Must Have Cast Recordings

[chino]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:09am

Hello everyone.

Must have cast recordings? and why.

GOD BLESS

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:11am

COMPANY - OBC
SWEET CHARITY- OBC
SWEENEY TODD - OBC
CHICAGO- OBC
GYPSY - OBC
FOLLIES OBC and PAPERMILL recording. This is one of the most important musicals of all time. You NEED the obc, though it's awfully shortened. The Papermill recording is the complete score, with cut songs. Amazing performances, unbelievable material.

The list can go on and on and on.
Updated On: 10/15/06 at 12:11 AM

[snl89]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:13am

Tick Tick Boom
Les Mis
Last 5 Years
RENT
Wicked
Bright Lights, Big City
See What I Wanna See
Aida
^because they're all extremely emotional and amazing and give you shivers after listening to them

Wedding Singer
A Chorus Line
Hair benifit recording
^cause they're so much FUN!

aaand I know I'm missing stuff, but thats all I can think of for now :)

[TheMecca]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:14am

Sweeney Todd ORC also deserves a mention, even if Disc 2 is neutered.
Also Urinetown.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:17am

Haven't we done this?

[Jamie Hat]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:46am

Parade
Ragtime
Jersey Boys
SFANW
Tommy
Sweeney (original)

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:48am

I'm not sure i'm going to respond if God's gunna bless me...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:50am

Any of the modern Broadway treasures like Phantom of the Opera and Les Mis are must haves.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:04am

MUST:

42ND STREET (OBC)
1776 (OBC)
A CHORUS LINE (OBC)
ANNIE
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
ANYONE CAN WHISTLE
ANYTHING GOES
ASSASSINS
AVENUE Q
BELLS ARE RINGING
BIG RIVER
BRIGADOON (all versions)
BYE BYE BIRDIE
CABARET (1966 and 199
CAMELOT
CANDIDE
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
CAROUSEL (OBC and 1994)
CATS
CHICAGO
CITY OF ANGELS
COMPANY (OBC)
DAMN YANKEES
DEAR WORLD
DREAMGIRLS
ELAINE STRITCH AT LIBERTY
EVITA
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (OBC and NBC)
FINIAN'S RAINBOW
FLOWER DRUM SONG (OBC)
FOLLIES (OBC and Papermill)
FUNNY GIRL
GODSPELL (1974)
GYPSY (Merman and Peters)
HAIR
HAIRSPRAY
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
HELLO, DOLLY! (OBC)
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (OBC)
INTO THE WOODS (OBC)
JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (concept album)
KISS ME, KATE (revival)
LES MISERABLES
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
MACK & MABEL
MAME
MAN OF LA MANCHA (OBC)
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (OBC)
MISS SAIGON
MY FAIR LADY (OLC)
NINE (both)
OKLAHOMA!
OLIVER! (OBC)
ON THE TOWN
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
PACIFIC OVERTURES (OBC)
PAL JOEY (1951)
PARADE
PASSION
PIPPIN
RAGTIME
RENT
SHENANDOAH
SHOWBOAT
SONG AND DANCE (OBC)
SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
SOUTH PACIFIC (OBC)
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (OBC)
SUNSET BOULEVARD
SWEENEY TODD (both)
SWEET CHARITY (OBC)
TABOO (OBC)
THE APPLE TREE
THE FULL MONTY
THE FANTASTICKS
THE KING AND I (OBC and revival)
THE LAST 5 YEARS
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
THE MOST HAPPY FELLA
THE MUSIC MAN (OBC)
THE PAJAMA GAME (OBC and revival)
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Bway)
THE PRODUCERS
THE SECRET GARDEN
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (OBC)
THE THREEPENNY OPERA (1930)
THE WILD PARTY (LaChiusa)
THE WIZ
TICK, TICK....BOOM!
URINETOWN
WEST SIDE STORY
WONDERFUL TOWN (OBC and reviva)


GOOD IF YOU HAVE THE BASICS:

