# Original Cast Recording/Soundtrack that Stands Alone **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 20, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130 "2006-03-20T14:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/1 "2006-03-20T14:40:21Z")
Which Original Cast Recording or soundtrack from a movie musical do you think can stand alone as a work of art even if you’ve not seen the original work? I think the OCR from Hedwig and the Angry Inch works as a purely audio experience even if you never seen the play or movie. Sounds like Random Number Generation, Th Origin of Love, Sugar Daddy and Wicked Little Town (Reprise), while enhanced by the story, don’t need the context to be good. The soundtrack from the movie is excellent also; but there’s a rawness to the OCR that makes it feel more heartfelt and honest. So what your favorites? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/2 "2006-03-20T15:37:43Z")
Porgy and Bess. 🙂 Joking aside, most great Broadwas cast albums stand alone. Things like **Kiss Me Kate, The Pajama Game, The King and I, Annie Get Your Gun, The Music Man, A Chorus Line, Man of La Mancha,** just to name a few, are great music that stands on its own. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/3 "2006-03-20T15:51:51Z")
They didn;t have original cast recordings in 1937 so Rodgers and Hart’s _Babes In Arms_ which featured children singing songs like _Babes In Arms_, \*I Wish I Were In Love Again \*, _Johnny One Note_, _The Lady Is A Tramp_, \*My Funny Valentine \*, \*Where Or When \* and _You Are So Fair_ is not available. If only. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/4 "2006-03-20T16:01:17Z")
_Rocky Horror Picture Show_ The first time I heard “Time Warp” was not at the movie…it was on the cassette one of my friends listened to constantly in high school. ---
**Author:** ![MsMitey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@MsMitey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsMitey)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/5 "2006-03-20T16:08:34Z")
I loved our record of Cats when I was a kid, though I didn’t see a stage production until I was quite a bit older. Same with Fiddler on the Roof. I agree about Hedwig, too. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/6 "2006-03-20T16:09:11Z")
**Jesus Christ Superstar** –Most people know the story. **Phantom of the Opera** –Ditto ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/7 "2006-03-20T16:14:57Z")
I knew **Rent** forwards and backwards from the OBC Recording long before I first saw it on stage, and the story was perfectly coherent and even enjoyable. It would not be a Broadway thread without somebody bringing up **Chess** , which I have never seen staged (sigh), but the London Concept Cast Recording is undoubtedly a work of art that stands on its own. Heck, Murray Head’s _One Night In Bangkok_ actually received mainstream radio play. And though I have a general mild distaste for Andrew Lloyd Webber, I will say that for its time and place, **Jesus Christ Superstar** is a great Rock concept album. Or modern opera. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/8 "2006-03-20T16:21:43Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > **Jesus Christ Superstar** –Most people know the story Aww, you took mine. The catholic in me from my upbringing (but I’m much better now thank you) is still affected by Easter and this whole lenten season. Every Ash Wednesday, while some people are running to get smeared by the priest, I pull out the two disks, and put them in the car, where they stay on steady rotation until easter. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/9 "2006-03-20T16:28:54Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > It would not be a Broadway thread without somebody bringing up **Chess** , which I have never seen staged (sigh), but the London Concept Cast Recording is undoubtedly a work of art that stands on its own. Heck, Murray Head’s _One Night In Bangkok_ actually received mainstream radio play. > > And though I have a general mild distaste for Andrew Lloyd Webber, I will say that for its time and place, **Jesus Christ Superstar** is a great Rock concept album. Or modern opera. Head’s “Superstar” also got some airplay. **West Side Story** is another one–great music. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/10 "2006-03-20T18:05:24Z")
I don’t quite understand the criteria from the OP. Is the request for a sountrack which is good to listen to by itself, having great songs, or a soundrack which makes sense in context without having seen the play/movie? For instance, I know Kiss Me Kate, so I like the sountrack in context. I’ve never seen Annie Get Your Gun, so, while the songs are great, the soundtrack CD is not as compelling. I’d agree with Cats as a good answer in the second case. Since the musical is based on pretty much unconnected poems, the plot, such as it is, is irrelevant and the songs stand by themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/11 "2006-03-20T18:34:03Z")
