While Wicked, Jersey Boys (on Rhino) and Mamma Mia! remain atop the list in the first three slots for their 11th week, Masterworks Broadway/Legacy's release of the Marvin Hamlisch-Edward Kleban score jumped onto the chart (for the first time) at No. 11.
Featuring the original Broadway cast from the 1975 Tony-winning musical, including Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie, the album includes such memorable songs as "One," "What I Did For Love," "Dance: Ten; Looks: Three," "I Hope I Get It" and more.
Walt Disney Records' recording of the Phil Collins musical Tarzan and Angel's The Color Purple cast album round out the top five.
For the full 39 weeks since the chart's inception, the recordings of Hairspray, Avenue Q and Monty Python's Spamalot have remained on the list (along with Wicked and Mamma Mia!).
The Decca Broadway release of Stephen Schwartz's Wicked has topped the chart for 34 of the 39 weeks the chart has been published. The recording has dominated the spot, only being toppled before by the Columbia Records two-disc "Harry" release (comprised of the recording of Broadway's The Pajama Game revival and selections of Connick, Jr.'s 2001 show Thou Shalt Not) and The Color Purple for one week each. Rhino's release of Jersey Boys, following its big Tony win, took hold of the top slot for four weeks. PS Classics' release of the Broadway-bound Grey Gardens as well as last season's hits The Drowsy Chaperone (Ghostlight Records) and The Wedding Singer (Masterworks Broadway) also placed.
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A new addition to Billboard's listings, the Top Cast Albums chart debuted in Billboard on Jan. 12, 2006. Stephen Schwartz' Wicked — which opened on Broadway in October 2003 (album released Dec. 16, 2003) — appeared at the top of the first chart. The chart measures sales of albums from stage musicals. Broadway recordings mostly fill the 15-slot table, but cast albums from other locales are also eligible. The addition of the chart to Billboard's 112 charts generates exposure for the genre which does not often chart on the Billboard 200.
Billboard can be found on the web at www.billboard.com. Full charts are available by subscription at www.billboard.biz.
