Jonathan Larson - Rent (1996 Original Broadway Cast)

I received the cd in a timely matter, however there are a few songs I can not listen to because of bad scratches on the cd.

Rent is an important production, because it puts a face to the AIDS crisis and this was especially new when the production first came to Broadway. The music to Rent is wonderful and spans the breadth of the pop/rock genre. The Broadway soundtrack is as crisp of a recording as the motion picture soundtrack, but overall is a much better version. The Broadway version includes a number of humorous phone calls, additional songs and it seems have more feeling to them. All of the songs on the Rent soundtrack are great, but my favorites by far are Rent and La Vie Boheme. Both take a satirical approach to contemporary culture that is refreshing and needed when discussing the issue of "social outcasts". You can't go wrong with this recording of the Rent soundtrack.

Rent launched the careers of Daphne Rubin Vega, Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs, and (perhaps most popularly) Jesse L. Martin, of Law & Order fame. Sure he's a tough cop, but when you hear him sing "I'll Cover You" you realize exactly why it is that so many actors and actresses say their first love is the theater. Martin is so much more than some cog in Dick Wolf's Law and Order machine. He has a voice that can bowl you over.

The movie didn't bowl audiences over. (We won't blame that on the replacement of Vega with Rosario Dawson *cough* Idiots! *cough*) Seasons of Love, and Stevie Wonder, how can you go wrong there?

Especially when one takes the time to read the story of Jonathan Larson, as told by brilliant writer David Lipsky. "525,600 minutes--how do you measure a year in the life?" Larson was a man so in love with his craft that he basically worked himself to death in order to leave the world this beautiful, amazing legacy of song, of love, of heart. It is a MUST-HAVE CD!

Announced today, June 1st will be the final show for this production. I have to tell you, this show, even after 12 years, still hits home and is as entertaining as ever. This album is amazing, but on stage it's mesmerizing. If you haven't seen it, make a trip to NY just to see. You can get great seats as the theater is small and even nose bleeds are good seats. I just brought my 29 year old friend and her 22 year old sister to see it last Sat (1/10/2008) and they fell in love with it.

Seriously, don't miss it! There is no day but today people!

Wow. What a wonderfully unique show! The score is brilliant and the cast is equally brilliant. This musical stands out from the rest of them. It's gritty and edgy and it's not filled with cheesy dance numbers and special effects. It's real! People can relate to it. The plot itself is beautiful, but the music blows my mind! It's without a doubt my favorite musical. I've seen it 4 times now...twice on tour and twice on Broadway. If you only know the movie, you're missing out. This album brings so much more then the movie. It's actually the reason I changed my plans and decided to go into theatre. It's definatly a must-have for any musical fan out there! It is different from, it takes risks, but the effect is glorious. I'm still dazzled by it and I must have listened to it at least 100 times by now.

It is in my personal opinion that those who blasepheme this incredible work are simply not into moderne music and would prefer to listen to screeching sopranos and tenors verbrato their way through an opera in any language other than enligsh. But for my generation, this rock opera (if you didn't catch that before buying this fabulus cd, don't blame the fans) got us involved in theatre once again. Its powerful message called one us as a population to not ignore the AIDs epidemic any more. Jonathon Larson used his favorite medium, the stage, as a platform for his stance. If one believes that Broadway is the place for happy endings and large, meaningless outbursts of songs, stay away. But if you believe in a better tomorrow and that we can't ignore this anymore, cough up the money and buy the recording of the best artists singing amazing songs written by a musical genius.

Absolutely fantastic. I have the Movie Soundtrack as well but it doesn't even come close. Every song from the play is in here.
I love listening to my favorite songs which are not on the movie CD Rent (2005 Movie Soundtrack) like Christmas Bells, and Happy New Year.
These are most of the same people from the movie Rent (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition) just at a different point in there life.
This is a MUST have!

This is a must if you liked the Broadway show. Fans who have seen only the movie are missing out on some great songs and arrangements. The instrumentation from the movie is more polished, as are some of the voices. Jesse Martin's voice has really improved with age. However the movie is missing the great transitions and blending between pieces of music.

