This original cast recording of Kander & Ebb's Cabaret is tough to beat: Jill Haworth as Sally Bowles, Joel Grey as the Master of Ceremonies, and Lotte Lenya as Fraulein Schneider all turn in classic performances that set a high-water mark for future reinterpretations. Lenya's "So What?" and "It Couldn't Please Me More" hark back to the dark cabaret work composed by her late husband, Kurt Weill, while other tunes ("Telephone Song," "Two Ladies") are much more upbeat. One of the best surprises found on this version--featuring liner notes by author Ken Mandelbaum--are the four previously unreleased (and fascinating) Kander & Ebb demo cuts and four brief intros for songs. The eight rarities are all low-fidelity but highlight the songwriting process of the pair nicely. --Jason Verlinde