Maybe Hairspray - which is odd, because it's not a show I love. But the music is so happy!
But there are so many that bring me joy....in all sorts of different ways!
As evidenced by my profile picture, I enjoy the cast recording from WILDCAT. It has a great overture and fun, spirited songs including the popular HEY, LOOK ME OVER!. I must give special mention to the song, TALL HOPE, which is beautifully done by the men's chorus. I think Lucille Ball and the cast did a fine job on the album.
Updated On: 5/4/23 at 10:04 AMSwing Joined: 3/8/23
The 25th annual Putnam county spelling bee!
Understudy Joined: 8/12/10
drowsy chaperone and legally blonde (bring me back to belting them in the car with friends during high school lol)
The 2021 Broadway Revival Cast Recording of Company would make me the happiest, but........
It's a 4-way tie between:
She Loves Me (2016 revival / 1994 London / OBC are all phenomenal)
Mamma Mia (OLC)
Hello, Dolly! (2016 revival is my go to)
Wicked
I also just adore Kristin Chenoweth's Coming Home (Live) and Sutton Foster's An Evening With Sutton Foster - Live at The Cafe Carlyle recordings.
There are so many candidates for me! I didn't really like the Midler cast recording of HELLO DOLLY as a whole, but the version of "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from that recording is "instant-happy" for me. There are times when I'll just put that track on when I'm trying to shake a bad mood...
Additionally, the absolute most infectious "instant-happy" for me has got to be the 2011 Tony Award performance of "Brotherhood of Man" from the Radcliffe HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. It is one of the most joyous Broadway "clips" I've ever seen. It almost knocks me out and, it's even given me tears of joy at times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNTeeHhpxBE
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/14/04
MichelleCraig said: "There are so many candidates for me! I didn't really like the Midler cast recording of HELLO DOLLY as a whole, but the version of "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from that recording is "instant-happy" for me. There are times when I'll just put that track on when I'm trying to shake a bad mood...
Additionally, the absolute most infectious "instant-happy" for me has got to be the 2011 Tony Award performance of "Brotherhood of Man" from the Radcliffe HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. It is one of the most joyous Broadway "clips" I've ever seen. It almost knocks me out and, it's even given me tears of joy at times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNTeeHhpxBE"
I'm sorry, are you and I the same person? You literally said exactly what I was going to say, word-for-word. I listen to the Midler version of Sunday Clothes, and I am instantly on a cloud. I watch the 2011 Tony Award performance of How to Succeed, and I too cry tears of joy. I just watched it yesterday and thought about it this morning. When Daniel Radcliffe disappears for a long stretch, then reappears by being flipped over from behind the ensemble to land perfectly at the front of the triangle on the downbeat to take the number home, well I just die.
Swing Joined: 11/15/17
Two much older recordings that just make me HAPPY are the OBCs of No Strings and On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
London cast recording of Sunset Boulevard.
Swing Joined: 3/14/23
I had the great good fortune of seeing Judi Dench perform as Sally Bowles in the 1968 London production of "Cabaret". One of the best theatre evenings from my past, and one that I continue to enjoy 55 years later when I listen to the cast album.
Videos