Starlight

starlight

Track Listings

1. Jewel of the Seven Sars

2. Loki's Monstrous Brood

3. I Am I Was

4. Arabic Satori

5. Angel of Light

6. Lycian

7. Tralaine

8. Mascara Moon

9. Sun Beam Angel

10. Remedios Rising

11. Starlight

Starlight,Black Sun Ensemble,Camera Obscura,Acid Rock,Neo-Psychedelia,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Starlight

The Premiere Collection: The Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Original Cast Compilation)

Average customer rating:

Musical Pleasure
The Premiere Collection
beautiful
Fair Album with 1 starlight and 0 aspects
Superb collection

The Premiere Collection: The Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber (Original Cast Compilation)

Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection
Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Premiere Collection Encore
Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection

ASIN: B000002O5W
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Phantom Of The Opera
Take That Look Off Your Face
All I Ask Of You
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Magical Mr. Mistoffeles
Variations 1-4
Superstar
Memory
Starlight Express
Tell Me On A Sunday
The Music Of The Night
Another Suitcase In Another Hall
I Don't Know How To Love Him
Pie Jesu

Amazon.com essential recording

There are many, many Andrew Lloyd Webber albums out there, including cut-and-paste compilations and songbooks from individual artists, most notably Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, and even Jose Carreras. The Premiere Collection is probably as authentic as you can get in a hits album, however. In addition to the most popular selections from the original casts of Evita, Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar, the 57-minute album includes two selections from Tell Me on a Sunday (also recorded by Bernadette Peters as Song and Dance), the title tune from Starlight Express, the "Pie Jesu" from the Requiem, and a snippet from the Paganini Variations, thereby allowing you to hear the good stuff without having to spring for the complete albums. Note that the three selections from Phantom of the Opera are the 1986 pop singles instead of the cast recordings, meaning Steve Harley rather than Crawford sings with Brightman on the title tune and Cliff Richard subs for Steve Barton on "All I Ask of You." (Crawford does sing "The Music of the Night," of course.) This 1989 compilation was too early for Aspects of Love or Sunset Boulevard, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is ignored, but these omissions are rectified in the follow-up album The Premiere Collection Encore, and the American-slanted version, The Very Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Musical Pleasure.......2007-07-03

I enjoy all of this music, listening frequently. Some not original cast members, so less than 5 star. Product exactly as advertised.

The Premiere Collection.......2007-01-17

My sister had this and it got destroyed. She wanted an other, This was the only place I have found it!! Very hard to find! I have been to every music store in my area. She loved it!! And was so happy to have it again. Anyone who loves Andrew Lloyd Webber will love this. As it has many songs from some of his most famous plays with the original cast. Great item.

beautiful.......2006-12-21

This CD is a great compilation of some of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hits. If you are just looking for a "quick fix" for your Broadway craving, this is a great value.

Fair Album with 1 starlight and 0 aspects.......2004-07-09

I think this album is F-A-I-R because it has one starlight express song and zero aspects of love songs. This is why i liked the album The reason i said that this is a fair album is that I like Starlight Express better. Song i like are "The Phantom of the Opera", "Take That Look off Your Face", All I Ask of You", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "Mr. Mistofflees," "Superstar," "Memory", "Starlight Express", "Tell Me On A Sunday", "Music of the Night", "Another Suitcase in Another Hall", and "I Don't Know How To Love Him". I dislike the following songs:" Track 6" and the last one because the last one was hard to understand and track 6 is instrumental.

Superb collection.......2003-08-11

... It is a collection of the best of ALW's creative efforts, and a collection of great performances. Anyone who loves "Broadway" should have this disk in their collection.

Music & Songs From Starlight Express (1987 Studio Cast)

Average customer rating:

Good Show...Bad album
Not bad at all!
Doesn't Age Well .. but A Few Good Songs
NIce Score...........BUT !
I found it!

Music & Songs From Starlight Express (1987 Studio Cast)
Andrew Lloyd Webber , and Richard Stilgoe
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Starlight Express (1984 Original London Cast)
Coco (1970 Original Broadway Cast)
The New Starlight Express (1992 London Revival Cast)
Follies (Highlights from the 1971 Original Broadway Cast)
Me And My Girl (1986 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B000002O3X
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Starlight Express - El Debarge
Engine Of Love - Peter Hewlett
Lotta Locomotion - Josie Aiello
There's Me - Peter Hewlett
AC/DC - Josie Aiello
Pumping Iron - Marc Cohn
Engine Of Love - Earl Jordan
Only You - Josie Aiello & Peter Hewlett
The Race Is On - Harold Faltermeyer
Make Up My Heart - Josie Aiello
I am This Starlight - Richie Havens & Peter Hewlett
One Rock & Roll Too Many - Marc Cohn
Light At The End Of The Tunnel - Richie Havens

Customer Reviews:

Good Show...Bad album.......2007-01-10

I loved the show when it came out and had the original cast recording on a record, but this is not it. The songs on this CD just do not have the feeling, emotion and pop that they deserve. These pop singers do not understand the characters, let alone the story, therefore do not do the songs justice. If you want to get a CD of Starlight Express, take the time and spend the money on the original cast recording!

Not bad at all!.......2006-08-01

Alot of people don't like this album, but I do. Most of the songs are catchy, if not addicting. Especially "Make Up My Heart" and "Light at the End of the Tunnel"

Don't miss the brief operatic cameo by Sarah Brightman halfway through "AC/DC."

Doesn't Age Well .. but A Few Good Songs.......2005-07-10

I really enjoyed the show when it first came out in 1987 and listened to this cd often. Since then, however, the show has aged ... and not particularly well.

Mr. Webber's scores for "Phantom Of The Opera", "Evita", "Sunset Boulevard", and "Jesus Christ Superstar" hold up better.

There are a few good tracks, however, on this "concept" recording:

Starlight Express (very catchy tune)
Engine Of Love
There's Me (personal favorite)
Only You

I wish they had released a Broadway cast recording (the London one is available as a double disc), but this is a fine substitute.

NIce Score...........BUT !.......2004-02-23

If you were amongst the few lucky audience members to assist viewing a presentation of STARLIGHT EXPRESS when it graced the boards in NYC during it's breef 80s run, then you'll enjoy this compacted ensemble of songs on this CD. However, if you are searching for a CD that best represents the show; this is NOT THE CD TO PURCHASE. I strongly suggest the recently revised CAST version from LONDON. EL DeBARGE as a lead vocalist ("where is he now?") does not cut it when trying to listen to the main theme composed by LOYDD WEBBER.

I found it!.......2001-12-07

I've been looking for this recording for a while now and I'm really glad that amazon had it. My Uncle was a part of the original cast and my sister and I used to sing Starlight Express together all the time (we were 4 and 6... give us a break). It brings back lots of memories and even though the show didn't last long and some of the music is goofy, I'll treasure this thing :)

Average customer rating:

NEVER RECEIVED THIS ITEM!!
Perlman, Williams reunite in wonderful Serenade sequel
Some of the most beautiful music you'll ever hear
Don't compare it to Cinema Serenade 1
I can't stop listening to this CD....

Cinema Serenade II: The Golden Age

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cinema Serenade
Itzhak Perlman's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
Itzhak Perlman's Greatest Hits
Classic Perlman: Rhapsody
Itzhak Perlman - Greatest Hits ~ "Carmen" Fantasy · Havanaise · Poème · and more

ASIN: B00000JQG0
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

Laura
Now, Voyager
Modern Times
Lost Weekend
The Quiet Man
The Adventures Of Robin Hood
Casablanca
Henry V
The Uninvited: 'Stella By Starlight'
My, Foolish Heart
Gone With The Wind
Wuthering Heights

Amazon.com

Cinema Serenade 2: The Golden Age is the sequel to Itzhak Perlman's popular album of movie themes performed with soundtrack composer John Williams. Unlike its predecessor, this disc focuses on classic cinema themes and features the Boston Pops Orchestra, not the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The Laura theme, as well as Max Steiner's Now Voyager and Miklós Rózsa's Lost Weekend themes, sound lush and romantic in Perlman's lyrical hands. The traditional Irish jig "The Quiet Man" is the disc's most upbeat moment, while the unforgettable Gone with the Wind theme is its most memorable. These are timeless, dreamy compositions, though not necessarily the most uplifting. If you're looking for something cinematic to get your heart racing, check out Ricardo Chailly's recording of Shostakovich's film scores or even Leopold Stokowski's classic work on Fantasia. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

NEVER RECEIVED THIS ITEM!!.......2007-03-17

I cannot review the product which I know is great , as I was billed for it, but never received it.

Perlman, Williams reunite in wonderful Serenade sequel.......2003-12-04

With the success of Cinema Serenade, conductor John Williams and violinist Itzhak Perlman reunited to record another collection of classic movie themes. Performed this time by the Boston Pops Orchestra, the music of Cinema Serenade 2: The Golden Age harkens back to the days of stars such as Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn, Ray Milland and Clark Gable.