When I first received my copy of Rent's soundtrack, one of my friends had the good manners to warn me that I would "hate the message." I am not surprised at this assessment, but what is more unfortunate is that the production as a whole does not make up for that objectionable message enough to make this a worthwhile purchase for anyone uninterested in a mindless affirmation of the self-destructive "bohemian" lifestyle. The lyrics alternate between vapid pseudo-philosophical platitudes ("Measure in love, seasons of love") and ugly overtones of Marxist class envy ("Yuppie scum"). The voices of the singers are disputable in quality - the most impressive being Idina Menzel's boisterous, full-bodied rock vocals and Jesse L. Martin's poignant soul-inspired voice and the worst being Daphne Rubin Vega's rasping excuse for a voice, whose every note invokes simultaneous feelings of pity and revulsion. As for the music, while certain tunes hold a certain decadent charm, the overall style soon becomes repetitive and tiresome, with guitars assailing the ears almost as frequently as paeans to drug use, socialism and "loooooove". How this mediocre blasphemy against Puccini could possibly have won a Tony is beyond my understanding, and how anyone could bring themselves to spend more than a dime upon such a second-rate soundtrack should be equally beyond your belief. Avoid this record.

I am a Renthead/Junkie for many years now. The cast recording has been with me for years due to a recommendation from a college friend. I have been playing this CD and know the words by heart.

I was the first in line when the movie came out and had a heartfelt emotional experience. And now it has finally happened...

I just saw the show for the first time on April 28th, 2007 and may I say GO SEE IT! The songs have not lost any relevance in the last 11 years. The cast of the tour is great and I hope one day to see the original cast perform.

Thank you Jonathan Larson! God speed and I love you :-)

Although the movie soundtrack is fantastic, I found this soundtrack is even better. Having originated from the play, it may provide another perspective that enhances your "Rent" experience overall.

Jonathon Larson rocks!

I saw the musical twice, once in L.A. and other in Chicago and it was GREAT!!! I'm a huge fan and pretty much know all the words. I never get sick of listening to this cd and others find it catchy too. I'm hoping my husband will let me watch it one more time in NY. :)

This two disk CD hardly ever leaves my CD player. I actually went out and bought a bigger CD player just so that I could leave it in.

I have always thought that the comparations between "Rent" and "Hair" are totally unfair. In "Rent" we have a full cast with real and meaningful people without the false truths and lies that were around in the late 1960. Jonathan Larson is the Balzac of Generation X.

there's nothing more to add...it's just amazing...that is all...if you disagree you should go to hell

Perfect combination of rock, musical elements and deep meaning!!
Everybody can find something in this album that they will like!
Rent is going to bewitch you! Have fun with it!

not a kid...just dont have an account. this cast recording is definitely amazing. great quality. i listen to this almost every day. im a total RENThead.

My first experience with Rent was the movie. I love the movie soundtrack, but it doesn't include many awesome songs, such as the Tune Ups, the Voice Mails and Christmas Bells (one of my personal favorites). I admit that I wasn't too keen on Daphne Rubin-Vega's voice to begin with, and I definitely had preferred Tracie Thoms to Fredi Walker. However, Daphne has grown on me, and I think Fredi is just amazing now. The Rent OBCR is nothing short of amazing, and the entire story of Rent basically unfolds in every song, so I'd say it's a terrific buy.

We had recently seen a touring company live version of Rent. The original cast recording filled in many of the blanks left from the poor sound system used in the live production we saw. The voices are better and the energy is palpable in the recording. Highly recommended

I got the cd with only disc 2...it was unopened and had 2 copies of disc two it was rediculus...im happy onme of my friends could make me a copy of the first one...

Jonathan Larson brings justice to a literally life changing and stage changing show that beautifully captures any listener to the moving story of love and living no day but today.

With a lot on your plate, listeners learn of the story, in this rock opera loosely based of Puccini's La Boheme, of 8 friends in New York city and a year in their lives. A film maker, his fading room mate, a wild philosopher and his drag queen lover, a heroin addicted stripper, an off-the-wall performance artist and her serious lawyer girlfriend, and their ex-room mate, Yuppie scum that sold out all represent the main characters in this show, along with 7 others who play numerous parts: cops, druggies, bums, parents, and everyone else in between.

