CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Ain't Misbehavin' (1978 Original Broadway Cast)

by: Various Artists

Release Date October 25, 1990
I have been a big fan of this musical for years and nothing beats the original broadway cast- They are amazing! Someone said it was a shame it was never captured on video, but it was. It was broadcast on NBC in the 80's and it was incredible. I wish they would release it on video I would love nothing more than to see it again. I had taped it but the tape was lost in a fire at my friend's apartment. I would love to see it get released on DVD. Maybe someday, for now this CD will have to do.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals

by: Various Artists

Release Date June 04, 2002
This C-D contains remastered music from many of the
best musicals I remember from my youth. The only
thing I miss is the video because at times there is
only the sound of tapdancing.
I enjoy singing along with the music while driving
my car. Just as good as singing in the shower!

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 5

by: Fats Waller

Release Date August 19, 2008
This C-D contains remastered music from many of the
best musicals I remember from my youth. The only
thing I miss is the video because at times there is
only the sound of tapdancing.
I enjoy singing along with the music while driving
my car. Just as good as singing in the shower!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Fats Waller

by: Fats Waller

Release Date November 07, 2000
If I get to heaven Fats would be one of the first people I'd look up. His music is a real joy - it always puts me in a good mood. This is one of those rare albums where every song is great!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1: Messin' Around with the Blues

by: Fats Waller

Release Date June 05, 2007
What is there really to say? If you want this you need it, and if you think you might want it, you probably don't need it. Precious little of the iconic Fats is here, rather, this is Fats-In-Training. It's amazing to have all of this myriad of sessions and alternate takes, which as a young lad I searched for literally all over the world (private issues emanating from all sorts of countries), all on 4 CD's. If anybody still has the temerity to complain about JSP I say only this: the major labels all dropped the ball; even when they reissue this stuff, they mess it up terribly - bad edits, over-filtering, etc...This is a labor of love - high points? Some of the Thomas Morris stuff, the Louisiana Sugar Babes, the Henderson tracks. But if you know what ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Fats Waller

by: Fats Waller

Release Date September 12, 2000
This is a delightful compilation of Fats' at his best. The remastering is excellent and I would recomend this CD to anyone wanting to listen to jazz piano playing - the CD is worth getting even if only for the scintillating improvisation of 'Aint Misbehavin'

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It!

by: Fats Waller

Release Date September 26, 2006
As a Fats Waller fan of many years, I was delighted to find this collection on C.D.'s. The seller was great and I will continue looking for other such products.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Best of Fats Waller

by: Fats Waller

Release Date July 22, 2008
This three-cd set boasts the best sound quality I've ever heard as far as the great Fats Waller is concerned. There's a mixture of songs which he wrote, startlingly wonderful piano playing, and Mr. Waller covering popular songs of the day, with his own unique take on each of them. There are many Fats Waller sets out there, so I can't say that this is the best one. However, I picked this up for only seventeen dollars (on Amazon.com, it's selling in new condition for under nine dollars!), the sound quality is gorgeous, the liner notes are decent, though not extensive, and I have absolutely no complaints about the collection. The quintessential recording of "Ain't Misbehavin'", which was featured in the classic film, "Stormy Weather", is on this album. If ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

The Canadian Brass: Greatest Hits

from: RCA

Release Date October 25, 1990
The Canadian Brass are fantastic. The songs on this album are superb. And the performance by the Canadian Brass of those songs is impeccable. However, because it is a greatest hits album, this album has the unfortunate nature of bouncing back and forth from genre to genre, creating a somewhat jarring experience for the listener. After settling into some beautiful classical and baroque pieces at the beginning, it slowly moves into some more jazzy music near the end before coming back to Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" (which, I must admit, was somewhat tainted by the inclusion of a pipe-organ, though it was probably necessary for that particular piece).

Personally, when I want to listen to jazz, I want to listen to jazz. And when I want ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)

from: Sony

Release Date October 19, 2004
Of course there should have been much more. I remember there been a Metropolian Opera series called CAST ALBUMS- 100 YEARS that was put out for a limited time only and had like five volumes.
As Peter Filichia noted they left out SHE LOVES ME, BRIGADOON and SWEENEY TODD. Also nothing from PACIFIC OVERTURES, BIG RIVER, CHESS, CRAZY FOR YOU, JEKYLL & HYDE, TITANIC, THE SCARLET
PIMPERNEL, FOOTLOOSE- THE MUSICAL, THE FULL MONTY, URINTOWN...
But they couldn't have put it all. I would have done without Lee Remick's
"Anyone Can Whistle", because the show was a flop. I guess because it was Sondheim's first "serious" show...