Here Lies Love, recordings...

[alxscrz2]

Which recording of Here Lies Love, is the best to get ? The concept album or the cast recording... I've never listened to any so I'm trying to decide which to get

[Mr. Nowack]

I like that the cast album reflects the actual put together version of the show, but I still like the concept album's interpretations better.

Of course that could just be all the times I've obsessively listened to the earlier album creating a bias.

[Play Esq.]

Start with the concept album, then move to the cast recording. Both exceptional, but hearing Florence (of a certain machine...) sing the title song will (or should..) hook you to this amazing musical.

That said, certain brilliant songs are not on the concept album ("God Draws Straight") and/or do not rise to the level of the original cast recording ("Why Don't You Love !e"). Ugh...I'm so torn: both are brilliant, but I think you'll enjoy the overall experience of hearing the show and or seeing it live if you first give the concept album a go. The artists involved on it are just amazing!

[mjohnson2]

I'm with Mr. Nowack on this one. I like the track list better on the cast recording, but the performances better on the concept album. If you had to choose though, I would go with the cast recording if only for the better songs.

[Fan123]

The concept album is on Spotify, if you want to see what it's like. I don't know of anywhere to legally listen to the cast recording online, but there's one track on Nonesuch's Soundcloud.
Nonesuch page

[GilmoreGirlO2]

I’m torn with this, too. I enjoy both, but I feel like I got used to listening to the concept album (because there was such a delay on the cast recording’s release) and I find myself playing that more than the cast recording. I enjoy the voices better on the cast recording, but I like the mixing of the songs on the concept album more. On the cast recording, some of the music (not the vocals) seems a little too blended together – I like that, on the concept album, the sound of the music is a little more in front and the individual instruments and beats are a little clearer. I know next to nothing about album production, so forgive me if this makes little to no sense. The best example of the contrast I’m referring to is on “A Perfect Hand” - I love the sound of the music on “A Perfect Hand” on the concept album, but wish it had Jose Llana’s vocals over it.

[Wickedmonkey332]

Anyone know where I can find it on Spotify? It isn't showing up!

[Fan123]

Here's the concept album on Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/4cLU35O4YiBJcM65beb2pB

And just to complicate choices more...
Remix Edition of HERE LIES LOVE Cast Recording to Benefit Philippines Charity