Essential London Cast Recordings

My Fair Lady (its in stereo)
Gypsy (Lansbury is the only Rose I can stand)
A Little Night Music (I wish they would remaster it, I prefer the tempos)
Any British recording of Tell Me on a Sunday other than Peters horrendous recording
Passion
Les Mis (only if you want "I saw him once" which I believe isn't on any other English recording)
She Loves Me (the original London cast has Rita Moreno singing 'Heads I win' which isn't on any other recording, and the instrumental version of 'Tango Tragique')
I also recommend for completeness sake, the OLC of ITW for Our Little World, but thats also on the New Bway, right?

thats all I can think of off the top of my head.

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i love the donmar warehouse cast version of company, with the excellent actor adrian lester as Bobby - interesting, because he's not the strongest singer as compared to, say, raul, but its got a rawness. if you can ever watch the video of it, that's even better, obviously.
i liked the marti webb song and dance/tell me on a sunday, but then it was when i was growing up and i haven't heard it for a while so it might have major faults i've forgotten!
the new sunday in the park with george was very different from the mandy/bernadette, and beautiful. jenna russell is fab.
i have a promo recording of a few tracks of the london batboy, which is very interesting to listen to.
i've never heard an american version of blood brothers, but (i might get shot down for this) I'm sure the london ones are better, with the scouse accent being so difficult to perfect and so desperately needed. i like my barbara dickson version, although i would like to have stephanie lawrence.
also the haymarket leicester recording of merrily we roll along is worth a listen, i'm not sure but it might have some material not on other recordings.

whatever you do, don't choose the UK Little Shop recording.....though I would definitely reccommend BILLY ELLIOT

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I have the Blood Brothers recording with Stephanie Lawrence, though I'm finding it hard to find online.

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SWEET CHARITY w/Juliet Prowse.

BILLY ELLIOT!

The Rink OLR... Diane Lane and Josephine Blake.

I definately agree with the Annie OLR. Sheila Hancock played a blinding Miss Hannigan. I saw her in this, and she stole the show with her almost comedic perfomance.

Hancock's wonderful as Frau Schneider in the current London production of Cabaret......

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Updated On: 1/22/07 at 07:31 AM

Chicago
Witches of Eastwick
My Fair Lady (OLC)
Into the Woods
Sunday in the Park with George
A Little Night Music (Original London or National Theatre)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1996)
Kiss of the Spiderwoman

And I suppose the old war horses of Phantom, Les Mis and Miss Saigon for the sake of completeness.

There will be no Ragtime OLC.

Passion
w/ Maria Friedman & Michael Ball

I think everyone has their own favourite 'Blood Brothers' recordings. Mine's the Kiki Dee version (seems to be London revival cast) because I vastly prefer the orchestrations, but I do like the completeness of the Barbara Dickson (original London cast) recording.

Let's see...

ANYTHING GOES (2003 RNT cast; yay John Barrowman!)
EVITA (2006 London cast)
THE FIX (John Barrowman + Philip Quast = hells yes please!)
LES MISERABLES (just because the cast is awesome! Recording ain't all that, but I'll go with the horrible orchestrations for Patti and Frances!)
MARY POPPINS (just because, yeah?)
OKLAHOMA! (1998 RNT cast; yay Hugh Jackman!)
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (2006 cast)
THE SECRET GARDEN (original London cast)

I also really really love my 1982 cast recording of CAMELOT and 1995 cast recording of GODSPELL, but appreciate that not necessarily everyone will agree with that. These are shows where you really have to work to find a recording that agrees with you.

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I bought a recording called West End Girls while I was in London and it has Judi Dench singing Cabaret, but I can't find the OLC recording with her as Sally. Anyone know where I can get it?

I have the London Mary Poppins, which I love so much, I saw it twice. Valmouth with Cleo Laine is a lot of fun, too, if you can find it, and the 1969 Show Boat with Laine as Julie is very nice.

If I think of others, I'll add them later.

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Some of the names that come to mind, in no order:

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1996 revival with Steve Balsamo)
SUNSET BOULEVARD (with Patti LuPone)
MISS SAIGON (with Lea Salonga)
BILLY ELLIOT
WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND