RCA's Vanishing Cast Recordings: Halfvalue.com

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RCA's Vanishing Cast Recordings

Cole N. Ansier (Madison, WI)
Qualifications: Musical Theatre Nut, Actor

Allegro (1947 Original Broadway Cast) by Battles, John
$11.98 Used & New from: $9.84
Exceedingly truncated but valuable rendition of a wonderful, underrated Rodgers and Hammerstein show; shame on RCA!

How Now, Dow Jones (1967 Original Broadway Cast) by Smith, Sammy
Used & New from: $25.00
Recently deleted show that was one of RCA's last re-issues; I haven't heard this one yet, but seems worth getting to hear Elmer Bernstein's stab at musical comedy.

Your Own Thing (Original 1968 Off-Broadway Cast) [CAST RECORDING] by Valenti, Michael
Used & New from: $44.99
This is a minor but charming score from the popular rock musical of the late-60's. More grounded in Broadway than you might expect. Standout tracks include "The Flowers" and "The Middle Years".

Me And Juliet (1953 Original Broadway Cast) by Walston, Ray
Used & New from: $39.95
Another R&H score falls victim to RCA's axe; this one's lesser than Allegro, but still charming; the source of the standard "No Other Love"; Shirley MacLaine was in the ensemble!

Darling Of The Day (1968 Original Broadway Cast) by Routledge, Patricia
Used & New from: $34.99
Criminally deleted Jule Styne score that with a score that's one of the cream of the flop crop; Patricia Routledge is stupendous; get this recording no matter the price!

Do Re Mi: The New Musical (1960 Original Broadway Cast) by Walker, Nancy
Used & New from: $29.98
Another wonderful Styne score dumped by RCA; Walker, Silvers, Dussault, and Reardon are all in top form; "Make Someone Happy" is one of the finest showtunes ever written. Well worth seeking out.

Wish You Were Here (1952 Original Broadway Cast) by Smith, Sammy
Used & New from: $99.99
Have not heard this one, but seems to be a relatively minor Harold Rome score; one of the rarest of the out-of-print RCA shows.

Marie Christine (1999 Broadway Cast) by Testa, Mary
$17.98 Used & New from: $5.97
One of the latest RCA casualties; composer Michael-John LaChiusa once again thrills with this haunting, evocative score, incredibly delivered by the incomparable Audra MacDonald.

City of Angels (1993 Original London Cast) by Zippel, David
Used & New from: $11.25
Fine recording of the strong Cy Coleman score; strong performances and a more complete reading make this an important addition for fans of the composer and/or the show.

A Little Night Music (1975 Original London Cast) by Sondheim, Stephen
Used & New from: $20.00
Long out-of-print recording; overall not as good as the Broadway cast, but Diane Langton's "The Miller's Son" is far superior to D. Jamin-Bartlett's; Quite scarce.

Saratoga (1959 Original Broadway Cast) by Keel, Howard
$11.98 Used & New from: $8.50
Unheralded Harold Arlen score that is on its way out of the RCA catalogue; Amazon still has a few copies; snap it up before it's gone forever!

Promenade (1969 Original Off-Broadway Cast) by Davis, Michael
Used & New from: $24.98
Truly bizarre and obscure show that somehow miraculously made its way to CD before quickly going out-of-print; fascinating and weird; a must for collectors.

Avenue X by Dan Rubright
$5.98 Used & New from: $1.95
The link is incorrect as Amazon doesn't seem to have this; a capella musical with a fairly weak score but some engaging performances; interesting curio but not really essential.

Jerome Robbins' Broadway: Original Broadway Cast Recording by Alexander, Jason
Used & New from: $10.00
Enjoyable recording of the successful Broadway show that displayed famous songs and dances from Jerome Robbins shows; wonderful performances by Gravitte, Alexander, and Prince; well worth having.

Legs Diamond by Original Broadway Cast
Used & New from: $1.35
Despite the incorrect cover art, this proves to be the RCA cast album of the notorious Peter Allen flop; a truly awful score, but a great example of the kind of thing cherished by show lovers.

Silk Stockings (1955 Original Broadway Cast) by Ameche, Don
Used & New from: $49.99
Minor Cole Porter score, but songs like "It's a Chemical Reaction, That's All" and "As on through the Seasons We Sail' are forgotten gems; once again, shamefully dumped by RCA.

Howard Crabtree's Whoop-Dee-Doo!: A Nearly Original Cast Recording (1995 Studio Cast) by Waldrop, Mark
Used & New from: $59.95
Truly delightful Howard Crabtree revue that must be heard to be believed; not as good as the still-in-print follow-up, When Pigs Fly, but a hilarious recording nonetheless.

Fanny: A New Musical (1954 Original Broadway Cast) by Engel, Lehman
Used & New from: $124.99
Another sad deletion by RCA, this time of a plum Harold Rome score that's one of the finest of its era; worth the exorbitant price you'll pay to obtain a copy.

110 In The Shade (1963 Original Broadway Cast) by Geer, Will
Used & New from: $119.99
Superior score and performances make this one of the most unfortunate of the RCA deletions; Inga Swenson's is one of the finest performances on any cast recording, PERIOD.

Wildcat (1960 Original Broadway Cast) by Leigh, Carolyn
Used & New from: $79.50
I have this on LP. A rare misstep from the usually-dependable Coleman; tunes like "What Takes My Fancy" are truly horrendous; Lucille Ball (in her sole Broadway outing) sounds like a strangled chicken

Company - A Musical Comedy (1996 London Revival Cast) by Sondheim, Stephen
Used & New from: $20.99
While it can't hold a candle to the OBC, this is a fascinating document of a misguided production; Adrian Lester as Bobby, though, is quite fine.

Grease - The Newest Broadway Cast Recording (1994 Revival with Added 1995 Tracks) by Harris, Sam
Used & New from: $5.75
I don't own this one, but I wish I did; Shields is to have been less than good on it; it should be interesting to see how she fares in Wonderful Town this fall on Broadway.

Jamaica (1957 Original Broadway Cast) by Hall, Adelaide
Used & New from: $27.49
Fine Arlen score gets the usual inglorious treatment from RCA; still available through footlight.com as part of a double-bill with Horne's studio cast album of Porgy and Bess

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