70, GIRLS, 70
A CLASS ACT
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND
BALLROOM
BARNUM
BAT BOY
BEA ARTHUR ON BROADWAY
BERNARDA ALBA
BLOOD BROTHERS (London revival cast)
BOMBAY DREAMS
CHESS
CONTACT
CRAZY FOR YOU
DAMES AT SEA
FOSSE
GOLDILOCKS
GREASE
GREY GARDENS
HELLELUJAH, BABY!
IRMA LA DOUCE
IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE...IT'S SUPERMAN
JANE EYRE
JERRY SPRINGER: THE OPERA
JERSEY BOYS
KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN
LI'L ABNER
MARIE CHRISTINE
MINNIE'S BOYS
MOVIN' OUT
NICK & NORA
ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
RAISIN
SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE
SHE LOVES ME
SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE
SPAMALOT
STEEL PIER
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
SWING!
TANZ DER VAMPIRE
THE BOY FROM OZ
THE COLOR PURPLE
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
THE LIFE
THE LION KING
THE RINK
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (revival)
THE ROTHSCHILDS
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (OBC)
THE WEDDING SINGER
THE WILD PARTY (Lippa)
THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG
TITANIC
TOMMY
VICTOR/VICTORIA
WORKING

[PARISinNYC]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:07am

munk, you took this SERIOUSLY. Wow, good for you.

I was just gonna list one b/c it's the first one to come off the top of my head:

A CHORUS LINE (OBCR)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:09am

I'm not tired and I'm sick of watching TV. I went through my itunes...it's not like I actually took the time to alphabetize...

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 2:17am

Sweeney Todd OBC
Company OBC
A Chorus Line OBC
The Light in the Piazza
Ragtime
Parade
Avenue Q
The Last 5 Years
The Secret Garden

[jasonf]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:21am

Pretty good list Munk, but She Loves Me was on your second list?

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:27am

thanks munk for the list! i just went and bought the RAGTIME and KISS ME KATE revival cds online, so i cant wait to listen to them :)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:47am

BYE BYE BIRDIE (OBC)
CABARET (OBC)
GYPSY (OBC)
WEST SIDE STORY (OBC)
FUNNY GIRL (OBC)
A CHORUS LINE (OBC)
HELLO, DOLLY! (OBC)
COMPANY (OBC)
APPLAUSE (OBC)
PIPPIN (OBC)
ANNIE (OBC)
EVITA (OBC)
SWEENEY TODD (OBC)
GREASE (OBC)
DREAMGIRLS (OBC & CONCERT VERSION for the FULL score)
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
NINE (OBC & REVIVAL)
PROMISES, PROMISES (OBC)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (OBC)
SUNSET BLVD (OBC)
THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS (OBC)
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (OLC)
OVER HERE!
CHICAGO (OBC & REVIVAL)
PARADE
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
MISS SAIGON (COMPLETE SYMPHONIC RECORDING)
SWEET CHARITY (OBC & JAY COMPLETE RECORDING)
THE PAJAMA GAME (2006 REVIVAL)

can't think of any more.



Updated On: 10/15/06 at 09:47 AM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 9:55am

Sweeney Todd, either one. They're both fantastic.

A Chorus Line - OBC

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:01am

Munk . . . I agree with everything on your list, except for the OBCR of "Song and Dance." I thought that it was a less than great recording of that show. Have you heard the original London recording with Marti Webb? To me, that is the ultimate recording (Plus you get "Variations" on it).

[Paulyd]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:12am

I can go one better Spider. Before Song & Dance, Marti Webb performed Tell me on Sunday live for a british TV special. She later recorded this for an album. I think this is far superior than the version heard on the Song & Dance album. Even though the earlier recording does not contain 'Unexpected Song' I think its much stronger and well worth a listen. Not too sure if its available now though. Its always been a favourite of my mums,and bought it on cd a couple of years ago

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:27am

Really? I have not heard that version **makes mental note to look for it**

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:30am

I like the London album for the Variations, but I don't enjoy the songs as much as I do on the OBC. IMO, you can't get any better than Bernadette Peters.