The 12 selections include themes by Hollywood legends Max Steiner, Miklos Rozsa and Erich Wolfgang Korngold (whose son George would later produce several of composer/conductor Williams' scores for Varese Sarabande Records). Cinema Serenade 2 presents beautiful arrangements of Steiner's themes for Now, Voyager and Gone With The Wind, Korngold's love theme from The Adventures of Robin Hood, Charlie Chaplin's lovely Modern Times and "St Patrick's Day," a traditional Irish song from the John Wayne classic The Quiet Man.

Since I consider myself to be a charter member of The Rick Blaine Society of Rank Sentimentalists, I'd have to say my favorite tracks on this album are Herman Hupfeld's timeless "As Time Goes By" from 1942's Casablanca and Victor Young's "My Foolish Heart" (from the 1949 film of the same title). It was while I was listening to the radio (on the late WTMI 93.1 FM classical station) that the DJ played "As Time Goes By" and I discovered this recording of mostly lyrical themes; I listened to Perlman's haunting violin solos and the Boston Pops' bravura performance and nearly wept. I, of course, bought this CD the next day and it's now one of my favorites.

For fans of Itzhak Perlman, John Williams or film music in general, both of the Cinema Serenade CDs are a treasure trove of beautiful and memory-stirring themes.

Some of the most beautiful music you'll ever hear.......2001-06-15

This is one of the most beautiful CDs I've ever heard. The selections are musically much richer than Cinema Serenade I. In particular, Sir William Walton's music from Henry V, Korngold's music from Robin Hood, and Newman's music from Wuthering Heights are standouts. The Korngold is my favorite, with several themes from the picture packed into a short love scene lifted straight from the movie. The arrangements on this album are stunningly lush, especially those by Williams. His opening chords from The Uninvited are terrific harmonically.

Don't compare it to Cinema Serenade 1.......2000-01-24

Itzhak Perlman is still considered by me the best violinist alive today. His techiniques are so impressable and heartouching and nobody can contest that. The idea of this CD was wonderful, although the selections of the musics aren't so good than in Cinema Serenade 1. But anyway, if you want to listen musics that worldwide the people emotioned with, buy this CD, but don't fall in the temptation to compare it to the first one.

I can't stop listening to this CD...........1999-10-03

All of those lush movie themes are greatly compiled on this CD. I especially liked Laura and Stella by Starlight. After listening to this, you will want to go out and buy/rent these great old movies!

Average customer rating:

Gosford Park Sound Track
Better than the movie
I don't mind the repeating themes, but the CD is too short!
Excellent Mix
One the best soundtracks out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gosford Park (2001 film)
Patrick Doyle
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Gosford Park
We'll Gather Lilacs: The Songs of Ivor Novello
Shine Through My Dreams: Original 1917-1950 Recordings
A Little Princess: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Much Ado About Nothing: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

ASIN: B00005UNCB
Release Date: 2002-01-15

Tracks:

Waltz Of My Heart
Mr. Parks
Gosford Park
Bored To Sobs
The Shirt
And Her Mother Came Too
Walking To Shoot
No Smoke Without Fire
Scherzo In G
I Can Give You The Starlight
What A Duke Should Be
Inspector Thompson
Pull Yourself Together
Life Goes On
Secrets To Hide
Only For A While
Rather A Pasting
Love Jam
Why Isn't It You?
The Way It's Meant To Be
Carpe Diem
Good Luck
Your Boy's Alive
The Land That Might-Have-Been

Amazon.com

Thematically, director Robert Altman's career sometimes seems an endless series of left turns into the unexpected; the one constant has been a rich and rewarding attention to the intricacies of character development and interaction. Composer Patrick Doyle underscores Gosford Park's Merchant-Ivory/Agatha Christie/Altman-wit fusion and '30s British upper-class setting with a score that's period spot-on, character-rich, and often sadly evocative. Doyle's restraint is masterful, often leaning on piano, accordion, and small string arrangements that emphasize the characters' intimacies and the film's drawing room settings. Key to the story are a handful of prewar songs by Ivor Novello (who's also a character in the film), ranging from the sprightly humor of "And Her Mother Came Too" and "What a Duke Should Be" to the romantic schmaltz of "I Can Give You the Starlight" and "Why Isn't It You?" The latter is performed here at the piano (and, remarkably, live before the cameras) by Jeremy Northam. Leavened by a small jazz ensemble and a few darkly ominous cues, Doyle's score is an understated gem. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Gosford Park Sound Track.......2007-03-30

The original music is creative and very listenable. It is typical of popular music of the 1930s. This CD is highly recommended to those people who enjoy music from the 1920s and 1930s.

Better than the movie.......2004-12-08

Many people, I believe, buy a soundtrack because they are mesmerized by the movie and want to extend the experience by listening to something that reminds them of it. But "Gosford Park" is hardly that kind of movie. It is brilliant and atmospheric as it analyzes the British class system, but that's hardly the kind of thing that wins the heart. The soundtrack of this movie was my favorite CD from last year, and the reasons I liked it had nothing to do with the movie.

Why is this music so compelling and winning?

First, it is fun to discover the marvellous talent of Ivor Norvello. His music is half of the charm of the soundtrack. Some songs are funny ("Her mother came too"), some beautiful ("I can give you the starlight") and some poignant ("The land of might have been"). I had not encountered Norvello before this film. Jeremy Northam's perfect delivery of Norvello's songs would not leave me after I'd seen the film. Days later, I found the songs had taken up residence in the back of my head, insisting that I go back to the soundtrack to make them a permanent part of my musical life.

Second, there is the charm of the orchestral music composed by Patrick Doyle. Sometimes people wonder "why aren't they writing beautiful classical music any more?" Well, they are. It goes into soundtracks, however, rather than being commissioned by orchestras. The test for the quality of Doyle's compositions is that you don't need to refer to the film to appreciate this music. It simply charms and intrigues us with its own merits.

My third reason for loving this CD is too personal to mention here.

I give this CD my highest personal recommendation.

I don't mind the repeating themes, but the CD is too short!.......2004-06-08

Unlike many reviewers here, I didn't buy the CD to hear the Ivor Novello songs or Jeremy Northam's voice. I actually liked the instrumental tracks, and never actually thought I'd like to listen to something played on an accordion.

However, Mr. Doyle's music portrays the lethargy of the snobby Upstairs very well to the contrast of the relative energy of Novello's songs, which the Downstairs servants enjoy, but the Upstairs people can't stand.

My dislikes about the CD include the female singer who can't really sing and the length of the CD. Some of these cues are only about a minute long. WHY pay so much money for such a short CD??? Why not add more music??

Overall though, if you liked either Doyle's music or Novello's songs (hopefully the listener will like both), it's a CD worth getting.

Excellent Mix.......2003-04-23

I fell in love with this soundtrack when I watched Gosford Park in the cinemas.

Sometimes period music, sometimes mystery music, sometime personal music. Jeremy Northam's songs are simply delicious and I love hearing them.

I liken the style (not type) of mix to You've Got Mail.

Heaps of fun and lovely to listen to.

One the best soundtracks out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2003-03-06

When I saw the movie at the theater I kept thinking I've got to have the soundtrack to this movie because it is so beautiful. I also really enjoyed the sung songs 6.And Her Mother Came Too, 10.I Can Give You The Starlight, 11.What A Duke Should Be, 16. Only For A While, 20. The Way It's Meant To Be, 24. The Land That Might-Have-Been!! I think that Patrick Doyle did a wonderful job of scoring this movie the just fits right in with it all, I only wish there was more to listen to!! I highly recommend this album to everyone who liked the movie and people who love great soundtracks, you will not be sorry if you buy this!!!!

Average customer rating:

Got me hooked on Scorpions
Moment of Glory
[]
dynamite!
Truly a Moment of Glory for the Scorpions!

Moment of Glory

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Eye II Eye
The Scorpions - Moment of Glory (Live with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)
Face the Heat

ASIN: B00004TR0A
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Tracks:

Hurricane 2000
Moment Of Glory
Send Me An Angel
Wind Of Change
Crossfire (Instrumental)
Deadly Sting Suite (Instrumental)
Here In My Heart
Still Loving You
Big City Nights
Lady Starlight

Amazon.com

Throughout the 1980s, "We are the Scorpions!" was lead vocalist Klaus Meine's concert-opening battle cry, energizing and readying the faithful in sold-out stadiums for a Teutonic onslaught of vital, sometimes plodding, eardrum-splitting rock anthems. In short, the arena-rock monsters were never a picnic-under-the-stars kind of band ... until Moment of Glory. The new millennium brings the Scorpions full circle, melding in-your-face party anthems like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" (now called "Hurricane 2000") and "Big City Nights" into fully orchestrated concoctions featuring the Berlin Philharmoniker. Where the grandiose likes of "Wind of Change" and "Still Loving You" are obvious choices for such a pairing, and indeed, work well, the "Deadly Sting Suite," with almost unrecognizable instrumental versions of "He's a Woman, She's a Man" and "Dynamite," will likely catch the unknowing fan of classic Scorps off guard. Both Deep Purple and Metallica have used full orchestras to accent their songs with mixed results, and the same goes for the Scorps. There's a fine line between wine-and-cheese classical fare and whiney and cheesy metal. Here the Scorpions teeter, if often gracefully, on that line. --Katherine Turman

Album Details

New Album Recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Features Three New Songs, Including Moment of Glory which Has Been Chosen as the Official Anthem of Expo 2000. Includes a Duet with Zucchero.

