Best Show Recordings- Page 2

[nolatheatre]

Posted: 12/25/05 at 11:38pm

-Forbidden Broadway
-Bat Boy
-Wicked
-Seussical
-Spamalot
-Rocky Horror Show
-Joseph

I tried to give you a good variety

[jv92]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 8:06pm

I think that the OBC (1975) of Chicago is one of the most well documented recordings of a show. The tempos are the way they should be. The performances are great and the orchestrations sound right out of vaudeville.
No Strings OBC (1962) is another great recording documenting some of Richard Rodgers lesser known masterpieces from his only music and lyrics show. It documents the jazzy sound and great performances well.
But I'd have to give the greatest cast recording award to something rather unexpected. No it isn't my favorite musical, no it isn't the greatest ever written. I do like it though and it is good- Wicked. It just documents most of the music in the show, is well produced and is performed wonderfully.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 8:24pm

Well, QMAN03, the list was actually called "Basic Librray of Cast Albums" so if you looked for "Best Show Recordings" it might not have shown up. Oh well, at least you tried... here it is:

The question comes up here often as to cast albums of "classic" shows that belong in every basic collection. I compiled this listing for Public Libraries several years ago and have updated it to share it with you.

This list does not include any of the currently running Broadway shows.

Cast albums did not really come into vogue until OKLAHOMA! was recorded in 1943. Earlier shows are represented by studio cast recordings often made years after productions closed.

1900 - 1920s :
BABES IN TOYLAND (studio cast on Decca)
MERRY WIDOW (studio cast on DRG)
LADY BE GOOD (Studio cast on Nonesuch)
THE STUDENT PRINCE (stuio cast on DRG)
NO NO NANETTE (1971 Broadway revival on Sony)
OH, KAY! (studio cast on Nonesuuch)
THE DESERT SONG (studio cast on Decca)
SHOW BOAT (complete recording on 3 CD set from EMI)
GOOD NEWS (Studio cast on Jay)
THE NEW MOON (Concert cast on Ghostlight)

1930s :
STRIKE UP THE BAND (studio cast on Nonesuch)
GIRL CRAZY (Studio cast on Nonesuch)
OF THEE I SING (1952 revival cast on DRG)
PARDON MY ENGLISH (studio cast on Nonesuch)
ANYTHING GOES (studio cast on EMI)
PORGY AND BESS (complete on 3 Cd's from RCA)
ON YOUR TOES (1983 revival cast on Jay)
BABES IN ARMS (studi cast on New World)
BOYS FROM SYRACUSE (Concert cast on DRG)
TOO MANY GIRLS (studio cast on Painted Smiles)

1940s:
PAL JOEY (studio cast on Sony)
LADY IN THE DARK (London cast on Jay)
OKLAHOMA! (Original Broadway cast on Decca)
ON THE TOWN (studio cast on Sony)
CAROUSEL (1993 London cast on RCA)
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1966 revival cast on RCA)
FINIAN'S RAINBOW (1960 revival cast on RCA)
BRIGADOON (studio cast on DRG)
KISS ME KATE (original Broadway & studio cast on EMI)
SOUTH PACIFIC (original Broadway cast on Sony)

1950s:
GUYS AND DOLLS (1992 revival cast on RCA)
THE KING AND I (1977 revival cast on RCA)
PETER PAN (original Broadway cast on RCA)
THE PAJAMA GAME (original Broadway cast on Sony)
DAMN YANKEES (original Broadway cast on RCA)
MY FAIR LADY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
WEST SIDE STORY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
MUSIC MAN (original Broadway cast on EMI)
GYPSY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
SOUND OF MUSIC (original Broadway cast on Sony)

1960s:
CAMELOT (original Broadway cast on Sony)
BYE BYE BIRDIE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS... (original Broadway cast on RCA)
A FUNNY THING...FORUM (original Broadway cast on EMI)
HELLO DOLLY (original Broadway cast on RCA)
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (original Broadway cast on RCA)
MAN OF LA MANCHA (original Broadway cast on Decca)
MAME (original Broadway cast on Sony)
CABARET (original Broadway cast on Sony)
HAIR (original Broadway cast on RCA)

1970s:
COMPANY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
FOLLIES (1985 concert cast on RCA)
GREASE (original Broadway cast on M-g-M)
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (original Broadway cast on Sony)
A CHORUS LINE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
CHICAGO (original Broadway cast on Arista)
PIPPIN (original Broadway cast on Decca)
ANNIE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
EVITA (original Broadway cast on Decca)
SWEENEY TODD (original Broadway cast on RCA)

1980s:
42ND STREET (original Broadway cast on RCA)
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (original Broadway cast on RCA)
DREAMGIRLS (Concert cast on Nonesuch)
NINE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
CATS (original Broadway cast on Geffen)
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (original Broadway cast on RCA)
LES MISERABLES (complete recording on First Night)
INTO THE WOODS (original Broadway cast on RCA)
GRAND HOTEL (original Broadway cast on RCA)
CITY OF ANGELS (original Broadway cast on Columbia)

1990s:
ASPECTS OF LOVE (original London cast on Polydor)
MISS SAIGON (Complete recording on EMI)
THE SECRET GARDEN (original Broadway cast on Columbia)
CRAZY FOR YOU (original Broadway cast on EMI)
BLOOD BROTHERS (original London cast on RCA)
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (original Broadway cast on RCA)
PASSION (original Broadway cast on EMI)
TITANIC (original Broadway cast on RCA)
THE LIFE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
RAGTIME (original Broadway cast on RCA)

Notable off-Broadway productions:
THREEPENNY OPERA(1954 revival on Decca)
THE GOLDEN APPLE (original cast on RCA)
THE FANTASTICKS (original cast on Decca)
YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN (original cast on Decca)
GODSPELL (original cast on Arista)
MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS & FALSETTOLAND (original cast on DRG)
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND (original cast on RCA)
ASSASSINS (original cast on RCA)
THE LAST FIVE YEARS (original cast on Sh-k-Boom)
URINETOWN (original cast on RCA)

and some notable flops (1950-1999)
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (original cast on Sony)
PAINT YOUR WAGON (original cast on RCA)
CANDIDE (original cast on Sony)
GOLDILOCKS (original cast on Sony)
ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (original cast on Sony)
DEAR WORLD (original cast on Sony)
MACK AND MABEL (original cast on MCA)
THE GOODBYE GIRL (original cast on Columbia)
STEEL PIER (original cast on RCA)
PARADE (original cast on RCA)

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 9:57pm

Ragtime
Dessa Rose- kepps the dialogue and music beautifully intact!
Gypsy 2003 Revival (won the 2003 Grammy Award)
Caroline or Change

[grizzabella]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 10:02pm

I'd also add La Cage Aux Folles, 1776, and Shenandoah.

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 11:57pm

Pippin
Avenue Q
Caroline or Change
The Forbidden Broadway Box set
La Cage Aux Folles
Hairspray
Dessa Rose-(Don't own it yet, but it is a favorite)
Updated On: 12/26/05 at 11:57 PM

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 12/27/05 at 7:28pm

My faves, in no particular order:

City of Angels
Mack and Mabel (the score is great - too bad the show has never lived up to the music)
La Cage Aux Folles
Ragtime (one of the all-time greats)
Putting It Together (Julie Andrews cast)
Into the Woods (original cast)
A Little Night Music (original cast)

and the one that has been taking up residence in my CD player since its delivery,

Dessa Rose

I have so many others, but these are the ones that seem to get played regularly.

lc