My Year in Show Music

Old habits die hard. I haven’t written about theatre in years but I am still keeping track of what I listen to; a grasp at normalcy in abnormal times, perhaps. Every recording—which I listened to in its entirety; the only criterion—is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I highly recommend for serious collectors of theatre music).

An asterisk indicates a first-time listen.

1/2 – The King and I [1977 Broadway Revival Cast Recording]
1/11 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
1/17 – The Card [Original London Cast Recording]*
1/18 – Charlie Girl [Original London Cast Recording]
1/19 – The Most Happy Fella [Complete Studio Cast Recording]
1/20 – I Can Get It For You Wholesale [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/24 – Linzi Hateley: For the First Time*
1/30 – Ragtime [Concept Cast Recording]
2/8 – Peter Pan [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/18 – Regina [1958 NYCO Cast Recording]
2/19 – Crazy For You [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/21 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
2/23 – Brigadoon [2019 Vienna Cast Recording]*
2/24 – The Sound of Music [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
2/25 – Flying Over Sunset [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
3/3 – West Side Story [2021 Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
3/8 – Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/13 – Brigadoon [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/15 – No Strings [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/16 – Assassins [The 2022 Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
3/17 – A Strange Loop [Original Cast Recording]*
3/19 – A Chorus Line [Original Spanish Cast Recording]*
3/20 – A Chorus Line [Original Spanish Cast Recording]
3/22 – The Sound of Music [1999 Australian Cast Recording]*
3/24 – The Sound of Music [Original Salzburg Cast Recording]*
3/28 – Camelot [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/1 – Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
4/3 – The Sound of Music [1983 Australian Cast Recording – LP Edition]*
4/3 – A Family Affair [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
4/3 – Matilda [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
4/4 – Six [Studio Cast Recording – LP Edition]
4/4 – My Fair Lady [Original London Cast Recording – LP Edition]
4/5 – Christine Andreas: Piaf: No Regrets [LP Edition]
4/6 – The Color Purple [New Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
4/8 – 42nd Street [First Complete Recording]*
4/9 – Sugar [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/18 – Thoroughly Modern Millie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/18 – Marilyn Maye: Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye [LP Edition]
4/24 – Funny Girl [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
4/26 – A Strange Loop [Original Cast Recording]
5/2 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
5/6 – Six [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/6 – Six [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/7 – Spring Awakening [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/8 – The Drifters Girl [Original London Cast Recording]*
5/8 – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/9 – Nine [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/14 – Carnival [Original Broadway Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition]
5/14 – No, No, Nanette [1971 Broadway Cast Recording]
5/16 – Into the Woods [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/16 – High Society [Original London Cast Recording]
5/24 – A Chorus Line [Original Spanish Cast Recording]
6/3 – Fanny Und Alexander [Original Cast Recording]*
6/12 – A Strange Loop [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/15 – Matilda [Original Stratford Cast Recording]
6/19 – Stars in Your Eyes [Original Studio Cast Recording]*
6/21 – Irma La Douce [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/22 – Hair [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/23 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/25 – The Baker’s Wife [Original Cast Recording]
7/26 – The Unsinkable Molly Brown [The New Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
8/11 – Once Upon a Mattress [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/14 – Brigadoon [1991 Studio Cast Recording]
8/15 – Hairspray [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/19 – A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet [Original Cast Recording]*
9/4 – The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/12 – A Tree Grows in Brooklyn [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/21 – Donnybrook! [Original Broadway Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition]
9/22 – Dreamgirls [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/23 – The Music Man [The 2022 Broadway Cast Recording]
9/23 – 1776 [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
9/30 – Into the Woods [2022 Broadway Cast Recording]*
9/30 – Into the Woods [2022 Broadway Cast Recording]
10/4 – Kismet [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/7 – Cats [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/11 – Anyone Can Whistle [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/12 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/12 – Dear World [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/12 – Gypsy [Original London Cast Recording]
10/12 – Sweeney Todd [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/12 – Prettybelle [Studio Cast Recording]
10/12 – A Little Night Music [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
10/13 – Bedknobs and Broomsticks [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
10/13 – Beauty and the Beast [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
10/13 – Mrs. Santa Claus [Television Cast Recording]
10/21 – Knoxville [World Premiere Cast Recording]*
10/23 – Pippin [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/24 – Fiddler on the Roof [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/28 – Company [Original Spanish Cast Recording]*
10/28 – Company [Original Spanish Cast Recording]
11/3 – Robert and Elizabeth [Original London Cast Recording]
11/4 – Barbra Streisand Live at the Bon Soir*
11/11 – December Songs [For Voice and Orchestra]*
11/11 – To Steve with Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim*
11/17 – Little Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/21 – Funny Girl [New Broadway Cast Recording]*
11/29 – Matilda [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
12/8 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/11 – The Girl Who Came to Supper [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/13 – Chess [Concept Cast Recording]
12/13 – Chess [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/17 – Cabaret [2021 London Cast Recording]*
12/24 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/26 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]


My Year in Show Music

Old habits die hard. I haven’t written about theatre in years but I am still keeping track of what I listen to; a grasp at normalcy in abnormal times, perhaps. Every recording—which I listened to in its entirety; the only criterion—is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I highly recommend for serious collectors of theatre music).

An asterisk indicates a recording I listened to for the first time.

1/9 – Kiss Me, Kate [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
1/26 – Big [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/27 – The Pajama Game [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/28 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/29 – Baby [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/31 – Les Miserables [10th Anniversary Concert Cast Recording]
2/3 – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [Encores! Cast Recording]
2/5 – Chrysanthemum [Original London Cast Recording]
2/5 – Cyrano [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/5 – The Band’s Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/7 – The Sound of Music [Original London Cast Recording]
2/11 – Saturday Night [Original Cast Recording]
2/21 – Carnival [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/22 – Chess [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/25 – Wonderful Town [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/25 – A Little Night Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/9 – Show Boat [1971 London Revival Cast Recording]
3/10 – Hello, Dolly! [1967 Broadway Cast Recording]
3/11 – Sondheim: A Musical Tribute [Concert Cast Recording]
3/19 – Merrily We Roll Along [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/21 – Funny Girl [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/29 – The King and I [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/29 – The King and I [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
4/11 – The Grass Harp [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/13 – Carnival [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/14 – Gypsy [1989 Broadway Revival Cast Recording]
4/19 – The Producers [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/22 – My Fair Lady [Original London Cast Recording]
4/23 – Judy at Carnegie Hall
5/3 – The Most Happy Fella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/5 – Cinderella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/5 – The Mystery of Edwin Drood [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/6 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
5/31 – Do I Hear a Waltz? [Pasadena Playhouse Cast Recording]
6/11 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/16 – Dreamgirls [Concert Cast Recording]
6/17 – Guys and Dolls [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
6/23 – Li’l Abner [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/27 – Anything Goes [1988 Studio Cast Recording]*
7/1 – Very Good Eddie [Broadway Revival Cast Recording]*
7/26 – Sunset Boulevard [Kim Criswell EP]*
8/8 – Mame [London Studio Cast Recording]
8/9 – Sweet Charity [London Studio Cast Recording]*
8/10 – Sunday in the Park with George [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/11 – Funny Girl [2016 London Cast Recording]
8/18 – Applause [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/18 – A Little Night Music [Original London Cast Recording]
8/20 – Girl From the North Country [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
8/25 – On the Level [Original London Cast Recording]
9/6 – Miss Liberty [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/6 – The Most Happy Fella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/14 – Barbara Cook: It’s Better With a Band
9/19 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
9/20 – Kismet [1964 Studio Cast Recording – Mantovani]
9/20 – Naughty Marietta [1981 Studio Cast Recording]
10/5 – Little Women [Original Television Cast Recording]*
10/9 – Caroline, or Change [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/11 – Diana [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
10/14 – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/28 – Caroline, or Change [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/30 – Tina [Original London Cast Recording]
11/1 – Half a Sixpence [London Studio Cast Recording]*
11/6 – Tina [Original Hamburg Cast Recording]*
11/7 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat [1991 London Revival Cast Recording]*
11/14 – The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/16 – Merrily We Roll Along [Original Broadway Cast Recording [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/17 – Diana [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/18 – They’re Playing Our Song [Original London Cast Recording]*
11/24 – Cabaret [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/26 – West Side Story [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/26 – Gypsy [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/26 – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Anyone Can Whistle [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Do I Hear a Waltz? [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Company [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Follies [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – A Little Night Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Pacific Overtures [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Sweeney Todd [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Merrily We Roll Along [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/28 – Sunday in the Park with George [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/28 – Into the Woods [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/28 – Assassins [Original Cast Recording]
11/28 – Passion [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/30 – Brigadoon [Encores! Cast Recording]
`12/1 – Candide [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/3 – Annie Live! [Television Cast Recording]*
12/5 – Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim
12/9 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/10 – Fiddler on the Roof [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – 50th Anniversary Edition]
12/12 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/14 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/17 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/18 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/21 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/23 – Caroline, or Change [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/24 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/25 – Ballroom [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/31 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]

My Year in Show Music

Old habits die hard. I haven’t written about theatre in years but I am still keeping track of what I listen to; a grasp at normalcy in abnormal times, perhaps. Every recording—which I listened to in its entirety; the only criterion—is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I highly recommend for serious collectors of theatre music).

An asterisk indicates a recording I listened to for the first time.