[Paulyd]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:50am

I'm a huge Bernadette Peters fan, but i'm sorry, but this show belongs to Marti Webb

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 10:53am

i just wanted to also say BOMBAY DREAMS
i LOVE that cd
:)

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 12:13pm

Chicago OLC
HAIR Concert cast
NINE Revival BC

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 1:07pm

Wasn't Bernadette sick when they recorded that? I think I heard that somewhere.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/15/06 at 5:43pm

This "basic library cast album" list of suggestions was compiled about a year ago, and does not include any of the currently running Broadway shows. I have appended this with some comments as to why I chose the particular recordings.

I stress this is just my opinion based on having listened to all available recordings of each show.

1900 - 1920s :
BABES IN TOYLAND (studio cast on Decca) - One of Broadway's earliest musicals that has a more-or-less complete recording available. Decca's album preserves 10 selections from this still-charming score.

THE MERRY WIDOW (studio cast on Decca) - though a Viennese operetta, this was the show that launched the show-merchandising craze: They sold Merry Widow hats, corsets, cigars, sheet music. The whole world went WIDOW-crazy for a few years around 1907. Decca's album was made in 1943 and sounds like a cast album of the period with many dialogue bits. A later Columbia release with Dorothy Kirsten is out on CD from DRG and offers a more complete and operatic rendition. Both use the Adrian Ross English translation. (Those who prefer to hear this operetta in its original German should seek out EMI's classic recording with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf.)


LADY BE GOOD (Studio cast on Nonesuch)
This effervescent score is well served by a cast headed by Lara Teeter, Anne Morrison and Jason Alexander and they together with the ensemble and orchestra perfectly capture the 1920s style. The Gershwin songs are irresistibly catchy.

THE STUDENT PRINCE (studio cast on DRG)
Dorothy Kirsten and Robert Rounseville head the cast in this highly theatrical recording of Romberg's popular operetta.

NO NO NANETTE (1971 Broadway revival on Sony) - one of the biggest hits of the 1920s was given an elaborate and wildly successful Broadway revival in 1971. Though the revival does not offer much in the way of period sound, it's a joy from start to finish.

OH, KAY! (studio cast on Nonesuch) - as a follow-up to their album of LADY BE GOOD, Nonesuch offers this Gershwin hit from 1926. Again the original orchestrations are used as much as is possible and the recording restores a number of cut songs. A delightful (and well annotated) package.

THE DESERT SONG (studio cast on Decca)
Like Decca's album of THE MERRY WIDOW this set features Kitty Carlisle as Margot and sounds like a 1940s cast recording welcome bits of dialogue (though some is fabricated for the recording.)

SHOW BOAT (complete recording on 3 CD set from EMI)
A labour of love for John McGlinn that became a best-seller for EMI. Two very full CD's document the first (and only) note-complete recording of the original 1927 version using authentic orchestrations. The musical values are exceptional, with only the some-what stilted readings of the dialogue the only drawback. The third disc preserves cut songs and songs added for later productions. (Those wishing a single-disc of the core SHOW BOAT score are well served by Livent's 1993 revival cast, now out-of-print but still fairly easy to find.)

GOOD NEWS (Studio cast on Jay)
The quintessential 1920s score has never had an authentic recording, but this version captures the fun and spirit of the piece quite nicely.

THE NEW MOON (Concert cast on Ghostlight)
Sigmund Romberg's popular operetta is given a thoroughly enchanting performance by a near-perfect cast and documenting the authentic 1928 sound. Not too, how many standards emerged from this show. For lovers of operetta this disc is a must!

1930s :

STRIKE UP THE BAND (studio cast on Nonesuch)
A handsome double-disc set with a thick booklet documents the Gershwins' show and features original orchestrations (or their approximations.)

