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The Little Things You Hear Together

Alex Asp

What makes a great Broadway cast album? The Little Things You Hear Together dives into an album from a specific Broadway season each episode, exploring how cast recordings capture the heart of a show—through music, lyrics, vocal performances, and everything in between. From iconic hits to forgotten gems, host Alex Asp breaks down what makes these albums sing and ranks them along the way. Fun, nerdy, and full of showtune love.

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Thanks to Jake Dissmore for the podcast artwork!

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20 episodes
weekly
Avg 1 hr 46 min
English

Episodes 20

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Monday · 1 hr 22 min
Bubbling Brown Sugar (with Xae Copeland)
As we go further back in time, there are more shows that are less well known today even if they were hits then, and this is one of them. Xae Copeland (aka Russian Nuttz) joins me to talk about the 1976 Original Broadway Cast Album for Bubbling Brown Sugar, featuring songs from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s!. Music & lyrics by various composers, book by Loften Mitchell, directed by Robert M. Cooper, with music direction and arrangements by by Danny Holgate. Produced for H & L Records by Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti, & Pete Spargo. Listen to the album on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube. Follow Xae/Rustina on Instagram. Follow the podcast on Instagram or send feedback to littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S4 · E1
October 5 · 1 hr 51 min
Chicago (with Brandon Boucher)
We're back with season 4! Brandon Boucher returns to talk about the 1975 Original Broadway Cast Album for Chicago, featuring the legendary Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, and Jerry Orbach. Music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Bob Fosse & Fred Ebb, directed by Bob Fosse, with music direction by Stanley Lebowsky and orchestrations by Ralph Burns. Produced for Arista Records by Phil Ramone. Listen to the album on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube. You can also check out: 1996 Broadway Revival Cast Album on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube 1997 London Revival Cast Album on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube 2002 Motion Picture Soundtrack on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube Follow Brandon on Instagram. Follow the podcast on Instagram or send feedback to littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
September 7 · 1 min
Season 4 Trailer: 1975-76
Cast recordings have been a staple of Broadway musicals for more than 80 years, but why do some endure with legions of fans while others quickly slip into obscurity? Why do we even like the albums we like? Join host Alex Asp each episode as he and a guest dive into one of the cast albums from a Broadway season. This time, we're going back to the 1975-76 season for legends like Chicago, Pacific Overtures, and A Chorus Line (plus several that many people have never heard of). The Little Things You Hear Together uses the lenses of music composition, performances, storytelling, and more to explore what an album can offer us as listeners. Just for fun, we score and rank the albums along the way to add some drama. Come along and enjoy the ride!
August 3 · 1 hr 19 min
Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream (with Joshua Hinck & Scott Wasserman)
It may not be a cast recording, but the 2020 album Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream is like 15 albums masterfully blended into one. I got to chat with the creators of the album, Joshua Hinck and Scott Wasserman, about the process of making the album that instantly became one of my favorites. You can stream the album on YouTube or your streaming platform of choice! You can follow Josh at his website or on Instagram and Scott at his website.
S3 · E18
June 29 · 1 hr 55 min
2016-17 Season Wrap-Up (with Jeffrey Scott Parsons)
Whew, it's been a long season, but Jeffrey Scott Parsons joins Alex to review all 17 cast albums form this 2016-17 Broadway season plus two revivals that didn't get recordings! Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E17
June 22 · 2 hr 12 min
Dear Evan Hansen (with The Theater Lovers)
The Theater Lovers, Will and Rachel Anderson, are back to close out the regular season with Alex by talking about the 2016 Original Broadway Cast Album for Dear Evan Hansen! Music & lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, book by Steven Levenson, directed by Michael Greif, with music direction by Ben Cohn and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire with additional by Christopher Jahnke. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 2021 Motion Picture Soundtrack Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E16
June 15 · 1 hr 51 min
A Bronx Tale (with Richard H. Blake)
Alex is joined by OBC cast member Richard H. Blake to talk about the 2017 Original Broadway Cast Album for A Bronx Tale! Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Chazz Palminteri, directed by Robert De Niro & Jerry Zaks, with music direction by Jonathan Smith and orchestrations by Doug Besterman. Stream the album on YouTube. Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E15
June 8 · 1 hr 52 min
Hello, Dolly! (with Max Wojtanowicz)
Put on your Sunday clothes, because Max Wojtanowicz is back to talk about the 2017 Broadway Revival Cast Album for Hello, Dolly! Music & lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Michael Stewart, directed by Jerry Zaks, with music direction by Andy Einhorn and orchestrations by Larry Hochman. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 1964 Original Broadway Cast 1965 Original London Cast 1967 Broadway Replacement Cast 1969 Motion Picture Soundtrack 1994 Pre-Broadway Revival Tour Cast Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E14
June 1 · 2 hr 21 min
Bandstand (with Patrick Flynn)