1/3 – Fiorello! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/6 – Chicago [1998 London Cast Recording]
1/9 – A Little Night Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/13 – The Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/14 – Barbara Cook: It’s Better with a Band
1/20 – The Most Happy Fella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/2 – Kwamina [Original Broadway Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition]
2/2 – Porgy and Bess [2019 Metropolitan Opera Cast Recording]*
2/3 – Prettybelle [Studio Cast Recording]
2/4 – Show Boat [1993 World Premiere Cast Recording]
2/8 – A Chorus Line [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/12 – Annie [Original London Cast Recording]
2/14 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
2/15 – Lady in the Dark [1963 Studio Cast Recording]
2/16 – Bright Star [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/24 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/2 – On the Level [Original London Cast Recording]*
3/3 – The Merry Widow [1968 Studio Cast Recording]
3/17 – Juno [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/25 – June Bronhill at the Sydney Opera House*
3/28 – Something’s Afoot [World Premiere Cast Recording]*
3/29 – La Cage Aux Folles [Original Australian Cast Recording]
3/30 – The Boys from Syracuse [Encores! Cast Recording]
4/3 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
4/13 – South Pacific [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
4/14 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/17 – Fiddler on the Roof [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
4/18 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/19 – Carousel [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/20 – The Wedding Singer [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/21 – Pal Joey [Encores! Cast Recording]
4/24 – Barbra Streisand: The Second Barbra Streisand Album
4/26 – Company [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/29 – On the Level [Original London Cast Recording]
5/2 – Sunday in the Park with George [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/5 – John Raitt: Highlights of Broadway
5/7 – No, No, Nanette [1971 Broadway Cast Recording]
5/14 – The Last Five Years [Original Cast Recording]
5/15 – Rags [Original London Cast Recording]*
5/18 – The Good Companions [Original London Cast Recording]
5/19 – The Girl Who Came to Supper [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/21 – Gypsy [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/23 – Annie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/24 – Legally Blonde [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/27 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
6/13 – Geraldine Fitzgerald: Streetsongs*
6/20 – Raisin [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/27 – Phantom [Original Cast Recording]
6/28 – Flower Drum Song [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/29 – Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Complete Overtures
6/29 – Flower Drum Song [Original London Cast Recording]
7/2 – Ann Veronica [Original London Cast Recording]*
7/2 – James Shigeta: Scene One*
7/3 – The Phantom of the Opera [Original London Cast Recording]
7/6 – The Sound of Music [Original London Cast Recording]
7/7 – Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/7 – Robert and Elizabeth [Original London Cast Recording]
7/8 – Ain’t Misbehavin’ [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/8 – James Shigeta: We Speak the Same Language*
7/18 – Hello, Dolly! [Original French Cast Recording]*
7/20 – Zip Goes a Million [Original London Cast Recording]*
7/21 – Happy Holiday [Original London Cast Recording]*
8/3 – Here’s Love [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/9 – The Merry Widow [1962 Studio Cast Recording]
8/13 – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [Original London Cast Recording]
8/15 – Company [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/15 – A Chorus Line [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/16 – The Producers [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/19 – Destry Rides Again [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/19 – Diahann Carroll Sings Harold Arlen*
8/20 – Beautiful [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/21 – Kiss Me, Kate [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
8/21 – Sail Away [Original London Cast Recording]
8/22 – Passion Flower Hotel [Original London Cast Recording]
8/24 – Dolores Gray: Heat Wave, The Decca Singles 1953-1955*
8/24 – Mr. & Mrs. [Original London Cast Recording]*
8/25 – Anne of Green Gables [Canadian Studio Cast Recording]
8/26 – Mary Poppins [1966 London Studio Cast Recording]*
8/26 – Hallelujah, Baby! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/27 – James Joyce’s The Dead [PICT Cast Recording]
8/27 – Anything Goes [2003 London Revival Cast Recording]
8/29 – The Desert Song [1967 London Studio Cast Recording]*
8/30 – Pippin [New Broadway Cast Recording]
8/31 – Rachel Bay Jones: ShowFolk*
9/2 – Carousel [1994 Broadway Cast Recording]
9/2 – Oklahoma! [1966 London Studio Cast Recording]*
9/6 – Kiss Me, Kate [1967 London Studio Cast Recording]
9/9 – On the Town [1959 London Studio Cast Recording]*
9/11 – South Pacific [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
9/12 – Grease 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
9/15 – Blitz! [Original London Cast Recording]
9/15 – Salad Days [Original London Cast Recording]*
9/15 – Free As Air [Original London Cast Recording]*
9/17 – On the Level [Original London Cast Recording]
9/17 – My Fair Lady [Original London Cast Recording]
9/17 – The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/17 – The Pajama Game [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
9/17 – Nick Cordero: Live Your Life [Live at 54 Below]*
9/20 – Nine [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/3 – Rex [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/5 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
10/5 – Evita [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/6 – Carnival [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/7 – The King and I [1966 London Studio Cast Recording]*
10/16 – Anyone Can Whistle [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/16 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/16 – Dear World [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/16 – Gypsy [Original London Cast Recording]
10/16 – Sweeney Todd [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/20 – Oliver! [1962 London Studio Cast Recording]*
10/20 – The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/22 – Grease 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
10/23 – Laura Benanti*
10/25 – Seesaw [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/28 – High Spirits [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/30 – The Scottsboro Boys [Original Cast Recording]
11/3 – The Unsinkable Molly Brown [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/6 – Mary Poppins [The Definitive 2020 Cast Recording]*
11/6 – Porgy and Bess [Houston Grand Opera Cast Recording]
11/16 – The Sound of Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/4 – Anyone Can Whistle [First Complete Recording]*
12/17 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/23 – Strike Up the Band [1990 Studio Cast Recording]
12/23 – Brigadoon [1991 Studio Cast Recording]
12/23 – The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/23 – Show Boat [1993 World Premiere Cast Recording]
12/23 – Rebecca Luker: Anything Goes – The Songs of Cole Porter
12/23 – The Boys from Syracuse [Encores! Cast Recording]
12/23 – The Sound of Music [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/24 – The Music Man [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
12/24 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/25 – Rebecca Luker & Sally Wilfert: All the Girls*
12/25 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]

My Year in Show Music

A few years ago, I decided to keep a log of the musical theatre-related albums I listened to in their entirety throughout the calendar year. Every recording is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I highly recommend for serious collectors of theatre music). An asterisk indicates a recording I listened to for the first time.

1/1 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/1 – Woman of the Year [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/2 – Bajour [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/4 – The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/5 – Wildcat [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/9 – Kean [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/11 – Pacific Overtures [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/12 – A Little Night Music [National Theatre Cast Recording]
1/15 – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/15 – Hello, Dolly! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/15 – Hello, Dolly! [The New 1994 Cast Recording]
1/15 – Jerry’s Girls [Original Cast Recording]*
1/18 – Follies [National Theatre Cast Recording]*
1/18 – Follies [Original London Cast Recording]
1/23 – Songs for a New World [Encores! Cast Recording]*
1/24 – First Impressions [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/25 – Songs for a New World [Encores! Cast Recording]
1/27 – Rent [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/29 – Giant [Original Cast Recording]
1/29 – Gigi [New Broadway Cast Recording]
2/1 – Company [2018 London Cast Recording]*
2/2 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]*
2/3 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
2/3 – Hadestown [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
2/3 – Shirley Jones & Jack Cassidy: Marriage Type Love*
2/4 – The Scarlet Pimpernel [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/10 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
2/27 – Follies [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/28 – Coco [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/28 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
3/1 – Sweeney Todd [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/1 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
3/4 – Wonderful Town [1999 London Studio Cast Recording]
3/7 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
3/7 – The Boy Friend [1984 London Cast Recording]*
3/11 – Cyrille Aimée: Move On, A Sondheim Adventure*
3/11 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
3/16 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
3/16 – 1776 [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/22 – Anne of Green Gables [Original London Cast Recording]
3/22 – Pacific Overtures [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/25 – The Music Man [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/27 – Blood Brothers [1988 London Revival Cast Recording]*
3/28 – Bloomer Girl [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/28 – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
3/29 – Pippin [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/29 – Nine [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
3/29 – Two Gentlemen of Verona [Original London Cast Recording]*
4/1 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
4/1 – The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/3 – A Time for Singing [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/5 – Tina [Original London Cast Recording]*
4/7 – The Band’s Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/11 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
4/16 – Alfred Drake: Lucky to Be Me*
4/18 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/19 – The Cher Show [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
4/20 – La Cage Aux Folles [Original Australian Cast Recording]
4/29 – The Most Happy Fella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/30 – The Streets of New York [Original Cast Recording]*
5/1 – Ben Bagley’s Kurt Weill Revisited*
5/3 – The Threepenny Opera [1930 German Studio Cast Recording]*
5/5 – The Most Happy Fella [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
5/10 – Sweet Charity [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/11 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
5/12 – High Button Shoes [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/15 – Gypsy [The 2008 Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/16 – Goodtime Charley [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/21 – Gypsy [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/28 – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/31 – Walking Happy [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/1 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
6/3 – Laura Benanti: Songs from My Fair Lady*
6/7 – Kiss Me, Kate [2019 Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/29 – Oklahoma! [2019 Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/30 – Crazy for You [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/4 – Regina [1958 NYCO Cast Recording]
7/7 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
7/9 – Laura Benanti: Songs from My Fair Lady
7/15 – Into the Woods [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/25 – Bravo Giovanni [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/9 – Fiddler on the Roof [2018 Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
8/12 – The Dancing Years [1968 London Cast Recording]*
8/12 – South Pacific [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/17 – State Fair [1945 Motion Picture Soundtrack]
8/24 – She Loves Me [Original London Cast Recording]
8/28 – Irma La Douce [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/29 – Jan Clayton Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel*
8/29 – Ella Logan Sings Finian’s Rainbow*
8/31 – Kean [Original Broadway Cast Recording – Deluxe Edition]
9/2 – Guys and Dolls [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/5 – Moulin Rouge [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
9/6 – Grey Gardens [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/12 – The Boy Friend [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/13 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
9/15 – Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/20 – Porgy and Bess [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
9/20 – Cabaret [Original London Cast Recording]
10/3 – The Dancing Years [First Complete Cast Recording]*
10/4 – No Strings [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/6 – House of Flowers [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/8 – Porgy and Bess [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/9 – Marin Mazzie & Jason Danieley: Broadway and Beyond [Live at 54 Below]*
10/19 – Julie Andrews: An Evening with Julie Andrews*
10/25 – Ambassador [Original London Cast Recording]
10/28 – Elaine Stritch At Liberty
10/31 – Aimie Atkinson: Step Inside Love*
11/9 – On the Town [1960 Studio Cast Recording]
11/11 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
11/16 – The Sound of Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/18 – Ernest in Love [Original Cast Recording]
12/3 – Six [Studio Cast Recording]
12/6 – The New Yorkers [Encores! Cast Recording]*
12/9 – The Sound of Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording – 60 Anniversary Edition]
12/9 – Man of Magic [Original London Cast Recording]*
12/10 – The Importance [Studio Cast Recording]*
12/21 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/24 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/26 – Little Shop of Horrors [The New Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
12/27 – Parade [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Milk and Honey [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Hello, Dolly! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Hello, Dolly! [1967 Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Dear World [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Mack & Mabel [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – The Grand Tour [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – La Cage Aux Folles [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/28 – The Prom [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*

