Posted: 5/12/22 at 3:19pm
Our original Broadway cast album will be available digitally on JUNE 10. And we've got FIVE tracks ready to stream starting at midnight tonight! Pre-save the album here: https://ghostlightrecords.lnk.to/AStrangeLoopIN
Posted: 5/12/22 at 3:53pm
Music and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson
The tracks that can be streamed at midnight are “A Strange Loop”, “Periodically”, “Intermission Song”, “We Wanna Know”, and “Inner White Girl”.
Posted: 5/12/22 at 4:07pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Music and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson
The tracks that can be streamed at midnight are “A Strange Loop”, “Periodically”, “Intermission Song”, “We Wanna Know”, and “Inner White Girl”."
Good choice 
Posted: 5/12/22 at 5:20pm
I would've guessed they might have done "A Sympathetic Ear" with L. Morgan Lee up for a Tony, but those 5 are probably my 5 favorites on the whole album, so I am VERY excited
Posted: 5/12/22 at 6:44pm
If your Apple Music is in another time zone you may already have access - my initial impression is it sounds great. However, Larry Owens is sorely missed and hard to forget. When I listen to Larry’s “A Strange Loop” there is so much vocal nuance and power it takes me on a similar kind of journey that Christine Ebersole takes me on with “Another Winter in a Summer Town”. It sounds like a Tony-worthy performance to me. However, here it almost sounds like a straight reading of the song to me and doesn’t have the same impact at all. It might resonate differently in the theatre of course.
Updated On: 5/13/22 at 06:44 PM
Posted: 5/13/22 at 12:01am
Who’s listening now?
Posted: 5/13/22 at 12:07am
“If you can’t please the Caucasians / You will never get the dough.”
CRACKING UP at that line. This show sounds friggin’ hilarious so far.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 1:31am
Listening right now! I'm loving it. I don't have a sophisticated enough understanding of cast albums to explain it, but it has a very different sound than the Off-Broadway version. Separately from that, it's great to hear Jaquel and the Thoughts' performances have all definitely evolved. Still undecided on which one I like better and will stay in my regular rotation.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 2:58am
The album is now available for pre-order.
Track listing:
Updated On: 5/13/22 at 02:58 AM
Posted: 5/13/22 at 9:03am
binau said: "Larry Owens is sorely missed and hard to forget. When I listen to Larry’s “A Strange Loop” there is so much vocal nuance and power it takes me on a similar kind of journey that Christine Ebersole takes me on with “Another Winter in a Summer Town”. It sounds like a Tony-worthy performance to me. However, here it almost sounds like a straight reading of the song to me and doesn’t have the same impact at all. It might resonate differently in the theatre of course."
No, you're 100% right.
So...I saw the 4th (I think?) preview on Broadway, having never seen the off-broadway production. Then I went home and listened to the original cast recording. And I don't mean to be critical of Jaquel at all -- I liked his performance, and I'm very happy for him and the show. But there is something in Larry Owens' voice that leaps out of the air around you and allows you to envision him on stage. I've now listened to the five available songs today, and my opinion hasn't changed. I'll probably stick with the original, because it's what I'm used to now.
I am also wondering now if what I and others perceived as audio issues in the theater were actually just a choice to lower Jacquel's voice in the mix somewhat. I hear a little of that on the recording as well.
Also they slowed down We Wanna Know noticeably, which is interesting.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 9:38am
John-Andrew Morrison and Jaquel Spivey have their Tonys in the bag. L. Morgan Lee has tough competition with Patti, but I would not be upset at all if she won.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 9:48am
I think it sounds fabulous.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 10:40am
EDSOSLO858 said: "“If you can’t please the Caucasians / You will never get the dough.”
CRACKING UP at that line. This show sounds friggin’ hilarious so far."
I'm sorry, you've never heard the score at all? The Off Broadway one with Larry Owens?
Posted: 5/13/22 at 10:51am
I understand the Larry/Jaquel comparisons, but I think Jaquel makes the songs more beautiful. They are now more accessible to more people imo.
Larry gave more character in his performance, but the musicality suffered greatly. He was all over the place. Sometimes it felt like a choice, sometimes it was a lack of vocal control imo.
Also, I prefer the mix/master on the Playwrights recording. It’s warmer. The Broadway recording is a bit “sharp,” not in pitch, but the sound of it.
