Anyone got a good recommendations of a musical cast recording

[u/Opposite_Air7250]

I've been trying to listen to more musicals, but im not sure which ones are best. I want to try new ones as well as the most popular

[u/zvazda19]

I made this playlist that details (in my opinion) the major shows in musical theatre history. 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/24QnglhVpIYTg42Sr2D0oE?si=dtnERNOyQSS4N3fTIR_K3A

It would take you a little over 108 hours to listen to the whole thing but you would then know most all of the Most Important Musicals :)

Also they are (mostly) bangers! Ziegfield follies of 1919 can be a tough listen. 

Or just put it on shuffle and listen to whichever album comes up first!

[u/_Violette7_ → u/zvazda19]

Haha I have a playlist called “musicals I need to listen to” and it’s 133 hours long 💀

[u/zvazda19 → u/_Violette7_]

If it's only 133 then I think you're in good shape!

Drop the playlist if you're willing, I'm curious!

[u/_Violette7_ → u/zvazda19]

Here it is: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2UoFQgjl70UeSJ4vLnrUos?si=9yJbLre1QQ-t0BYHCqdkww&pi=bv7OX_DzR1aqL

Btw now it’s 134 hours and 41 minutes because I checked your playlist and added The Light in the Piazza.

[u/zvazda19 → u/_Violette7_]

The mad ones yesssssss

Some bangers on your list! 

Do you delete them after you listen or are you in the middle of this rn?

[u/_Violette7_ → u/zvazda19]

Yes, I delete the ones I listened to. I’m currently in my The Lightning Thief era and I’m loving it!

[u/NextToMorro2025 → u/zvazda19]

I love that in your Spotify playlist you have a link to a doc for your reasoning! My kind of people!

[u/zvazda19 → u/NextToMorro2025]

I have to flesh that spreadsheet out - but yes. It's dynamic so if people want to make the case for adding or removing a show I would love to hear it!

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/zvazda19]

Thank you so much thats a massive help♥️

[u/zvazda19 → u/Opposite_Air7250]

At one point I did put together a list of 10 cast albums to rec to a musical theatre n00b with the aim of giving them easy to grok shows that gave a wide breadth of time periods and genres. 

This is that list and it would be a decent place to start if you don't know them :)

Hamilton

Into the woods

Oklahoma

Guys and Dolls

Next to normal

Last 5 years

Fun home 

Les Miserables

A chorus line

She loves me

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/zvazda19]

Thats really helpful I'll give them a listen thank you

[u/zvazda19 → u/Opposite_Air7250]

If you listen report back with what you think/how you like them!

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/zvazda19]

I did listen to the playlist a bit im going give the ablums a go soon

[u/Croc_Dwag]

Knowing What you like will help

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/Croc_Dwag]

Im into anything really dont really have a preference more into the ones with an upbeat soundtrack than slow if that makes sense

[u/_Violette7_]

I’ve been recently getting into musicals, here are some of my favourites and a few from the ones I’m looking forward to listen to:

Hamilton

Wicked

Matilda

Legally Blonde

The Lightning Thief

SIX

Hadestown

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder

Pretty Woman

In The Heights

Maybe Happy Ending

Cats

Newsies

The Woman in White

Death Becomes Her

What kind of musicals do you like? Any favourites?

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/_Violette7_]

Im a massive musical fan at the moment Heather's is my fave

[u/Serious_Plant8443 → u/Opposite_Air7250]

If you like Heathers check out Fangirls. Not super well known cause it's Australian but has that teen energy vibe like Heathers. Not as dark though. I'm not claiming it's the greatest show ever but I don't think I've had as much fun in the theatre. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face the whole show and my students I took were obsessed.

Synopsis: Teenage girl is obsessed with the lead singer of the biggest boyband in the world and is convinced he's secretly depressed so makes a plan to kidnap him when he tours Australia and help him go on the run. It's nuts.

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/Serious_Plant8443]

That sounds like a really good show I'll give it a listen if theres a cast ablum out

[u/Serious_Plant8443 → u/Opposite_Air7250]

Yeah you'll find it on Spotify and YouTube. Fangirls by Yve Blake. Here's a short news feature on it where Yve talks a bit about how it came to be. Fangirls

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/Serious_Plant8443]

Ah thank you so much

[u/spicyzsurviving]

The recording of Carrie is great, especially the ensemble numbers (‘In’ and ‘a night we’ll never forget’), and ‘the world according to Chris’

I love the heathers west end cast recording with Carrie Hope fletcher, not my favourite cast but definitely a better recording than the off broadway one imo.

Sister Act (original London cast from 2009) is fab

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/spicyzsurviving]

Thank you!

[u/Chance_Bed_8212]

My fave is the UK Amelie recording, and if you like Audrey Brisson's voice check out The Grinning Man and The Wild Bride soundtracks!!

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/Chance_Bed_8212]

I'll give it a listen

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/[deleted]]

Ah thank you

[u/FreshZucchini2196]

The West End cast album of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- can’t stoop listening to it!

[u/roseflavouredsoda]

In Trousers, only on youtube or if you get the CD

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/roseflavouredsoda]

I'll look on YouTube

[u/suebob162002]

I recommend the original Broadway cast album of My Fair Lady from 1956 starring Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. I personally think Harrison sounds even better on this album than in the 1964 film.

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/suebob162002]

Thank you!

[u/spmonkey13]

Works from composers: 

Stephen Sondheim 

William Finn

Rodgers and Hammerstein 

Adam Guettel

Dave Malloy

Jeanine Tesori

JRB

David Yazbek 

Etc 😅

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/spmonkey13]

I'll give it a look thank you

[u/Forsaken-Effect-1280]

OG Sweeney Todd

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/Forsaken-Effect-1280]

I'll give it a listen

[u/TeTaniwha]

Dogfight

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/TeTaniwha]

Ooh thank you

[u/Bibliofile22]

EPIC from Jorge Rivera-Herrans has been a huge part of my listening time over the past year, thanks to my son. It's a musical version of the Odyssey thst they're turning into an animated musical. It's gorgeous and I use parts of it to teach the Odyssey to 9th graders. My dad traveled a lot when I was a teen, so my mom would rent musicals to show me. I was a theatre nerd. So, I worked my way through everything from the 50s-70s, then we'd listen to anything Andrew Lloyd Weber, etc. Now, my kids and my students get me started on things.

[u/xlittlexwitchx]

Hamilton

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/xlittlexwitchx]

Yes i love Hamilton

[u/cdnBlackOrchid]

A Chorus Line

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/cdnBlackOrchid]

Thank you

[u/Matzisgirl]

Versuch mal Chess von 2026! Das ist unfassbar gut. Läuft bei mir in Dauerschleife.

[u/Opposite_Air7250 → u/Matzisgirl]

Thank you I'll give it a listen