My Year in Show Music

A couple years ago I realized that shuffle made it easier for me to have my own portable radio but made me less likely to listen to complete albums. Around this time, I made a conscious decision to keep a log of the musical theatre-related albums I listened to in their entirety throughout the calendar year. Each recording is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I highly recommend for serious collectors of theatre music). An asterisk indicates a recording I listened to for the first time.

1/1 – Sweet Charity [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/3 – Irene [1976 London Cast Recording]*
1/4 – Damn Yankees [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/5 – Singin’ in the Rain [2012 London Cast Recording]*
1/6 – 110 in the Shade [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/9 – The Scottsboro Boys [Original London Cast Recording]
1/12 – Candide [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
1/14 – Aladdin [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/15 – Henry, Sweet Henry [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/16 – In Trousers [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/16 – Anything Goes [1962 Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/17 – The Unsinkable Molly Brown [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/18 – The Boys from Syracuse [Original London Cast Recording]*
1/19 – Candide [Scottish Opera Cast Recording]*
1/20 – Doonesbury [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/21 – Fade Out, Fade In [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/22 – Working [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/22 – Inner City [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/22 – Runaways [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/23 – Flower Drum Song [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
1/24 – The Robber Bridegroom [2016 Cast Recording]
1/25 – Bright Star [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/26 – The Golden Apple [First Full-Length Cast Recording]
1/27 – Saturday Night [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]
1/28 – Sophisticated Ladies [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/31 – Mamma Mia [Original London Cast Recording]
2/3 – Newsies [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/3 – Dear Evan Hansen [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
2/5 – There’s No Business Like Show Business [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack with Dolores Gray]*
2/5 – Stop the World – I Want to Get Off! [Original London Cast Recording]*
2/6 – Passion Flower Hotel [Original London Cast Recording]
2/7 – Oklahoma! [1980 London Cast Recording]*
2/10 – Freaky Friday [Studio Cast Recording]*
2/13 – Big River [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/17 – The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/19 – Nymph Errant [London Concert Cast Recording]*
2/20 – Crazy for You [Original London Cast Recording]
2/20 – The Count of Luxembourg [1969 Studio Cast Recording]
2/21 – On the Brighter Side [Original London Cast Recording]*
3/2 – Come From Away [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
3/3 – Come From Away [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/4 – The Desert Song [1959 London Studio Cast Recording; Mario Lanza]*
3/11 – Come From Away [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/19 – Dreamgirls [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/31 – Miss Saigon [Complete Symphonic International Cast Recording]*
4/1 – The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/8 – Betty Buckley: Story Songs*
4/14 – Richard Kiley: Rodgers and Hammerstein Songbook*
4/14 – 42nd Street [Original Australian Cast Recording]*
4/15 – Barnum [Original Australian Cast Recording]*
4/21 – Hello, Dolly! [The New Broadway Cast Recording]*
4/30 – Hello, Dolly! [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
5/4 – Gypsy [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/4 – The Golden Apple [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/5 – Annie [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/5 – If/Then [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/5 – The Book of Mormon [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/5 – Dreamgirls [Original London Cast Recording]*
5/10 – Three Wishes for Jamie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/11 – Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/15 – Hello, Dolly! [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/15 – Hello, Dolly! [Original London Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/15 – Hello, Dolly! [1967 Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/15 – A Little Night Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/16 – Two by Two [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/16 – Once [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/16 – Tovarich [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/17 – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/17 – The Pajama Game [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/18 – South Pacific [Music Theatre of Lincoln Center Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/19 – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/20 – Amélie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/21 – Oliver! [1994 London Revival Cast Recording]*
5/23 – Barbara Cook: It’s Better With a Band
5/24 – Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/24 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/25 – The Pirates of Penzance [1981 Broadway Cast Recording]
5/26 – War Paint [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/30 – The Consul [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/31 – Birds of Paradise [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/1 – Leslie Uggams: A Time to Love*
6/1 – In Transit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/2 – Holiday Inn [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/3 – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/4 – Caroline, or Change [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/5 – A Doll’s Life [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/6 – Mr. President [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/12 – Anastasia [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/26 – Brigadoon [1991 Studio Cast Recording]
6/27 – Bright Star [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/11 – Bandstand [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
7/14 – Mixed Doubles/Below the Belt [Original Cast Recordings]*
7/24 – Annie Get Your Gun [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/30 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/30 – Mame [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
7/31 – Chicago [Broadway Revival Cast Recording]
7/31 – The Sound of Music [Original London Cast Recording]
8/4 – Cabaret [Complete Studio Cast Recording]*
8/7 – The Baker’s Wife [Original London Cast Recording]
8/10 – Flahooley [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/10 – Plain and Fancy [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/11 – Candide [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/11 – The Music Man [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/13 – Barbara Cook: Songs of Perfect Propriety*
8/13 – Barbara Cook: From the Heart
8/14 – The Gay Life [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/14 – Show Boat [1962 Studio Cast Recording]
8/14 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/23 – Something More! [Original Broadway Cast]
9/5 – Hansel and Gretel/The Yeomen of the Guard [Television Cast Recordings]*
9/5 – The King and I [1964 Studio Cast Recording]
9/5 – Show Boat [Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast Recording]
9/5 – The Grass Harp [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/6 – Barbara Cook at Carnegie Hall
9/6 – Barbara Cook: As of Today
9/6 – Barbara Cook: It’s Better with a Band
9/7 – Follies [1985 Concert Cast Recording]
9/11 – The Secret Garden [1986 Studio Cast Recording]
9/22 – Sunday in the Park with George [2017 Broadway Cast Recording]*
9/24 – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Original London Cast Recording]
10/2 – Kismet [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/2 – Camelot [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/11 – Barbra Streisand: The Broadway Album*
10/19 – Patti LuPone: Don’t Monkey with Broadway*
10/23 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/24 – Guys and Dolls [1976 Broadway Revival Cast Recording]
10/26 – Mack and Mabel [1988 London Concert Cast Recording]*
10/30 – The Happy Time [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/31 – The Act [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/31 – Hedwig and the Angry Inch [Original Cast Recording]*
11/1 – Nine [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/2 – Top Banana [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
11/3 – God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater [Premiere Cast Recording]*
11/8 – Mack and Mabel [1995 London Revival Cast Recording]*
11/15 – Brigadoon [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/17 – My Fair Lady [1965 Music for Pleasure Studio Cast Recording]*
11/23 – Darling of the Day [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Robert and Elizabeth [Original London Cast Recording]
12/5 – William Tabbert: Younger than Springtime and Other Rarities*
12/7 – Hello, Dolly! [The New Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
12/8 – Once on this Island [Original London Cast Recording]*
12/15 – 42nd Street [2017 London Cast Recording]*
12/24 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/27 – Show Boat [Original London Cast Recording]*

