MUST HAVE cast recordings for a Broadway enthusiast- Page 2

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:18pm

The Fantasticks

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 1:27pm

Off B'way: The Last 5 Years, Songs for a New World, Bright Lights, Big City.

B'way: Caroline or Change, Into the Woods, A Chorus Line, Dreamgirls, Annie, Evita, Sweeney Todd (OBCR), Assassins, Pacific Overtures, Merrily we Roll Along, Company & Follies.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:09pm

Jasonf, your list looks good but I would add a few things to it:

--A minimum of two Jule Styne recordings (one must be Gypsy)
--Two recordings from Boublil & Schonberg shows
--I would raise Cy Coleman from 1 to 2
--At least one recording from each the following: Jason Robert Brown, Michael John LaChiusa, Adam Guettel, William Finn
--One of the Bernstein recordings has to be West Side Story.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:15pm

Also, with many shows being revived and multiple recordings you need to have recordings that include some of the historical juggernauts -- like a Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, etc.

To cover the early days of Broadway I would suggest buying a recording of Al Jolson from when he was in his prime -- recordings done prior to the late 40's when he re-recorded many of his songs.

[children&art]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:23pm

"...because i'm a collector."

that excuse doesnt make ANY sense. at least if you were a collector of art then you would be able to look at it and enjoy it, but as a "flop" cd fan you have em you put em on a shelf or in a drawer and what? why not just put $20 bills in a drawer, same thing.

im not saying you're wrong, just that it doesnt make sense to me. i would only buy something if i loved it and were certain that everytime i played it it brought a smile to my face.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:25pm

it doesn't really make sense to me either, but knowing i have all of these flop CDs give me great pleasure. "i'm a collector" is really the only answer i know how to give.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:36pm

But if it's specifically a collection of flop musicals, then it makes sense to me. Sounds like WAT enjoys it for what it is.

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:46pm

Enjolras77 -
I intended Gypsy to be covered in the Sondheim (lyrics only) space, since West Side Story gets covered by Bernstein, and there's only a limited amount of Sondheim lyrics only shows...

2 recordings of Boubil/Schonberg is too much - I'll go with one. There are only three shows possible right now - expecting two is too much for a minimum (though I think everyone should have them anyway!)

Hmm - Coleman to two -- I thought about that...yeah, I guess so...

And you're right about the other item - I'm going to make that change...

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 2:55pm

I see nothing wrong with collecting flop CDs just to collect them... However, I collect flop CDs, because I find most have very interesting and often, incredible scores, and they are a glimpse into that show... They are fun and interesting to study along with the facts about the show- Some have great songs, some have great performances, and some are worthwhile in placing within the career of a certain writer, performer, orchestrator, etc....

That said, WithoutaTrace, you should give Dude another chance! Galt McDermot gets better with repeat listenings (especially in this case)

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 3:07pm

Maybe I will try listening to it again on the train ride home this afternoon.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 3:22pm

Jasonf, I agree with what you said about my proposed changes. I couldn't decide between 1 or 2 for Boublil and Schonberg. I figured that everyone would have Les Miserables...but maybe that is enough! I also figured that Gypsy and West Side Story were what you were referring to with the Sondheim as lyricist requirements. However, I feel that Styne is enough of a important composer to warrant a recording on his merit alone.

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 5:07pm

I agree he's a major composer, but other than Gypsy I can't honestly say that I would consider any of his other shows REQUIREMENTS...

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 5:25pm

If a Broadway enthusiast does not have atleast 1 Gwen Verdon cast recording, that's a major shame on them.

And yes Cy Coleman should definitely be 2.

- Sweet Charity
- On The Twentieth Century
- City Of Angels
- The Life

Four amazing scores right there, and he has a lot more.

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 5:29pm

You convinced me - I changed it....TWO Coleman (and you didn't mention Barnum)....

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 5:53pm

I am surprised that so many people rate the AIDA cast album so highly and I have to ask ... why?

I enjoyed seeing the show (once) more for the story but the songs were fine. But the CD is really awful. You don't get any sense of the story from it and it is not a vividly theatrical recording like the great RCA and Sony titles. (I have the same complaint about Disney's LION KING cast album, and to a lesser extent, the Broadwayy cast CD of BEAUTY AND TEH BEAST.)

Was it just that you all liked the show and the cast album brings back memories?

Not criticizing...just curious.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 6:01pm

Pretty thorough lists everyone!

I would add John LaTouche to the list of people you really must have in your library.

The Golden Apple (Shame on all of you for not mentioning this one before. Only one of the best sets of lyrics ever written for a Broadway show! Can you imagine what "Candide" would have been like if he hadn't died?) and the York Theater revue of his work "Taking a Chance on Love" (where you get some of his lyrics from "Candide" and rare goodies like songs from "The Vamp")

Then you should go on Ebay to get copies of those private pressings of shows that weren't recorded. But had soundsystem recording of the shows that have been bootlegged released. Shows like "Drat! The Cat!" and "Lolita, My Love"

I'm like WithoutATrace when it comes to collecting

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 7:38pm

The Golden Apple is great, but from what I understand, the recording we all have is FAR from complete...

The other shows you mention are NOT what I would call requirements for someone to say they are an enthusiast...though you can count them in the catch-all category of shows not many people have heard of...(I love Drat the Cat -- and the songs I've heard from Lolita, My Love)

[fflagg]

Posted: 4/10/06 at 8:18pm

GYPSY [the original and best please]
FUNNY GIRL
MY FAIR LADY
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC