Cast Recordings of 2016

[Phantom of London]

Believed it or believe it not, I didn't start my theatre passion by seeing a load of theatre, it was a very seldom treat as I was very skint then, I mainly I indulged my passions by listening to cast recording on my Sony Walkman, whilst my friends were listening to Bros and Duran Duran I was listening to the Jungle Book, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera whilst doing my paperounds.

So with various music platforms such as Spotifly, Apple and Amazon getting your music legally is easier than ever and inexpensive. So this thread is what are your favourite cast recording of this year, I want you to judge it solely on the score, regardless if you have seen it or not.

2016 the following cast recordings came out:

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Off-Broadway)
Lazarus (Off-Broadway)
Cagney (Off-Broadway)
Hadestown (Off-Broadway)
Himself and Nora (Off-Broadway)
Close To You: Bacharach Reimagined (London)
Funny Girl (London)
Paramour (Broadway)
The Red Eye of Love (Studio Album)
Disaster! (Broadway)
The Robber Bridegroom (Off-Broadway)
Girls, Girls, Girls (Solo Album)
Magic To Do (Cruise Ship)
She Loves Me (Broadway
Rothschild & Sons (Off-Broadway)
Tuck Everlasting (Broadway)
Waitress (Broadway)
Bright Star (Broadway)
The Woodsman (Off-Broadway)
Paint Your Wagon (Off-Broadway)
Jasper in Deadland (Off-Broadway)
On Your Feet! (Broadway)
Songs from Old Hats (Off-Broadway)
American Psycho (London)
Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway)
Amazing Grace (Broadway)
School of Rock (broadway
The Color Purple (Broadway)
Grease Live: Music from the Television Event (Studio album of TV broadcast)
First Daughter Suite (Off-Broadway)
Kinky Boots (London)
Allegiance (Broadway)


For myself, my top 10 are:

10 -      Amazing Grace
9 -       Tuck Everlasting
8 -       Funny Girl
7 -       Fiddler on the Roof
6 -       The Color Purple
5 -       School of Rock
4 -       American Psycho
3 -       Kinky Boots (London)
2 -       Waitress
1 -       Bright Star

Please add any I may of forgot.

[BurlyBeaR]

You do like a list don't you POL?

Hunchback was released in 2016 wasn't it?

[Mr Wallacio]

Half A Sixpence?

Mrs Henderson Presents?

[Phantom of London]

Nov 22, 2016 13:56:16 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

You do like a list don't you POL?

Hunchback was released in 2016 wasn't it?

Oh, is that a criticism?

[Deleted]

Great list POL. Although I do wish that The Threepenny Opera (National Theatre) and Groundhog Day (Old Vic) were on there! - Probably because they were the only two musicals I saw this year!

That is actually quite a lot of cast recordings in one year I think, although the only one I will probably end up getting is School of Rock after I see it in March, unless they release a new London version? ALW could probably start following Mackintosh and get it made live!

[ali973]

Was Hamilton released last year?

From your list, this would be my top four..I wouldn't rate the rest at all.

1-The Color Purple (Broadway)
2-Waitress (Broadway)
3-Bright Star (Broadway)
4-She Loves Me (Broadway

[mrbarnaby]

Bright Star easily the best recording of the year.

Waitress in second place for me.

[confessor]

Wow, I haven't heard of half of those! From the ones listed (and one of the two from Mr Wallacio), the only ones I am qualified to comment on I would rate as:

1) Waitress
2) School of Rock
3) The Color Purple
4) Mrs Henderson Presents
5) American Psycho

[BurlyBeaR]

Nov 22, 2016 20:32:13 GMT Phantom of London said:

Nov 22, 2016 13:56:16 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

You do like a list don't you POL?

Hunchback was released in 2016 wasn't it?

Oh, is that a criticism?

Absolutely not! 

[mallardo]

I'd choose American Psycho, First Daughter Suite, She Loves Me and Paint Your Wagon, the four in that list that I actually bought.

[Deleted]

Hamilton was September 2015.

The only ones I listen to out of these is Fiddler on the Roof and The Color Purple.

[Phantom of London]

Nov 22, 2016 22:15:42 GMT confessor said:

Wow, I haven't heard of half of those! From the ones listed (and one of the two from Mr Wallacio), the only ones I am qualified to comment on I would rate as:

1) Waitress
2) School of Rock
3) The Color Purple
4) Mrs Henderson Presents
5) American Psycho

I also haven't some of these, I lifted the listing straight from Playbill Cast Recording Section, I noticed a few omissions from the lists, as added several cast recording, as you can see board members have added an additional 3.

[Deleted]

List really shows how Broadway are miles ahead of us in terms of getting their musicals recorded. We just have a few a year. 
It's such a shame as so many amazing West End performances go unpreserved. 

[talkstageytome]

My Top 5 (with no. 1 being my favourite and 5 being my fifth fave)

1. She Loves Me - Gorgeous show and what a cast! Laura Benanti sounds lovely, Gavin Creel (my fave performer,so I would've gotten this recording no matter what) kills it, Zachary Levi is fantastic. etc. etc. Can't wait for this show at the Menier this Xmas!

2. Fiddler On The Roof - Saw Anatevka at Volkoper Wien earlier this year, and it struck me that I'd not actually got a Fiddler cast album at all so I just got the latest release. Perfect in my eyes, I love listening to this!

3. School of Rock - Good fun, some great songs, Alex Brightman is a star! (I so wish he'd come over here to open SoR!)

4. Allegiance - Saw this show on Broadway and loved it. Nice memento of my trip to NY, and as always Lea Salonga sounds heavenly!

5. Lazarus - Who knew I'd love this show so much? It's really grown on me, and I love the fact that I can trick my family and friends into playing this in the car, under the guise of it being "normal music". By the time they realise it's the musical version - too late and the CD's already in! Seriously though, there are some great performances on this cast album. I reckon Michael C Hall will win an award or two over here for his performance.