Frequently Asked Questions > Most Wanted

5.0 Where on the internet can I find more information about cast recordings and musical theatre in general?

This section originated as part of Matt Kingston's Cast Recording Resource Guide, and he should be credited with nearly all of the content found below, though I shall be updating it from now on. Note: this section is under heavy construction. If you find dead links, it is to be expected -- but notify me nonetheless. Similarly, notify me if you wish to add a site to this list.

News, Reviews, and General Info about Cast Recordings

London Theatre Guide. Cast Recordings.
Provides reviews of recent cast recordings (focusing on British recordings). Also includes a comprehensive listing of cast recordings released on CD, American cast recordings, English language cast recordings, foreign language cast recordings, and theatre related recordings - organized by title and providing record label and catalog numbers and composer and lyricist credits. This listing is maintained by Warren Seamans. Includes a rudimentary search engine to search the cast recording listings pages.
Frank, Jonathan. Sound Advice.
Reviews of recently released (and re-released) cast and studio recordings (including the occasional review of a video recording). Usually includes album cover shots. Updated every 2 weeks. All past columns are accessible.

Bibliographies

Lewis Music Library, MIT. Guide to the Collection: Musical Theater.
Provides a bibliography of musical theatre related print resources (including discographies) in the Lewis Music Library at MIT.
Virtual Radio. Virtual Radio Recommended Reading: Discographies.
A list of print discographies on various topics (including a few on cast recordings), with links for purchasing them via Amazon.Com.

General Discographies

Fanning, Frank. Musical Cast Album Database.
A web-accessible database of information on 2900+ cast recordings. Provides information on the title, album cover art (when available), record label and catalog number, release year, recording length, composer and lyricist, premiere and run information, conductor, cast, and songs on the recordings. Searchable by title, composer, lyricist, conductor, cast, conductor, songs titles, and theatre of a stage production. Also provides a list of cast album dealers.
London Theatre Guide. Cast Recordings.

Composers/Lyricists Discographies

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Jennings, Bill. Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty.

Provides a chronological listing of recordings of works by Ahrens and/or Flaherty, including some album cover art, record label and catalog number, premiere and run information, and a list of awards received.

Marc Bliztstein
Jansson, John. The Marc Blitzstein Website.

A short list of available recordings of Bliztstein's works, including record label and catalog numbers, album cover art, album credits, and a few Real-Audio excerpts. The author Jansson promises a more extensive list of Bliztstein's recordings will be posted at a later date.

George Gershwin
William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
Shepherd, Marc. Gilbert & Sullivan Discography Home Page.

A very comprehensive discography of Gilbert and/or Sullivan cast recordings. Provides release history, record label and catalog numbers, album cover art (when available), cast information, ratings (varying number of stars), and lengthy reviews and discussions about the recordings.

Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
Schembre, Margo. Related Publications/Discography/Links.

A list of selected Jones/Schmidt cast recordings and compilations featuring their work. Provides record label and catalog number and links for more information on the shows represented.

John Kander and Fred Ebb
Jennings, Bill. John Kander & Fred Ebb.

Provides a chronological listing of recordings of works by Kander and Ebb, including some album cover art, premiere dates, and record label and catalog number.

Andrew Lloyd Webber
Friedman, Steven M. An International Discography of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

A discography of non-English recordings of Lloyd Webber musicals, including record label and catalog numbers.

Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire
Jennings, Bill. Richard Maltby, Jr. & David Shire.

Provides a chronological listing of recordings of works by Maltby and Shire, including some album cover art, premiere dates, and record label and catalog number.

Johnny Mercer
Taksler, Steve. How to begin a CD collection.

Provides a selected list of Mercer cast and other recordings, including record labels and serial numbers.

Galt McDermot
Holleman, John. Hair 1968-1998.

A fan page about McDermot's show Hair. Includes an extensive discography of Hair and other McDermot recordings, providing record label and catalog numbers, year of release, and cast and song lists.

Alan Menken
Jennings, Bill. Alan Menken.

Provides a chronological listing of recordings of stage and film works by Menken and various lyricists, including some album cover art, premiere dates, and record label and catalog numbers.

Cole Porter
Hutchins, Michael H. The Virtual Cole Porter: A Guide to His Work.

