The great thing about the library is that you can listen to a show for free. If you don't like something, just return it, no money lost.
Boy, this post brought back a lot of memories. Back in the 70's, growing up in San Francisco, when a CD was just a way to invest your money, and new cars had 8-track players, I learned so much about Broadway albums by borrowing OBC records from the library. Yeah, some of them were well-worn and scratchy, but the thrill of listening to SOUTH PACIFIC, GYPSY, or MY FAIR LADY for the first time as I pored over the liner notes has stayed with me 40 years later. I saw the recent revival of SOUTH PACIFIC 4 times and every time I had tears in my eyes at the big cymbal crash at the end of the overture. I couldn't figure out why, until I realized that, hearing that cymbal crash instantly brought be back to 1972, listening to the OBC record in my parent's living room, wondering if I would ever visit New York and see a Broadway show in person. Even though I've lived here awhile, the wonderment never ceases.
BTW, while at the library, check out Stanley Green's "The World of Musical Comedy", which served as an amazing tool for guiding me through the history of musicals.
'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'