My Year in Show Music

Last year, I made the conscious decision to keep a log of the albums (cast recordings, movie musical soundtracks, solo albums, live concert recordings, etc) that I listened to in their entirety. I decided to do it again in 2016. Each recording is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I highly recommend for serious collectors of theatre music). An asterisk indicates a recording I listened to for the first time).

1/2 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/2 – The Apple Tree [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/5 – Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 [Original Cast Recording]
1/7 – Ragtime [1996 Toronto Cast Recording]
1/8 – Marin Mazzie: Make Your Own Kind of Music [Live at 54 Below]
1/10 – Kean [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/19 – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Original London Cast Recording]*
1/20 – Hello, Dolly! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/25 – The Hunchback of Notre Dame [2015 Studio Cast Recording]*
1/27 – Doctor Zhivago [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/28 – Plain and Fancy [Original London Cast Recording]*
1/29 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/4 – Grease Live! [Television Cast Recording]*
2/4 – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Original London Cast Recording]
2/9 – The Golden Apple [First Full-Length Recording]
2/11 – The King and I [The 2015 Broadway Cast Recording]
2/14 – Robert and Elizabeth [Original London Cast Recording]
2/15 – Cats [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/18 – Cole: A Musical Tribute to Cole Porter [Studio Cast Recording]*
2/22 – Tony Yazbeck: The Floor Above Me*
2/23 – The Secret Garden [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/23 – The Secret Garden [Original Australian Cast Highlights]
2/23 – The Secret Garden [Original London Cast Recording]
2/27 – First Daughter Suite [Original Cast Recording]*
2/29 – Giant [Original Cast Recording]
3/14 – Regina [1958 NYCO Cast Recording]
3/15 – My Fair Lady [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/18 – Fiddler on the Roof [2016 Broadway Cast Recording]*
3/19 – Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/20 – 110 in the Shade [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/23 – She Loves Me [Original London Cast Recording]
3/25 – Gigi [New Broadway Cast Recording]
3/26 – One Man, Two Guvnors [Original London Cast Recording]
3/28 – Mrs. Henderson Presents [Original London Cast Recording]*
3/30 – Kinky Boots [Original London Cast Recording]*
4/1 – The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/5 – The Light in the Piazza [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/11 – Eubie! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
4/12 – Spamalot [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/12 – Mary Poppins [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
4/13 – It Shoulda Been You [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
4/24 – Carnival [Original London Cast Recording]
4/25 – When Everything Was Possible: A Concert with Comments*
4/27 – Carousel [1962 Studio Cast Recording]
4/28 – Gypsy [The 2015 London Cast Recording]
4/29 – Alfred Drake and Roberta Peters Sing the Popular Music of Leonard Bernstein
4/29 – Bright Star [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/3 – The Most Happy Fella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/6 – Something Rotten [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/10 – Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/11 – Paint Your Wagon [Encores! Cast Recording]*
5/12 – West Side Story [Original Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
5/16 – Do I Hear a Waltz? [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/20 – The Saint of Bleecker Street [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/24 – Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/25 – The Robber Bridegroom [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/26 – On Your Feet! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/26 – She Loves Me [2016 Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/27 – Paint Your Wagon [Encores! Cast Recording]
6/1 – Waitress [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/1 – Call Me Madam [Original London Cast Recording]*
6/2 – Paint Your Wagon [Original London Cast Recording]
6/3 – Tuck Everlasting [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/3 – Songs from The Lion [Original Cast Recording]*
6/3 – Sara Bareilles: Songs from Waitress*
6/3 – She Loves Me [2016 Broadway Cast Recording]
6/3 – The Color Purple [New Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/4 – The Color Purple [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/4 – The Color Purple [New Broadway Cast Recording]
6/9 – On the Twentieth Century [New Broadway Cast Recording]
6/17 – Emily Skinner & Alice Ripley: Unattached [Live at Feinstein’s 54 Below]*
6/29 – The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/7 – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Original London Cast Recording]
8/5 – Funny Girl [2016 London Cast Recording]*
8/15 – Patrice Munsel: Unpredictable*
8/21 – Darling of the Day [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/24 – Bright Star [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/25 – Wonderful Town [1958 Television Cast Recording]
8/26 – Barbra Streisand: Encore Movie Partners Sing Broadway*
8/28 – Rothschild & Sons [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
8/28 – The Rothschilds [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/29 – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers [2015 Studio Cast Recording]
9/1 – South Pacific [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
9/1 – Meet Marvelous Marilyn Maye
9/1 – Fiddler on the Roof [New London Cast Recording]*
9/2 – Show Boat [1988 Studio Cast Recording]
9/4 – The Wild Party [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/4 – The Wild Party [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]
9/7 – Liza Minnelli Live at the Olympia in Paris*
9/7 – The King and I [1997 London Studio Cast Recording]*
9/9 – The Robber Bridegroom [2016 Cast Recording]*
9/9 – The Robber Bridegroom [2016 Cast Recording]
9/9 – The Robber Bridegroom [2016 Cast Recording]
9/10 – Little Mary Sunshine [Original London Cast Recording]
9/13 – Sunset Boulevard [American Premiere Recording]
9/17 – Far From Heaven [Original Cast Recording]*
9/20 – The Robber Bridegroom [2016 Cast Recording]
9/21 – Disaster! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
9/27 – State Fair [Original 1962 Motion Picture Soundtrack]
10/18 – The Apple Tree [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/26 – Simply Heavenly [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
10/27 – Sunday in the Park with George [2006 London Cast Recording]
10/28 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/28 – Bye Bye Birdie [Original London Cast Recording]
11/2 – The Color Purple [New Broadway Cast Recording]
11/4 – Kristin Chenoweth: The Art of Elegance*
11/11 – Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/23 – Half a Sixpence [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/25 – Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/27 – Half a Sixpence [The New 2016 London Cast Recording]*
12/2 – Carmen Cusack: If You Knew My Story [Live at 54 Below]*
12/2 – The Hamilton Mixtape*
12/2 – Hairspray: Live! [Original Television Soundtrack]*
12/16 – Falsettos [2016 Broadway Cast Recording]*
12/24 – She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/26 – Song of Norway [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
12/28 – Irene [1973 Broadway Cast Recording]
12/31 – Bright Star [Original Broadway Cast Recording]

