# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![DeepLiquid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deepliquid/32/14893_2.png) [@DeepLiquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeepLiquid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/21 "2015-12-07T18:55:59Z")
Definitely **Rent**. ---
**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, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/22 "2015-12-07T19:08:10Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Oh, good one. My mother has the LP starting that guy who played the old bartender in _Northern Exposure_. > > . As noted, John Cullum, who I’ve either seen in several things, or heard recordings of. One interesting thing I noticed on listening to the OCA of **Camelot** – that was his first Broadway singing role. He was one of the knights who challenges Lancelot. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/23 "2015-12-08T01:03:31Z")
I had no IDEA you guys were all homosexuals! Drop over _chez Ike_ sometime, and I’ll spin some tasty Streisand platters. ---
**Author:** ![Barrett\_Bonden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5e9695/32.png) [@Barrett\_Bonden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrett_Bonden)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/24 "2015-12-08T02:19:53Z")
**1776** is tough, because it’s a tossup between the original cast recording and the movie soundtrack. While Howard DaSilva created Franklin, he was ill during the Broadway cast recording session, so the role was covered by Rex Everhart. With no disrespect to Mr. Everhart, if you have seen the movie, the now-recovered DaSilva _ **was** _ Franklin, gloriously so. Of course, with the movie cast, one loses the delight of the original Martha Jefferson, Betty Buckley. It’s so hard to choose. As already noted, John Cullum was in the movie cast recording of **1776** , and also played Caldwell B. Cladwell in the original cast recording of **Urinetown** \<-another awesome recording. And for some fun trivia, when I caught the fantastic touring cast of **Urinetown** a number of years ago, Cladwell was played by Ronald Holgate, Richard Henry Lee from both Broadway and movie **1776** , and the original Miles Gloriosus in\*\* Forum\*\* on Broadway. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/25 "2015-12-08T02:34:29Z")
I grew up listening to the soundtrack of “Fiddler on the Roof” with Zero Mostel. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/26 "2015-12-08T14:13:41Z")
Chicago A Chorus Line Man of La Mancha Annie ---
**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 8, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/27 "2015-12-08T14:15:43Z")
> [@Barrett\_Bonden](#): > > **1776** is tough, because it’s a tossup between the original cast recording and the movie soundtrack. While Howard DaSilva created Franklin, he was ill during the Broadway cast recording session, so the role was covered by Rex Everhart. With no disrespect to Mr. Everhart, if you have seen the movie, the now-recovered DaSilva _ **was** _ Franklin, gloriously so. Of course, with the movie cast, one loses the delight of the original Martha Jefferson, Betty Buckley. It’s so hard to choose. > > As already noted, John Cullum was in the movie cast recording of **1776** , and also played Caldwell B. Cladwell in the original cast recording of **Urinetown** \<-another awesome recording. > > And for some fun trivia, when I caught the fantastic touring cast of **Urinetown** a number of years ago, Cladwell was played by Ronald Holgate, Richard Henry Lee from both Broadway and movie **1776** , and the original Miles Gloriosus in\*\* Forum\*\* on Broadway. I can’t _stand_ Everhart’s voice as Franklin, so I have rarely listened to the Original Cast Recording. But I’ve worn out my tape of the movie soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/28 "2015-12-09T00:38:55Z")
I can only narrow it down to 20: Annie Get Your Gun Barnum Carousel Cyrano Fiddler on the Roof Follies Funny Girl Gypsy Into the Woods The King and I The Music Man My Fair Lady Oklahoma! Once Upon a Mattress Show Boat South Pacific Sunday in the Park with George Sweeney Todd West Side Story Wicked ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/29 "2015-12-09T01:07:24Z")
Like **panache** , there’s no way I can stay in single digits. I can’t even winnow down past 30: A Little Night Music Aspects of Love Avenue Q Big River Company Fiddler on the Roof Godspell Goodtime Charley How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying In the Heights Into the Woods Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The King of Hearts Man of La Mancha Miss Saigon My Fair Lady Once Oklahoma Passion Pippin Phantom of the Opera The Secret Garden South Pacific Sunday in the Park with George Sweeney Todd Ragtime Rent West Side Story Wicked Working ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/30 "2015-12-09T02:52:23Z")