**Fiddler on the Roof** is a good example of both types–The songs stand on their own and also tell the story. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/12 "2006-03-20T18:44:11Z")
Another vote for **Jesus Christ Superstar** , though the original album preceded any stage or film version. If it is still a valid choice given that fact, I also cast a vote for **Tommy**. As far as actual OCR’s or soundtracks, I have to agree with **The Music Man**. I would also add Stephen Sondheim’s **Company** , Rodgers and Hammerstein’s **Oklahoma** , **Pippin** and **Godspell** by Stephen Schwartz, and **Sweeney Todd**. ---
**Author:** ![Logan\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Logan\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logan_5)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/13 "2006-03-20T19:55:26Z")
Yes! Sweeney Todd!!! Also Bugsy Malone ST, Chicago OBC 1996, Cabaret OCR 1998, How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying OCR (but can’t decide which I like better, Morse or Broderick) & Victor Victoria ST ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/14 "2006-03-20T20:15:26Z")
> [@HelloKitty](#): > > Rocky Horror Picture Show. And for me, even more so, the soundtrack for the sequel _Shock Treatment_. I was an avid fan of that soundtrack for a good decade before seeing the movie. Also second _Hedwig_ although I’ve not heard the OCR (but I have seen the show live in a local production). Add to my list: _Cabaret_ (OCR or soundtrack) _La Cage Aux Folles Mamma Mia! Moulin Rouge I & II Wicked_ (although perhaps it’s just me; I’m somewhat obsessed with it) _Zero Patience_ (a somewhat obscure Canadian movie musical about AIDS) And perhaps the most obscure of the bunch, _Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall_, the recording from a 1962 TV special featuring Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett. A bunch more that are slipping my mind. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/15 "2006-03-20T22:39:09Z")
I vote for “Hair.” Great in its own right, and spawned a number of covers which also hit the Top 40. (my favorite was “Looking for Donna.” Wonder why no group tried to cover that one? 😃😃😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/16 "2006-03-20T23:28:05Z")
**Robert and Elizabeth,** definitely. It’s the story of Robert Browning falling in love with Elizabeth (Moulton-) Barrett and rescuing her from a dysfunctional family. _The Moon In My Pocket, Escape Me Never, Hate Me Please,_ and all the rest. The whole thing is a treasure. I get goosebumps and start breathing hard just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/17 "2006-03-20T23:37:48Z")
I just now remembered **McVicar**! It’s listed as Roger Daltrey, but all the Who are on board. The only thing that sets it apart from a Who album is that none of the songs were written by the band. I DVRd the movie the other day, but I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve had the album for years. It’s the story of an angry, bitter, crazy convict and his rehabilitation. The soundtrack is really powerful. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/18 "2006-03-20T23:50:34Z")
Two songs in particular from the [soundtrack](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002IWH/sr=8-1/qid=1142898323/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4085329-6155335?%5Fencoding=UTF8) for The Crow are stand alone. Burn by The Cure, and It Can’t Rain All The Time by Jane Siberry. Should I mention Disney’s [Fantasia](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000001M4K/qid=1142898606/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-4085329-6155335?s=music&v=glance&n=5174), or is that cheating? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/19 "2006-03-21T01:14:39Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > Two songs in particular from the [soundtrack](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002IWH/sr=8-1/qid=1142898323/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4085329-6155335?%5Fencoding=UTF8) for The Crow are stand alone. Burn by The Cure, and It Can’t Rain All The Time by Jane Siberry. Should I mention Disney’s [Fantasia](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000001M4K/qid=1142898606/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/102-4085329-6155335?s=music&v=glance&n=5174), or is that cheating? The Crow wasn’t a musical. Non-musical soundtracks are usually just a collection of unconnected songs. Part of me wants to nominate the soundtrack to _Once More with Feeling_; but really without being a Buffy fan only _Rest in Peace_ can stand alone. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130/20 "2006-03-21T01:21:08Z")
Ok then, West Side Story, and An American in Paris. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-cast-recording-soundtrack-that-stands-alone/349130.md?page=2)