Michelle Obama said of the musical Hamilton, "I'm sitting in the theatre, watching it when suddenly I realize: This might be the best piece of art I've ever seen in my life. Ever."

Similarly, I feel this IS the best story, not just the best soundtrack of a Broadway production, I've ever heard told. Ever

I listened to it for the first time a month ago on a very, very long drive up 95 thru Jersey, through that amazing, exciting NYC where You Can Be a New Man. It was beyond entertainment, it was transformative. A historical story of our country's roots to modern day political challenges that loom just as large today as they did then.

It is important to listen to the CD as a captive audience like you'd watch a movie on the big screen --all at once, with perhaps only an intermission taken between the two CDs.

It helped that I'd already watched the PBS film about the making of Hamilton, but I had no idea of all the emotions and ground it would cover: Love story plus triangles, political debates with nuanced heroes, heroines, villians in shades of gray.

I went to University of Virginia where Thomas Jefferson was lauded as a hero... this soundtrack compelled me to research him more and see why he was at odds with Hamilton in so many debates, but also "Jefferson in Paris" and learn that Sally Hemings was 30 (!) years younger than he and only 16 when he got her pregnant for the first of many times (fathering 6 children). Meanwhile, our hero Hamilton was anti-slave when few were calling out the abomination... and yet he also admired and served as right hand man to founding father General George Washington, slave owner.

And the Skyler sisters! What beautiful voices and personalities! Their depiction MAKES the story. The actions of the founding fathers suddenly become interesting because of the women they are bragging to, gold digging, seducing, coming home to, betraying. Fascinating stories...all. We can fully imagine the men and women of the times as real people with the same emotions and problems and butterflies in their stomachs as we have, maybe for the first time.

And this story succeeds in is making rap fans of people like me who thought I didn't like it (the brilliant instrumentals help and the mixing it up with Jazz and pop. King George especially in his Beatles-like catchy tunes and hillarious words and punchlines that made me LOL.)

I REALLY can't wait to see the play, but I'm glad I listened to this first. It is such a singular pleasure of the hearing senses, I can only imagine it would be overwhelming to ALSO try to also SEE and try to focus on the words as well as the choreography and costumes and staging of the play.

I listened to this in total from start to finish 4 times on that very long road trip and its return, sharing it with my 19 year old daughter on the return trip and she, like me, loved it and now can't wait to see the show. Because she knew its style of music better than I she pointed out Rap Battles and artists some songs styles were imitating.

Since then I've subscribed to a Hamilton podcast and checked out the Hamilton Revolution book about the making of the musical...all send me back to the CD for yet another listen to my favorite songs and increasing my anticipation to see the show itself.

It truly is a revolutionary work of art. You've got to hear --start to finish--to appreciate how Lin Manuel Miranda makes these characters in history come alive and makes us see how much we still have in common with them, from ambition, friendships and love, grieving our losses, working hard before we run out of time, failing, forgiving, and making fatal "damn fool" mistakes--like Aaron Burr--despite all our best intentions.

This review is specifically for the vinyl boxed set. The sound of the vinyl is amazing. These are good pressings, and the bass (which is so important, as a lot of the tracks basically have a bass and drum accompaniment to the music) is really warm and present on these vinyl pressings. I can highly recommend the vinyl boxed set. You also get a nice print out of all the lyrics (although the type is quite small!). A wonderful set, highly recommended!

..to own one of the best musicals ever made!

From production to cast, everything about this musical is perfect. The songs are wonderful, the pacing is spot on, and the humor is mixed in with the drama extremely well creating a balanced and wonderful experience.

[PACKAGING :: 10/10]
The packing is well sealed and packaged so that the vinyls and boxes don't get damaged.

[SOUND :: 10/10]
Proves that nothing beats the sound of a vinyl record. The sound is crisp and loud. The instruments boom, the chorus flies and the setting really just immerses you.

[OVERALL :: 10/10]
There's a reason this musical is setting records for how many awards it's getting. The praise is well deserved and you'll learn a lot about one of America's founding fathers and the experiences he endured.

I cannot wait for the show to come to Chicago!

I ordered the CDs two days ago in the morning. They had arrived by 5:30PM the following day. They are now down in the car to journey with me. This is THE most amazing musical! I am joining the ranks of the "addicted", and I am 69. One day, some way, I WIll figure out a way to see this on stage. On my bucket list. So hoping that there will be a movie down the road for those who will never have the opportunity to see it. Thank you, Lin-Manuel Miranda, for the 6 years you have put into this masterpiece; thank you to "Serendipity" which guided your hand to Ron Chernow's book, to Ron Chernow for his role in the collaborative process, to all of the cast and crew and members of the orchestra. Most of all, thank you, Alexander Hamilton for your courage and commitment to this nation. We must pay attention to the history that has gone before, and be mindful that each day we are contributing for better or worse to the history that will be written of this time. I hope we can at least pay attention to the importance of immigrants in our history.

I had the great good fortune to see Hamilton in August, and thought the show was absolutely brilliant. I immediately pre-ordered the CD and it's just as brilliant as the show. I wanted the CD so I would have a printed copy of all the words "“ those glorious words! "“ that make up the most thrilling play I have ever seen on Broadway.

This is a play that is smart, sophisticated, original, funny, moving, and passionate. The songs are an amazing mish-mash of styles that somehow work together. There are so many highlights, but among my favorites are "Alexander Hamilton," which opens the show and gives Hamilton's back-story in a few rich minutes, "Satisfied," "Ten Duel Commandments," "The Room Where It Happens," "It's Quiet Uptown," and "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story." Oh, and the Cabinet Rap Battles!

The performers are all excellent, but I think Leslie Odom, Jr. (Aaron Burr), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), and Daveed Diggs (Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson) particularly stand out on the CD.

I read that Lin-Manuel Miranda got the idea of doing a hip-hop musical of Hamilton after reading Ron Chernow's biography. To him, it was such an obvious idea that he apparently Googled "Hamilton hip-hop musical" because he was sure someone had done it before him. But this idea was all Miranda's, and this CD and the play are a testament to the inspiration and then the hard work it took to turn the idea into a work of art. I wish I could give this 10 stars.