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What Cast Albums Give That Soundtracks Don't, Part II

You may recall that last week I listed 25 of the best songs that cast albums offer that soundtracks do not – because, more often than not, the film versions dropped these musical gems.

Although there are well more than a hundred that fit that category, I whittled my personal favorites list down to 50 and ranked my bottom 25 according to my own preference -- which, of course, will be different from yours.

Now I’m giving my 25 top selections. How much do we agree – or disagree? Let me know!

My top 25:

What Cast Albums Give That Soundtracks Don't

So the film version of Nine didn’t do so well, did it? For many of us, the biggest problem was that so much of the score was cut. “Only with You, “The Grand Canal,” “Simple,” “Not since Chaplin,” “The Bells of St. Sebastian,” “Be on Your Own,” “The Germans at the Spa,” “Getting Tall” and – Good Lord! -- even the title song. It wasn’t much of a musical once all that music was dropped – and it wasn’t much of a soundtrack album, either.

The Broadway Sports Quiz

Spring training has just begun for all 30 major league’s baseball teams. And why does this concern a musical theater enthusiast? Because baseball – as well as many other sports – wend their way into our minds, thanks to many lines and lyrics.

So even if you don’t know a balk from a walk, or the one-point difference between a field goal in basketball and football, you could still do well on this test if you know musicals. Identify the song and musical that sports each of these sports lines and lyrics.

Happy Mardi Gras!

All right, you promised yourself last year that this year you’d finally go way down yonder to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras.

And now, this year and Mardi Gras are here, and once again, you didn’t make it.

Well, as Cyril Ritchard sings in The Roar of the Greasepaint – the Smell of the Crowd (yes, you read that title right), “There are so many things to remember as we travel the highway of life.” Or as Glynis Johns sings in A Little Night Music, “Well, maybe next year.”

Hello, Hazel!

Of course you know the song, "Hello, Dolly!" But do you know the song, "Hello, Hazel?"

It comes midway through the first act of Hazel Flagg, the musical adaptation of the 1936 movie Nothing Sacred. (And you thought making musicals from movies was a recent development!) That's the film where New York Morning Star reporter Wallace "Wally" Cook convinces his editor Oliver Stone (yes, Oliver Stone!) that they should make a big story of Hazel's plight.

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome!

Hello!

Welcome to MasterworksBroadway!

I’m Peter Filichia. I’ve been an original cast aficionado for quite some time. For those of you who share my passion for show albums – be they original cast, revival cast or even studio cast – this is the site for us.

While Masterworks Broadway doesn’t quite have an inventory of 1,776 original, revival, or studio cast albums, it does have quite a few. Right now, scores of scores are available, ranging from Ain’t Misbehavin’ to Zorba.

Grammy Award® for West Side Story!

West Side Story - The New Broadway Cast Recording was the recipient of the 52nd Annual Grammy Award® for Best Musical Show Album on January 31st -congratulations to producers David Caddick and David Lai! Check out our latest Grammy® winner, including three part podcast series, here on MASTERWORKSBROADWAY.COM.


Fanny at City Center Encores!

Encores! Great American Musicals in Concert is presenting Fanny February 4-7 at New York City Center. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of the 1954 show with music and lyrics by Harold Rome (I Can Get It For You Wholesale, Wish You Were Here, Pins & Needles) featuring Ezio Pinza, Walter Slezak and Florence Henderson is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.


La Cage Aux Folles Headed Back to Broadway

Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming Broadway revival of La Cage Aux Folles starring five-time Emmy Award®-winner Kelsey Grammer as Georges and Douglas Hodge recreating his Olivier Award-winning role of Albin. Check out the Original Broadway Cast recording as well as the Jerry Herman podcast series here on MASTERWORKSBROADWAY.COM.

The Sound of Music 50th Anniversary Podcast Series

Newly created podcasts celebrating The Sound of Music's 50th anniversary are now streaming on MASTERWORKSBROADWAY.COM. The three part series features recent interviews with original cast members Theodore Bikel (Capt. von Trapp), Brian Davies (Rolf) and Lauri Peters (Liesl), as well as Ted Chapin (President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization) and Sam von Trapp (grandson of Maria von Trapp).

Michelle Williams Returning to Broadway in Chicago

Former Destiny's Child member and solo artist Michelle Williams returns to Broadway this winter as Roxie Hart in Chicago. She performed as Roxie in the London company of Chicago and was previously seen on Broadway in Aida, in addition to the touring company of The Color Purple. Michelle Williams replaces current Roxie, Ashley Simpson-Wentz, and can be seen from February 8 through March 28.

Matthew Morrison Nominated For Golden Globe® Award

Congratulations to Tony® Award nominee and current Glee star Matthew Morrison for his Golden Globe® nomination in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series category. Matthew can be heard on the Original Broadway Cast recording of Hairspray and the New Broadway Cast recording of South Pacific here on masterworksbroadway.com.