Everything You Wanted To Know About The Grammy Award Winning Musical: 'Hair'

The Grammy award wining musical 'Hair' sparked a musical theater movie soundtrack that is adored by many. The songs in this soundtrack will live forever in the thoughts and minds of not only those who were part of the sixties, but those who followed after. The very first recording was done in 1967 with an off-Broadway cast. But it was the original Broadway cast recording in 1968 that received a Grammy for 'best score from an original cast show album'.

This musical theater movie soundtrack sold close to three million copies by December of 1969. And that was just in the United States. By the time that 2007 rolled around, the New York Times stated that this album was a 'must-have' for middle class America. The songs from 'Hair' have been sung by a wide variety of well-known artists. The 5th Dimension, Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, Petula Clark, Liza Minnelli, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, Three Dog Night and many others too numerous to mention.

The musical theater movie soundtrack runs the gamut for rock from rhythm and blues, to protest rock, to rockabilly, to pop and even acid rock. It's the hippie theme that runs through the life blood of this music. Politics and social reform are reflected heavily in the lyrics. There was anger about America being 'sold out' and betrayed by the government. This Grammy award winning musical was the voice of it's time. Not everyone liked the production. John Lennon's assessment of the music was 'dull'.

The Grammy award winning musical, if nothing else, caused much controversy. It was received so differently from different parts of society. The differences that defined the 'hippies', like their long hair, were hated by the mainstream successful middle class people. They resented hippies and their attitudes toward the social framework they'd been a part of building. And for anyone to question American patriotism drove them crazy. The long hair was an openly defining characteristic of the hippie. It was his 'flag' so to speak. It signified his willingness to challenge and question the norm.

The musical theater movie soundtrack was loaded with these rebellious lyrics from opposers of the establishment. The stage production for a long time was considered to be un-filmable. But with the courage of Milos Forman who got together with Gerome Ragni and James Rado, the transition form stage to screen was made. It soon became one of the most influential movie events of the 70's. The Grammy award winning musical has not only made it to film, but in honor of it's 20th anniversary, MGM Home Entertainment has made it available on DVD.

A re-mix of the soundtrack for the Grammy award winning musical 'Hair' has now been presented as a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital mix on the DVD. The soundtrack is clearer and fresher than ever before. The job done by MGM was absolutely fabulous. The musical theater movie soundtrack is something that should be experienced by young and old alike. It is history, it is moving and it is a part of American culture that's been captured and preserved for years to come.


Hair is truly an icon of American culture and the musical theater movie soundtrack is something all Americans should experience. For more information about this Grammy award winning musical just go online and visit sites like 'Hair' and 'Answers'.