The Most Superbly Produced Cast Recordings

For me, it is the Roundabout CABARET revival cast recording.

This cast recording is just superb. The set may be struck, the show may be closed...but when I listen to this Cast Recording, I am back in my seat at the theatre watching this show. I don't just hear it, I see it all come back to life in front of me.

It's an extremely emotional and haunting recording. No other recording can transport me the way that this one can.

What's yours?

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Aida!

THE PAJAMA GAME (2006)
NINE (2004)
AVENUE Q
CABARET (199
FOLLIES (199

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Rent

Hairspray

Secret Garden

Cabaret

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Cabaret or Urinetown. Really convey a live (yet well studio-produced) feel... And not gimmicky, which is great.

I think Wedding Singer was produced very well.

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In terms of actual technical production, nearly anything produced on the 'First Night Records' label sounds amazing.

Almost EVERY cast album produced by Goddard Lebersion from SOUTH PACIFIC thru A CHORUS LINE. Notably THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, issued on 3 LP records complete with all the dialogue.

Sheppard's SWEENEY TODD and SUNDAY IN THE PARK original Broadway cast albums were technical marvels in their day.

RCA Victor's late productions under Bill Rosenfield were excellent: RAGTIME, STEEL PIER, PARADE. I would include TITANIC except for the maddening low lovel across the disc.

All of these give you a real sense of the show.

Disney's LION KING is an example of a poorly produced cast album. You get the music all right but no sense of the show. And somehow RENT doesn't come through nearly as well on CD as it does in the theatre.

I have been most impressed with the new COMPANY.

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Personally, I think the RENT OBC is the best cast recording I've heard. I don't know if it's the production, or just the way the show is structured. . but every time I listen to it, it always feels like I'm right there.

I'll also second the Roundabout's CABARET. . same deal.

~Jacob.

Grease Revival w/Rosie O
Roundabout's Cabaret
Roundabout's Assassins
Mary Poppins OLC
A Class Act OBC
Avenue Q OBC
The Frogs OBC
Do Re Mi Encores! Revival
The Full Monty OBC
Sweet Smell of Success OBC
and Dirty Rotten Soundrels OBC

are just a few I can name off the top of my head.

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I've always thought that the Ragtime OBCR was really nicely produced.

I Think TITANIC sounds great on CD. In fact one of the critics who panned the show said something like "don't judge the show by the CD, because it sounds much better than it really is!"

Does anybody remember who wrote that?

By comparison to his other works, Shwartz's Wicked OBC is good.

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