Customer Reviews:

Got me hooked on Scorpions.......2007-04-12

I absolutely love the marriage of rock and symphony here. It's gorgeous. The Scorpions take already amazing songs and pump them up an extra notch. A long time ago I heard "Still Loving You" on the radio, not knowing who sung it. It took me years to finally discover the Scorpions. I own two different versions of "Still Loving You," and I far prefer this one to the original. It gives me this yearning inside. The only thing I don't like about this album is the guest vocalists. I love Klaus Meine. He adds an ethereal element to the music, and with the guest vocals, it takes away from the beauty, in my opinion. But don't let that deter you from getting this, because it is so worth it. "Rock You Like a Hurricane" is amazing! It's all amazing!

Moment of Glory.......2007-04-01

With metal music it is always louder is better and this album found one of the coolest ways to make metal louder. Combining the Scorpions with a the Philharmonic creates one of the coolest sounding albums I have ever heard.

[].......2007-03-14

i dont own this album but i have heard the songs off of it and i think their all great and performed well. and also as a side note since i read alot of comments about the guest vocals on "big city nights" but no mention of who: it is Ray Wilson best known for replacing Phill Collins in Genesis and recording the classic Calling all Stations

dynamite!.......2002-10-21

Just when you think the scorpions couldn't do worst...they prove you wrong!
Even Metallica's s&m is better...close but still.
I am sure that it was a great experience to live, for the band and the audience, because that type of event is always unique and can bring strong emotions-unless you have a dumb..s sitting next to you, drinkin' beer and screaming every five minutes Dynamiiiiiiite!!-but on cd...for me it doesn't do it,but it probably is a treasure for those who were there.
Now, I'm not gonna start the debat with DEEP PURPLE and the LSO(1999) but I was there at the Royal Albert Hall and that's why I can understand the concept and the thrill of holding the recording of such concerts...but still DEEP PURPLE 's symphonic album features something that neither Scorpions or Metallica holds...and this is an ORIGINAL PIECE OF MUSIC CREATED FOR A GROUP AND A ORCHESTRA!

Truly a Moment of Glory for the Scorpions!.......2002-07-31

AWESOME is how I would sum up this CD. From the moment I first heard it, I knew I HAD to have it. Buy it! You won't be disappointed!

Starlight Express (1984 Original London Cast)

Average customer rating:

Why? Andrew, Why?
Hasn't Aged Particularly Well
This is indeed the best version of the "Starlight Express" CDs
The best recording of the best musical!
BETTER TO WATCH THAN TO LISTEN...

Starlight Express (1984 Original London Cast)
Andrew Lloyd Webber , and Richard Stilgoe
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Aspects Of Love (Original 1989 London Cast)
Whistle Down The Wind (1998 Original London Cast)
Sunset Boulevard (1993 Original London Cast)
Cats (1981 Original London Cast)
The New Starlight Express (1992 London Revival Cast)

ASIN: B00000742S
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Act One: Overture
Act One: Rolling Stock
Act One: Call Me Rusty
Act One: A Lotta Locomotion
Act One: Pumping Iron
Act One: Freight
Act One: AC/DC
Act One: He Whistled At Me
Act One: The Race
Act One: There's Me
Act One: Poppa's Blues
Act One: Belle The Sleeping Car
Act One: Starlight Express

Tracks:

Act Two: The Rap
Act Two: U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.
Act Two: Rolling Stock (Reprise)
Act Two: C.B.
Act Two: Right Place, Right Time
Act Two: I Am The Starlight
Act Two: He Whistled At Me (Reprise)
Act Two: Race: The Final
Act Two: No Comeback
Act Two: One Rock 'N' Roll Too Many
Act Two: Only He
Act Two: Only You
Act Two: Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Amazon.com

Between his megahits Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber came up with one of his slightest efforts, Starlight Express. The composer admitted it was targeted at kids--centering on a set of trains and the plot of The Little Engine That Could--yet it lacks the charm of his other kids' show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. While the live staging was exciting, featuring costumed roller skaters racing around, over, and through the audience, the score is one of Lloyd Webber's least subtle demonstrations of his ability to compose in different musical styles--country ("U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D."), blues ("Poppa's Blues"), rock ("Rolling Stock"), funk ("C.B."), rap ("The Rap"), and the like. Of course, there are some catchy tunes plus one hit (the title tune), and Richard Stilgoe's lyrics are sometimes cutely clever and sometimes banal ("Starlight Express, you must confess, are you real, yes or no / Starlight Express, please answer 'yes,' I don't want you to go."). The show was revised and revived in 1992, switching some songs, removing the most obvious cold-war references, and adding one pop single ("Next Time You Fall in Love"). --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Why? Andrew, Why?.......2006-11-06

I can't believe this is by the same Man who wrote Phantom of the Opera. If you like Webber for Phantom, then DONT GET THIS! If you like Whistle Down the Wind by Webber, than you might like this as well. The story is a bit much, the songs get very repetitive, and the vocals are questionable. I just can't see spending almost 40.00 on a CD you wont listen to, but maybe twice. I would put this amount of money into Cats before this. ALthough, Starlight Express does have a quite a poppy edge so if you want something not so classical, this is ok. I still don't think its worth it. If you want a poppy musical get Tarzan. Favorite Song: "Poppa's Blues"

Hasn't Aged Particularly Well.......2006-08-18

Though by no means his crowning achievement, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express" was a dazzling piece of fluff, directed primarily towards children. The futuristic staging and skate-wearing cast was amazing to look at and the score includes several pop gems.

Best Tracks include:

Rolling Stock
A Lotta Locomotion
There's Me
Starlight Express
I Am The Starlight
Only He
Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Definitely not a musical to be taken too seriously, nor in the same league as "Phantom" or "Sunset Boulevard", the score for "Starlight Express" is simply fun..though I prefer the concept album recorded before the show's transfer to Broadway.

This is indeed the best version of the "Starlight Express" CDs.......2005-09-23

Being a "The Phantom of the Opera" and Michael Crawford fan, as well of Cats, I have rarely listened to anything outside of the, so called, classical Broadway sound. But I got tempted to see and hear this show after seeing the pictures from the various productions around the world, which is, ironically, partly, I got interested in "The Phantom of the Opera" .

But this show, Starlight Express, blew me away. Visually it, like Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, is in the same leagues. But score wise, it is a mixed one.

It is indeed a show, like Cats, and unlike The Phantom of the Opera, for children and, although I am not particularly fond of ALW himself, but it is sweet he wrote this show for his children, who were at the time from his first wife Sarah Hugill. The story is based more or less on the old children's tale of "The Little Engine that Could" and perhaps, not sure on this, on the old "Thomas the Tank Engine" show (I may be incorrect on this). I have not yet seen the show as a whole, but I can fully concur that, although the plot in the original was a bit weak, and at times today, even still, I will say that indeed it holds its own and it is a delightful show.

Of the numbers that are on the Original London Cast Recording; I will say this:)-

"The Overture" - Like all of ALW's shows, with the possible exception of "Joseph and the Amazing Techincolor Dreamcoat" , "Aspects of Love", and some of his later shows; ALW writes very intriguing at time eerie sounding music (The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in White, Cats, and Evita are no exception) and this certainly fits that league. I would definitely say this deserves, if given 5 stars as the best, it is a 5. I love this number indeed.

"Rolling Stock" - This song, or this version, is really quite good, but I admit not as good as the New London Version. But they are both good. :D The singer who sings this sounds alot, strangely enough, like Gerard Butler who does the Phantom in the filmed version of ALW's stage show of "The Phantom of the Opera". Perhaps if Gerry did a movie version of Starlight and played Electra, he would fit quite well in it. But getting off topic, this is a really powerful number and on stage its really quite fun. Of the characters in the show, Electra is certainly the most heavily made up, and has been since the OLC production in 1984. The beat is a bit slow at best, not as more normally paced as the New London, but definitely both versions get a 5!

"Call Me Rusty" - Not crazy about this number personally, and that is only because its not among my favourite songs, but it is a really good number in of itself. Strong, creepy, almost too dark undertone to the music and the plot really flows through this number. Indeed another 5.

