if a show doesnt produce a CD, does it really exist or not? A flop show that is not recorded becomes nothing more than a statistic.
Not every flop deserves to be recorded. No one is pining for HIT THE TRAIL or GIRL FROM NANTUCKET.
On the other hand we should be glad that CANDIDE, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, ANY ONE CAN WHISTLE, HOUSE OF FLOWERS, FLAHOOLEY, SAIL AWAY, STEEL PIER, THE LIFE and PASSION all had their wonderful score preserved and are readily available on CD.
Variety coined the term "flop" to designate shows that closed on Broadway without paying back their investment. It has nothing to do with the quality of the show or how popular it is. Length of run has nothing to do with it. PETER PAN (Mary Martin version) was a financial hit even though ir ran just 152 perfs. (It was only scheduled for 19 weeks because NBC was telecasting iit live a week after it closed.) JEKYLL & HYDE ran over 1500 pers and still lost money.
A "success" or "failure" is what Hal Prince's wife Judy calls shows that do or do not succeed in doing what they set out to do. Hence, PACIFIC OVERTURES in 1976 was a success but a financial flop. (For the record: ALL Sondheim shows since A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC ended their Broadway runs as financial flops although SWEENEY TODD, and INTO THE WOODS paid off through post Broadway tours. Yet no one would consider any of his shows out-and-out "failures.")
I like the term STINKER for a show that flopped and was a deserved failure. (AIN'T BROADWAY GRAND, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES (Bway), MAIL, WELCOME TO THE CLUB)
Then there are the shows that were not successes (artistic or financial) but left behind fine scores with wonderful songs: DEAR WORLD, THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD, MACK AND MABEL, SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING.
Bottom line - it doesn't matter. If you like a show - hit or flop, success or failure - just enjoy it!
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com