I need a new cast recording. Anyone willing to help me out?

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 9:19pm

So I have coupons to different places and really want to use them to get my hands on a new cast recording to listen to. I can pick 2 CDs. The thing is I'm not sure which to I want more.
My list is:
Company 2007
Sweeney Todd 2005
Titanic
Ragtime
Little Shop of Horrors 2003
Beauty and the Beast
Les Miserables 1987 ORBC
White Christmas
Chicago
Color Purple

Which ones have the best quality. I want the most bang for my buck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ADD: And actually I'm leaning towards Ragtime because I love Audra McDonald's "Your Daddy's Son." But I don't want to buy a CD just for that song. Also do you think there might be a new recording with the revival?

Updated On: 8/15/09 at 09:19 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 9:34pm

TITANIC provides much bang, the score is chocked full of great musc that brings new stuff everytime you listen to it and so many amazing singer/actors: Vicky Clarke, Btian D'Arcey James, Michael Cervaris, Jenifer Piech, Martin Moran, Alma Cuervo, Judy Blazer (underused, I wish it contained her cut song)Michael Muheran, David Costable, Clarke Thorell, Ted Sperling, the list goes on, I'd reccomend it highly.
Updated On: 8/16/09 at 09:34 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 9:38pm

I second Titanic. The score is quite gorgeous and what CPD said is true. You wont find more glorious talent and voices crammed on one disk. Martin Moran and Brian Darcy James "The Night Was Alive" is one of the most moving show tunes I know of. Worth the price of the disc.

[philly03]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 9:43pm

My votes go for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and probably TITANIC. While I don't like ALL of Titanic, there are quite a few songs that are outstanding. You can't go wrong with Beauty at all...

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 9:43pm

To me, the Sweeney Todd revival is the biggest must-own of those, but if you already have another version, I guess it's good to have a totally new score.

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 10:45pm

If you live in NY and have a New York Public Library Card...you can go to lincoln center library and they have EVERY cast recording EVER to take out!
its pretty amazing and you can get up to 30 each time haha

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 11:09pm

Ragtime
Company
Sweeney Todd
Les Mis

in that order. Unless you already have a previous recording of Company or Sweeney Todd.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 11:11pm

I agree with ashley's list, but not exactly in that order. That's a REALLY hard list to choose from...but I think I would ultimately go with either Sweeney or Company.

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 11:16pm

Titanic is one of my favorite scores of all-time. Such a beautiful recording.

[scott68]

Posted: 8/15/09 at 11:22pm

I'd definitely vote for Ragtime. Sweeney Todd might have been the single best theatrical experience I've ever had, but the cast recording is an abomination. For Company they'd figured out the Doyle acoustics better, so it's produced better, but the performances themselves are more lackluster.

[Irrational Number]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:18am

Ragtime - gorgeous songs ("New Music", "Wheels of a Dream", "Back to Before")
Chicago - classic! ("All That Jazz", "Roxie", "Class", "Razzle Dazzle")
Titanic - very symphonic, beautiful ("We'll Meet Tomorrow", "There She Is")
Beauty and the Beast - Ashman/Menken and Rice/Menken are unbeatable ("Be Our Guest", "Human Again", "Home", "Me")

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:28am

Ragtime and the Sweeney Todd Revival

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:36am

This is actually pretty tough to just pick one. It's a good list. I guess I'd go with Ragtime. "Your Daddy's Son" will not be the only song you like on the entire two CDs. There are far too many fantastic stand out songs to list. Also, if you're going to get Chicago get the London revival cast recording. It's more complete with "Roxie's Monologue", the act one finale and lots of little dialogue bits that are missing from other recordings. Ruthie Henshall is a great Roxie and it's a much more energetic and lively recording than the Broadway revival CD.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:38am

out of your list, I say (in order)

Ragtime
Titanic
White Christmas
Chicago

and so on

[tazber]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 2:47am

Ragtime. No question (IMO).

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 8:27am

Of your list, I'd recommend "Titanic" and "Chicago."

But do you have all the great shows from the 50's and 60's? If not, as there are so many better ones from those eras, you might want to expand your list.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 9:40am

I'd recommend Beauty and the Beast and Ragtime, but you do have a point about how there might be a recording for the revival. Still, it's such a beautiful recording, and so many of the characterizations are so different from the revival. And Ragtime has so many wonderful songs, you can't really get tired of it.

Beauty and the Beast, childish as it sounds to recommend it, is just all-around magical. I like Susan Egan as Belle even more than the actress from the film, and the added songs, like "If I Can't Love Her" and "Me" are some of the best in the show-- there's a lot here that's not in the movie.

If you like Les Mis, I'd actually recommend the Tenth Anniversary Concert-- I love the OBC, mainly because Terrence Mann is my favorite, but the TAC has more music, an all-around better cast (plus, I'm probably the only person in the world who likes Terrence Mann's Javert), and is a lot more popular.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 9:48am

Beauty and The Beast

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 12:35pm

"Company" 2007. It includes "Marry Me A Little".

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 12:56pm

Well, I don't have any of those recordings, but I am planning on buying Company, Les Mis, and Chicago. Of course, I haven't listened to anything on the list, but those interest me the most.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 1:50pm

Sweeney Todd 2005
Titanic

-from your list, but there are so many great recordings that weren't on your list that you might want to check out.

[kchenofan]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 1:57pm

I'll put my two cents in and say Beauty and the Beast (my first Broadway show) definately. Hands down.

I guess it really depends on your taste for second one. I'm not entirely sure which you'd like because, well, I don't know you.

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:00pm

Thank you everyone for your help & suggestions. Because so many of you are saying I should expand, what do you suggest? I tend to go with whatever has the best sound quality.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:02pm

How about getting a cast recording made before you were born?

[broadway122]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 4:09pm

Is the original Evita good? That was before I was born ('92) I have Cats and Phantom of the Opera so those are also before I was born. But, I agree I should get more before-my-time-shows.