GIRL CRAZY (Studio cast on Nonesuch)
A lively and much-needed complete recording of the Gershwin's evergreen-packed score. Lorna Luft in the role that made Ethel Merman a star brings an appropriate belt to her numbers, and the rest of the cast is first rate.

OF THEE I SING (1952 revival cast on DRG)
The first musical to win a Pulitzer Prize, this recording dates from the failed 1952 revival. Despite numerous tiny trims to the score (and a few re-written lyrics) it captures the fun of the original and zips along in a tight 40 minutes. (A 1987 concert version featuring the original unedited text and orchestrations manages to make this sparkling musical comedy seem dull and uninspired.)

ROBERTA (studio cast on Decca)
Jerome Kern's score is so melodious that one can easily forgive the dated and dull book. Decca's album form the 1940s captures all the key highlights. A Columbia album from the 1950s (on CD from DRG) offers better sound but the cast isn't as theatrical.


ANYTHING GOES (studio cast on EMI)
Cole Porter's biggest hit of the 1930s and the only one of his early shows still revived. Current productions use either the 1962 off-Broadway script (which drops 4 songs and adds 6 other Porter songs) or the 1987 Lincoln Centre revisal (which drops only 1 song from the original but adds 5 others.) This is the only CD to document what people heard in the theatre in 1934 and though some of the casting may not be ideal, the period authenticity compensates. (The 1962 version has an original cast disc on Epic, and the 1987 version is preserved on RCA Victor.)

PORGY AND BESS (complete on 3 Cd's from RCA)
RCA's recording of the Houston Grand Opera staging is vividly theatrical and beautifully sung and acted. For a single disc of highlights try Decca's original cast (sort of) disc from the 1942 revival or RCA's studio cast with Leontyne Price and William Warfield.

ON YOUR TOES (1983 revival cast on Jay)
The Rodgers and Hart classic that introduced ballet ("Slaughter on 10th Avenue") to Broadway. Using the original 1936 orchestrations, the revival reclaimed the piece and this recording us unadulterated joy from start to finish. Decca recorded the unsuccessful 1954 revival and to compare the two is to hear how much Broadway orchestrations were altered between 1936 and 1954. Decca's disc is very enjoyable though not as complete.

BABES IN ARMS (studio cast on New World)
More hit songs in this one score than in any other before or since. New World's studio cast sparkles and again the period orchestrations are a source of endless delight. DRG recorded a later concert version which is also quite enjoyable though not as much as this version.

BOYS FROM SYRACUSE (Concert cast on DRG)
The surprisingly lively Encores Concert cast serve this score well. Also worth getting is Capitol's album from the 1963 revival (on CD from DRG). Not worth getting is Columbia's dullish studio cast out on Sony Broadway.

TOO MANY GIRLS (studio cast on Painted Smiles)
Ben Bagley's studio cast of this Rodgers and Hart hit doesn't go for period style but does preserve the now-forgotten score.

1940s:
PAL JOEY (studio cast on Sony)
Columbia's studio cast album inspired the 1952 revival with the leads from this album going into that production. In an odd twist Capitol recorded the revival but replaced the two leads (heard here) with singers Jane Froman and Dike Beavers. The Encores concert cast with Patti LuPone and Peter Gallagher is also worthwhile.

LADY IN THE DARK (London cast on Jay)
The most complete, best sung, and best acted recording of Kurt Weill's score available. Maria Friedman is an ideal Liza Elliot. Gertrude Lawrence and Danny Kaye of the original cast recorded a few cuts and they are assembled on a CD from Prism.

OKLAHOMA! (Original Broadway cast on Decca)
While not the first original Broadway cast album, Decca's set of six 10-inch 78RPM discs sold well over a million copies and established the practise that continues to this day (for all hit shows and quite a few flops.) Decca later issued a 2-record Volume Two to get three more songs they had missed the first time out. On this beautifully re-mastered CD you can hear the complete song program, in order. (All Lp editions were just the contents of Volume One!)