‘Beautiful’ on LP

81-NypgJeaL._SL1500_ Since the long-playing record went out of vogue, very few contemporary cast recordings have been released on vinyl, the most notable being the original Broadway cast recording of The Drowsy Chaperone and the 2009 revival of Hair. These came courtesy of Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records, who also issued a limited vinyl edition of Beautiful, the hit bio-musical about Carole King currently playing the Sondheim Theatre. These three releases, while conceived as collector’s souvenirs, were in essence leading a return to form, as more musicals seem to be taking part in the current vinyl renaissance.

I’ve never been without a record player in my life, and I listen to LPs whenever I can. My very first cast album was the London My Fair Lady gatefold from Columbia. I was that nerdy child rummaging through boxes at second-hand bookshops and flea markets, picking out the Golden Age records that would start my life-long love of show music. (Spoiler alert: I am still that nerdy child). It’s different from popping on a CD or downloading an album from iTunes. Newer digital technologies are great for convenience, but the act of putting a record on a turntable, lifting a needle to the surface and waiting through those brief pops and crackles for the sound to pour out is a much more visceral, immersive experience. Plus, there’s the added pleasure of looking at the record sleeve and its artwork, allowing for greater appreciation of show logos and designs.

I don’t think Beautiful itself is a particularly great musical, but it is quite entertaining, especially thanks to its leading players. The show chronicles the early life and career of legend Carole King, her collaborator/husband (Gerry Goffin) and friends (songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) through the late 50s and 60s, up to her Carnegie Hall debut in 1971. The story is told in a rote fashion, with most of the song cues feeling like elaborate setups for a bizarre game of Name That Tune. The first act spends much of its time showing King and co. at work in the Brill Building, surprising the audience with an “I bet you didn’t know she wrote this one” attitude. The second act focuses on King finding her own voice as a singer-songwriter, though I think the musical ends just as Carole King’s life starts to get really interesting.

What Beautiful had going for it – and this is the most important element of all – was its leading lady Jessie Mueller, who was a sensational doppelgänger for King. I’ve seen Ms. Mueller in almost everything she’s done since arriving in New York (with the exception of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and she continues to astonish me. Her voice is one of the modern wonders of contemporary musical theatre, seemingly able to sing any role in any tessitura. Onstage and off, Mueller radiates warmth, charm and pluck. (She’s also my choice for a Broadway revival of Funny Girl. In the meanwhile, I look forward to her return in Waitress).

But Mueller was not headlining a solo show. There’s also the delicious pairing of Spector and Larsen as King’s close friends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. They are spectacularly warm, funny second bananas who should be headlining a separate Mann-Weil musical. (Billed as “The Carole King Musical,” Beautiful uses just a little too much of their tune-stack). However, Beautiful is even more enjoyable on second viewing. I went back to see it one more time before Mueller departed, and the issues I had were less problematic to me.

While I have my reservations about Beautiful the musical, Beautiful the cast album is a treasure.  Capturing the best of the show (its songs and performances), it plays quite well on disc, though I am more inclined to revisit Mueller, Spector and Larsen’s contributions than the slavish recreations of ’60s pop hits. As someone who hasn’t taken to the jukebox musical trend, I’m surprised how often I listen to the album, especially Mueller’s dynamic performance of the title song.