"A Lotta Locomotion" - Having been a fan of Frances Ruffelle (best known, later, for creating the role of Eponine Thenardier in Cameron Mackintosh's (non ALW) production of "Les Miserables") for a while, she really shines in this number and her voice still has all the power, fun, intrigue, and the surprising gentleness to her tone that she is known for. She is, out of all the ladies I have heard play her, is the best Dinah. :D Music wise, this song, on this recording at least, is very 80s and it shows through. The synthesizers and the electric keyboards really are the focal point in the instruments used in this. But with that said, the performers really blended well together and I must say it definitely deserves a 5, as well. :D

"Pumping Iron" - This indeed is another cute number with Greaseball playing an Elvis figure (ALW seems to have a obsession with Elvis having incorpriated alot of him into Joseph and the Amazing Techincolor Dreamcoat and some of his other shows). I like this version very much, the performer, at the moment his name illudes me, is really quite good at portraying the sort of macho, but nice, tough guy part of Greaseball (unlike the macho, but evil, Electra). Again another 5. :P

"Frieght" - Is very child-like and really is quite suitable for children, music wise as, unlike its former numbers, is not as dark or adult in nature. But there again the flow of the music is weak and here is where it needs perhaps a little punch, but that is only my personal opinion. For children this is a good number but even then still weak. I give this a good even (out of 5 stars) 3 and a half.

"AC/DC" - Well, this is certainly more in line with his other shows, and it really is quite a good number. The music flows really well, and here Ray Schell (?) shows he played the part well. 5 stars.

"He Whistled At Me" - This is perhaps when the romance section really comes through. The late Stephanie Lawerence is amazing as Pearl and the song at times switches from child-like to an almost creepy note when at the end of Rusty (Ray Schell) whistling it slides down on the synthesizers. The flow of the music is of course slow in this and deserves so to be, and in this it does get a 5 as well.

"The Race" (or the first race) - This is where, in the show, it becomes quite electrically charged, although the show is already enough exciting visually in the former tracks, but here is when it reaches it's first peak. The race on stage is quite thrilling (although perhaps, maybe, not as thrilling as the Final one) and the track really captures the nerve and fire of this scene and number. Definitely a 5!!

"There's Me" - This song is quite sweetly done, and is definitely well played out and indeed is more in line with ALW's other shows. Quite gently played and suitable for children. The flow of the music is perfect, the cast does excellent, no complaints here! 5 stars!

"Poppa's Blues" - You would think that ALW, being a more classically minded composer, would stick to more classically themed music. But here he as already done rock, 60's style music, his own unique style, children's style, (I want to say goth but that's not the word for it so I will say..) dark, 80's style music. You would think he would switch back to classical, but nope. Here, as one reviewer commented, this show combines all of ALW's taste or attempts in music. And here is when, in a shocker for ALW, ALW tries to write a blues number. And surprisingly, for those who don't know that he does this, but not surprisingly to those who do know this, he achieves it. Lon Satton is brilliant as Poppa, as has Frances Ruffelle as Dinah and the actor who performed Greaseball (Ray Schell I am not too keen on at alot of points, but he is good, just not my fave) and really shines through in this number. It is a great thing that he later on recreated his role for the New London show. :D The flow of the music really goes well and ALW has really captured the feel of the blues (although I am not a personal fan of the style myself). 5 stars!

"Belle The Sleeping Car" - This is where I have the harshest criticism. I don't know if its the singer or the music, but it is definitely the first really weak point in the show and I think, personally, when thinking about the plot, slows the show down a bit . The flow of the music is confused at best, and bad at least and the performer does not do justice to this number, if the music is already weak. This gets 2 stars.

"Starlight Express" - I remember when I heard this on the Premiere Recording, I did not know who that singer who sang along with Lon Satton was, I did not know at first if it was Ray or a woman. It said on the track it was Ray and Lon. :P But this really captures the essence of the show, this song is about the show and holds everything. Its a combination of the dark undertone, as I said already in play in the show, and the lightness that is tolerable for children. At the time, being into TPOTO, I was not too crazy with it but I did admit it had a good beat, good lyrics (if the singers were not my fave) and was a bit creepy. But now, I quite like it and it captures the show perfectly. Back to 5 stars!

"The Rap" - This is a really confusing number and indeed, I am not a fan of this at all. Its like a combination of 80's style music and rap. :S I would give this 1 star.

"U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D" - ALW has wrote Country?? Yes he has. And once again, although the flow in the music is its one major flaw (not on Frances Ruffelle's part), Frances Ruffelle really shines through and the song itself is lovely. Very sweet and sad in a good way. :) Frances Ruffelle indeed, never fails to incorrectly sing, although perhaps, with the beginning flow a bit distorted as its only fault, she did not do as good as she usually does, could have sung country music, if she lived over in the USA. :D Bravo, Frances!! 5 stars!

"Rolling Stock: rephrise" - Being a girl, I could not sing the former version; but this version is especially written for girls (thank you ALW:D) and, for any female performer wanting to do the show and learn the score, this is at a good slow pace to start with and then slowly increases in the later recordings. But this works well and should have remained as is, in the OLC. :D 5 Stars.

"C.B." - This is really 80's style and it really shows Electra being, as he is in the show, an.. (considering children may read this) a jerk. But nevertheless, its a very confusing style and this, while not as bad as "Belle" or the other poor songs on this, it seems to have some strong points. But my only complaint is the style and crescendos and flow of the piece is confusing. I would give this a 2.

"Right Place, Right Time" - HAHAHA! I had to laugh at that comment, "Rocky 1 and Rocky 2" and the "If I had any brains". :D But with that said, this is a good sturdy number, although not as strong as the others. 4 stars at best. :D

"I am the Starlight" - Ray does not shine here as much as I wished he had, but he really does well nevertheless. Lon does not do as good on this, but the song is the peak of the show in that Rusty realizes he is the "destined" or Starlight :D. The music flows in a very classical, in line with the other classical shows that ALW does, and is brilliantly written (if not cast wise written). So for the music a 5, with the singers a 4.

"He Whistled At Me: Rephrise" - The singer, who sounds alot similar to someone from "My Fair Lady" , is really quite cute and this number, I have only one complaint, that Ray again does not show his fuller potential. 5 stars though.

"Race: Final" - This is the climax, where Rusty and Electra go head to head and in the stage show, this is incredible to see and the music is just electric for this, literally in style and in emotion. No complaints at all here! Both children and adults would love this number or at least, find it thrilling if they saw the show live. If you ever see the show, this is probebly, if the children are bored with the former songs, this is where they MAY have fun and get a musical theater buzz. 5 stars indeed!!! :D

"No Comeback" - In regards to the singer here, he does really badly. His flow and style of singing is, perhaps, a bit strained in some notes and poorly done (but to his credit, it may be the score for his voice). But the music really comes through and does briliantly. 5 stars, even with the bad singing!

"One Rock n' Roll Too Many" - This is another confusing number, but it is not the fault of the singer. The style of music is really complicated and indeed in this, this is one rock n roll too many. But with that said, 2 stars.

"Only He" - I have heard this when it was combined with "Only You", as done by, ironically, Frances Ruffelle and, my favourite Phantom and ALW star, Michael Crawford on Michael's Music of ALW CD . This shows Stephanie at her best. 5 stars!!

"Only You" - Here Ray Schell does very badly, but while Stephanie shines through. :D This is a good number and it is a tragedy that ALW cut this out. Oh well, seeing as he cut out alot of stuff from the ALW TPOTO Movie version, I am not surprised. 5 stars, btw. :D

"Light At the End of the Tunnel" - Finally we are reaching the end of the show, where the beginning starts out very dark, this is very upbeat and cheerful. Lon, in contrast to when he did badly, he redeems himself here. 5 stars!!

OVERALL, with all that said and done, I would give it indeed 4 stars. :D And indeed, try and see this show if it comes to your city or town, if you live in the USA. Although if you want a really GOOD production; I highly recommend the versions in Bochem (in Germany, where it is the longest running production of the show, having been here when the OLC and OBC ) and the Las Vegas one. :D

This indeed is one of the rarest of ALW's shows, as its not as well known or popular here in the USA (which is their loss, not mine), and is quite sublte in ALW's various other tastes in music. As a former critic said, this is the best of the recordings.

The best recording of the best musical!.......2005-04-04

Well, where to start, the songs on this CD show the musical how it should be presented. The singers are great and songs are fantastic. You should definitely choose this CD over the New (London) Starlight Express recording. The only thing I think the New recording has over this one is three tracks : Crazy, Coda of Freight, and the Megamix. This however has Call Me Rusty, A Lotta Locomotion, He Whistled At Me, Belle, Girls' Rolling Stock, Only He and Only You and a slightly different Light At The End Of The Tunnel. These are the basic differences, with there being others which are smaller, less obvious differences.

Starlight is my favourite musical of all time. I have had this recording on some medium or other since I was 4 (15 yrs ago) and I have managed to wear out every copy I have owned - I love it that much. I think it is probably true to say that you would have had to see the show live on stage to fully appreciate it however. This recording does sound quite dated and is quite blatantly 80s, however some of the tracks (A Lotta Locomotion and He Whistled Me) are so 80s that they would pass as cool/retro nowadays.

In conclusion - the best Starlight recording I own.

BETTER TO WATCH THAN TO LISTEN..........2005-02-28

Seeing that his "Cats" have become a musical phenomenon in its own right after the London (1981.) and Broadway (1982.) premiere, Andrew Lloyd Webber decided to use the same formula on his next project, "Starlight Express". He collaborated with the same people, including Trevor Nunn as a director; Gillian Lynne as a choreographer and Richard Stilgoe provided the lyrics. The main problem of "Starlight Express" is that it pushes the Cats formula to a much bigger and higher degree. The composer dedicated this show to his children and to his own fascination with train toys.

