Here is a survey of recent cast album releases (and significant Broadway-related releases), and a schedule of those announced for the balance of 1999.

FORTHCOMING

Oklahoma! (1998 London Revival Cast)

• Release: Jan. 18 (UK only; mid-1999 release in North America)
  
• Label: First Night
  
• Writers: music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
  
• Performers: Cast of the Royal National Theatre revival in London.
  

Cabaret (Studio Cast)

• Release: Feb. 2
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb
  
• Performers: Jonathan Pryce, Judi Dench, Fred Ebb, Maria Friedman, and Gregg Edelman
  
• Miscellaneous: This 2-CD complete recording was previously released in England under the TER label.

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Lizzie Borden

• Release: early Feb.
  
• Label: Original Cast Records
  
• Writers: music by Christopher McGovern, lyrics by Amy Powers
  
• Performers: Alison Fraser and the original American Stage Company cast
  
• Miscellaneous: This album was recorded Dec. 5.

Side Man: Jazz and Classics from the Broadway Hit

• Release: Feb. 9
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: various
  
• Performers: various
  
• Miscellaneous: This compilation recording features previously-released jazz tracks.

Fame (Toronto/US Tour Cast)

• Release: Feb. 16
  
• Label: DRG
  
• Writers: music by Steve Margoshes, lyrics by Jacques Levy
  
• Performers: Members of the Toronto/US Tour cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album was recorded in early Dec. 1998 in Philadelphia.

Footloose

• Release: Feb.
  
• Label: Q Records
  
• Writers: various
  
• Performers: Original Broadway cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album was recorded Nov. 2; it was produced by Tommy Krasker.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

• Release: Feb.-Mar.
  
• Label: Atlantic
  
• Writers: Stephen Trask
  
• Performers: John Cameron Mitchell and the Off-Broadway cast.

As Thousands Cheer (1998 Revival Cast)

• Release: early Feb.
  
• Label: Varese Sarabande
  
• Writer: Irving Berlin
  
• Performers: Members of the 1998 Drama Dept. cast.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album was recorded Dec. 7.

Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act!

• Release: Mar. 16
  
• Label: DRG
  
• Writers: lyrics by Gerard Alessandrini
  
• Performers: Members of the Off-Broadway cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album was produced by Hugh Fordin.

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (Concept Album)

• Release: Mar. 23
  
• Label: Rocket/Island Records
  
• Writers: music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice
  
• Performers: Pop artists including Elton John, LeAnn Rimes, Janet Jackson, Sting, Boys II Men, James Taylor and Tina Turner
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album features songs from the Disney stage musical.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999 Broadway Revival Cast)

• Release: Mar.
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Clark Gesner
  
• Performers: The Broadway revival cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The cast album, recorded Jan. 20, is produced by Andrew Lippa.

Myths and Hymns (formerly Saturn Returns)

• Release: Mar.
  
• Label: Nonesuch
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Adam Guettel
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Produced at the Public Theater under the title of Saturn Returns, this recording will feature some cast members from that production.

High Society

• Release: Apr. 20
  
• Label: DRG
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Cole Porter; additional lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
  
• Performers: Original Broadway cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album was recorded Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.

Fosse

• Release: Apr. 27
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: various
  
• Performers: Original Broadway cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The single CD, produced by 7-time Grammy winner Jay David Saks, will be recorded Jan. 25.

Love's Fowl

• Release: Apr. (tentative)
  
• Label: Original Cast Records
  
• Writers: Henry Krieger and Susan J. Vitucci
  
• Performers: Krieger (Side Show, Dreamgirls) performs songs from his puppet musical, presented at the New York Theater Workshop. To be recorded late Feb.

110 in the Shade (Studio Cast)

• Release: 1999
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones
  
• Performers: Ron Raines, Karen Ziemba, Richard Muenz
  
• Miscellaneous: This complete recording will be a 2-CD set.

Personals (London Cast)

• Release: 1999
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: various
  
• Performers: cast of the 1998 New End Theatre production

The Most Happy Fella (Studio Cast)

• Release: 1999
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
  
• Performers: Louis Quilico, Emily Loesser, Karen Ziemba, Richard Muenz
  
• Miscellaneous: This complete recording will be a 3-CD set.

Bitter Sweet (Studio Cast)

• Release: 1999
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Noel Coward
  
• Performers: Sadler's Wells Opera cast
  
• Miscellaneous: This 2-CD complete recording coincides with the Noel Coward centenery in 1999.