ON THE TOWN (studio cast on Sony)
No full cast album was done of this show in 1944, so 15 years later four of the five original stars and composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein got together to record the show for Columbia. No subsequent recording matches this for its lively performances and authenticity.

CAROUSEL (1993 London cast on RCA)
Not as well sung perhaps as EMI's film cast, nor as fresh as Decca's truncated original cast disc, but it is the most complete reading of the score available, and includes brief bits of dialogue to add to the theatricality.


ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1966 revival cast on RCA)
Ethel Merman's performance (in this 20th anniversary revival) beats out both her original cast disc (Decca) and a rather tired studio remake (London Phase 4.) This disc is energetic, exciting and vividly theatrical.

FINIAN'S RAINBOW (1960 revival cast on RCA)
More complete and with better sound than Columbia's original cast disc. The cast here is for the most part equal to the originals although David Wayne's Tony-winning turn as Og is still something sort of grandish.

BRIGADOON (studio cast on DRG)
More complete and more theatrical than Victor's original cast discs. The cast here headed by Shirley Jones, Jack Cassidy and Susan Johnson is first rate and the late 1950s (mono) recording has much better sound than on is heard on Victor.

KISS ME KATE (original Broadway & studio cast on EMI)
Cole Porter's masterwork. The original cast preserved the score for Columbia in January 1949, but ten years later the stars got together to re-record the exact same program (still using the Entr'acte instead of the Overture to open the album) for Capitol in stereo. Either album is worthwhile.

SOUTH PACIFIC (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Still unbeatable after nearly 60 years and countless other recordings. Mary Martin, Ezio Pinza and Juanita Hall own these roles and even the slightly brittle sound quality fails to dime their performances.

1950s:
GUYS AND DOLLS (1992 revival cast on RCA)
There are two reasons why I prefer this sparkling revival cast over Decca's original cast disc: The sound quality, and the performances. It's also somewhat more complete.

THE KING AND I (1977 revival cast on RCA)
With Yul Brynner recreating his original starring role and featuring a virtual none-complete reading of the score this album is the best aural representation of the score. (If you also get the new reissue of Victor's 1964 Lincoln Center cast you can add the ballet "Small House of Uncle Thomas" - the only segment left off this CD.) The entire "Shall We Dance" sequence is here along with the King's final deathbed scene.

PETER PAN (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Mary Martin flies high as Peter, Cyril Richard is a delightfully fey Captain Hook and the entire recording has a you-are-there-in-the-theatre atmosphere.


THE PAJAMA GAME (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Though the recent revival proves this show can still work on stage, there is something very winning about the energy brought to it by the original cast. I also like the film cast disc with Doris Day since it includes the dance music but it also cuts three (minor) songs and the lively Overture as heard here.


DAMN YANKEES (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston head an unbeatable cast and while the score isn’t quite as good as THE PAJAMA GAME, it still packs plenty of “wallop.”

MY FAIR LADY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Columbia’s history original Broadway cast album was later supplanted by a stereo version done with the London cast. The performances and sound quality are better here as the entire company has a freshness that is lacking from the later album.

WEST SIDE STORY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Some prefer the film cast CD with its beefier orchestrations (and revised lyrics for “America”) but there is more excitement crackling through this original cast performance.

MUSIC MAN (original Broadway cast on EMI)
Robert Preston and Barbara Cook head the cast in Willson’s lively and entertaining musical comedy. (Be sure to get the remastered version on Broadway Angel with the original show logo cartoon on the cover. Capitol’s CD with the colour photo of Preston on the cover sounds horrible!)

GYPSY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Ethel Merman in her best performance with a score by Jule Styne at the very top of his game, aided by Sondheim’s colloquial lyrics that sound so natural when sung. The recording still stands as one the best original cast albums ever.

