What OCR should i get?

Im going to Tower today to pick out a OCR. Some of my favorites (that i already own) include:

Rent
Wicked
TMM
Phantom
Avenue Q


Any Suggestions? Thanks!

yeah, everyone's been obsessed with L5Y...im might need to check that out! Thanks!


ps- yeah, um, scott alan is INCREDIBLE.

I've heard great things about the Taboo and L5Y CRs.

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Oh Taboo. Yikes! In the Broadway liner notes, Rosie has quote that says, "To all those who believed, and all those who didn't." I'm definitely with those who didn't. Both the OLC and OBC are absolutely TERRIBLE cast recordings, with very few redeeming qualities.

I think you'd like the 2CD recording of Jekyll & Hyde! It's got some nice music on it...and it's very entertaining.

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I whole-heartedly disagree, but to each his own.

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I've also heard that I would like JRBs Parade? Opinions?

You might not like Parade. It's in a more traditional style. You might pick up JRB's Songs For A New World instead. The style of The Last 5 Years may seem a bit odd at first, but give it a few spins and it can become one of those gems in your collection.

You'd probably like about half of Taboo OBCR straight off and then the rest would grow on you.

Other Suggestions (you may have some of these):
-tick, tick . . . BOOM! - Jonathan Larson with less edge than Rent, but great recording (Raul Esparza lends his wonderful voice to the show)
-Aida
-Miss Saigon - OBCR, though there is a Complete Recording of this after all revisions have been made, I prefer the OBCR for Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce
-Rocky Horror (New Bdway Cast Recording with Tom Hewitt)
-The Wild Party (Andrew Lippa's version with Julia Murney, Brian d'Arcy James, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, etc.)

Just to clarify, there is no OBCR of Miss Saigon. There is only the OLCR (Original London Cast Recording) and CSR (Complete Symphonic Recording). I absolutely recommended the CSR - hands down. There were a tremendous amount of improvements made to the score since the OLCR was recorded, it is the complete show (including some absolutely riveting music not found on the OLCR) and the performances are absolutely just as good as the OLCR. "The Morning of the Dragon" is alone worth recommending the CSR over the OLCR. Absolutely.

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Sweeney Tood premiered in the late 70's. It was WAY ahead of it's time then, and still holds up today. It is a classic. Murder has never been more fun.

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Urinetown
Parade
Titanic
The Secret Garden
Once on This Island
March of the Falsettos
Falsettoland
A New Brain
The Wild Party (LaChiusa)
Jane Eyre
On the Twentieth Century
Aspects of Love

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Ah right, Miss Saigon OLCR (London). I meant that one. Jeez, I'm really on crack today. Thanks Loge. I know significant revisions were made, but personally I prefer the studio quality of the OLCR to the CSR. The vocal performances sound better to me on the London one too.

Sondheim is not for everyone. If you get one, Sweeney Todd is an amazing score to have. However, it might be a little hard for you to take at first. Especially if you usually listen to more pop/rock contemporary musical theater sounding shows. You may want to start out with something a little less epic and overwhelming and go for something softer like Into The Woods OBC. Then work your way up to Assassins, Sweeney Todd, etc. Sondheim composes very intricate music and lyrics, you should definitely check him out and expand your horizons.

Jwei12: If you don't have AIDA, you should definitely get that. I think you'll love it. Also try Little Shop Of Horrors 2003 Recording. They're both fab!

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Some of my favorites:

Taboo
Rocky Horror (2000 revival with Tom Hewitt & Raul Esparza)
The Secret Garden
Assassins
Evita
Big River
Bare (download sampler)
Dreamgirls
Cabaret
Tick, Tick .... Boom!