The talented and opinionated Patrick Flynn is back to discuss the 2017 Original Broadway Cast Album for Bandstand! Music by Richard Oberacker, lyrics & book by Rob Taylor & Richard Oberacker, directed by Andy Blankenbuehler, with music direction by Fred Lassen and orchestrations by Bill Elliott & Greg Anthony Rassen. Stream the album on YouTube. Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E13
May 25 · 2 hr 4 min
Sunday in the Park with George (with Tony Tipton)
Tony Tipton joins Alex to talk about the 2017 Broadway Revival Cast Album for Sunday in the Park with George! Music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, directed by Sarna Lapine, with music direction by Chris Fenwick and orchestrations by Michael Starobin. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 1984 Original Broadway Cast Album 2006 London Revival Cast Album Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E12
May 18 · 2 hr 7 min
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with Matt Koplik)
Matt Koplik is back to chat with Alex about the 2017 Original Broadway Cast Album for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, with songs by Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse, book by David Greig, directed by Jack O'Brien, with music direction by Nicholas Skilbeck and orchestrations by Doug Besterman. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 2013 Original London Cast Album Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E11
May 11 · 1 hr 56 min
In Transit (with Telly Leung)
Alex is joined by special guest Telly Leung to talk about the 2016 Original Broadway Cast Album for In Transit, Broadway's first (and so far only) acapella musical! Music, lyrics, & book by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan, & Sara Wordsworth, directed by Kathleen Marshall, with music direction by Rick Hip-Flores and acapella arrangements by Deke Sharon. Stream the album on YouTube. Follow Telly Leung on Instagram or visit his website. Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E10
May 4 · 2 hr 34 min
Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 (with Kayla Burfeind)
Kayla Burfeind joins Alex to talk about the 2016 Original Broadway Cast Album for Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812! Music, lyrics, book, & orchestrations by Dave Malloy, directed by Rachel Chavkin, with music direction by Or Matias. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 2013 Original Off-Broadway Cast Album Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
April 1 · 21 min
The Nightman Cometh (with Jake Dissmore)
Podcast artist Jake Dissmore joins Alex to have fun talking about the musical The Nightman Cometh from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Happy April Fool's Day! Music & lyrics by Charlie Day & Cormac Bluestone, Dayman written by Scott Marder & Rob Rosell Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E9
March 30 · 1 hr 57 min
Come from Away (with Brandon Boucher)
Brandon Boucher joins Alex to talk about the 2017 Original Broadway Cast Album for Come from Away. Music, lyrics, & book by Irene Sankoff & David Hein, directed by Christopher Ashley, with music direction by Ian Eisendrath and orchestrations by August Eriksmoen. Stream the album on YouTube. Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E8
March 23 · 1 hr 55 min
Anastasia (with Zakary Morton)
Zakary Morton is back with Alex to talk about the 2017 Original Broadway Cast Album for Anastasia! Music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Terrence McNally, directed by Darko Tresnjak, with music direction by Tom Murray and orchestrations by Doug Besterman. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 1997 Original Soundtrack Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E7
March 16 · 2 hr 3 min
Miss Saigon (with Shoshana Greenberg)
Shoshana Greenberg joins Alex to talk about the 2014 London Revival Cast Album for Miss Saigon! Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. & Alain Boublil with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler, book by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg, directed by Laurence Connor, with music direction by Alfonso Casado and orchestrations by William David Brohn. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 1989 Original London Cast 1995 Complete Symphonic Recording Read Diep Tran's article, "I Am Miss Saigon, and I Hate It," as recommended by Shoshana in the episode. Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E6
March 9 · 1 hr 50 min
Amélie (with Aly Sato)
Aly Sato joins Alex to talk about the quirky but lovable 2017 Original Broadway Cast Album for Amélie. Music by Daniel Messé, lyrics by Nathan Tysen & Daniel Messé, book by Craig Lucas, directed by Pam MacKinnon, with music direction by Kimberly Grigsby and orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: 2019 Original London Cast Album Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E5
March 2 · 1 hr 44 min
Paramour (with Josh Swantz)
Did you know Cirque du Soleil had a Broadway show? It's true! Josh Swantz joins Alex to talk about the 2016 Original Broadway Cast Album for Paramour. Music by Bob & Bill, co-composer Andreas Carlsson, assistant composer Martin Laniel, lyrics by Andreas Carlsson with additional lyrics by Jenny Stafford, book and direction by Philippe Decouflé, with music direction by Seth Stachowski. Stream the album on YouTube. Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.
S3 · E4
February 23 · 2 hr 7 min
Falsettos (with Rob W. Schneider)
Rob W. Schneider joins Alex to talk about the Falsettos 2016 Broadway Revival Cast Album. Music & lyrics by William Finn, book by William Finn & James Lapine, directed by James Lapine, with music direction by Vadim Feichtner and orchestrations by Michael Starobin. Stream the album on YouTube. You can also check out: March of the Falsettos 1981 Original Off-Broadway Cast Album Falsettoland 1990 Original Off-Broadway Cast Album Follow the podcast on Instagram or email littlethingsyouheartogether@gmail.com.

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