Out of this show, several songs stand out, amongst which are "I'll Cover You," a love confession between Collins (Jesse L Martin) and Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia); "Without You," Mimi's (Daphne Rubin-Vega) haunting refrain of life with Roger (Adam Pascal); "La Vie Boheme", where the entire cast dances on tables in a mockery to Benny's (Taye Diggs) attempted scatching words.
And of course, "Seasons of Love." 15 men and women stand at the end of the stage in winter coats where they assure the audience that the only way to measure your time on earth is in how much love you express in your life.

Beautifully written, and amazingly shocking in some areas, this show is a must have.

The best. Show. Ever.

I first got hooked on Rent by listening to a friend's soundtrack. I didn't listen to the soundtrack in depth and only listened to I'll Cover You and Seasons of Love. I then bought the cd myself and listened to all 44 songs and instantaneoulsy became a renthead. I bought the special edition movie, went and saw the play on Broadway, and read every book I can get on the subject. Every single song is outstanding, but these are my favorites:
2day 4 U - this is an energetic techno-sound song by Angel.
Out Tonight - this song is sexy and raw and is Mimi at her best
Without You - this is the saddest song in the play and is Mimi's goodbye to Roger, drugs and life.

Don't be mislead by the glitzy, sweet, softspoken and ditzy Mimi of the movie played by Rosario Dawson. The Mimi in the original cast is played by Daphne Rubin-Véga who portrays Mimi as punky, fun, crazy, streetwise, depressed and promiscuous. Although the voice of Tracy Thoms who plays Joanne in the movie is better than Freddie Walker who plays Joanne in the play, by listening to Freddie Walker you understand that Joanne is not uptight and somewhat boring like Tracy Thoms plays her, but misunderstood and caught in a confusing world between her Yuppie life and the life of a bohemian.

Angel Dumott Schünard is played by Wilson Jermaine Herédia and is fun through-and-through. Although his voice could be a bit more "mature" his character is so moving and bohemian you never regret hearing a song with Angel Dumott Schünard as a soloist. One problem is that with "2day 4 U", you must see it live, not hear on headphones.

I a going to keep this paragraph short and simple: Adam Pascal REALLY needs a new voice coach, but since Véga is in most of his songs her hazy, punky and mezmorizing makes up for it. (SRY FOR NOT TELLNG U, PASCAL PLAYS Roger, A DEPRESSED SONGWRITER)

Taye Diggs plays the landlord Benny. He has the best voice in the show and portrays the character interestingly.

Idina Menzell plays Maureen and is just as *WACKY* as her character!

L. Martin plays the anarchist/bohemian/tutor Collins, and has a great gospel voice.

Since Rent premiered on Broadway in 96, I have always had a fascination with Rent. What makes this musical so amazing is the chemistry among the cast members, the strength of the songs and passion put forth through the music. This is one musical where I recommend that you must listen to the entire album to really enjoy the music. There are a few songs, which stand out the most:

Light my Candle - must see this song in person
Today 4 U - absolutely funny song by Angel
I'll Cover You - a beautiful duet between Angel & Tom
Christmas Bells - great medley of voices
I Should Tell You - moving duet between Mimi and Roger
Seasons of Love - self-explanatory
Without You - heart-breaking song by Mimi
I'll Cover You-Reprise - by far my favorite song, always get goosebumps when I hear this song

Those are the only words to describe this musical... this music. I just recently bought this, and I love it... the music is so moving.

The only thing I have to say against it is that Mimi sounds too young... she sounds about 15, according to Roger she looks 16, but she's really 19... too many different ages associated with one character.

It's really nice to get to hear everything in order, as well. I didn't realize that the movie had moved things and changed words... and I LOVE "Christmas Bells".

Not much can be said about Rent that hasn't been said. The original cast is absolutely phenomenal, particularly Adam Pascal and Daphne Rubin-Vega. The whole show is entirely witty and the rock mix works surprisingly well for a Broadway show. As I said, the cast is great, and it's interesting to see how some of them have changed. Idina Menzel still has her rock sound, and Adam Pascal fits in here much better than Aida. The more memorable numbers such as "Seasons of Love", "La Vie Boheme", "Take Me or Leave Me", and "Out Tonight" are great, but other inner numbers such as "Christmas Bells" and "Life Support" are truly incredible. For its sheer orginality and wit, Rent certainly can't be beat and has stood the test of time perfectly.