Whistle Down the Wind (Original 1998 London Cast)

• Release: 1999
  
• Label: Really Useful Records/Polydor
  
• Writers: music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Jim Steinman
  
• Performers: Marcus Lovett, Lottie Mayor, Dean Collinson, Veronica Hart and the rest of the West End cast.

The Capeman (1998 Broadway Cast Album)

• Release: no date
  
• Label: DreamWorks Records
  
• Writers: music by Paul Simon, lyrics by Simon and Derek Walcott
  
• Performers: Reuben Blades, Marc Anthony, Ednita Nazario and the original Broadway cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: This full original cast album includes much material not on the 1997 "Songs From Capeman" CD, and has the Broadway cast members singing numbers that were performed on "Songs From..." by composer Paul Simon.

Other Recordings: A Little Bit in Love (JAY) - Feb. 2
Kim Criswell: Back to Before (JAY) - Feb. 2
Sondheim Tonight (JAY) - early 1999
Sean McDermott: A Good Thing Going (JAY) - 1999
Kim Criswell: Back to Before (JAY) - 1999
Gypsy reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - May
Mame reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - May
Sweet Charity reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - May
Flower Drum Song reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - May
No, No Nannette reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - May
Cinderella reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - May

AVAILABLE NOW

The Civil War (Concept Album)

• Release: Jan. 5
  
• Label: Atlantic
  
• Writers: music by Frank Wildhorn
  
• Performers: Hootie and the Blowfish, Patti Labelle, Betty Buckley, Michael White, Amy Grant, and others
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The second of three Civil War recordings, this concept album will feature a mixture of pop, country, and theatre artists as well as readings by Danny Glover and Maya Angelou

Z. The Masked Musical (Concept Album)

• Release: Dec. 15, 1998
  
• Label: Get Z'd Productions, LLC
  
• Writers: Robert W. Cabell
  
• Performers: Kaye Ballard, Robert Evan, Deborah Gibson, Marc Kudisch, Jeff McCarthy, Sean McDermott, Phyllis Newman, Christiane Noll and others.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: http://www.z-musical.com

A Bag of Popcorn and a Dream (Concept Album)

• Release: Dec. 15, 1998
  
• Label: Original Cast Records
  
• Writers: Robert Wright and George Forrest
  
• Performers: Karen Akers, Lucie Arnaz, Jeff Calhoun, Geffrey Holder, Judy Kaye, Marcia Lewis, etc.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: This concept album features previously unrecorded nightclub, film, and theatre songs by Robert Wright and George Forrest.

Starmites

• Release: Dec. 8, 1998
  
• Label: Original Cast Records
  
• Writer: music and lyrics by Barry Keating
  
• Performers: Victor Trent Cook, Liz Larsen, Gabriel Barre, Gwen Stewart and most of the original cast (Sharon McNight and Brian Lane Green do not appear on the recording).
  
• Miscellaneous notes: 8 songs were recorded around the time of the 1989 Broadway production; 6 songs were recorded in 1998.

Sandra Bernhard: I'm Still Here...Damn It!

• Release: Nov. 24, 1998
  
• Label: TVT Records
  
• Writers: Sandra Bernhard and various
  
• Performers: Sandra Bernhard
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The album was recorded during Bernhard's Off-Broadway engagement at the Westbeth Theatre Center.

St. Louis Woman (Encores! 1998 Revival cast)

• Release: Nov. 10, 1998
  
• Label: Mercury
  
• Writers: music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer
  
• Performers: Vanessa Williams, Charles S. "Roc" Dutton, Helen Goldsby, Chuck Cooper, L. Scott Caldwell; Victor Trent Cook, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Yvette Cason, Roger Robinson and Wendell Pierce

I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky

• Release: Nov. 3, 1998
  
• Label: Nonesuch
  
• Writers: music by John Adams, libretto by June Jordan
  
• Performers: Darius de Haas, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Michael McElroy, Richard Muenz, Angela Teek, Welly Yang
  
• Miscellaneous notes: This studio recording retains several cast members of the original Peter Sellars production staged at Berkeley, CA.

Wonderful Town (1998 Studio Cast)

• Release: Nov. 3, 1998
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
  
• Performers: Rebecca Luker, Karen Mason, Ron Raines, Gregg Edelman and Don Stephenson
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Featuring the National Symphony Orchestra, this is the first complete recording.

The Civil War: The Nashville Sessions

• Release: Nov. 3, 1998
  
• Label: Atlantic
  
• Writers: music by Frank Wildhorn
  
• Performers: various country music singers
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Titled "The Civil War: An American Musical," the stage show will draw its material from original civil war documents, Walt Whitman poetry and other writings of the time.

