paid megabucks for one and was very disappointed with what he heard. There was a CD reissue of it that is now out of print, and there are rumors it will soon be reissued again.
Pat was one of the folks who e-mailed the correct answer. The other nine of the first ten were, in no particular order: Christopher McPherson, Richard Gersh, John Schrank, Jon Delfin, Mary Drane, Lee Wilson, "Jovial Jo," Rick Biddle and Michael Diminsky. Thanks to everyone for playing Name That Replacement.