Must have Musical Albums!!

What cast albums of Broadway/Off-Broadway Musicals do you think everyone should listen to? Whether it's because it changed the sound of musicals, has a great score or its just a happy camp fun musical (Legally Blonde) with great music put it down. My chooses would be “Book of Mormon” “In The Heights” (LOVE IT) “Hamilton” “Sweeney Todd” “Next to Normal” “Rent” "Spring Awakening” and “Pippin” among many more. This can be a way for new-comers into musical theatre to explore different and not so well known musicals. Thanks for your help!

Updated On: 1/1/16 at 11:33 AM

I'm glad you made this, I need to start making a list of cast recordings to get.

Les Mis (I love the Original London Cast album), RENT (OBC or movie), Promises Promises (don't judge me), Funny Girl, Into the Woods, Next to Normal, Sweeney Todd, and my friend has recently made me fall in love with Catch Me If You Can and Bonnie and Clyde.

Because I'm here and this sorely needs some diversity:

The Human Comedy
The Most Happy Fella
House of Flowers
Merrily We Roll Along
Sweeney Todd
The Golden Apple
The Baker's Wife
Falsettos
Baby
Grind
Goldilocks

All are available commercially as Broadway cast recordings.

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Follies (OBCR)
Follies (2011 Cast with Bernadette Peters)
Caroline, or Change (OBCR)

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There are more than these, but I dont want to repeat so here:

Gypsy (OBC or Lupone)
Evita (OBC)
La Cage Aux Folles (OBC)
Sunset Boulevard (OLC)
Hello Dolly (OBC)
Mame (OBC)
Guys and Dolls (1992 Cast)
Grey Gardens (OBC)
Light in the Piazza
The Last 5 Years (OOBC)
Ballroom

And my personal favorite non-movie recording of the Sound of Music, 1981 London Cast with Petula Clark.

MY FAIR LADY
SOUTH PACIFIC
BLOOMER GIRL
FINIAN'S RAINBOW
PORGY AND BESS
KISS ME KATE
SHOW BOAT
KISMET
ST. LOUIS WOMAN
THE FANTASTICKS
110 IN THE SHADE
BRIGADOON
ON THE TOWN
Silly rabbit, soundtracks are for movies.

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Updated On: 11/20/13 at 10:46 PM

I loved Catch Me If You Can and The Producers! These are great suggestions. Looks like my bank balance will be falling fast!

I love most Wildhorn scores! I wonder why they aren't that "successful" shows? I wonder is Bonnie & Clyde good? I haven't had time yet to listen to it!

Bonnie & Clyde is amazing! Such a heartfelt show. It should still be open in my opinion. Critics did NOT treat Wildhorn fairly with their reviews.

Here are a few that aren't much discussed here, but are well worth having:

The Boy Friend
Flower Drum Song
Can-Can
House of Flowers
New Faces of '52
Fanny

The original off-Broadway Little Shop of Horrors cast recording. :)

Two Gentlemen of Verona - OBC
Martin Guerre - 1996 London
The Scarlet Pimpernel - OBC
The Secret Garden - OBC
Once on This Island - OBC
A New Brain - Off-Broadway
March of the Falsettos/Falsettoland - Off-Broadway
Caroline, or Change - OBC
Parade - OBC
The Light in the Piazza - OBC
Chess - 1984 Concept
Jane Eyre - OBC
Violet - Off-Broadway
Jekyll & Hyde - 1994 Concept
Hair - OBC & 2001 Vienna
The Human Comedy - OBC
Tanz der Vampire - 1997 Vienna
Witches of Eastwick - OLC
Promises Promises - OBC
Goldilocks - OBC
Mystery of Edwin Drood - OBC
Big River - OBC
Sweeney Todd - OBC
A Little Night Music - OLC
Sunday in the Park With George - OBC
Merrily We Roll Along - OBC
Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBC
Passion - OBC & OLC
Les Miserables - OLC
Miss Saigon - OLC
Aspects of Love - OLC
Jesus Christ Superstar - 1970 Concept
Evita - OBC
Sunset Boulevard - OLC
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - OBC
American Idiot - OBC
Tommy - OBC
Blood Brothers - 1988 London
Legally Blonde - OLC
Titanic - OBC
Next to Normal - OBC
Anything Goes - 1987 Broadway
Crazy For You - OLC
She Loves Me - 1993 Broadway
Chicago - OBC
A Chorus Line - OBC
Oklahoma - 1979 Broadway
Oliver - 1994 London
On the Twentieth Century - OBC
Nine - OBC
Rent - OBC
Gypsy - 1989 Broadway
Most Happy Fella - OBC
Guys and Dolls - 1992 Broadway

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Updated On: 11/26/13 at 06:10 PM

There is a fascinating version of My Fair Lady with Kiri Te Kanawa and Jeremy Irons. Sadly, even though their take on the roles is interesting, I didn't sense much spirit from either of them.

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