PERFECT scores

I was thinking today as I was driving into work that City of Angels is one of the very few perfect scores - by which I mean there isn't a single song that I skip on the CD, or even dislike. There are, I think, very few of these. Even shows that I love, like Rent, Les Mis, and Sweeney, have songs that I can do without (We're OK, Turning, Green Finch and Linnet Bird in case you were wondering). Off the top of my head, the only other perfect scores for me that I was able to think of were:

Little Shop of Horrors
Last Five Years
West Side Story
Into the Woods
My Fair Lady

Just about everything else that's coming to me, I can think of at least one song that either isn't of the caliber of the rest of the show, or is just a plain clunker (ie Clambake in Carousel which is otherwise just about perfect). My Fair Lady is even questionable on my list because I'm not a huge Ascot Gavotte fan, but I never skip it when listening to the show.

What scores would you consider perfect?
Anyone says Wicked, I'm telling you right now that your taste is "Something BAAAAAAAAAD"

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I think SEUSSICAL is pretty much a fantastic, glorious, perfect score. Actually, come to think of it: RAGTIME too.

Ahrens & Flaherty are perfect anyway.

Merrily We Roll Along.

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I would have to say Avenue Q as my first choice. And when I first bought the OBC to Chicago I could not stop listening to it. Every song on it was/is awesome.

Sweeney Todd

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Ragtime
Parade
Caroline, or Change

Doh - forgot Merrily We Roll Along. I agree with that one.
Ragtime too.
I couldn't agree with Seussical, though.
I couldn't agree with Music Man either because I can't stand Shipoopi.
Gypsy would make my list if all the "Let Me Entertain You"s didn't start dragging down every version I've heard on CD.
Parade has a couple of songs in the second act I don't really like - like the judge's song that just seems so -- weird -- in context.
I don't really know Caroline or Change well enough -- but the couple of times I've listened to it I remember thinking that it felt kind of redundant in parts.
I don't think Avenue Q holds up for me because songs like "There Is Life Outside Your Apartment" or "Special" just aren't as good as the rest of the show.

peach - I agree with you on Pippin being close.

JCS would be perfect if the ending was better. I never listen past Superstar.

I'm not putting Wicked down - I'm just saying that even people who love it (and I do really like it a lot) don't think every song in that score is great.

I think it's especially difficult for a sung through score to be "perfect" by this definition, which is why I'm hesitant on Ragtime. Nothing is sticking out to me as something I skip - the things that annoy me on the recording are more dialogue issues than musical. Like I said - if it wasn't for like ONE song in each Sweeney and Les Mis, I would agree with both of those.

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Sweeney Todd
A Little Night Music
Gypsy
Dreamgirls

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Gypsy--not a single clunker, despite the flaws in various renditions.

Fiddler on the Roof
City of Angels
Mack and Mabel (the best flop score EVER)
Candide
Merrily We Roll Along
Follies
Carousel (I LIKE CLAMBAKE!!!! SAVE YOUR EVIL POSTS!!!)

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SWEENEY TODD
INTO THE WOODS
GYPSY
CABARET

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The first few that come to mind are Sweeney, Ragtime, and Titanic.

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Sound of Music
Les Mis
Last 5 Years
Songs for a New World
Phantom
Light in the Piazza

I might be the only saying this, but I think mine would have to be ASSASSINS. And that does include 'Something Just Broke' on the revival recording. I can listen to both cast recordings back and forth and not get sick of them.

Perfect is so subjective, but if we're going by what I can listen through completely then I'd also have to include SWEENEY TODD, CABARET and THE SECRET GARDEN.

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Updated On: 11/4/05 at 01:37 PM