# What are your favorite Broadway original cast soundtracks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668 "2015-12-07T02:10:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/1 "2015-12-07T02:10:48Z")
I’ve just started listening to \*\*Hamilton \*\*and it made me recognize how little of the genre I am familiar with. I may crank this into a poll if there is enough interest. mmm ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/2 "2015-12-07T02:39:15Z")
_ **My Fair Lady** _. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/3 "2015-12-07T02:44:14Z")
_A Chorus Line_: An incredible show to see on stage, but as a great deal of it is singing and dancing, the soundtrack is almost as good if you cannot see it in a theatre. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/4 "2015-12-07T02:46:34Z")
I like the original 1960s _Cabaret_ a lot ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/5 "2015-12-07T03:04:21Z")
**1776** ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/6 "2015-12-07T03:07:03Z")
A Chorus Line, Company, Pippen, Mame ---
**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:** [December 7, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/7 "2015-12-07T03:19:32Z")
**The Drowsy Chaperone A Chorus Line Avenue Q The Music Man Guys and Dolls Kiss Me Kate Annie Get Your Gun** ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/8 "2015-12-07T03:32:18Z")
Les Miserables, the original cast with Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle is still my favorite - > **[Boublil, Alain, Schonberg, Claude-Michel, Frances Rufelle, Colm Wilkinson - Les...](https://www.amazon.com/Miserables-1987-Original-Broadway-Cast/dp/B000000OQI)** > > Boublil, Alain, Schonberg, Claude-Michel, Frances Rufelle, Colm Wilkinson - Les Miserables (1987 Original Broadway Cast) - Amazon.com Music I like Nathan Lane’s versions of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum better than Zero Mostel, but opinions vary - > **[Stephen Sondheim, Nathan Lane, Mark Linn-Baker - A Funny Thing Happened on the...](https://www.amazon.com/Funny-Thing-Happened-Broadway-Revival/dp/B000002SJO)** > > Stephen Sondheim, Nathan Lane, Mark Linn-Baker - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996 Broadway Revival Cast) - Amazon.com Music I also prefer Nathan Lane’s Guys & Dolls - > **[1992 Revival Cast Recording - Guys and Dolls - Amazon.com Music](https://www.amazon.com/Guys-Dolls-1992-Revival-Recording/dp/B002M2Z3S8)** > > 1992 Revival Cast Recording - Guys and Dolls - Amazon.com Music And of course, Nathan Lane in the The Producers - > **[Mel Brooks, Patrick S. Brady, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Roger Bart, Gary...](https://www.amazon.com/Producers-2001-Original-Broadway-Cast/dp/B00005AY6I)** > > Mel Brooks, Patrick S. Brady, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Roger Bart, Gary Beach, Cady Huffman, Brad Oscar - The Producers (2001 Original Broadway Cast) - Amazon.com Music The original Evita with Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin > **[Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin - Evita (1978...](https://www.amazon.com/Evita-1978-Original-Broadway-Cast/dp/B000002ORP)** > > Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin - Evita (1978 Original Broadway Cast) - Amazon.com Music Should probably mention Phantom - > **[Lloyd Webber, Andrew, Michael Reed, Rosemary Ashe, Michael Crawford, Sarah...](https://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Opera-Original-1986-London/dp/B00004YTY2)** > > Lloyd Webber, Andrew, Michael Reed, Rosemary Ashe, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, John Savident, David Firth, Steve Barton, Mary Millar, John Aron, Janet Devenish, Janos Kurucz, Hart, Charles - The Phantom of the Opera (Original 1986 London Cast)... And I’ll stop with Into the Woods - > **[Original Broadway Cast Recording - Into The Woods - Amazon.com Music](https://www.amazon.com/Into-Woods-Original-Broadway-Recording/dp/B004VWXUWS)** > > Original Broadway Cast Recording - Into The Woods - Amazon.com Music ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/9 "2015-12-07T03:41:49Z")
**Camelot** **West Side Story** ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/10 "2015-12-07T04:06:54Z")
I bought the original Broadway cast of ‘Hair’ way back in the '60’s, (apropos of nothing, just on impulse. Loved it.) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/11 "2015-12-07T04:41:45Z")
Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweeney Todd. (I can’t actually watch Sweeney Todd, 'cause I’m too wimpy even for that mild a level of horror/murder. But, oh, the music and verses!) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/12 "2015-12-07T05:58:26Z")
_Godspell_ (1973) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/13 "2015-12-07T11:11:47Z")