The idea to release Beautiful on LP came from marketing whiz Rick Miramontez over at O&M. Many of these were given out as voter swag to members of the various awards groups, ostensibly to capitalize on the nostalgia factor of Carole King among Baby Boomers. The vinyl release also went on sale at the theatre and from Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight’s website. It has since been made available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The CD release liner notes (with lyrics) have been beautifully repurposed for the gatefold interior, as well as the individual record sleeves.

Having purchased Beautiful from iTunes, and being quite aware of how it sounded on my iPhone, I was unprepared for the record experience. Mueller’s voice has considerable warmth, but somehow she sounds even warmer here. I stopped what I was doing to hear her sing those first lines of “So Far Away,” and immediately picked up the needle so I could hear it again. Mueller’s voice was made for vinyl. Plus, the LP release comes with a digital download card, so you’ll have the cast recording for your on-the-go needs.

This release was meant as a sort of novelty to cash-in on the show’s nostalgia. However, it seems to have come at a perfect time: sales of vinyls are up (as are sales of turntables). Sh-K-Boom has also released The Last Five Years film soundtrack as a 2-LP. Other musicals (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, School of Rock, If/Then) have released their Broadway cast albums released in the LP format. Word is Hamilton‘s best-selling and brilliant cast recording will be released on vinyl some time in 2016. Plus Masterworks Broadway has teamed up with Analog Spark to reissue some of their classic cast albums. I hope this is an encouraging sign of what’s to come because #yesrecords (and because I require the original Broadway cast recording of The Bridges of Madison County on vinyl).

My Year in Show Music

Last New Year’s Eve, while preparing my annual “Year of Living Cinematically” post, I sat typing with my recently-played iTunes playlist on shuffle. At some point during my transcription, I came to the realization that I’ve been less likely to listen to a full album since I started using an mp3 player. Oftentimes, I would pick a playlist and put it on shuffle (as I call it: my own private radio). For 2015, I made the conscious decision to keep a log of the albums (cast recordings, movie musical soundtracks, solo albums, live concert recordings, etc) that I listened to in their entirety. Each recording is linked to its own page on castalbums.org (a site I recommend for any serious collector of theatre music). An asterisk indicates a recording I listened to for the first time).

1/2: Beautiful [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/2: If/Then [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/3: Two on the Aisle [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/3: The Merry Widow [1958 Sadler’s Wells Opera Cast Recording]
1/7: Anya [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/9: Honeymoon in Vegas [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
1/9: Kiss Me, Kate [New Broadway Cast Recording]
1/10: Hairspray [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/13: Company [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/13: A Little Night Music [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/13: Pacific Overtures [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/13: Merrily We Roll Along [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
1/14: Kiss of the Spider Woman [Original London Cast Recording]
1/16: On the Town [1960 Studio Cast Recording]
1/21: The Merry Widow [1952 Studio Cast Recording]
1/26: The Merry Widow [1978 NYCO Cast Recording]*
2/8: The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
2/15: The Ethel Merman Disco Album*
2/21: Side Show [Original 2014 Broadway Cast Recording]*
3/2: The Sound of Music [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – 50th Anniversary]
3/9: The Merry Widow [1978 Studio Cast]*
3/14: On the Town [New Broadway Cast Recording]*
3/14: The King and I [Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast Recording]
3/16: 1776 [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
3/22: Paint Your Wagon [Original London Cast Recording]
4/16: Gypsy [The 2015 London Cast Recording]*
4/25: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
4/26: Matilda [Original Stratford Cast Recording]
5/3: Gypsy [The 2015 London Cast Recording]
5/4: Zorba [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/11: Zorba [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/14: Barbara Cook: It’s Better With a Band
5/15: Gigi [New Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/19: On the Twentieth Century [New Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/19: Fun Home [Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording]
5/24: Marin Mazzie: Make Your Own Kind of Music [Live at 54 Below]*
5/24: The Last Ship [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/24: Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/26: The Sound of Music [OMPS New 2-LP Edition]
5/27: An American in Paris [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
5/30: Street Scene [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
5/31: Laura Osnes: Dream a Little Dream [Live at the Cafe Carlyle]
5/31: Laura Osnes: If I Tell You [The Songs of Maury Yeston]*
5/31: Illya Darling [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/1: Hallelujah, Baby! [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/2: The King and I [The 2015 Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/2: The Golden Apple [First Full-Length Recording]*
6/3: The Golden Apple [First Full-Length Recording]
6/7: Judy Kuhn: Rodgers, Rodgers & Guettel*
6/9: The King and I [The 2015 Broadway Cast Recording]
6/10: The Scottsboro Boys [Original London Cast Recording]*
6/11: Me and Juliet [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/15: Hair [The New Broadway Cast Recording – LP Edition]
6/15: Marilyn Maye: The Happiest Sound in Town* [LP]
6/17: Rags [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/17: Ragtime [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/18: Fifty Million Frenchmen [Studio Cast Recording]*
6/18: High Spirits [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/18: High Society [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
6/19: The Boys from Syracuse [Encores! Cast Recording]
6/21: The King and I [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/21: West Side Story [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/21: The Most Happy Fella [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/22: John & Jen [2015 Off-Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/22: Grab Me a Gondola [Original London Cast Recording]*
6/26: Misia [Studio Cast Recording]*
6/26: Miss Liberty [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
6/26: Irma La Douce [Original London Cast Recording]
6/28: Barbra Streisand: The Second Barbra Streisand Album
6/28: Giant [Original Cast Recording]
6/29: Regina [1958 NYCO Cast Recording]
6/30: The Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
6/30: Oh, What a Lovely War [Original London Cast Recording]*
7/2: The Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/2: Little Shop of Horrors [Original Cast Recording]
7/9: The King and I [The 2015 Broadway Cast Recording]
7/11: The Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/11: West Side Story [2013 San Francisco Symphony Cast Recording]
7/22: Porgy and Bess [Houston Grand Opera Cast Recording]
7/24: The King and I [The 2015 Broadway Cast Recording]
7/25: Gypsy [The 2015 London Cast Recording]
7/26: The Pajama Game [Original London Cast Recording]
7/28: Cabaret [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
7/29: La Cage Aux Folles [Original Australian Cast Recording]
7/30: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers [2015 London Cast Recording]*
7/30: Carousel [2015 Stratford Cast Recording]*
7/31: Doctor Zhivago [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
8/1: Dames at Sea [Original Cast Recording]
8/2: Nine [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/3: South Pacific [1967 Music Theater of Lincoln Center Cast Recording]
8/4: Mary Poppins [Original London Cast Recording]
8/5: Thoroughly Modern Millie [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/9: The Music Man [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
8/10: City of Angels [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/11: Bells Are Ringing [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/11: Bells Are Ringing [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]*
8/15: Sunday in the Park with George [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/16: The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
8/17: Robert and Elizabeth [Original London Cast Recording]
8/19: My Fair Lady [2001 London Cast Recording]
8/22: The King and I [1977 Broadway Revival Cast Recording]
8/24: State Fair [Original 1945 Motion Picture Soundtrack]
8/26: Bend It Like Beckham [Original London Cast Recording]*
8/31: Legally Blonde [Original London Cast Recording]*
9/3: The Baker’s Wife [Original Cast Recording]
9/4: The Sound of Music [Original London Cast Recording]
9/6: On the Town [New Broadway Cast Recording]
9/6: Cyrano [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/7: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [Encores! Cast Recording]
9/9: Wonderful Town [1999 Studio Cast Recording]
9/10: The Girl in Pink Tights [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/11: Sweeney Todd [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/13: Baby [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/16: Prettybelle [1981 Studio Cast Recording]
9/17: Titanic [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/19: The Happy Time [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/20: Lady, Be Good [Encores! Cast Recording]*
9/21: Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
9/22: Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/22: South Pacific [The New Broadway Cast Recording]
9/23: Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett: Julie and Carol Live at Carnegie Hall*
9/24: A Chorus Line [Original Broadway Cast Recording – 40th Anniversary Celebration]
9/25: Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
9/25: Cry-Baby [Original Studio Cast Recording]*
10/1: Victor/Victoria [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
10/1: My Fair Lady [Original London Cast Recording]
10/1: Camelot [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/1: Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett: Julie and Carol Live at Lincoln Center*
10/2: Mary Poppins [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]
10/2: A Man of No Importance [Original Cast Recording]
10/6: Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/6: Pacific Overtures [The New Broadway Cast Recording]*
10/11: Pacific Overtures [English National Opera Cast Recording]*
10/13: Oklahoma! [1979 Broadway Revival Cast Recording]
10/16: Anyone Can Whistle [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/16: Mame [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/16: Dear World [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
10/16: Gypsy [Original London Cast Recording]
10/19: Robert and Elizabeth [Original London Cast Recording]
10/22: Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli Live at the London Palladium*
10/22: Porgy and Bess [1976 Studio Cast Recording]*
10/22: Miss Saigon [The 2014 London Cast Recording]*
10/28: Maggie May [Original London Cast Recording]*
10/28: Orpheus in the Underworld [1959 Sadler’s Wells Cast Recording]
10/29: Elf [Original London Cast Recording]*
11/13: Melissa Errico: What About Today? [Live at 54 Below]*
11/13: Steven Pasquale: Somethin’ Like Love*
11/18: Hamilton [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
11/28: Gypsy [2015 London Cast Recording]
12/2: The Bridges of Madison County [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/9: The Wiz Live! [Original Television Soundtrack]*
12/9: School of Rock [Original Broadway Cast Recording]*
12/14: Be More Chill [Original Cast Recording]*
12/24: Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz*
12/24: She Loves Me [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/30: Beautiful [Original Broadway Cast Recording]
12/31: The Visit [Original Broadway Cast Recording]

