Without a doubt A Little Night Music from 2009. I'm constantly captivated by this every time I listen to it!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
There sure are a lot of Woman and Man in Chairs on this site.
Put the Spring Awakening cast recording on auto-repeat and I will dazzle you with details from the libretto that will create a magical world that envelopes you. And also you'll hear some rock music.
Swing Joined: 1/8/11
One?
Last Five Years
Three? add...
In The Heights
Children's Letters of God
As many as I want (studied 150+ musicals over the past year or so):
A Chorus Line
Avenue Q
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant (never ceases to entertain)
The Music Man (well the film soundtrack version)
Next to Normal
Hairspray
Assassins (NPH version)
The Book of Mormon
Evil Dead: The Musical
The Fantasticks (New Off-Broadway version)
Spring Awakening
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
Yes, I could make a long list of OC recordings I've played hundreds, even thousands of times, but for the sake of brevity, I'll just mention Finn's THE MARVIN PLAYS.
I never tire of them. No, not even IN TROUSERS.
Speaking of THE MARVIN PLAYS, I recently happened to run across this bootleg video from the L.A. production of FALSETTOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMojJW8u9XI
I think this live version is even better than the FALSETTOLAND CD. I love Michael Rupert (first saw him way back in PIPPIN) and all his neurotic energy, but here, he sings so simply and honestly, he kills me (in the good way).
Updated On: 10/25/11 at 03:51 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
^
Hi, Gav,
In Trousers 1,000 times?!?! That's 999 times more than I was able to get through it.
I'm sure I've listened to Tenderloin, Milk and Honey, Dolly, and Dear World a thousand times, and I'm ready for a thousand more.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
After Eight, I've listened to Bobby Darin's unintentionally (I think) camp version of "Artificial Flowers" at least a thousand times. But if I had to listen to the sincere version from the show more than twice, I'd need a gun.
I agree that HELLO, DOLLY! is a great score. Although I like MAME and MACK AND MABEL even better, I think of DOLLY whenever people put down Jerry Herman. The lyrics to "Sunday Clothes" alone should command everyone's respect.
As for MILK AND HONEY and DEAR WORLD, I don't think they are bad, but I'm not embarrassed that I don't own them.
With IN TROUSERS, there's no question it's a young work. But it has many lovely moments, some of which take several listenings to discover.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
"As for MILK AND HONEY and DEAR WORLD, I don't think they are bad, but I'm not embarrassed that I don't own them."
Errrr, Gav, I hope you won't get mad at me if I dare to suggest......
you should be.
As for "Artificial Flowers," surely you know that the "sincere" version is itself a parody.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
I know "Artificial Flowers" is a parody of a popular type of turn-of-the-20th-century ballad, yes.
But the two non-Darin versions I've heard (Gregory Harrison at a benefit and Patrick Wilson with Encores!) were not performed in a way that suggested any humor in the parody. Both versions were sung slowly and very seriously, as if I was to take "poor Annie's" plight at face value. My copy of the libretto suggests nothing different in the original production (but of course a libretto doesn't show everything).
For the record, I used to have the other shows on vinyl, but I no longer have a turn-table and I haven't felt a need to replace them on CD.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
Re Milk & Honey and Dear world:
OK, you're forgiven. :)
Re, "Artificial Flowers:"
Funny, but the opening night critics of the original production all commented on the parodic nature of the song, and Ron Hussman certainly plays up the schmaltz on the recording, as do the lyrics!
"Chicago" revival cast recording. I listen to it everyday....so much so that I've pretty much learned the lyrics to "Mr. Cellophane" and "The Press Conference Rag." from RC in Austin, Texas
Donmar warehouse production of Parade.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/16/11
Oh god, there are just so many cast recordings i'm obsessed with. Currently I guess the cast album i could listen to over and over again is the Book of Mormon! :)
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/10
I listen to the many versions of Spider-Man I have, daily. I am at the point where I feel I should remove them from my ipod. I am honestly addicted to listening to that show. 24/7
Other than that, the 2009 Carrie reading and soundboard recording.
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/10
I listen to the many versions of Spider-Man I have, daily. I am at the point where I feel I should remove them from my ipod. I am honestly addicted to listening to that show. 24/7
Other than that, the 2009 Carrie reading and soundboard recording.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/11
After Eight, re "Artificial Flowers":
Maybe the problem lies in the two "straight" renditions I've heard. In both cases, I would say the result was more "recreation of an obsolete pop form" than "parody".
Did the original reviews refer to it as a humorous song? Because that might explain Darin. I've always wondered what the hell was he thinking? (Although he gave a song about a serial killer the same treatment in "Mack the Knife" and that obviously worked. To be clear, I'm a huge Darin fan and I don't question his choices lightly.)
WEST SIDE STORY....never get tired of losing it.
Leading Actor Joined: 11/21/10
Rent (the movie) and Sister Act. Some great songs in both, really entertaining.
Swing Joined: 11/1/11
I'm the first one to say it, but PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! Duuuuuh du du du du duuuh! The original not the 25th anniversary.
...Or Richard Preston Music Man!:)
It honestly depends on my mood, but the ones I keep going back to...
Company OBC & 2006 Revival
Assassins 2004 Revival
Cabaret 1998 Revival
Little Shop of Horrors
Hair
And more recently, Catch Me if You Can & Book of Mormon
Richard Preston? REally?!
Wow. Probably "Wicked", "Les Miserables" or "Chicago(Revival)". Throw in "Spring Awakening" as well. That's a tough one. Ask me tomorrow and it'll probably be different.
I will never tire of the OBC of "Passion". Never. Have listened to it too many times to even count.
OLC Ghost (number 1 for me for months)
OCC The Phantom of the Opera (I suffer through Colm Wilkinson for Rebecca Caine's sublime Christine)
Unofficial Cast Recording of Next to Normal (Jessica Phillips as Diana)
OBC Book of Mormon
2009 Hair
OBC In The Heights
Jekyll & Hyde: The Complete Work
Evita: Original Concept Album
Swing Joined: 11/1/11
Opps! Let me re-write this...
Phantom of the Opera original cast, not Canadian or 25th! (Because I am a HUGE Michael Crawford fan)
Or ROBERT Preston's Music Man. I love the songs.. so catchy. :)
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Wicked
Beauty and the Beast OBC
Shrek the Musical
Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversay
Into the Woods OBC
Videos