There have been many, many Phantom recordings from around the world, including a good number in English--the OLCR, Canadian cast, and a few British studio recordings. However, a Broadway recording was
not one of them. For a short time after the initial Broadway opening they did reissue the OLCR with a small American flag on it, but it was always called the Original London Cast Recording.
Since we're talking about the lack of Mackintosh recordings and the lure of moolah, I always this tidbit shed a lot of light on the thinking behind most cast recordings--the question often comes up about why Phantom, in its two decades of existence, has done nothing like the Complete Symphonic Cast Recording of Les Miz and Miss Saigon. After all, Phantom has been more successful than the latter and right on par with the former. The reason, apparently, is Michael Crawford, who smartly (for him) made it a condition of his original contract that there would be no full cast recordings in English other than the OLCR. That's why we only have highlights from Canada and London studio casts, and the closest thing we have to a new full recording is (sadly) the soundtrack for the film.
*cue the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money*
"If there is going to be a restoration fee, there should also be a Renaissance fee, a Middle Ages fee and a Dark Ages fee. Someone must have men in the back room making up names, euphemisms for profit."
(Emanuel Azenberg)