Most of the show's appeal lies in its visual performance rather than in the score or the lyrics. The plot is even lighter than in Cats: it tells the story of the different trains. Rusty, a steam engine is in love with a glamorous carriage Pearl, but has to compete with other trains by racing them to win her affection. The holes in this simple plot were overshadowed by the grandiose staging that involved vigorous light show and cast members on roller-skates racing through the specially made stage. Because of that, Starlight proved to be a family-oriented show guaranteeing an entertaining evening. It was probably one of the main reasons why the show lasted in the West End until 2002. And yet the fact remains that on Broadway it passed rather unnoticed and didn't cover the basic investment.

This two-disc recording captures much of the original show that opened in March 1984 in London's Apollo Victoria theatre. You should be aware, however, that the score was revised in the early 90-is in order to get a more modern sound. The cast recording here has several problems. First, the orchestrations are full of synthesizers and the disco-beat of the 80-is is more than evident and therefore much dated. The story lacks coherence even more than in the case of Cats, so you don't have the feeling that anything is happening. And the score itself is not among ALW's best, for the most part it's just derivative. That said, some of the songs on this recording are worth noting.

The best of the lot is "Only he", a wonderful love ballad sung by Pearl to Rusty. It's not the music here that matters, it's the lady singing it. The late Stephanie Lawrence had a sweet and tender voice and it will hold you throughout this powerful song. It's amazing that this number was later completely dropped out. Her second big number, "He whistled at me" is a little lighter, but still very pretty. And from the rest of the cast, only Ray Shell's Rusty sticks out. He manages to portray the liveliness of the character in songs such as "Call me Rusty", which has a catching melody. And the other song not to skip is "I am Starlight" on disc 2, sung by Rusty and his father. This is also the only melody that comes close to ALW's symphonic extravaganza, with the perfect blending of the score and the cast. The rest is rather plain and unnoticeable.

The CD package comes with the complete lyrics of the performed songs, but just like in "Aspects of love"; you need a magnifying glass in order to read it. The lyrics are among the most banal I've ever heard in a musical.

This version of "Starlight Express" should therefore be appreciated for its innovative staging and its individual moments rather than its worth as a whole. In this respect, it belongs to the less satisfying scores of Andrew Lloyd Webber and is not at all a must-have, but rather a mere addition to the collection of the composer's work.

Average customer rating:

Your words, they burn
SUPERSTARS IN ANOTHER DIMENSION
The great leap forward for Starlight Mints
Great CD !!!
Can't quite put my finger on it

Drowaton
The Starlight Mints
Manufacturer: Barsuk
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000EQ46X2
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Tracks:

Pumpkin
Torts
Inside Of Me
Pearls (Submarine #2)
Seventeen Devils
Rhino Stomp
The Killer
Eyes Of The Night
Drowaton
The Bee
Rosemarie
Sidewalk

Amazon.com

Just what do they put in the water in Oklahoma? Like hometown heroes The Flaming Lips, The Starlight Mints continue to push their agenda for sweeping orchestral psych-rock, lyrical mumbo-jumbo, and eye-boggling cover art involving really big balls on their third album. Oddly enough, they sound less like Wayne Coyne and company than early progenitors of the oddball pop genre such as the Beatles and The Kinks. Not a second of Drowaton ("not a word" backwards, although we have no idea why) is sacrificed to silence as every crevice is stuffed with an odd tambourine, flugelhorn, or blast of vintage piano. Ultimately, however, this a guitar record, as best evidenced in more discriminatingly produced cuts such as "Eyes of the Night" and the nearly sincere "What's Inside of Me." --Aidin Vaziri

Album Description

Their love of archetypal pop and AM radio has provided, over the course of two acclaimed albums, a rock-solid foundation for a whole bunch of inspired unusualness, all baked to perfection under the hot Oklahoman sun. Their unique brand of instrumentally complex, surrealistically worded pop contains a blend of classic string arrangements, cheeky boyish vocals, catchy melody, and ornate surrealism. You might call it bubblegum psych. Church bells, horns, piano, violin, tambourine, triangle, synths, and sound effects complement the usual suspects of guitar, bass, and drums to paint a broad sonic palate.

Customer Reviews:

Your words, they burn.......2006-12-27

Whatever weird bug the Flaming Lips have, their fellow Oklahomites appear to have it too. Especially the Starlight Mints. In their third album "Drowaton," the Mints overwhelm listeners with their colourful, forceful pop tunes and oddball lyrics -- they sound like an insane group of musical leprechauns.

It opens with a fuzzy, intermittent riff, joined in by a brass chorus, colourful chorus and some solid drums. It's a bit hard to make out what Allan Vest is singing in his eerie falsetto, but you can catch snatches of lyrics: knives, cold hearts, and "words that burn, burn my soul."

Then it proceeds to the whistling and guitars of "Torts," with Vest announcing solemnly, "All you lawyers and judges/and reading rooms/this song goes out to you/as your counselor wishes, and I can prove/everyone travels in twos!" It sounds like a song from a demented children's TV show.

From there in, they try out every kind of pop imaginable: bombastic piano-rock, energetic indiepop, uneasy bluesy pop with classical violins, ominously heavy "Rhino Stomp" living up to its name, a folky little acoustic tune, wailing psych-punk, and sweeping psychedelic tunes with tipsy vocals. Right up to the parade-like feeling of the sweeping acid epic "Sidewalk."

Part of the charm of the Starlight Mints has always been that they were always so incredibly colourful. But with "Drowaton," they take up the colour a notch -- everything in this album seems bigger, brighter and more effusive than ever before. And that's saying something.

As they've always done, classical violin strains are mingled in with indie riffs and lots of shimmering synth, molded into some truly brilliant pop tunes that seem to overflow from the speakers. And the Mints try out all sorts of music here -- punk, folk, a touch of blues, and lots and lots of shimmering psychpop -- with mostly successful results.

Vest's voice gets a good workout here -- he goes falsetto in the first song, but gets to sound a bit more normal (and freaked out) in "Seventeen Devils" and the rollicking punk "Eyes of the Night." And the songs are almost as bizarrely appealing as the music -- full of lightning strikes, pearls in submarines, the slow development of a murderer. ("A killer comes, a killer grows/he walks into a killer's home/and says goodnight to the moon...")

The Starlight Mints are utterly brilliant in their third full-length album, a collection of larger-than-life psychpop and wild musical journeys. A must-have.

SUPERSTARS IN ANOTHER DIMENSION.......2006-11-29

Sounding a lot like Styx covering Pavement Songs with Bowie as the lead singer, these guys have got to be huge in another dimension. Not a bad song on the cd - just well written, well played, INTERESTING music. Probably should have given it a 5 star, probably did in the other dimension. I would definately buy it again if someone took this copy, and thats about the best I can say about any CD.

The great leap forward for Starlight Mints.......2006-11-26

Starlight Mints is a 5 piece band, bringing mostly quirky popsongs. Their earlier albums, 2000's Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of, and 2003's Built on Squares, were uneven affairs, but clearly showing promise. After a long wait, now comes the band's third album.

"Drowaton" (12 tracks, 40 min.) is musically again all over the map, but the big difference is that this time each track feels completely fleshed out, even though many songs are short, in the 2 and 3 minute range. The best tracks are found primarily in the second half of the album, including the instrumental "Rhino Stomp" (with a stomping rythm, as implied by the title), the acoustic "The Killer", the Clash-like "Eyes of the Night", and the closer "Sidewalk", a 60s-like romper with horns. The overall feel to is reminds me of current bands like Spoon and the Greenhornes. Overall, "Drowaton" is a great album, which marks the great leap forward for Starlight Mints.

This album (which is spelled "Not a word" backwards) was released on the excellent label Barsuk Records, which houses other outstanding artists like Mates of State, Smoosh, Aqueduct and John Vanderslice, just to name a few. I haven't had an opportunity to see Starlight Mints in concert yet, but I'm looking forward to them coming to or near Cincinnati sometime soon.

Great CD !!!.......2006-08-09

Listened in the car this weekend to this release.Very catchy ,excellent tunes,highly recommended!!!!

Can't quite put my finger on it.......2006-06-09

Sort of 60's pop with a bit of Spoon, Bowie and OingoBoingo thrown in; And I suppose Flaming Lips to a certain extent, but maybe that's because I've learned that they're also Okies.

Average customer rating:

My Favorite of 2007

Starlight
Muse
Manufacturer: Wea/Warner
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Starlight

ASIN: B000HOMDE0
Release Date: 2006-09-11

Tracks:

Starlight
Easily

Album Description

Second single taken from the brilliant Black Holes & Revelations album by this Britpop trio. Features 'Starlight' plus the non-album 'Easily'. WEA. 2006

Album Details

The Track is Just One of the Many Highlights from their Universally Acclaimed Number One Album and Mercury Prize Nominated `black Holes and Revelations'. Includes Exclusive B-side Track.