SOUND OF MUSIC (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Julie Andrews fans may be miffed at this choice, but the show was written for Mary Martin (even though at 47 she was way too old for the part.) The performances here are near-perfect and two cynical songs that were dropped from the film are well performed here by Marion Marlowe and the acid-voiced Kurt Kaznar.

1960s:
CAMELOT (original Broadway cast on Sony)
No cast has ever bettered Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet. Though the show may have been problematic on stage, the recording stands the test of time.


BYE BYE BIRDIE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
A bright, breezy collection of songs given fine performances all around here. None of the subsequent recordings even comes close.


HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOT REALLY TRYING (1995 revival cast on RCA)
Robert Morse pretty much owns the role of Finch, but Victor’s cast album has some distortion and fuzziness that remastering can’t hide. Matthew Broderick brought his own charisma to the role for this revival and Lilias White makes “Brotherhood of Man” into a real showstopper.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (original Broadway cast on EMI)
Your choice between this original cast disc with Zero Mostel and the 1996 revival cast with Nathan Lane will hinge on your preference for either performer. Both discs are very good though the orchestra seems richer and fuller on this one.

HELLO DOLLY (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Carol Channing owns this role and the original cast disc is still its best representation on CD. Her 1994 revival recording is sadly inadequate.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (original Broadway cast on RCA)
You couldn’t go wrong with this cast album featuring the great Zero Mostel as Tevya. Topol’s London cast disc (on Sony) is a worthwhile alternate.


MAN OF LA MANCHA (original Broadway cast on Decca)
I prefer the London cast with Keith Michell but that has not been released on CD. Nevertheless, Richard Kiley’s performance here is one of those one-of-a-kind legends that make Broadway unique.

MAME (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Angela Lansbury is a constant delight as Mame, with Bea Arthur as her “bosom buddy.” This is another of those wonderful Columbia cast albums that remains fresh and invigorating.


CABARET (original Broadway cast on Sony)
The 1998 revival cast is also worthwhile, but here is how CABARET sounded when it was fresh and new and groundbreaking. Also Lotte Lenya, Joel Grey and Jack Gilford are irreplaceable.

HAIR (original Broadway cast on RCA)
RCA’s deluxe edition offers both the famous 1968 Broadway cast and the lesser known 1967 off-Broadway cast recordings so fans can track the changes.


1970s:
COMPANY (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Stephen Sondheim’s brilliant score is preserved here, but you have to imagine what the original Hal Prince/Michael Bennett staging of this landmark show was like.

FOLLIES (1985 concert cast on RCA)
Capitol made rather a mess of the original cast disc, truncating the score to fit one not-very-full Lp. RCA put things right by staging and recording this concert version in 1985. For those who prefer to hear the songs without applause try the Papermill Playhouse recording which also included an appendix of cut songs that no FOLLIES freak would want to be without.

GREASE (original Broadway cast on Polydor)
While most people prefer the movie cast album with all its interpolated songs, the sprit of small town America in the 1950s come though better on this cast album, although it does sound more like an off-Broadway show.

PIPPIN (original Broadway cast on Decca)
Stephen Schwartz having made his name with the off-Broadway GODSPELL won acclaim for his light pop score for PIPPIN. Plenty of winners in this score and a great cast is led by Ben Vereen and John Rubinstein.


A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (original Broadway cast on Sony)
A modern operetta lush with melody and packed with lyrics loaded with character and story insight. The cast album is still the best version available though (if you can find it) the Judi Dench revival cast is also worth a listen.


A CHORUS LINE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
There were some curious decisions made as to what to record and what to leave out of this original cast album, but the performances are fresh and the highpoints are still spine-tingling.

CHICAGO (original Broadway cast on Arista)
The revival casts (both New York and London) are more complete, but the original cast has never been bettered. Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, Jerry Orchach and Mary McCarty all here packing plenty of razzle-dazzle.


ANNIE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Nobody could have predicted the long-term popularity of this hit. Hardly a season goes by without some community group staging it. The songs are pleasant, the cast here is near perfect and Columbia’s cast album captured it when it was fresh and new.