I wanted to add a gentle warning to the OP because I knew that we had a poster here who _HATES_ when the word “soundtrack” is used for what is properly called a “cast recording” (“soundtrack” is for movies), then I thought I might as well do a search and remind myself of which poster I was remembering. Looks like it was **Annie-Xmas** : > [@Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat/594408/11): > > Nitpick, cause it’s one thing I go apeshit over: Movies have soundtracks. Musicals have cast recordings. Anyway, I really like the soundtrack to the 90s revival of _Damn Yankees_ and the soundtrack to the 90s revival of _Chicago_ because both feature Bebe Neuwirth. The 1982 recording of the cast of _Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat_ is one of my all time favorite Broadway soundtracks. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/14 "2015-12-07T11:18:15Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > I wanted to add a gentle warning to the OP because I knew that we had a poster here who _HATES_ when the word “soundtrack” is used for what is properly called a “cast recording” (“soundtrack” is for movies), then I thought I might as well do a search and remind myself of which poster I was remembering. > > Looks like it was **Annie-Xmas** : > > Anyway, I really like the soundtrack to the 90s revival of _Damn Yankees_ and the soundtrack to the 90s revival of _Chicago_ because both feature Bebe Neuwirth. > > The 1982 recording of the cast of _Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat_ is one of my all time favorite Broadway soundtracks. Interesting, I had no idea. Thanks for the info. mmm ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/15 "2015-12-07T12:27:28Z")
**1776** (which I saw during its original run, with the original cast) **Fiddler on the Roof** (Zero Mostel version, of course) \*\*Pippin Phantom of the Opera Les Miserables \*\* I’ve seen many others, but don’t have the albums (I really do have to get the OCA for **Man of la Mancha** ) I listened to the OCA of **Camelot** last week. I used to like it (I was in the orchestra when we put it on at our high school), but have decided that I don’t really care for it any more, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/16 "2015-12-07T12:35:30Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’ve seen many others, but don’t have the albums (I really do have to get the OCA for **Man of la Mancha** ). Oh, good one. My mother has the LP starting that guy who played the old bartender in _Northern Exposure_. As for the most pointless OCA, I’ll nominate _Beatlemania_. A friend used to listen to it a lot when he was about nine. I have no idea why. (Yes, he had a good collection of actual Beatles albums at the time). ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/17 "2015-12-07T18:30:52Z")
Ones that influenced me as a child: The original (brown cover) cast recording of _Jesus Christ Superstar_ (my dad had an old 8-track of it, and I remember getting up in the middle of the night listening to it, because I was that cool. It was old even back then, and it dragged a little and the angels sounded deeper and more drawn out. It was incredible). Also the concept recording of _Jekyll and Hyde_, with Anthony Warlow. His voice is amazing, and because it’s an album they could overlap Jekyll and Hyde’s voice, a luxury lost when you do the show live. And finally, _Rent_, which came out the year after I graduated high school. Even with _Superstar_ and _Hair_, I had never heard anything quite like it before. This young man from Oklahoma had never seen a Broadway show or a national tour, and it just blew his little mind. As a matter of fact, these shows helped set me on a path of learning to play piano and wanting to work in theatre. Years later (14 years _ago_, now) I moved to NYC, worked a day job and built my performance resume up at night, finally got a professional gig which led to many more, and now I work full-time as a music director/pianist/composer for the theatre (currently working on _Matilda_). Cast recordings played a huge part in that story. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/18 "2015-12-07T18:53:16Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Oh, good one. My mother has the LP starting that guy who played the old bartender in _Northern Exposure_. > > As for the most pointless OCA, I’ll nominate _Beatlemania_. A friend used to listen to it a lot when he was about nine. I have no idea why. (Yes, he had a good collection of actual Beatles albums at the time). That “old guy” is John Cullum–who has had an illustrious career on Broadway, although most of us know him from TV. He reprised his role in\* 1776\* in the film–with the powerful “Molasses to Rum.” I haven’t kept up with Original Cast Recordings. Still have _Camelot_, _My Fair Lady_, _Funny Girl_ & _West Side Story_. Bought the MP3 version of _Hamilton_ because it came out earlier than the CD. [This site](http://genius.com/Lin-manuel-miranda-alexander-hamilton-lyrics) more than supplies the supporting materials I didn’t get with the files. Maybe it will be released on LP, to suit the rest of my collection… ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/19 "2015-12-07T18:54:39Z")
1776 ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/20 "2015-12-07T18:54:55Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I’ve just started listening to \*\*Hamilton \*\*and it made me recognize how little of the genre I am familiar with. > > I may crank this into a poll if there is enough interest. > mmm Welcome to _Hamilton_ Hell. It’s a cozy place, we sit around and gush about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s genius and Daveed Digs’ amazing rapping skills, and bemoan the fact that we’ll probably never get tickets till the touring production comes around, if then. Have some cookies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668.md?page=2)