Kelly (Studio Cast)

• Release: Oct. 27, 1998
  
• Label: Original Cast Records
  
• Writers: music by Moose Charlap, lyrics by Eddie Lawrence
  
• Performers: Brian D'Arcy James, Jane Connell, George S. Irving, Marcia Lewis, Sally Mayes and Conrad John Schuck.

Triumph of Love

• Release: Oct. 20, 1998
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: Music by Jeffrey Stock, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.
  
• Performers: Betty Buckley, Susan Egan and other members of the original cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The show was recorded June 13-14 and 16 in New York.

Songs From Whistle Down the Wind (studio cast)

• Release: Oct. 19, 1998 (UK only)
  
• Label: Really Useful Records/Polydor
  
• Writers: music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Jim Steinman
  
• Performers: Tina Arena, Boyzone, Donny Osmond, Meat Loaf, Boy George, Tom Jones and others.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: A concept CD of the score, with pop performers doing numbers from the show.

Violet

• Release: Oct. 13, 1998
  
• Label: Resmiranda Records
  
• Writers: music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Brian Crawley
  
• Performers: Lauren Ward, Michael McElroy, with assorted guest vocalists
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Resmiranda (1-800-636-5886) is a Vermont-based classical/inspirational label. CD produced by Buryl Red and Joseph Joubert.

The Night of the Hunter (Concept Album)

• Release: Oct. 6, 1998
  
• Label: Varese Sarabande
  
• Writers: Music by Claibe Richardson, lyrics by Stephen Cole
  
• Performers: Ron Raines, Sally Mayes, Dorothy Loudon, Marcia Lewis and Jonathan Freeman

Follies (1998 Revival)

• Release: Sept. 22, 1998
  
• Label: TVT Soundtrax
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
  
• Performers: cast includes Laurence Guittard, Donna McKechnie, Tony Roberts, Dee Hoty, Ann Miller, Eddie Bracken, Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecchi, Natalie Mosco, Phyllis Newman.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The cast album of the Paper Mill Playhouse revival was recorded June 1 & 2. The CD is being touted as the most complete recording yet, including not only all the dance music, but an appendix of songs cut prior to Broadway ("Can That Boy Foxtrot," etc.) or added thereafter ("Ah, But Underneath," etc.).

Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time

• Release: Sept. 22, 1998
  
• Label: Universal
  
• Performer: Jerry Seinfeld, recorded live during his August Broadway concert.

A New Brain

• Released: Sept. 15, 1998
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by William Finn
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Recorded June 29. The new musical from the composer of Falsettos features Malcolm Gets, Penny Fuller, Mary Testa and Liz Larsen. Norm Lewis replaces original cast member Christopher Innvar on this recording.

Avenue X

• Released: Sept. 15, 1998
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: music by Ray Leslee, lyrics by John Jiler
  
• Performers: Jerry Dixon, Chuck Cooper and some members of the original cast.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Mark Brokaw directed the Playwrights Horizons production of Avenue X in 1994.

Saturday Night (1997 London Production)

• Released: Sept. 15, 1998 (U.S. Release)
  
• Label: RCA Victor/First Night
  
• Writers: music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
  
• Performers: Member of the 1997 Bridewell Theatre cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Releases in the U.K in April 1998. First complete recording of the score of this "lost" 1954 Stephen Sondheim musical, which had its long-delayed premiere Dec. 17, 1997 at the fringe theatre in London. Sondheim wrote what was to have been his professional debut when he was 24, to a book by Julius and Philip Epstein.

The Wizard of Oz (1998 stage adaptation)

• Release: Sept. 8, 1998
  
• Label: TVT Soundtrax
  
• Writers: Music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
  
• Performers: Mickey Rooney (The Wizard) and Eartha Kitt (The Wicked Witch) lead the cast of the Theatre at Madision Square Garden production.
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The 90-minute version of the show includes the entire score from the 1939 MGM film version, plus intros to many of the famous numbers and one song, "The Jitterbug," that was written for the film, but cut.

The Slow Drag (London Cast Recording)

• Release: Sept. 1, 1998
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: various
  
• Performers: Kim Criswell, Liza Sadovy and Christopher Colquhoun
  
• This jazz musical contains popular songs of the '40s, including "In the Night," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Honeysuckle Rose," and "Blame it on My Youth."

Hey Mr. Producer! (1998 UK Concert Recording)

• Release: Aug. 25, 1998 (US only)
  
• Label: Philips/First Night
  
• Writers: Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Boublil & Schonberg, and many more
  
• Performers: Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, Elaine Paige, Colm Wilkinson, Judi Dench, Jonathan Pryce, Ruthie Henshall, Michael Ball, and many more
  
• Miscellaneous: 2-CD recording of a concert tribute to Cameron Mackintosh, producer of Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Side by Side by Sondheim and many more shows, all excerpted here.