Evita is a really good one. Not strictly a cast recording, but the original concept album of Chess is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/31 "2015-12-09T04:28:30Z")
**Pippin.** That’s the only one I have in my collection. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/32 "2015-12-09T04:41:17Z")
_Les Mis_ without a question, bar none. But Dean Jones’s cast recording of “Being Alive” from _Company_ is my unparalleled favorite cut. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/33 "2015-12-09T10:37:29Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I grew up listening to the soundtrack of “Fiddler on the Roof” with Zero Mostel. See? I think that’s great. If you enjoy it that’s all that matters. I try to do everything in life with zero mostel. I couldn’t give a single solitary mostel what anyone else may think. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/34 "2015-12-09T10:46:58Z")
The Phantom with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brighton ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/35 "2015-12-09T13:27:03Z")
I pretty much like all of them, with the exception of Hamilton (my wife loves it, but I just can’t get into the style). > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Oh, good one. My mother has the LP starting that guy who played the old bartender in _Northern Exposure_. This is right up there with the girl who told me that Lucas didn’t like the voice of the Darth Vader actor, so he got “some big black guy” to do the voice. That guy being, of course, James Earl Jones, one of the best actors of our generation. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/36 "2015-12-09T14:22:14Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Oh, good one. My mother has the LP starting that guy who played the old bartender in _Northern Exposure_. > [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > This is right up there with the girl who told me that Lucas didn’t like the voice of the Darth Vader actor, so he got “some big black guy” to do the voice. That guy being, of course, James Earl Jones, one of the best actors of our generation. You really mean to suggest that John Cullum is meant to be a household name? A long an distinguished career? Certainly. Talented actor? Abso-fucking-lutely. But widespread _name recognition_? Name recognition on a level with _James Earl Jones_? Hardly. Again, nothing to diminish his talent and accomplishments but, c’mon, he isn’t widely known _by name_. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/37 "2015-12-09T14:22:18Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Evita is a really good one. > > Not strictly a cast recording, but the original concept album of Chess is fantastic. Agreed. Too bad they destroyed the show by an almost complete rewrite when they brought it to Broadway. I had tickets but the show closed before I could see it. However, my favorite is _Jesus Christ Superstar_. The brown cover, which (like _Chess_) is not a cast recording but a concept album. I only wish _Can We Start Again, Please_ from the movie was on the concept album. Interesting that both the _Chess_ and _JCS_ concept albums feature Murray Head in leading roles… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/38 "2015-12-09T14:24:38Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Interesting that both the _Chess_ and _JCS_ concept albums feature Murray Head in leading roles… …and a show with everything but Yul Brynner. ---
**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 9, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/39 "2015-12-09T14:34:03Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > You really mean to suggest that John Cullum is meant to be a household name? > A long an distinguished career? Certainly. Talented actor? Abso-fucking-lutely. But widespread _name recognition_? Name recognition on a level with _James Earl Jones_? Hardly. Again, nothing to diminish his talent and accomplishments but, c’mon, he isn’t widely known _by name_. Depends on the household, I suppose. He is in ours, although I think Pepper Mill is more familiar with him from his part in _Northern Exposure_. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2015, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668/40 "2015-12-09T14:49:28Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > You really mean to suggest that John Cullum is meant to be a household name? > A long an distinguished career? Certainly. Talented actor? Abso-fucking-lutely. But widespread _name recognition_? Name recognition on a level with _James Earl Jones_? Hardly. Again, nothing to diminish his talent and accomplishments but, c’mon, he isn’t widely known _by name_. Next you’re gonna tell me that John Raitt isn’t a household name? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-broadway-original-cast-soundtracks/739668.md?page=3)