There are just too many recordings of Galt MacDermot’s Hair to find a proper “definitive” cast recording. And I’ll admit, in the early 2000s, I was a very impressionable boy. Some of the cast I idolize(d), including, but not limited to: Euan Morton, Adam Pascal, Gavin Creel, Raúl Esparza, Sherie Rene Scott, Harvey Fierstein, and on and on. These are singers I grew up listening to constantly: Rent, Taboo, Hairspray, etc., so for me, this is somewhat of a “dream cast” recording. But again, I admit bias.

Lillias White and Lea DeLaria start off the concert with fantastic performances of Aquarius and Donna, respectively. The concert has a few ensemble numbers, per the score, but rather than having specific character roles, the show is presented as a revue with many, many well-known actors featured on each song.

Standout numbers are I’m Black / I Got No right into an outrageous and completely fantastic version of Air. Harvey Fierstein will leave you literally breathless. It’s one of my personal favorites from this album. Fierstein adds his own dimension of humor and quality to this classic song.

My future husband The wonderful Raúl Esparza delivers us the title track Hair, with passion and charisma. My enjoyment of this song is typically impacted on the backup vocals during the chorus (“hair. hair. hair!hair!hair!”), which can be hit or miss on some recordings. It’s a hit on this one, I’ll tell you. Esparza, with ease and grace, shows off his insane belting range by the time the bridge has come around. He gives us just enough rasp on the lower notes for the rock feel, and then he adds his tremendous belting capabilities for that good ol’ broadway feel.

Other highlights are Orfeh in Black Boys, and Norm Lewis in Let the Sunshine In. But, really, every song is a knockout on this recording. The production presents no lack of talent, and I feel that it serves as a, not definitive, but rather staple recording of Hair for this generation. This album deserves to be on your literal, or digital, shelf.