I love the show AND the CD, but the studio recording of BARE will probably never sound that good live. The original Dreamgirls CD is like that for me, too.
The topic is being treated as if it were ridiculous, but shows with problematic books &/or inadequate initial productions often make a better case for themselves on their OCRs, for example Merrily.
I think the recent revival of Follies, could listen to cast recording all day, but to sit through it was a snooze feet I found, its one of my favourite shows, but Bernadette lacked any fire, Jan looked wooden and EPs accent was dreadful. Terri White doing Who's that woman was the only real highlight for me watching the show.
I agree about the Bare studio recording - the four leads have such wonderful voices, and I have never seen a production that I enjoyed as much as listening to that recording (2 productions in the previous version (as on the recording) and once in the revised version off-broadway last year).
MACK AND MABEL comes to mind. On paper it looks like a sure-fire hit -- Jerry Herman, Gower Champion, David Merrick, Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters collaborating on a musical about Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand. The show became a famous flop but to listen to the OBC recording one can't help but think "how did this show fail?"
I totally agree regarding Anthony Warlow on the Jekyll and Hyde recording. His vocal performance is amazing. I ended up importing all his solo CDs as well as the Secret Garden EP after listening to J&H.
My go to example, I s'pose would be Catch Me If You Can.
Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you.
--Cartman: South Park
ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."