BWW CD REVIEW: The Original Broadway Cast Recording of BEAUTIFUL is Toe-Tapping Good and Pays Stellar Tribute to an Icon

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL follows the talented and iconic Carole King's inspiring adventure to the top. The story chronicles her time songwriting with her first husband Gerry Goffin and her friendship with her best friends and fellow writers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The show expertly recreates her rise to becoming one of pop music's most successful solo performers. The show, which boasts seven Tony nominations for the upcoming festivities, features songs previously both written and preformed by Carole King or by her songwriter friends.

This discography has made for an incredible track list, ensuring that Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING) is an ode to many icons, but with well deserved special attention to Carole King. Each and every track was expertly chosen, and brilliantly executed by the talented cast.

Broadway dynamo Jessie Mueller, who stars as Carole King in the live show, shines on the record, providing exceptional vocals to these timeless songs that people have grown to know and love. Mueller's crooning vocals soar on iconic tracks like "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "So Far Away."

The tracks chosen to chronicle King's rise to the top are no less than perfect. Unfortunately, Gilmore Girl fans will be sad to know that the show's Carole King performed theme song "Where You Lead" is not featured on the record, but the presence of equally notable songs will make up for its exclusion.

The rest of the cast matches Mueller's talents with their own jaw-dropping vocal performances. Listeners will be tapping their toes to Rashidra Scott's take on Goffin and King's "One Fine Day," and singing along to the rendition of the Cynthia Weil written "Happy Days Are Here Again." "On Broadway," performed by Clayton Cornelious, James Harkness, Douglas Lyons and Alan Wiggins as The Drifters, is also another guaranteed listener favourite.

There is no weak track on this album that is impressively carried by the talented cast. Jessie Mueller's voice is one for the ages, and listeners will not be able to get enough of her soft yet powerful vocal talents. The recording, produced by Ghostlight and Sh-K-Boom Records, can be enjoyed by casual listeners and theatre nerds alike. The album is for everyone because all listeners are bound to recognize and enjoy at least two of the many classics included in the score. The feel good album is good for all times and, as a sign of any good musical score, can be listened to both with and without the context of the show.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING) is currently available in stores and online at Amazon and iTunes.

For information about other theatrical recording releases, click here.

Cover art courtesy of Ghostlight Records.