cast recording CDs - a general post

Some questions, thoughts:

- Is there a strong possibility that Encores! "Follies" will be recorded? They recorded "Pal Joey", "Babes in Arms", and "Boys from Syracuse" - how about "Follies"?

- What is the "holy grail" of cast CDs?

- Has anyone heard the new CD of Weill's "Happy End"? Is it worth picking up for someone who loves "Threepenny" and "Lady in the Dark" but not necessarily "Street Scene"?

- Is there any hope of a recording of the recent "Threepenny" revival?

- If you put cast CDs onto your MP3 or iPod, do you put the whole CD on there or do you pick and choose songs?

- What are essential cast CDs that everyone shoud have, everyone will enjoy?

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There is a possibilty that ENCORES may record FOLLIES, but don't hold your breath, they did not record other shows, I guess it just had to with supply and demand.

I don't know what "The Holy" grail of cast CD's are, but someone else may tell you on here.

I did purchase the HAPPY END CD yesterday. I like it very much, maybe because I have some good freinds that are in it and so glad they are on CD so I can hear them over and over again. As for THREEPENNY, I doubt it will be recorded.

Depends....I put someon of my favorite songs that I know I am going to play all the time...or the whole thing, just so when I do get bored of the same ones over and over, i can still go back and listen to the other stuff.

I think the old classics are the essential cast CD's, you should mix them up a bit (old and new), but nothing will be beat the old classic ones, but the sound quality on the newer ones makes you feel that you are right in the action, the older ones make you feel you have to be in the Theater to feel the eneregy.

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Updated On: 2/10/07 at 01:58 PM

Lizzie, I don't think it's Bryan because everything actually makes sense.

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I always buy the actual CD. Even though there are digital booklets, I love having something tangible that I can physically open and look at.

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While there is no "holy grail" of cast recordings because everyone has different tastes, some general favorites are "Company," "A Chorus Line," and "West Side Story."

I think "holy grail" was meant to refer to an incredibly rare cast recording. Below is a link to a thread were people list some of theirs (Some include King David, ALNM Judi Dench), but I would say the holy grail is the original CD pressing of Edwin Drood.

I prefer to buy a CD unless its impossible to find anywhere else.

Miss Spectacular is ok, its not Herman's best. Its not that the songs are bad, they are good songs, but they don't have the consistant spark and quality musically all his previous scores have had. The lyrics are the best part of the album. BUt, as I said, the music is good, but only good, not bad.



Rarest cast recording...

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i love the Bea Arthur On Broadway cd.

(although the lamb recipe jokes go over my head)

I have that first version. I know b/c I missed those reprises from the my vinyl copy.
Cool. Not selling though.

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"i this all shows flops and hits should have a cast cd made."


Welcome back bryan!

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Some replies to you.

- If you put cast CDs onto your MP3 or iPod, do you put the whole CD on there or do you pick and choose songs?

I always put the entire cast recording on my iPod. I like to listen to them complete, as a story. It's great for the gym too.

- What are essential cast CDs that everyone shoud have, everyone will enjoy?

It depends on your tastes. For me, I love sung-through musicals more than book musicals. But, here are some of my favorites.

+ Chess (Complete Danish)
+ Les Miserables (Complete Symphonic)
+ Miss Saigon (Complete Symphonic)
+ The Phantom of the Opera (London)
+ RENT
+ Aspects of Love
+ Dessa Rose
+ Ragtime
+ Tanz der Vampire
+ Wicked
+ Spamalot
+ Sweeney Todd (Concert)

Sweeney Todd is my absolute favorite. I would recommend the Concert recording above the OBC and Revival, without a doubt. For one, the Concert recording is by far the most complete. Two - the New York Philharmonic does the score wonderfully. Three - the cast is the unrivaled as a whole. Now, Patti is great, but Angela is amazing. They are both good, and the Concert is the best recording. The Revival is annoying. I think it's a case of people loving it simply because the critics did. I mean, it's quite interesting, but it completely lacks the excitement of the Concert and OBC.

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No collection is complete without at least one Gershwin and one Cole Porter cast album. I dont care what the show is; you *must* have one because these two are giants in the history of the form. They made the AIDAs and the RENTs and the SPRING AWAKENINGs possible.

As others have noted, everyone has his/her own idea what a "holy grail" would be. It just depends on what you like and how rare it might be: mine was the 73 cast album of CANDIDE, which has just been released on CD after years of out of print. Well worth the wait.

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I sold one of mine for $190 two years ago on ebay. There was a rash of these being sold for ridiculous prices so I thought I might as well try my hand too and join in the madness.