A former friend played this for me and now I have aids :(

I love Rent, and I first had seen this version, but then I listened to the 2005 version and found it much better. All the cast is the same except Tracie Thoms takes the role as Joanne and Mimi is played by Rosario Dawson. I was surprised that their version of the two characters much better to the ears. Mimi has been played sweet and rock like, and I found that the sweet fit the role better, let it be for you to decide, but the only difference is the roles of Joanne and Mimi which I found to be better in the 2005 recording.

RENT is one of the all time great shows to grace the Great White Way, and the album has become a classic in its own right, the thing I love about the album is that its not just the biggies (La Vie Boheme, Seassons of Love) but virtually every sound bite from the production, and you can easily follow along with the story through the music.

The story begins on a frozen Christmas Eve in Grenich Village. Two artists, a filmmaker, Mark Cohen, and a has been rocker, Roger Davis, are preparing to enter a new year (Tune Up #1) the phone rings (Voice Mail #1) they reccieve several calls, their roommate, Tom Collins, has just returned from NYU, he gets mugged, and their landlord, Benjamin Coffin III, wants the overdue rent (Tune Up #2) the power blows, as does Roger and Mark's tempers (RENT)
Meanwhile, a drag queen with a heart of gold, Angel Dumant Schunard, helps the just-mugged Collins (You Ok Honey?) they walk off. Back at the lot, Roger dreams about writting one great song before the HIV virus takes his life (Tune Up #3, One Song Glory) There is a knock on the door, it is Mimi, a stripper from the catscratch club, who is looking for a match, or something more (Light My Candle) Meanwhile, uptown, Mark's X's lesbian lover, Johane, reccieves a voicemail from her father (Voice Mail #2) Back at the loft, Mark returns with Collins, who introduces Angel to the two (Today 4U) Benny makes the three an offer that they gladly turn down (You'll See) The three go their seperate ways, Mark to help out his X girlfriend, Maureene, with her performance thats happening tonight, Angel and Collins head to a life support meeting, and Roger, who has not left the appartment in god knows how long, stays behind. Mark goes to Maureen's performance space only to find Johanne (Tango: Maureene) He then arrives with Angel and Collins at the Life Support Meeting (Life Support) Back at the loft, Mimi seranades Roger (Out Tonight) but Roger angerly turns her away (Another Day) The fears of all the main charecters are echoed through the life support meeting (Will I?) Roger finally leaves the loft. On the street, Angel, Collins, and Mark rescue a homeless woman who is to say less then grateful (On the Street) the three dream about travelling far away from this bohemian hell (Santa Fe) Angel and Collins confess their love for each other (I'll Cover You) and Johanne juggles three phone calls (Were OK) The stories interconnect as Roger appologieses to Mimi (Christmas Bells) Maureene puts on her performance (Over the Moon) Finally, all the villagers gather at the life cafe to celebrate life (La Vie Boheme) Mimi and Roger find out the other has AIDS and share a moment of intensity and passion (I Should Tell You) Johanne announces that A) she is breaking up with Maureene, and B), Benny padlocked the loft (La Vie Boheme B) and thats only the first disc!!!!!

Act II begins with the cast stopping for a moment to ask, how do you meassure a year in the life? (Seassons of Love) It is New Years Eve in Bohemia, as the charecters make their resolutions (Happy New Year) Alexi Darling calls Mark with a job offer from a show called Buzzline (Voice Mail #3) Benny arrives to put an end to this war, but only gums things up (Happy New Year B) Maureene and Johanne have a fight and break up agian (Take me or Leave Me) Mark and Mimi after a fight, both wonder what life would be without the other (Without You) Alexi calls Mark agian (Voice Mail #4) and the AIDS virus takes Angel (Contact) At the memorial, Collins confesses his love one last time (I'll Cover You B) Mark wonders how things got to this point (Halloween) and Roger announces he's leaving for Santa Fe (Goodbye Love) Roger and Mark both struggle with life, Roger returns (What You Own) Roger, Mark, Johanne, and Mimi's parents call asking where their children are (Voice Mail #5) Its christmas Eve agian, and Roger and Mark remenisce about the past year, Collins announces he has rigged an ATM with a code, A-N-G-E-L, Maureene and Johanne show up with a dying Mimi (Finale A) Roger sings Mimi his song he's been writting all year (Your Eyes) Mimi dies, but is awoken, it turns out she had a gaurdian 'Angel' (Finale B)

So yeah, thats alot of story, kind of ranks up there with The Wall and Tommy for rock storytelling, at any rate, listen to it, its brilliantly mixed music, theres bound to be at least a few songs you'll love.