Saturday Night Fever (1998 London Cast)

• Released: Aug. 10, 1998 (UK only)
  
• Label: Polydor/UK
  
• Writers: Songs by the Bee Gees (Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb)
  
• Performers: Adam Garcia, Anita Louis Combe and the London stage cast
  
• Miscellaneous: Songs from the Bee Gees songbook have been added to the film score for this stage adaptation, with libretto by Nan Knighton (The Scarlet Pimpernel

Sweet Charity (1998 Studio Cast)

• Released: Aug. 4, 1998
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields
  
• Performers: Jacqueline Dankworth, Josephine Blake, Shezwae Powell, Gregg Edelman, and Ethan Freeman
  
• Miscellaneous: This first complete recording includes as bonus tracks songs written for the film version.

Chicago (1997 London cast)

• Released in U.S.: July 28, 1998
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb.
  
• Performers: Ruthie Henshall, Ute Lemper and the West End cast.
• Miscellaneous notes: Lemper is scheduled to join the Broadway cast in September; Henshall says she'll become the Broadway Roxie in January 1999.

Incidental Music From Twelfth Night

• Released: July 16, 1998
  
• Label: Resmiranda Records
  
• Writers: music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by William Shakespeare
  
• Performers: David Patrick Kelly
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Incidental music and six songs from the summer 1998 Broadway revival of the Shakespeare comedy.

Thomas the King

• Released: July 7, 1998
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music by John Williams, lyrics by James Harbert
  
• Performers: various original stars of the original London production
  
• Miscellaneous notes: Completely re-mixed and re-mastered, this is the first CD release of the score.

An Evening With Jerry Herman (1989 Rainbow & Stars Production)

• Released: 1998
  
• Label: Arabesque
  
• Writers: Music and lyrics by Jerry Herman
  
• Performers: Herman, Lee Roy Reams and Karen Morrow
  
• Miscellaneous notes: NOT the cast album of the upcoming Broadway revue, but a recording of the Rainbow & Stars nightclub performance that evolved into the Broadway production, with two of the three same performers.

Cabaret (1998 Broadway Revival)

• Released: June 30, 1998
  
• Label: RCA Victor
  
• Writers: music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb
  
• Performers: Natasha Richardson, Alan Cumming, Ron Rifkin and the cast of the Broadway revival, directed by Sam Mendes
  
• Miscellaneous notes: The cast album was recorded April 13. Audience sounds have been added to the recording to extend its "environmental" theatre concept.

Lady in the Dark (1997 London Cast)

• Released: June 2, 1998
  
• Label: JAY
  
• Writers: music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin
  
• Performers: Maria Friedman, Adrian Dunbar, James Dryfus, Steven Edward Moore, Charlotte Cornwell and the National Theatre Cast
  
• Miscellaneous notes: This complete recording of the show's score features London's National Theatre cast.

Other Recordings: I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it on the Road Original London Cast reissue (JAY) - Jan. 5
Elisabeth Welch Live In New York (JAY) - Jan. 5
Cirque du Soleil 'O' (RCA Victor) - Nov. 24
Anastasia, the Musical enhanced reissue (Original Cast Records) - Nov. 24
The Magic Show reissue (January Records) - Oct. 20
The Prince of Egypt soundtracks (DreamWorks) - Nov. 17
Darling of the Day reissue (RCA Victor)
Promenade reissue (RCA Victor)
South Pacific reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks)
Company reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks)
A Little Night Music reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks)
Oh, Kay! reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - Nov. 10
Girl Crazy reissue (Columbia Broadway Masterworks) - Nov. 10
Ron Raines: Broadway Passion (JAY) - Sept. 1
Caroline O'Connor: What I Did for Love (JAY) - Sept. 1
The Boyfriend London cast reissue (JAY) - Aug. 4
Snoopy London cast reissue (JAY) - Aug. 4
Pal Joey London cast reissue (JAY) - July 7
Helen Reddy: Center Stage (Varese Sarabande)
Christiane Noll: A Broadway Love Story (Varese Sarabande)
The Only Broadway CD You'll Ever Need (RCA Victor)
Fascinating Rhythm: The Broadway Gershwin (RCA Victor)
Duets (Varese Sarabande)

NO LABEL ANNOUNCED

• Little Me (1998 Broadway revival)
  
• On the Town (1998 Broadway revival)
  
• Parade
  
• Annie Get Your Gun
  

-- Compiled by Andrew Ku and Robert Viagas