Fairly exhaustive list of cast and other Porter recordings. Cast recordings arranged by title of show. Non-cast recordings arranged by album title. Provides some cover art, record label and catalog number and format information, album credits, and cast and song lists.

Stephen Sondheim
Hutchins, Michael H. Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide.

Fairly exhaustive list of cast and other Sondheim recordings. Cast recordings arranged by title of show. Non-cast recordings arranged by album title. Provides some cover art, record label and catalog number and format information, album credits, and cast and song lists.

Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill Foundation for Music. Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.

Cast recordings organized by title of show. Provides record label and catalog number.

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Performer Discographies

Betty Buckley
Gans, Andrew. Career Profile: The Recordings.

Provides information on selected Buckley recordings, including information about the recordings, cover art, song lists (and lyrics), and ordering information.

Peter Cousens
Wilson, Adam. Recordings.

A discography of Cousens' recordings, providing some album cover art and information about the recordings.

Michael Crawford
Krista. Michael's Recordings.

Provides album cover art and song lists for selected Crawford recordings.

Dolores Gray
Lynch, Megan. An Informal Dolores Gray Discography.

Provides record label and catalog number, song lists, and information about Gray's LP, 78, Cassette, and CD recordings

Peter Karrie
Daae, Christine. Peter Karrie Musicals and Recordings.

Provides information on the recordings, reprinted reviews, and album cover art for several Karrie recordings.

Rebecca Luker
Kwan, Kevin. Rebecca Luker.

Discography of Luker's recordings. Provides album cover art, record label and release year, and song lists.

Andrea Marcovicci
Andrea Marcovicci's Discography.

Provides album cover art and song lists for Marcovicci's recordings.

Amanda McBroom
Amanda McBroom Discography.

Provides album cover art and song lists for McBroom's recordings.

Elaine Paige
Bogdanski, Jennifer J. Elaine Paige.

Includes a list of stage production involving Paige, providing recording information when available. Also provides information on Paige's solo recordings.

Bernadette Peters
Hesbacher, Melinda. Bernadette's Recordings.

A discography of Peter's recordings, providing record label (but no serial numbers) and year of release. Provides more information for selected cast recordings of show, including show credits, cast and song lists, and synopses.

Dave Willets
Morris, Neil. Dave Willetts - Discography.

Provides record label and catalog number, year of release, and some cover art and additional information for Willets' recordings.

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Record Labels

Angel Records.

This site is still in development. Currently, they only have their release schedule, with links for purchasing the recordings through Amazon.com.

Arista Records.

Provides information about their "Ultimate Broadway" compilation.

BMG Classics Broadway.

Provides news and information about their new releases, including cover art and cast and song lists; as well as a catalog of all their recordings. Also provides tour dates for shows represented among their recordings.

Columbia Records Online.

Couldn't find any cast recordings on their site. The recent Columbia Broadway Masterworks releases can be found on the Sony Classical site (listed below).

Dreamworks Records.

Provides information about their cast recordings of Rent and Martin Guerre. Gives web links and ordering information.

DRG Records.

Provides an on-line catalog of their recordings, divided into categories. Notes show credits, song selections, and record serial number. Sometimes it notes cast members. Also provides a catalog request form, an order form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader), and a Special Offers page.

Ducy Lee Records.

Provides an on-line catalog of their recordings, including information on ordering through mail direct through them. Provides catalog number, artwork, and additional information for each recording.

First Night Records.

Provides an online searchable catalog and online ordering. Provides album art and information about the recordings.

Geffen.

At this time, this site does not appear to have any information about their cast recordings (Dreamgirls and Little Shop of Horrors).

Jay Records.

Jay Records is the American edition of Britian's TER Records. Jay records cast and studio recordings (including their Masterworks series, a collection of note-complete recordings). Their catalog is online, divided into categories, providing show credits, album cover shots, record serial numbers, length of recordings, cast lists, track lists, recording descriptions, and reviews when available.

KOCH International.

Distributor for the DRG, Silva Screen, and Sterling record labels, with links to these labels' websites.

Painted Smiles Special Offer.

A site offering a special $10 per disc offer on the recordings from the Painted Smile label. Includes an online copy of the catalog and printable order form.

