Rent by Original Cast (CD, Aug-1996, 2 Discs, Dreamworks SKG)

This is about the Original Cast Recording of RENT, not the soundtrack to the new movie - a fine CD to add to your collection, and a lot of fun to play while cruising down the highway.

The RENT OCR is very eclectic in musical style. The first major song you hear (and I don't count the first few tracks as "songs," but scenes) is the title song "Rent." This song is very loud, very rock. Great song to work out to.

"One Song Glory" is a haunting song sung by sexy songster Adam Pascal. It's one of those songs that just sends shivers down my spine when I hear it. All the ladies love it.

"Light My Candle" is - well - unique. I can't assign a musical style to it. But you can't possibly go wrong with lyrics like "I didn't recognize you without the handcuffs." It's your basic boy meets girl, girl has boy light her candle, boy finds out girl is an S&M dancing drug addict story.

"Today 4 U" is - hmm - I know it's not techno, but it's got a club/dance beat to it. This is another great song to work out to. This song's got attitude.

Then there's "Tango: Maureen." Now honestly, how many CDs do you own that include a tango number? Not many, I'm sure. You'll find yourself singing along with one or both parts, that of Mark - Maureen's ex-boyfriend, or that of Joanne - Maureen's new girlfriend. It doesn't get any better than this, folks.

"Life Support" is a touching little number about an AIDS support group meeting. It leads into the next song...

"Out Tonight" is bold and sassy. (Did I just say the word sassy?) Mimi (the S&M dancing drug addict) won't take no for an answer from Roger in thissong that you ladies will lover to howl along with whenever you're getting ready for a night out on the town.

"Another Day" is one of my personal favorites, the struggle between Roger and Mimi as he fights her every step of the way as she tries to seduce him. This song is good for stress relief. It's got a great beat and some emotionally charged lyrics.

"Santa Fe" is a nice s-l-o-w midwestern song. (Think "Rawhide.") Tom Collins is backed up by a chorus of homeless people as he describes his dream up packing up everything and moving to Santa Fe to open a restaurant. Good song if you want to mellow out.

"I'll Cover You" is a great love song. It's far from traditional. Collins and Angel profess their love to each other in this heart-melting song. I want someone to sing those words to me.

"Over the Moon" is one of the most bizarre songs you'll ever hear. It's a piece of performance art based on the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle." If you don't get scared by the moo-ing, all will be well.

"La Vie Boheme" is a very fun, upbeat, energetic song. In the middle somewhere is interjected "I Should Tell You," a cheesy '80s-like rock ballad that still manages to be sweet.

Next CD.

The second CD starts out with "Seasons of Love," the song most commonly played on the radio as a promotion. It's a catchy little gospel number that you'll probably clap along with.

"Take Me or Leave Me" is one fabulous song between Maureen and Joanne. Two women screaming their lungs out over each other - it's a beautiful piece of work. If you like chick music, you'll love this one.

"Without You" is beautiful and sad. It is a very pretty song, and one of the few from the CD that could really stand on its own as a single to be played on the radio. I would classify it as mainstream soft rock.

I prefer this CD exponentially compared to the movie soundtrack. You may, too!

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. listening to the soundtrack to Rent is like being the luckiest person in the front row @ the Nerlander. You feel these peoples emotions (can't call them characters they are too real), you see their pain and happiness. There is nothing in the world like this show, or these preformers.

This musical is AMAZING and the music is just beautiful!! You will be singing along and falling in love with these songs!!

came promptly and in excellent condition price was right service was good well wrapped and delivered timely

Set in the backdrop of NYC with the AIDS crisis, we encounter lovers and friends trying to cope with their own personal demons and overcome the barriers of stereotype. We are presented with a spectrum of relationships: black, white, Hispanic, gay, straight and in the end, what is esentially left is love. Beautiful songs that tickle the emotion with a bohemian setting, this glory of musical theater will surely win many hearts and minds of Broadway fans or simply any kind of relationship!

Based on La Boheme, this is the modern version of the starving bohemians but instead of them suffering from tuberculosis they are suffering from AIDS or HIV. The music is upbeat and well worth listening to. The message is hope.

This is am amazing cd...it does have some bad language, but it is amazing! If you have seen the movie and like the music, the broadway music is 100% better!

This is a great product for any RENT fans out there. I bought this as a gift for my sister, who is a die-hard RENThead and was distraught when our dog chewed up her last original cast recording. When it arrived, I had never heard half of these songs before in my life. Let me tell you, listening to this album is almost like actually being at the show-I could follow the entire plot just through the music alone. The recording itself was excellent, and I was overall one very satisfied customer.

It is is great condition for the Year and it was really nice and i was allowed to use my debit card and it was a fast transaction and If there was anything else to buy from this person i would. It is great!

This has got to be the best broadway show there is, it is such a shame that it is closing. This soundtrack has so many more tracks than the movie version and I can still listen to it constantly. The music is excellent and the story is touching. Thank you, Johnathan Larson.

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 why it is 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 to leave the world this beautiful, amazing legacy of song, of love, of heart. It is a MUST-HAVE CD!


by beckybbluewrite

I love it. The original cast soundtrack is so much better than the movie soundtrack. I would reccommend this CD.

Great soundtrack!! I listen to it everyday literally!! Great product!! Also good for stevie wonder fans! (he plays a song)

I love this CD! This is actually my second copy because I wore the first one out from playing it so much! A must have for any Rent fan!

I am really enjoying my cd. My only complaint would be that it took alittle long to get than I expected.

I first saw Rent from its trailer back in 2005 and in early 2006 I saw the movie and fell in love. I got the movie not long after and I went to the library and saw that Rent had cd's from its broadway showing so I was determined to get them, and now that I have I am really happy! I love writing and listening to Rent helps me to concentrate better and get more things done, that's because Rent is something you can relate to in real life.

All the reality of the City and the times comes through in this must have production. Clean Clear emotional expression that comes through each and everytime

I am a complete RENThead, so the Original Broadway Cast album is a must for my collection. I just wish there were a better Mimi. I know Daphne Ruben-Vega originated the role and everything, but I just can't stand her voice. If you can disregard the fact that your ears are bleeding while listening to her nasal breathy voice, this cd is amazing in every other way! There are so many fun songs. My favorites are the voicemails, plus all the classics like "Seasons of Love." I recommend it for any RENThead or broadway fanatic!

I love the Musical/Play Rent and wanted to purchase the sound track. I love the great deal on the price of this CD. There was nothing I disliked about the CD.