This has to be one of my favorites. Although I never got to see the original production, a friend of mine made me listen to the complete soundtrack (not just excerpts). I was absolutely blown away. Jonathan Larson is a genious, the voices in it are amazing, and there are songs still choke me up even after this ammount of time. It't an incredibly moving peice and even if you haven't seen the stage production and are just a theater buff, this is one that I would highly recommend.

I was excited to find the Original Cast Recording of Rent for such a great price. I received the package in the mail in a timely fashion. Highly Recommended.

The music is amazing. The play was to die for. I had forgotten how well Jesse L Martin can sing. It's one of my favorite cds. I also have the motion picture soundtrack and the movie dvd as well.

Now I'm not saying that Rent isn't a good show, because it is. I'm just saying that it's not the prolific, ingenious work of art that everyone says it is.

Now I have seen Rent both onstage in New York and On Screen this past November so I know the story and that has nothing to do with why I think that it's overrated, well actually it does a little bit because dealing with aids is horrible I watched my aunt succumb to it a couple yeas ago and it's horrible but in RENT it seems that some of the characters are blaming the diseases for their problems when really it was their own stupid choices, (Excluding homosexuality because I don't know if that's a choice or not) but like MIMI, she chooses to be a stripper and to do smack and that's how she got Aids so it hard to feel sorry for her just like Rodger Who chose to do drugs with his girlfriend which is how he got it so it's like whatever.

As for the music while a lot of it is un-melodious and un- hummable, but not in a Sondheim like way just in an annoying way,

Standout songs are:
Rent
One Song Glory
Light my Candle
Today 4 U
You'll See
Tango: Maureen
Out Tonight
Another Day
Will I?
Santa Fe
We're Okay
Christmas bells
La Vie Boheme/ B
Seasons of Love/ B
Happy New Year/ B
Without You
Take Me or Leave Me
What You Own
Finale/ B

While Rent is a good show I think that the movie Philadelphia Dealt with the issue better. if you are looking for a topical relevant Musical the Rent probably isn't for you because of how dated it is , if you looking for some good music then sure get it and rock out to it.

Ever since the movie came out, the debate over which soundtrack is better has been raging wildly. There are positive and negative aspects to both, and one can't be clearly labeled as "better" - it all depends on what you're looking for.

The 1996 Original Broadway Soundtrack:
This soundtrack, much more than the movie one, does an excellent job of making you feel like you're in the theatre again. Since the original show was a more or less constant song and the soundtrack includes all of the 20-50 second pseudo-songs, you can listen to the soundtrack and visualize practically the entire show. The underproduced quality enhances this experience: it feels more real than the movie soundtrack does.

The 2006 Movie Soundtrack:
The other reviewers are right when they say this soundtrack is definitely the better sounding of the two. Much better production, and the actors have all matured vocally. Rosario Dawson's voice is much easier to listen to than the original actress'. This also feels distinctly more like a soundtrack, where the original feels much more like a score.

The question is: which do you prefer?

If anyone would understand the plight of the HIV epidemic, it would be me. I saw ten people succumb to the disease in a surprisingly short time, during the 1990s. This was something I took very seriously, and believed that it was invaluable that the word get out about this hard-hitting disease, in the media, as well as in popular culture. Jonathan Larsen, the composer of this musical, an updated version of Puccini's tragi-romantic opera, La Boheme, wanted to give the disease a face, as well as depict the lives of a cross-section of young people living--and dying---with the disease. For this, I give the late Larsen all kinds of credit. He chose a young cast of newcomers, ten years agp, to bring to life his vision of struggling young artistes in late-1980s/early-1990s Greenwich Village, New York. The cast includes Daphne Rubin-Vega, as the ill-fated Mimi, Adam Pascal, as Roger, her singer/songwriter lover, and Wilson Jermaine Heredia, as the HIV positive, life loving, drag queen Angel, an update on the baritone musician Schaunard, from the 100 year old opera.

