CD recommendations

What's your "type" of musical preference?

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I would for sure get Tick Tick Boom....Taboo (the broadway version, it should be coming out right near your birthday) and Wicked. Happy early birthday!!

I don't know what you have, but these are some of my favs:

Les Miserables
Parade
Titanic
Chess
The Secret Garden
Ragtime
March of the Falsettos
Falsettoland
Aspects of Love
Urinetown
City of Angels
Once on This Island
Rent
Wicked
Avenue Q
Miss Saigon
Martin Guerre
Into the Woods
The Will Rogers Follies
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Rags
Dreamgirls
On the Twentieth Century
Hair
Two Gentlemen of Verona
A New Brain
Hairspray

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Get the *Grammy-winning* CD of the Gypsy revival with Bernadette Peters. It's an amazing show starring an amazing performer.

I just got Lippa's Wild Party and I think it's great! I haven't heard Julia Murney sing before...she has a fabulous voice. Plus the Idina factor, I love her voice particularly on this recording- she has the sort of sweet sound from "Here" her new CD, but still has the belting. (Can you tell I'm an Idina fan?)

I also just saw The Last 5 Years, I think that would be a good cast recording to have- especially if you plan to see the show (helps to understand the way the plot moves).

Here we go again...

Can JRB and William Finn be a bit self-indulgent? Yes
But I think that that's ok when what they're indulging in (their knack for songwriting and lyrics) is so good.

Everyone has their opinions but I would not advise anyone to avoid JRB and William Finn like the plague. And the same goes for Lippa, Guettel, LaChiusa, etc...

How about a triple shot from Jerry Herman?
Hello, Dolly!
La Cage Aux Folles
Mame

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If you don't already have these...
ANYTHING Jason Robert Brown!
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Hairspray
The Wild Party
Gypsy
Urinetown
Fame (any recording... I personally really like Fame on 42nd Street)

And yes DEFINITELY get Wicked and happy early birthday!

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thanks everybody!! I can still use some more ideas from other people if you feel like helping though!! I can always use more choices!!

Updated On: 2/28/04 at 12:11 PM

I haven't seen any Richard Rodgers mentioned:
Babes In Arms
Pal Joey
Oklahoma!
South Pacific
Carousel
The King & I

Show Boat by Jerome Kern should be in any good Broadway recording collection.

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Anything by William Finn and Jason Robert Brown. Two of the most gifted and intelligent songwriters since Sondheim. Parade, A New Brain and Falsettoland are some of the most emotionally stirring scores I've ever heard. I don't care if they indulged themselves, but they managed to indulge me as well. Some of their material was based on personal experience (like so many artists), but it doesn't mean it isn't good. The stories are very interesting and emotionally engaging. Gorgeous melodies and brilliant lyrics make the songs immediately memorable (especially in the case of Finn, you'll find yourself memorizing the songs without realizing it). But you don't have to listen to me or MusicMan. Judge for yourself. I suggest the following clips available on Amazon.com:

Heart and Music - A New Brain
Year of the Child - Falsettoland
Four Jews in a Room Butching - March of the Falsettos
The Old Red Hills of Home - Parade
I'm Not Afraid of Anything - Songs For a New World
Still Hurting - The Last 5 Years
Start Here

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I don't really know what your taste is, but I'll recommend to you the stuff I listen to most often.

Aida
Rent (get the two-disk version, not the "best of". I have both, and the "best of" cd just doesn't do Rent justice.)
Tick, Tick... Boom!
Cabaret
Wicked
Millie
Man of La Mancha
Gypsy
Avenue Q
Little Shop of Horrors
Movin' Out
Chicago

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