Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida - Original Cast (CD 2000)

This album is surprising fantastic! The first thing that made me want to go out and buy the album was that I had the concept album, which I thought was pretty good but I figured that maybe the Broadway cast would be better, the second was that I hate heard the popular radio commercial which features quick song highlight from the show which sound incredible, and the last thing that made me buy this was that it won enough Tony Awards to win me over. For those who have the concept album which features Elton John, LeAnn Rimes, Spice Girls Tina Turner, etc..., then you should undoubtedly love this because every flaw the songs had have been fixed and not to mention the great casting! For those who hated the concept album, I understand but I still think you should give Aida -Broadway Cast a listen. Let me just say now that I have to be among the biggest Heather Headley fans in the world (she plays Aida). I have seen and heard her on and in other shows and always thought she was fabulous, but in this she shines like I've never seen a Broadway star do before. Her voice is absolutely amazing and she truly brings new life to the songs that may have seemed a little senseless on the concept album. The other cast members including Sheri Rene Scott and Adam Pascal as leads seem very well cast (but that is from the album view only not from seeing the show). The music which is obviously the main object here is incredible and much better than many other things I've ever heard and shows the talent that we already knew (but to a much greater degree) Elton John and Tim Rice have as songwriters. The best songs on the album are definitely Heather Headley's, her voice really makes them 100 times better than they ever could be if sung by someone else. The best thing overall about this album is without the shows amazing costumes, lighting, and stage visuals, this album makes you feel everything the characters are feeling and towards the sad ending the songs can completely make you cry and definitely even for those who have not seen the show. My Cd collection is VERY large but I tell you that this album is among my five favorites and is by far my favorite cast album. If you are the kind of person who prefers listening to an album before you buy it, I have a feeling you can trust buying this one before listening to it, I did! I hope I have helped you and for those who I have not helped thank you for reading anyway.