The Most Superbly Produced Cast Recordings

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:20pm

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?

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:22pm

Hands down, The Last 5 Years.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:22pm

Aida!

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:25pm

The Secret Garden--just enough dialogue to give you the story as well as the superb score

Into the Woods (London Cast) - just wonderfully mixed. Very live sounding.

I have over-produced cast albums. Pretty much every roundabout show I can think of sounds this way. I like a recording that sounds live!! I thought the Sweeney revival cast album suffered especially.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:38pm

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

[lesmisforever]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:39pm

The Bidnici cast of Les Miserables.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 3/11/07 at 11:40pm

Rent

Hairspray

Secret Garden

Cabaret

[LoringsGuy]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:47am

This is my second post today where I've mentioned this show: The Secret Garden. As mentioned previously, it gives you just enough dialogue interspersed with the music to follow the plot.

[jpbran]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 1:06am

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

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 1:59am

So many...


Papermill Follies
Hair Actor's Fund
Pal Joey Encores
Ragtime OBC
Parade OBC
A Little Night Music OBC
Cabaret Complete Recording on Jay Records and Roundabout Revival
Chicago OBC and London Revival
Sunday in the Park with George London Revival
A Chorus Line OBC
Miss Saigon Complete Recording
Sweeney Todd OBC
Sweet Charity OBC
Secret Garden Original London Cast
City of Angels Original London Cast
Annie Get Your Gun Merman Revival
Company OBC
And the World Goes Round Off Broadway Cast

[Parks]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:02am

I think Wedding Singer was produced very well.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:02am

The original and 2006 revival recordings of Company and anything with Thomas Z. Shepard’s name attached to the project...

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:18am

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

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:24pm

Goddard Lieberson's MY FAIR LADY
Tom Sheppard's Sondheim OBCs

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:39pm

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.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:46pm

... and let us not forget the terrific work of Jay David Saks.

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:47pm

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.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:49pm

"Caroline or Change" is one of the best I have heard. The sound quality is excellent and makes me feel as if I am sitting in the theatre. I thought the sound design in the theatre was wonderful. Only a few times have I heard an orchestra sound that good live.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:58pm

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.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 1:01pm

[title of show]

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 1:06pm

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

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:17pm

There are so many, but one that hasn't been posted yet: Grand Hotel. Especially now with the bonus track of Carroll singing "Love Can't Happen" at a cabaret. It's just a great recording that gives a great feel of what the show was and is meant to be.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:23pm

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?

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:29pm

For me, it's Drowsy Chaperone.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:35pm

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