Original Off-Broadway Cast, 1998 (RCA) (4 / 5) Those who find much of William Finn’s work too abrasive should check out this moving and original musical about serious illness. In collaboration with librettist James Lapine, composer-lyricist Finn brings comedy and feeling to this most unlikely subject. Malcolm Gets stars as Gordon, a frustrated songwriter; when he’s diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his brain, his family and friends rally around. The score mixes Finn’s neurotic, hilarious brand of kvetching with some ballads that reflect a new-found serenity in his work. Among the comic highlights are “And They’re Off,” which recounts Gordon’s troubled family history; “Poor, Unsuccessful, and Fat,” the lament of a nurse (Michael Mandell); and “The Homeless Lady’s Revenge,” sung by a resourceful derelict (Mary Testa). The album’s real gems also include “The Music Still Plays On,” a torch song delivered by Gordon’s mother (Penny Fuller); and the final ballad, “I Feel So Much Spring,” in which many aspects of Gordon’s life come into harmony. There’s also good work from Chip Zien as a malevolent TV host, and amusing contributions by Kristin Chenoweth pre-stardom. In the role of Gordon’s lover, Norm Lewis fills in for original cast member Christopher Innvar (who left the show due to vocal problems) and offers a dreamy performance of the love song “Sailing.” — David Barbour

New York City Center Encores! Cast, 2015 (PS Classics, 2CDs) (2.5 / 5)  As the central character of A New Brain sings at one point, “You’ve got to have heart and music,” words that were not always remembered in the making of this recording — a skilled yet strangely impersonal performance that scants both the material’s wisecracking veneer and a sorrowful undertone rooted in divorce, dysfunction, and the specter of early death. This is a slightly revised version of the score; the new stuff is mostly filler, updating us on Gordon’s medical status. (You won’t be hearing “Craniotomy” in a piano bar anytime soon.) Jonathan Groff sings with his usual proficiency, yet with a surprising placidity that doesn’t suit the character. Ana Gasteyer does a solid enough job with “The Music Still Plays On,” but Penny Fuller’s guts and passion are much missed in this song. Rema Webb sounds a bit like Mary Testa, though without the latter’s edgy humor. Christian Borle (subbing for Dan Fogler, who appeared in the Encores! production) is a poor substitute for Chip Zien and his amusingly tyrannical delivery. The best work here comes from Josh Lamon, charmingly world-weary in the relatively minor role of the nurse. Adding a touching note, Roger (Gordon’s lover) is sung by Aaron Lazar, who recently went public about his struggle with ALS, thereby calling to mind Gordon’s situation. Note: In an especially odd bit, this show now features a joke about Fun Home, which was also recorded by PS Classics. Product placement? — D.B.