First, I will tell you what works for me.....for starters, that beautiful, beautiful song, "Seasons of Love" was a very compelling tune, that gives further insight into the life situation of these young people, as several of them face a very bleak future, once their bodies succumb to their irreversable disease. Secondly, the message of living "today for you, tomorrow for me," (in the words of Angel) is really powerful and compelling. That rings true for all of us, whether we face a debilitating disease, or not. It encourages us to sieze life and live it to the fullest, before it is too late. Now....what doesn't work......even though I didn't see the film, or hear the full dialogue from the original cast recording, the majority of the exchanges came off as melodramatic and more than a little whiny. I realize that the characters are poor, suffering in squalor, and sacrificing much of life's comforts to follow their various artistic visions. However, during the course of the limited dialogue that I heard, mostly I just wanted to press "stop" on my CD player. It was unbelieveable, and it segued into some--honestly--down-right annoying, very UN-melodious rock-inspired tunes, that were overpowering at their best, and just obnoxious at their worst. What's more, Larsen's tendency to combine jagged poet-speak with quasi-techno/quasi-metal accompaniment doesn't move me, or hold my attention, as far as his message. I realize this a time capsule snapshot of the late-1980s/early-1990s and he was trying to stay faithful to the times, but it comes off as more than just a little dated. Nevertheless, the cast carries it through, and you definitely get the impression that they bonded as an ensemble over this piece.

The movie will NEVER replace the original. Mimi is played much better, the power and emotion of her voice were not captured by Rosario Dawson at all. There were some good aspects to the movie soundtrack, but I remain loyal to the original. The power and original intent are all there.

First off, let me say that I'm a big fan of the songs in Rent. I became a fan after seeing the movie, which prompted me to purchase the movie soundtrack, which I love. Knowing that there is a lot of content on the original broadway recording not found on the movie soundtrack, I decided to buy the original broadway recording as well. Unfortunately, after listening to the original brodaway recording I must conclude that it is actually inferior to the movie soundtrack in several ways.
Most of the original cast sang for both recordings, and it is quite clear that they've gotten better with their parts over the past 10 years. Their voices are stronger, and the music has more texture to back them up. My main complaint about the broadway recording is with Daphne Rubin-Vega, who played the origianl role of Mimi. To put it bluntly, her voice sounds terrible. I realize that thinking someone's voice sounds bad is a subjective belief, but what's not subjective is the fact that there are multiple times on this disc where she is painfully flat (especially in "Another Day"). And it's not just her. Other characters, such as the soloist in "Will I" are both flat and faltering as they sing. Maybe this is deliberate to add to the "raw" sound of the music, but too me it just sounds bad. Another complaint is with the instrumentation in general, which sounds flat and muddled when compared with the movie soundtrack.
Ultimately, if you've seen the broadway performace of Rent, you'll want to buy this soundtrack because it more closely mimics the show than does the movie soundtrack. However, if you're like me, and you've seen the movie and know you like the music, but aren't sure which soundtrack to get, I have to recommend the movie soundtrack. If you allready own the movie soundtrack and you're thinking about purchasing the original broadway recording, I say do so only if you really want to hear the extra content (Tune ups, voice mail, etc.) If you own the broadway recording and don't think you need to spend more money on the new movie soundtrack, I recommend at least listening to it to see if you like the more updated sound and new vocalists.

After seeing the play "Rent" in New York City in 2004, we just had to get the original soundtrack from the play. We are so pleased with this soundtrack, we feel like we're back at the play.

I must say, the first RENT soundtrack I heard was the movie version. It was wonderful to hear the original cast in all its raw talent and glory. I loved the phone messages (SPEEEEEAAAAAAK was the best line in the entire movie anyway) and Contact was really... interesting. I was so happy that the original cast was able to make the movie as well, but there was something about this soundtrack, maybe just that rawness that made me like it even more than I thought I could.

very fast shipment...good product

Came very quickly

Best CD ever.... buy this CD and you'll definetly become a renthead! 100 times better than the movie soundtrack!

I loved this album, because I loved this musical, and I loved this movie. This album is just so much fun to listen to, with Seasons of Love, La Vie Boheme, and Today 4 U to just name a few. This is such a worthwhile album to have, because whether you're in the car for a long drive, in the bathtub soaking in bubbles, or running in the park with your i-Pod, this is such a diverse and lovely album to hear wherever you are. FIVE STARS!