If I had to choose tho, based on the five songs the Broadway recording is the one. I hope they make it warmer before the full release though…
Posted: 5/13/22 at 10:59am
Additionally, the SOUND of the Broadway mount has bothered me so much in every way. It’s so LOUD and out of control. The mix of the vocals often falls underneath the music and all the instruments, especially the keys and drums, are so abrasive.
And this has been across the board: the show in the theater, the Tiny Desk Concert, last night on Seth Myers… So, I’ve come to the conclusion that this is a choice, but I think it’s a terrible one. The lyrics are buried a lot of the time.
I’m glad it got the sound design nom cause I stan for the show, but if I’m being honest, that is one that is a bit underserved…
Posted: 5/13/22 at 1:11pm
I love this version of "Intermission Song" and Jaquel's voice sounds like butter on "Inner White Girl" (and the bass vocals in the background during the "cant they? cant they? cant they?" give me goosebumps). I'm literally praying for Inner White Girl on the Tonys
Posted: 5/13/22 at 1:18pm
YvanEhtNioj said: "I love this version of "Intermission Song" and Jaquel's voice sounds like butter on "Inner White Girl" (and the bass vocals in the background during the "cant they? cant they? cant they?" give me goosebumps). I'm literally praying for Inner White Girl on the Tonys"
Agreeeeeeeee! My fav! And I hope the same! <3
I even love when Michael does it live lol
It’s a brilliant song/moment.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 1:46pm
OffOnBwayHi said: "I understand the Larry/Jaquel comparisons, but I think Jaquel makes the songs more beautiful. They are now more accessible to more people imo.
Larry gave more character in his performance, but the musicality suffered greatly. He was all over the place. Sometimes it felt like a choice, sometimes it was a lack of vocal control imo.
Also, I prefer the mix/master on the Playwrights recording. It’s warmer. The Broadway recording is a bit “sharp,” not in pitch, but the sound of it.
If I had to choose tho, based on the five songs the Broadway recording is the one. I hope they make it warmer before the full release though…"
Thank you for putting into words what I was struggling to. There's something with the mix on the recording that is a bit sharp. Something is over exposed, or they stood to close to the mics. It's off just enough to notice. Otherwise I think it's a great recording and can't wait for the full release.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 5:19pm
Big fan of the show and particularly the score, but have to agree with all of the notes so far, particularly re: missing Larry. "A Strange Loop" (the song) is just impotent compared to the prior recording. And generally have to agree it feels sharper, slower in some of the wrong places, and faster or unnecessarily more frenetic in others. Eager to hear the rest of the album, but it's hard to imagine I won't end up sticking with the Playwrights recording in the long run.
Posted: 5/13/22 at 11:18pm
I got chills listening to Larry Owens and the Off-Broadway Recording. I just gave the OBC a listen and didn't get the same effect...
Posted: 5/20/22 at 9:07am
“Today” was released and is now the sixth track to be made available from the album.
Posted: 5/20/22 at 11:17am
jacobsnchz14 said: "“Today” was released and is now the sixth track to be made available from the album."
Ehh… not my favorite of the tracks released so far, but hey, it’s a good setup as to what this show is about.
Also, “A Strange Loop” has the same melody in its verses as the ones in “Today”, showing Usher has evolved and finally accepts himself for who he is.
Posted: 6/10/22 at 12:00am
The full album has dropped! Thoughts below, everybody.
Posted: 6/10/22 at 9:55am
Finally listened through the whole thing.
Comparatively speaking, both Ushers (Owens and Spivey) have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the score. Owens was able to bring bombast and cheekiness to numbers like “Exile In Gayville” and “Writing A Gospel Play”, but lacked vulnerability and quietness for the songs toward the end of the show, which I handily tip the hat to Spivey.
I will say that there were some moments on the OCR that were missing on the OBCR - most notably in “Tyler Perry Writes Real Life”. Considering James Jackson Jr. EATS UP the Harriet Tubman role on stage, I was surprised at how muted it felt on recording and it was a bit of a letdown. Also, with “Exile In Gayville”, the different “profiles” felt sped through and didn’t land like they did on the OCR or live.
L. Morgan Lee still knocks out “A Sympathetic Ear”, but I think the real MVP of the album is John-Andrew Morrison. His performance on the OBCR was unequivocally the most consistently good and unchanged across all three mediums and each time I listen to “Periodically”, I find myself rooting for him more and more over Matt Doyle for the Featured Actor Tony (which, honestly, he may actually nail down since Doyle picked up all the awards Morrison was already previously eligible for in 2020).
The comparisons, however, will never erase the fact that this is a must-listen score and it’s importance and originality cannot be overstated.