‘Matilda’ – Original Broadway Cast Recording

matildaobc

When asked if I thought there would be a Broadway cast recording of Matilda, my response was “Don’t hold your breath.” Not that I didn’t want one; I believe all musicals deserve to be recorded. However, British imports – especially those retaining original West End cast members – rarely get recorded anymore. There was a time when this wasn’t the case, with shows as diverse as Irma La Douce, Oliver!, and Les Miserables getting a new recording on this side of the pond. However, during the last 25 years we’ve seen The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins and Billy Elliot come to NY and not get a new recording. So it took me by pleasant surprise when it was announced that Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label were going to record the Broadway cast.

The Broadway production of Matilda was met with great critical acclaim when it opened in April 2013, and as of this writing I have seen the show four times at the Shubert Theatre. It’s translated well, though quite a bit of the show’s innate Britishness has been softened for American audiences. For me, it’s just slightly less special here than it was in the West End. I’m glad that Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward were able to repeat their brilliant performances in NY, but I found myself not quite as moved as I was at the Cambridge Theatre. The two West End Matildas I saw gave special performances, with one giving the greatest child performance I’ve ever seen. The original supporting players were also a bit more distinctive; more shades and less outrageous cartoon. I also feel that the revisions composer-lyricist Tim Minchin made to his lyrics, with the exception of those for “Bruce,” diminish his work (eg: “Charlotte Bronte – do not wantee” is a poor substitute for “Harry Potter? What a rotter!”). That said, I still think Matilda is one of the best and brightest musicals of the past few years.

Almost exactly two years after receiving the original Stratford cast recording (*not* London, for the record), I received the jazzed up original Broadway cast recording of Matilda, which was recorded just prior to the departure of Carvel and Ward, who’d been with the show since its world premiere. It’s interesting to compare and contrast their performances on each album, especially to hear how Carvel’s voice has grown more feminine and more distinctive. However, the Stratford recording remains essential if only for Carvel’s hidden track performing Trunchbull’s entire second act diatribe. Ward’s Miss Honey is a performance that feels more lived in, not unlike some of the performances on the 1959 London cast recording of My Fair Lady.

The Broadway cast album boasts punched up orchestrations and vocal arranging (some delicious new harmonies), as well as the first recordings of the new Overture (more of a Prelude, really), “The Chokey Chant,” and “Chalk Writing.” The three bonus tracks include the first three parts of Matilda’s story, though I think the album would be stronger if these underscored monologues were included in their appropriate place in the score, as they build to “I’m Here” in the second act. A deluxe edition containing a cut song performed by Chris Hoch, as well as a quartet version of “Naughty” featuring all four Tony-honored Matildas, is available on iTunes.

I can’t say the new Broadway album is better than the Stratford recording, because I think both are worth having. I just wish there had been an original London cast recording.