EVITA (original Broadway cast on Decca)
Andrew Lloyd Webber displays a mastery of theatrical composing here that is sadly lacking in all of his subsequent scores. Hal Prince’s brilliant staging alas has to be seen in the theatre.

SWEENEY TODD (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece. A “black operetta” that nearly obliterates everything that came before it, and after as well. Angeala Lasnbury and Len Cariou lead a chilling cast in one of the best-produced theatre recordings ever made.


1980s:

42ND STREET (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Old-fashioned in a fun and slightly cynical way, this tuneful, toe-tapping confection makes for an enjoyable listen.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (original Broadway cast on RCA)
A 16-performance flop rescued from oblivion through its cast recording. The show’s ongoing popularity has insured the authors to revise it for later productions in New York and London (both were recorded) but nothing beats the original cast performances heard here.

DREAMGIRLS (Concert cast on Nonesuch)
Geffen’s original cast album reduces the show to 14 key songs in a not very theatrical recording. Nonesuch comes to the rescue with this concert version that preserves virtually the entire show. Still, Jennifer Holiday’s Effie remains a Broadway legend.

NINE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Given the luxury of two discs, we can hear Maury Yeston’s beautiful score as it was meant to be heard. Sadly, the brilliant staging is a thing of memory.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Jerry Herman’s lively score is loaded with heart beneath all those sequins. When the cast join in the final; reprise of “The Best of Times” you can’t help but want to sing along.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Sondheim’s most audacious, intricate, and ultimately rewarding score given an outstanding aural performance by a terrific ensemble cast lead by Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin.


LES MISERABLES (complete recording on First Night)
Those in search of Colm Wilkinson’s historic performance can hear him on the London, Broadway and concert cast CD’s. There are many facets of this beautiful score that are best spotlighted on this note-complete recording of the entire opera.


INTO THE WOODS (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Sondheim’s tongue-twisting lyrics are the real star of this show and they are delivered with precision by Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, Joanna Gleason and company.

GRAND HOTEL (original Broadway cast on RCA)
Tommy Tune’s imaginative staging made the show a success but the score contains many fine musical sequences. The recording is not the best – a last minute rush job results in some sloppy performances here and there – but the material shill shines.

CITY OF ANGELS (original Broadway cast on Columbia)
Cy Coleman’s score and David Zippel’s lyrics are perfection and the entire cast delivers Tony-worthy performances.

1990s:
ASPECTS OF LOVE (original London cast on Polydor)
Andrew Lloyd Webber has given this score a number of gorgeous melodies but the book and lyrics for this piece are sadly inadequate. The cast perform very well but a single CD of just the key songs would have been preferable.

MISS SAIGON (Complete recording on EMI)
The original London cast is outstanding, but this CD preserves the final revised version of the show.

THE SECRET GARDEN (original Broadway cast on Columbia)
This charming musical inspired by the book is laid out for the CD with dialogue excerpts to connect the songs. Those looking for just the key songs should check out the Australian cast.

CRAZY FOR YOU (original Broadway cast on EMI)
Yes, another Gershwin musical. This was originally to be a revival of GIRL CRAZY but ended up with a totally new book and two dozen Gershwin songs. EMI’s cast album sparkles from start to finish.

BLOOD BROTHERS (original London cast on RCA)
An unusual musical from London that has become a huge hit with regional and community theatres. This is the best and most theatrical recorded version.

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN (original cast on RCA)
The original cast performances are definitive, but Mercury released a disc of the 2nd Broadway cast headed by Vanessa Williams that features more dialogue to give a better overall representation of the show. That version is now out-of-print but still fairly easy to find.

PASSION (original Broadway cast on EMI)
Stephen Sondheim’s ravishingly beautiful score is given an excellent performance by the original cast.

TITANIC (original Broadway cast on RCA)
The Tony winning musical was said to need a massive set to make it work, but the recording (and some regional stagings that are less elaborate) prove that the score and book are strong enough on their own.