Polydor.

A confusing site to navigate. Their "Hall of Records" (catalog) lists record serial numbers for their musicals (under M) and soundtracks (under S).

Razor & Tie.

Look under "Soundtracks" for cast recording related recordings. Their online catalog provides record serial numbers and prices (and occasionally more detailed information, for example, about their soundtrack of Lost Horizon). Provides a 1-800 number and an online form for ordering.

RCA Victor.

This URL now automatically redirects you to the BMG Classics page.

Rhino Records.

Provides an online catalog and ordering. Look under "Soundtracks" for cast recordings.

Rykodisc.

Provides an online catalog and ordering. Look under "Film music/Soundtracks." Gives track info, audio excerpts, and cover art. Also gives information about the "enhanced" content of the MGM soundtrack series (i.e. trailers for the films of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Man of La Mancha, etc.). Watch their site for information about the upcoming first-ever releases of Promises Promises and Sugar on CD.

Silva Screen.

Provides information on their recording of Wuthering Heights.

Sony Classical.

Provides information on the new Columbia Broadway Masterworks series.

TVT.

Provides online catalog and ordering. Look under "Soundtrax" for information about their recordings of 1776, Wizard of Oz, and Follies. Provides a recording description, track info, cover art, and audio samples.

Universal Studios Music Group (includes MCA and hip-o).

Couldn't find any cast recording content online, but they do have some cast recordings (Big) on their label.

Varese Sarabande.

Provides news of upcoming releases, a catalog, and online ordering. Their catalog is broken down into categories. Provides record serial number, track list, and cover and back art.

Walt Disney Records.

Provides a catalog broken into categories, links for ordering recordings online at Music Boulevard, and a history of the record label. Informational pages on recordings provide a recording description, track lists, and audio samples.

Warner Brothers Records.

Provides information on Warner Brothers' release of the soundtrack to Evita.

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Info on Individual Recordings

Atkey, Mel. Shikari.

Includes a link for ordering the recording through Amazon.com. Includes synopsis and lyrics.

Bitterman, Michael and James Corey Kaufman. Dicovering Magenta.

Includes information on ordering the recording through mail, a synopsis of the musical, the entire book of the musical, and information about the creators.

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Places to order recordings

There are many places to order recordings on the web (CDNOW, Amazon.com, Pantagon.net), but few concentrate on the selling of cast recordings. The following three dealers all specialize in theatre and cabaret recordings.

Dress Circle.

Based in London. Offers an online searchable catalog (though the search function is poor) and online ordering. Offers a wide selection of British cast recordings (as well as recordings from other countries) and other theatre related merchandise.

Footlight Records.

Based in New York City. Offers an online searchable catalog and online ordering. Offers a wide selection of American cast recordings as well as recordings from other countries.

Sound of Music.

Based in Germany. Recent releases are listed Buyers can order their catalog of 2500+ cast recordings and videos from all over the world. Accepts mail, fax, and phone orders and ships around the world.

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Usenet & Mailing Lists

CastRecL. Mailing List. Moderated by Warren Seamans.

A mailing list devoted to the serious discussion of cast recordings and related issues. To join, send an email consisting of "SUBSCRIBE CASTRECL" to [email protected].

Rec.Arts.Theatre.Musicals. Usenet Group and Mailing List. Moderated by Elizabeth Lear Newman.

A Usenet Group/Mailing List dedicated to the discussion of the musical theatre (which often includes the discussion of cast recordings). If you don't mind wading through people endlessly discussing which recording of Phantom of the Opera is the best and people mistakenly calling cast recordings "soundtracks," one may sometimes find items of interest. Available on Usenet as Rec.Arts.Theatre.Musical and through a mailing list gateway by sending a message consisting of "subscribe musicals [your_email_address]" to [email protected].

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A few general musical theatre sites

Atkey, Mel. The Canadian Musicals Page.

Includes links to site about musical theatre, performers, and companies in and from Canada.

Hobgood, Jill. Theatricopia: An abundance of links and more for Musical Theatre fans.

An excellent site full of various links to musical theatre sites (including cast recording resources).

Last updated 8/21/2001. Send comments to Mike Benedetto.