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite of 2007.......2007-03-02

I don't generally like rock music, so i went for the single. I would recommend that most people go for the album which is similarly priced. Starlight opens with a great base line that really enhances the chorus. The second chorus is almost James Blunt type beautiful in its sound. The Main chorus is the disappointing part which is hard rock sounding. This song reminds me of Stone Sour's "Through Glass", in that the best parts of the song is not the main chorus. Instead of sounding acoustic like "through glass", starlight features a base guitar and a piano/keyboard behind the vocals. A criticism of this song could be the higher pitched "whining" vocals. Fortunately the singing is able to pull it off as he is actually a good singer. This song's best parts are featured in the preview of the song, under there "Black Holes and Revelations" album here on Amazon.

Erich Kunzel - Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Kunzel's different perspective on ALW's musicals

Erich Kunzel - Andrew Lloyd Webber (Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Andrew Lloyd Webber , Erich Kunzel , Ernest [organ] Hoffman , Randolph Bowman , Timothy Berens , and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Big Picture

ASIN: B000003D18
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

The Phantom Of The Opera
The Music Of The Night
Think Of Me
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
All I Ask Of You
Angel Of Music
As If We Never Said Goodbye
The Greatest Star of All
With One Look
Memory
I Don't Know How To Love Him
Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
King Herod's Song
Don't Cry For Me, Argentina
Starlight Express
Any Dream Will Do

Customer Reviews:

Kunzel's different perspective on ALW's musicals.......2005-11-06

Kunzel's offering of Andrew Lloyd Webber suites is a worthwhile tribute to this modern-day titan of globalised musicals. Although this album has a different feel from the original cast albums, Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops still perform these affectionate arrangements of Lord Lloyd Webber's musicals expertly, superbly and voluptiously. The creative arrangements by Crafton Beck and Steven Reineke are tastefully and, for the most part, faithfully done, and allow Kunzel to offer a fresh perspective to these musicals in their orchestral settings. And as always Telarc provides its trademark audiophile-quality recording - surround sound quality with a sumptuous spatialiser such that you might be overwhelmed by the Phantom's laughter in the Phantom suite.

Kunzel contrasts the dramatic and lyrical sides of the PHANTOM and SUNSET BOULEVARD suites as if they were written for the Pops. The Phantom suite gains from a breathtaking organ introduction of the Phantom's theme, and from the contrasts in Music of the Night that match the lyrics perfectly, even without the cast album. The tender arrangement of Think of Me cleverly weaves the Angel of Music melody as a counterpoint, while All I Ask of You, complete with some of the details of the original orchestrations, makes a calming answer to Christine's Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. The JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR suite depicts the contrasting and conflicting moods of this groundbreaking rock opera, from the contrasts in I Don't Know How to Love Him to the sheer anguish in Gethsemene (I Only Want to Say).

There are some interesting arrangements on this ALW offering, especially the arrangement of Don't Cry for Me Argentina from EVITA. Although some listeners might be offended when it transmorphs itself into the Ravel Bolero after doing an about-turn from its lush, Spanish feel, it still depicts Evita's rise to power and her manipulative trait in her character, well-suiting an orchestral concert arrangement of the tune and fitting in with the spirit of the musical. Another interesting arrangement is the rousing theme-and-variation finale of Any Dream Will Do from JOSEPH, which incorporates many different musical styles throughout the variations, from ballroom waltzing to jazz, movie music (Magnificent Seven) and circus-style music. I know some listeners might be offended, but in their own inimitable and creative way, Kunzel and the Pops still pay tribute to this early ALW musical by evoking the myriad of colours on the coat and the diversity of musical styles in the original JOSEPH musical. This arrangement certainly fits the trademark style of the Pops perfectly.

The only fault with this collection is in the arrangement of Memory from CATS. Here, this song is treated as a flat-out romantic ballad, rather than as the haunting anthem for respect that Grizabella sings. Nevertheless, the arrangement by Tommy Newsom (who wrote this arrangement for a Doc Severinson album) is innofensive to this well-loved ALW melody (this is the only arrangement that Crafton Beck or Steven Reineke didn't write for this album). Also, I wish that Kunzel had included Love Changes Everything and Whistle Down the Wind, but given the fact that this was a 1996 recording, ALW hadn't written Whistle down the Wind as yet. But these are minor caveats, since Kunzel offers much to savour in these infectuous and spirited performances.

Yet I still feel that Kunzel's ALW offering is a winner in its lush orchestral suite arrangements of his well-loved and great musicals, far superior to any shopping-mall synthesised arrangement. This would surely count towards another feather in Kunzel's cap and stand pride of place with his rousing offering of Rodgers & Hammerstein. I'm sure Lord Lloyd Webber would have been proud.

Average customer rating:

I waited for this for five years
Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE!
ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS
SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!
A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans

Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
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Similar Items:

Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection
Evita (Original London Cast)
Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Royal Albert Hall Celebration
Andrew Lloyd Webber - Masterpiece (Collector's Edition) (Bonus CD)

ASIN: B00005R5UJ
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Jesus Christ Superstar: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright - Yvonne Elliman/Murray Head/Ian Gilllan
Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman
Jesus Christ Superstar: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say) - Steve Balsamo
Jesus Christ Superstar: Superstar - Murray Head
Evita: Oh What A Circus/Sing You Fools - Antonio Banderas
Evita: I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You - Elaine Paige/Joss Ackland
Evita: Another Suitcase In Another Hall - Barbara Dickson
Evita: Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
Evita: High Flying, Adored - Mandy Patinkin/Patti LuPone
Cats: The Jellicle Ball - Andrew Lloyd Weber
Cats: Memory - Elaine Paige
Cats: Gus: The Theatre Cat - Susan Jane Tanner/John Mills
Cats: Mr Mistoffelees - Paul Nicholas
Song And Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face - Marti Webb
Song And Dance: Tell Me On A Sunday - Marti Webb
Song And Dance: Unexpected Song - Sarah Brightman
Song And Dance: Nothing Like You've Ever Known - Sarah Brightman
Song And Dance: Introduction - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Song And Dance: Variations 1 -4 - Andrew Lloyd Webber

Tracks:

Starlight Express: Starlight Express - El Debarge
Starlight Express: Crazy - Greg Ellis/Reva Rice/Caron Cardelle/Samantha Lane/Voyd
Starlight Express: Next Time You Fall In Love - Reva Rice/Greg Ellis
Starlight Express: I Am The Starlight - Lon Satton/Ray Shell
Starlight Express: Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Company
Requiem: Hosanna - Placido Domingo
Requiem: Pie jesu - Sarah Brightman/Paul Miles-Kingston
The Phantom Of The Opera: The Phantom Of The Opera - Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman
The Phantom Of The Opera: The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford
The Phantom Of The Opera: All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Steve Barton
The Phantom Of The Opera: Entr'acte - Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Phantom Of The Opera: Masquerade - The Company
The Phantom Of The Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - Sarah Brightman
Aspects Of Love: Aspects Of Aspects - Orchester Der Vereinigten Buehnen Wien
Aspects Of Love: Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
Aspects Of Love: Seeing Is Believing - Michael Ball/Ann Crumb
Aspects Of Love: The First Man You Remember - Kevin Colson/Diana Morrison
Aspects Of Love: Anything But Lonely - Sarah Brightman
Aspects Of Love: Chanson D'Enfance - Sarah Brightman

Tracks:

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do - Jason Donovan
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Joseph's Coat - Maria Friedman/Richard Attenborough/Donny Osmond
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Close Every Door - Donny Osmond
By Jeeves: Travel Hopefully - John Scherer/Martin Jarvis/Don Stephenson
By Jeeves: When Love Arrives - Steven Pacey/Diana Morrison
By Jeeves: Half A Moment - Sarah Brightman
Sunset Boulevard: With One Look - Glenn Close
Sunset Boulevard: New Ways To Dream - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
Sunset Boulevard: The Perfect Year - Glenn Close/Alan Campbell
Sunset Boulevard: Sunser Boulevard - Alan Campbell
Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye - Glenn Close
Whistle Down The Wind: Whistle Down The Wind - James Graeme/Lottie Mayor
Whistle Down The Wind: Cold - Everly Brothers
Whistle Down The Wind: No Matter What - Children/Adult Chorus
Whistle Down The Wind: The Nature Of The Beast - Marcus Lovett/Lottie Mayor
The Beautiful Game: Overture - Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Beautiful Game: The Beautiful Game - The Company
The Beautiful Game: Our Kind Of Love - Hannah Waddingham
The Beautiful Game: Dont Like You - Josie Walker/David Shannon
The Beautiful Game: Let Us Love In Peace - Josie Walker/Omagh Youth Community Choir

Tracks:

Oh What A Circus - David Essex
Memory - Betty Buckley
The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman/Steve Harley
All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman/Cliff Richard
Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball
Any Dream Will Do - Donny Osmond
Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman/Jose Carreras
As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
The Perfect Year - Dina Carroll
With One Look - Petula Clark
You Must Love Me - Madonna
The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
No Matter What - Boyzone
The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church

Tracks:

Make Believe Love - Wes Sands
Down Thru' Summer - Ross Hannaman
I'll Give All My Love To Southend - Ross Hannaman
Believe Me I Will - Sacha Distel
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1969 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
Try It And See - Rita Pavone
Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time Rice And The Webber Group
Goodbye Seattle - Paul Raven
John 19:41 - The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra
What A Line To Go Out On - Yvonne Elliman
Disillusion Me - Gary Band
The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild Days/Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Julie Covington
It's Easy For You (1977 Jungle Room Session Version) - Elvis Presley
Magdalena - Tony Christie
Buenos Aires - The Roja Rockers
Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The Sydmonton Festival 1980) - Gemma Craven
I Could Have Given You More - Petula Clark
I've Been In Love Too Long - Marti Webb
Benedicite - The Stephen Hill Singers

Album Description

Disc 1: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, and Song and Dance

Disc 2: Selections from Starlight Express, Requiem, Phantom of the Opera, and Aspects of Love

Disc 3: Selections from Joseph nad the Amaziong Technicolor Dreamcoat, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, and The Beautiful Game

CD 4: 1. "Oh What a Circus" --David Essex 2. "Memory" - Betty Buckleey 3. "The Phantom of the Opera" -Sarah Brightman, Steve Harley 4. "All I Ask of You" --Sarah Brightman, Cliff Richard 5. "Love Changes Everything"--Michael Ball 6. "Any Dream Will Do"--Donny Osmond 7. "Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life)"--Sarah Brightman, Jose Caerras 8. "As if We Never Said Goodbye"--Barbra Streisand 9. "The Perfect Year"--Dina Carroll 10. "With One Look" --Petula Clark 11. "You Must Love Me" 12. "The Heart Is Slow To Learn" --Kiri Te Kanawa 13. "Whistle Down the Wind"--Tina Arena 14. "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing To Waste"--The Metal Philharmonic 15. "No Matter What"--Boyzone 16. "The Vaults of Heaven"--Tom Jones and Sounds of Blackness 17. "Try Not To Be Afraid"--Boy George 18. "Pie Jesu"--Charlotte Church

Disc 5: (All tracks available for the first time) 1. "Make Believe Love"--Wes Sands 2. "Down Thru' Summer"--Ross Hannaman 3. "I'll Give All My Love to Southend"--Ross Hannaman 4. "Believe Me I Will"--Sacha Distel 5. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 1969 Luxembourg Radio Commercial--The Jospeh Consortium, Pete Murray 6. "Try It and See"--Rita Pavone 7. "Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You"--Tim Rice and the Webber Group 8. "Goodbye Seattle"-- Paul Raven 9. "John 19:41"--The Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestra 10. "What a Line To Go Out On"--Yvonne Elliman 11. "Disillusion Me" --Gary Bond 12. "The Ballad of Robert and Peter"--Tim Rice 13. "Christmas Dream" --Maynard Williams 14. "It's Only Your Lover Returning/All through My Wild and Crazy Days/Don't Cry for Me Argentina--Julie Covington 15. "It's Easy for You" (1977 Jungle Room Session version)--Elvis Presley 16. "Magdalena"--Tony Christie 17. "Buenos Aires"--The Rioja Rockers 18. "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats"--Andrew Lloyd Webber original demo 19. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (Live at Sydmonton Festival 1980)-Gemma Craven 20. "I Could Have Given You More"--Petula Clark 21. "I've Been in Love Too Long"--Marti Webb 22. "Benedicte"-- Stephen Hill Singers

Customer Reviews:

I waited for this for five years.......2006-06-30

Between Amazone, Ebay and Napster, I don't usually buy CDs anymore, and I usually wait till I can buy them cheaper "new and used". When this set came out, I was excited, mainly by Disc 5, but wasn't going to spend $70 on it. I waited till it was cheap enough, and got it for Father's day this year.
It was worth the wait.

The concept is great. The packaging is great. The recording is great. Disc five is really cool for an ALW aficionado. There are a few real gems on it; my favorites are Petula Clark's "I Could Have Given You More" and "Benedicite."
I've always thought "Gus the Theatre Cat" made a great medley on the piano with "Unexpected Song" and "I DOn't Know How to Love Him," but wished there was an alternate lyric to match the other two songs. Now that I know there *is*, and it's a good lyric, it's a dream come true.
The melody of "Benedicite" is one of my favorites from _Sunset_ (the book mis-identifies it as "SUrrender"; it's actually "The Lady's Paying" and "Eternal Youth is Worth a Little Suffering"). The lyrics are the canticle from Daniel 3, which comes up every odd Sunday in the Divine Office, so it's nice to have cool music to sing it with.

I haven't bought _By Jeeves_ or _THe Beautiful Game_ yet, to it was great to sample them.

There are other parts of the CD taht aren't found in my collection. I like CD 4 "The Hits."

But the selections on CDs 1-3 don't make sense.

First, any self-respecting ALW fan has the Original London Cast of _Phantom_, so six tracks are totally useless. Why not draw from the Canadian cast with Colm Wilkinson? Or pull out some obscure recordings never published.

Why two different tracks with Michael Ball singing "Love Changes Everything", yet they're hardly any different?

On Disc 5 is "It's Only Your Lover Returning," sung by Julie Covington. It's an early draft of the song (Lloyd Webber and Rice went through several suggested titles) and quite nice. The very thing one expects on a Boxed Set.
So why have the Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me" on disc 1?? The only difference is a few words, but it's otherwise identical. Why not Elaine Paige or Patti Lupone or Madonna?

The _Evita_ section is otherwise the best, choosing a sample from each major recording, though I'd have chosen slightly differently (as above).

There is a great selection of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" from the Sydmonton festival, using the original music that was changed when _Cats_ went to Broadway_. It would have been nice if they'd included more recordings from Sydmonton, like the original lyric of "All I Ask of You" shown on the second DVD to the _Phantom_ movie.

With so many great actress-singers who've played Norma Desmond, why does the collection beat us over the head with Glenn Close?

Paul Miles Kingston must be set for life in royalties, for the number of albums the original recording of "Pie Jesu" has appeared on. "Amigos Para Siempre" is nice, but it reminds me of Shari Lewis's "The Song that Doesn't End," especially when it's been used on so many compilations.

In short, this is a great collection for the obscure material, if you can get it cheap. But for a boxed set, it's a poor sampling, drawn mostly from the most familiar recordings.

Excellent collection but BIG PUBLISHING MISTAKE! .......2006-01-10

Please beware they made a mistake on this. It's actually the shortened Ray Shell version of STARLIGHT EXPRESS from the original 1984 London cast - NOT the El Debarge single from 1987 like it says on the box. I don't know how they let that goof pass. Sorry to Ray Shell. Having said that, this is an outstanding compilation of Lloyd Webber's greatest hits.

ONE OF LLOYD WEBBER'S BEST COMPILATIONS, DESPITE A FEW FLAWS.......2005-03-21

Regardless of the fact that some of his latest efforts (most notably, The Woman in White) are disappointing, there can be little doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the greatest composers ever to work in the musical theatre. Ever since his "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit the stage in the early 70-is, it was clear that the conception and perception of musicals are never going to be the same again. Many of his songs became standards not only in the theatre history, but also as tops on the charts. Even though he's British, his influence on the shape of the modern musical theatre expanded over the West End boundaries long ago and has thus made an enormous impact on Broadway. Two of his shows ("Cats" and "The phantom of the opera") hold the record as two the longest running shows in the history of Broadway. He has also been the only composer to have three of his shows running at Broadway concurrently. Some of his awards include three Grammies, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a bunch of Tony awards. But perhaps most of all, Lloyd Webber is responsible for bringing the musicals and the theatre appealing to the wide audiences, who in different circumstances would not consider seeing a musical. The secret of his success is probably the mixture of beautiful and catchy melodies, interesting subject matter (though some, like Starlight Express, are too thin) and grandiose staging.

Over the years many compilations of his work have emerged. In the late 80-is and early 90-is it was the "Encore" series and lately the one-disc collection called "Gold". The one in question here can be considered one of the best currently on the market. First, it includes a 3-disc selections from all of his shows, minus the latest one, i.e., "The Woman in White", which, considering the triviality of the score, is no great lost. The fourth disc covers some of his most known songs sung by the famous artists. Then, there is the fifth disc with previously unreleased material, most of which are the songs ALW wrote with Tim Rice for various artists during the 70-is. The disks are all neatly packed in a hardcover book that features 67 pages of pictures and text with information about each of ALW's shows. One of the other assets here is the perfect sound quality, since all of the tracks have been digitally remastered.