THE LIFE (original Broadway cast on Sony)
Cy Coleman’s final Broadway score is uneven but the best moments really soar.
(Since I am not including shows currently running this title will eventually be replaced by the Broadway cast CD of RENT …if it ever closes!)


RAGTIME (original Broadway cast on RCA)
The last great musical of the decade and the century. Indeed, no score has come along since to eclipse this. The 2 CD set of the Broadway cast has the entire score. A single CD of highlights from the original Toronto production (with much the same cast) is also available.



Notable off-Broadway productions:

THREEPENNY OPERA (1954 revival on Decca)
This is the Blitzstein translation. Lotte Lenya (Kurt Weill’s widow) heads the cast.

THE GOLDEN APPLE (original cast on RCA)
Though not a complete recording of the score, this original cast disc will whet your appetite to hear all of it. Too bad there is no other recording.

THE FANTASTICKS (original cast on Decca)
There’s a reason this show has remained so popular: it’s the wonderful songs.
(Also check out the show 110 IN THE SHADE by the same authors.)

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN (original cast on Decca)
The simplicity of the original comes through on this original cast disc. The 1999 Broadway revival is a more souped up affair on RCA.

GODSPELL (original cast on Arista)
Even if you are not religious you can still enjoy this marvellous collection of songs.

MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS & FALSETTOLAND (original cast on DRG)
These two one-act musicals were presented on Broadway in 1992 as FASLETTOS.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND (original cast on RCA)
A remarkable, Caribbean-flavoured score by the team who would later write RAGTIME.

ASSASSINS (original cast on RCA)
Dark subject matter – even for Stephen Sondheim – has yielded this breathtaking score and cast album. The song “Something Just Broke” was added to the show later and can be heard on the 2004 Broadway cast CD.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS (original cast on Sh-k-Boom)
Jason Robert Brown’s score is constantly winning him new fans.

URINETOWN (original cast on RCA)
Great cast combined with offbeat story made this a hit both off and on Broadway.

And some notable flops (1950-1999)
A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (original cast on Sony)
This is a wonderful score and show that should have been a bigger hit. (The song “I’ll Buy You a Star” is heard every year at the Tony awards to play on celebrated actors.)


PAINT YOUR WAGON (original cast on RCA)
There are so many hit songs in this score that many people assume it was a hit show. It wasn’t, and there has never been a Broadway revival.


CANDIDE (original cast on Sony)
The cast album kept this score in circulation until the revised revivals started happening in the 1970s.

GOLDILOCKS (original cast on Sony)
Leroy Anderon (a composer of light music for the Boston Pops: “Sleigh Ride” is one of his hits) wrote his only Broadway score for this show. Its failure put an end to his theatrical ambitions but if the book wasn’t too great the songs sure were!

ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (original cast on Sony)
Yes, I know…more Sondheim. But this score has endless fascinations.

DEAR WORLD (original cast on Sony)
Jerry Herman score may not be right for the story of the Madwoman of Chaillot, but on this CD is sounds oh so right!


MACK AND MABEL (original cast on MCA)
Another failed Jerry Herman show and another outstanding score from him. The original cast can probably never be bettered but at least this show gets revived from time to time.


THE GOODBYE GIRL (original cast on Columbia)
Bernadette Peters and Martin Short play well off each other here (they didn’t always click in the theatre) and the score is too good to dismiss.

STEEL PIER (original cast on RCA)
Though the show failed to run (the book was muddled in places) the score is full of great songs by Kander and Ebb and was sadly the team’s last show to reach Broadway.


PARADE (original cast on RCA)
A score that deserves to be better known and reveals more ingenuity with each subsequent listen.


As for current and recent scores, ignoring all the jukebox musicals and revivals the ones I feel most worthwhile are the recently closedLIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS along with the long running hits BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, RENT, THE PRODUCERS, HAIRSPRAY, AVENUE Q, WICKED, and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE.