Some Cast Album Opinions Needed On...

Just one fan's opinion, and only on the titles I have personally heard:

"Canterbury Tales: - dated, but a fascinating concept show. Would be fun to try to update?

"Dance A Little Closer" - Some great tunes, some awful lyrics from Lerner. Cariou is excellent, but Mandelbaum hit the nail on the head when he suggested that Goulet would have been a better lounge lizard.

"Last Sweet Days of Isaac" - Loud, noisy, forgettable.

"Onward Victoria" - THIS is the title you should snap up first. Some really wonderful music and lyrics at the beginning. It may fall apart long before the end, but there's many treasures to be had up front. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Hope I was helpful, feel free to PM me if you want more info.

The original cast of "The Last Sweet Days of Isaac" is a great cast album, and I think it is Cryer/Ford's best score. The song "Love You Came To Me" is among my favorite musical theater songs of all time. If you are a fan of musicals in the 1970s you should definitely get this one.

"Onward Victoria" is a campy delight with some sumptuous orchestrations. "Canterbury Tales" is not a priority in my opinion, but worth getting. You may want to hold off on "Make A Wish" as the Sepia issue is from 78s and you never know if Broadway Masterworks will reissue it using the master tapes. The sound is fine with Sepia, but it is not worth rushing.

I like "Dance A Little Closer," but don't listen to it much. It has been a while since I listened to "Robert and Elizabeth" but I remember the score being quite lovely.

"Christine" never grew on me but I've thought of giving it another chance.
Look at this weird Make A Wish item on ebay.

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Canterbury Tales- Not great, but with some good songs. The rhythms and sound are very much of their period, which is what makes it interesting. If you can find it. I'd get it.


Christine- Some pretty songs interspersed with some duds. The title tune is lovely. Maureen O'Hara sings beautifully. I love her rendition of "My Indian Family." I would get this.


Dance a Little Closer- Not great. Not much to say about it.


Johnny Johnston- You can do without it.


Last Sweet Days of Isaac- Interesting relic of a bygone era, which it captures faithfully. Some catchy melodies. Worth having.


Make a Wish- A very good score, with tuneful, infectious songs. I recommend it.


Onward Victoria- Little to recommend.


Very Good Eddie (revival)- Excellent. Fresh, bouncy, charming, delightful. By all means worth having.