Here are my basic impressions and comments regarding the material on the discs:

* Disc #1 has the selections from "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Evita", "Cats" and "Song & Dance". The Superstar material mostly comes from the Concept Recording. Although the songs sound beautiful as always, their orchestration is a bit dated now. Only Steve Balsamo's "Gethsemane" from the 1996 revival cast has a modern rock sound. "Evita" comes with the material from all of the major recordings: London, Broadway and the movie productions, as well as the Concept album. No objections here; since this is one of ALW's most satisfying works, every song is just perfect, although Patti LuPone, the Broadway and overall the best Evita, is left with only a couple of lines. With the selections from "Cats", however, I have some doubts. A plus to the choice of the "Jellicle ball" impressive orchestral sequence from the 1998 movie version and "Mister Mistoffelees" from the 1981 London cast. One of the best known ALW's songs, "Memory", also comes from that album. It's a pretty version and Elaine Paige's rendition cannot be matched, but why include this when the definite version, featuring an 80-piece orchestra and Elaine Paige with much better interpretation, can be found in the same movie version. Thusly, one has to buy Elaine Paige's latest 2-disc compilation "Centre Stage: The very best of Elaine Paige" to get that one. And "Gus the theatre cat" is more a recital than a song, so there was not much point in including that. Marti Webb brings her vocal charm to the "Song & Dance" sequence, Sarah Brightman sings "Unexpected song" with her famous soprano, but as much as I like her version, Bernadette Peters, who was in this show on Broadway is strangely left out here.

* Disc # 2 starts with "Starlight Express". This was never one of my favorite ALW's shows; the plot is even lighter than in "Cats" and the 1984 original cast recording is terribly dated. Yet, here we have one terrific duet, "I am starlight" from the original together with three songs from the later revivals and it seems that fresh orchestrations were just the thing Starlight needed. My favorite remains a touchy ballad, "Next time you fall in love". "Requiem" is the most solemn of all ALW's compositions, written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. Placido Domingo's tenor rides together with the chorus all the way through the strong "Hosanna", only to be joined by Sarah Brightman in the final moments of this song. She then gives an echoing deliverance of "Pie Jesu". What can be said of ALW's next show, "The Phantom of the Opera"? A phenomenon in its own right, it's easy to see from the six numbers included here why this is one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time. The cast, the music, the story - everything is perfect. Although "Aspects of love" was never a popular hit, it does have some of the most beautiful love melodies ALW has ever written. "Love changes everything" sung by Michael Ball is probably one of the best tunes ever about love. The rest of the selected material here has a dreamy love flavor and the melodies find their way into your brain in the best Lloyd Webber way.

* ALW's first musical, "Joseph and the amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was more successful in its revival form than the original from the 70-is. The three songs included here are sung by the show stars, Jason Donovan and Donny Osmond. Maria Friedman was not a lucky choice to play the narrator, as the track from the 1998 movie version shows. "By Jeeves" was ALW's only big flop when it came to the stage in the 70-is. The 1995 revival sounds much better though, full of funny numbers in the best manner of the musical comedy. "Travel hopefully" remains one of the show's highlights on this compilation. "Sunset Boulevard" comes next. "Sunset" remains for me one of Webber's best scores; lush and beautiful. I listen to the original cast recording with Patti LuPone all the time. However, here most of the songs are performed by Glenn Close. A big mistake. If you've ever listened the American premiere recording with her, you'll know what I am talking about. She may have a strong stage presence, but her vocal abilities are too limited, and her aggressive approach to the role lacks any subtlety. Therefore, the two big numbers from this show, "With one look" and "As if we never said goodbye" are ruined by the fact she can't sing. The same goes for the American Joe Gillis, who was played by Alan Campbell. Luckily, Patti LuPone and Kevin Anderson, the original Norma and Joe from the London production, make their brief entrance here with the "Perfect year"; enough to show how better they are. The funny thing is, on the jacket and inside of it, Glenn Close and Alan Campbell are credited as performers in this song as well. If this was a mistake on ALW's part, it was a good one. The next ALW's show, "Whistle down the wind" was never a critic's dear and yet the audiences rushed in to see it in London. The score brings back ALW to his rock and roll roots of the seventies and the story is quite interesting. But the selections here are not the happiest, since the cast recording boasts with much better songs. And finally, "The Beautiful Game". Again, we have one of those ALW's shows that is worth in its individual parts rather than as a whole. "Our kind of love" and "Let us love in peace" are two catchy ballads. The latter is a nice amalgam version not available elsewhere. The two other tracks here I could live without.

* Disc # 4 has the songs from all the above shows performed by different artists. The assembled tracks have their pros and cons. For example, we have some previously unreleased stuff, like Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's operettic rendition of "The heart is slow to learn", or a stunning and epic "A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" from "Whistle down the wind", performed by The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra. Then again, what was the point in including almost identical tracks as the ones on the previous disks? So we have Michael Ball again singing "Love changes everything" with only a bit different orchestration; Sarah Brightman comes out again with the same Phantom duets, but only with the different male singers. It would be much more appropriate to include tracks from the Toronto Cast of the Phantom, with Colm Wilkinson. Other pop deliverances (Tina Arena's "Whistle down the wind", Barbra Streisand's "As if we never said goodbye", Boyzone's "No matter what" and many more) were wisely chosen. Patti LuPone is again nowhere to be found and Petula Clark's "With one look" sounds too worn-out.

* The last disc is probably the one that will be of most interest to Lloyd Webber aficionados. It consists of entirely previously unreleased material ALW for the most part wrote for various artists during his early years, with Tim Rice. Some of these tunes, not successful as a singles, were later used in his shows. Thus "Down thru' summer" became "Buenos Aires"in Evita, "Try it and see", an unsuccessful attempt for the Eurovision was used for "King Herod's song" in "Superstar" and so on. Some of these songs are nicely made pop songs: "Make believe love", ALW's first recorded composition, for which he provided the lyrics; "Goodbye Seattle", sung by Paul Raven, who later became Gary Glitter; "Come back Richard, your country needs you", from a never made musical, sung here by Tim Rice, or Latin flavored "Magdalena", with Tony Christie singing. My all time favorite here is a song called "It's easy for you", sung by none other than Elvis Presley himself. Lloyd Webber and Rice sent him a demo recording that he accepted and recorded this live version a couple of weeks before he died. It's amazing to hear how his voice remained in the perfect shape. Also, there is a track of Andrew Lloyd Webber singing "Policle dogs and Jellicle cats" while plying the piano. His voice doesn't sound bad at all.

Taken as a whole, this compilation makes a perfect birthday or Christmas present to any fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, or just anybody interested in some of the best tunes from the modern era of the musical theatre; despite the flaws I mentioned above. To the former, it may just be the final addition for the Andrew Lloyd Webber collection.

SUCH MAGICAL MUSIC OF THE NIGHT!.......2003-01-19

"Evita." "Sunset Blvd." "Starlight Express." "Jesus Christ Superstar." "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Requiem." "Aspects of Love." The man who is the most recognized composer in the history of the musical theatre, the man who has won more Tonys than any other composer, the man who boasts the best-selling show of all time ("The Phantom of the
Opera") and the longest-running show of all time ("Cats"), the man whose homes are filled with three Grammys, five Oliviers, a Golden Globe, and Oscar and too many other honors and hosannas to mention, the man knighted in 1992 certainly doesn't need an introduction. Now Decca Broadway pays tribute to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with "Now and Forever," a spectacular 5-CD set compiled and produced by Sir Andy himself. It's cheaper than a
ticket to "The Producers" ... and more much exciting. This treasure trove contains highlights from all of Webber's shows, and a bonus disc of tunes sung by Betty Buckley, Barbara
Streisand, Jose Carreras, Boy George, Charlotte Church, Madonna, Tom Jones, Petula Clark, even Elvis! A must for lovers of theatre---and good music.

A Must Have for Sir Andrew fans.......2002-05-21

This five-CD collection of Andrew Lloyd Webber's career is fantastic. It leaves virtually no stone unturned. I have no doubt that diehard Webber fans will love this, especially for the 5th disc entitled "From the Vaults." This disc alone is worth the price as it contains tunes never before heard by the typical fan. Who knew Elvis did a Lloyd Webber tune?!? I didn't! Also the tune "Benedictine" which the composer wrote for his most recent marriage is not only pretty, but it has the same medley as "The Lady's Paying" from "Sunset Blvd." which I found highly enjoyable. Another great track is the composer himself singing a cut song from "Cats" entitled "Pollicle Dogs and Jellicle Cats" which has the same tune as "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats," but to hear Sir Andrew sing is a blast...he sounds a lot like Al "Year of the Cat" Stewart.
The cuts from the musicals are great but are likely owned by ALW fans as they are on the original cast albums. And I'm glad that there were tunes included from the composers most recent efforts which have yet to make it beyond London (Whistle Down the Wind, Beautiful Game).
My only complaint is the inclusion of way too many tracks by Sarah Brightman. She must've received a great divorce settlement that included having tunes on any ALW collection until the end of time!! Her interpretations of some of the tunes were limp and uninspired. I would've much rather heard casts from around the world rather than yet another song by this disdainful soprano! How about Colm Wilkinson's version of "Music of the Night" from the original Canadian cast of "Phantom"? Or Michael Crawford's version of "Unexpected Song"? What? No Betty Buckley from "Sunset Blvd."? And of course there are songs you KNOW are going to be on the collection before you even listen to it as they have been on EVERY ALW collection for the past decade or so.
A great collection but too much Sarah Brightman!

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