Yesterday's TOD -- which I still think is a great one, but I find surprisingly hard to respond in a meaningful way. Most of this is 1950s/1960s shows because in the years when I was truly wearing out cast albums, that's what I was listening to. Listening habits changed over the years, but now I find the balance tilting back toward shows. Original B'way cast unless noted.
MOST FAVORITE / LISTENED TO:
Cabaret
Camelot
Evita
Fiddler on the Roof
Gypsy
Hello, Dolly!
The King and I - 1960s Lincoln Center because it included the ballet
Kismet
Kiss of the Spider Woman - Chita
Li'l Abner
The Music Man - grew up on the soundtrack first, then OBC
My Fair Lady - B'way and London
On the Town - Bernstein 1960s re-recording
Show Boat - 1960s Lincoln Center
South Pacific
West Side Story - soundtrack, then OBC
Lots of others, too, but had to draw the line somewhere.
BEST SOUNDING:
I remember thinking Cabaret was a great one, but I'd only begun to listen for quality of sound around that time. However, I'd always liked the ones on Columbia, which is particularly easy to identify now with BK's comments re Goddard Lieberson in the new book fresh in my mind. Not only the sound, but the gatefolds and most everything else about the albums.
LEAST FAVORITE:
Annie Get Your Gun (don't remember why)
Hard to recall least favorites. Have to think about this.
WORST SOUNDING:
Hello, Dolly! - RCA Dynagroove LP, inner groove distortion, you name it.
Man of La Mancha - LP sound always irritated me, don't remember why.
Promises, Promises - LP - same, especially out-of-tune stuff - all the things BK's CD fixes.
