All Said & Done (Bonus Dvd)

all said & done (bonus dvd)

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. My Sunday Feeling
2. It's Breaking Me Up
3. Serenade to a Cuckoo
4. Move on Alone
5. Cat's Squirrel
6. Someday the Sun Won't Shine for You
See all 12 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Road Roller
2. How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times & Live?
3. You Got It Wrong
4. Dead Man's Hill
5. I Wonder Who
6. Lies
See all 16 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3
1. Interview with Mick Abrahams [DVD]

All Said and Done,Blodwyn Pig,Recall Records UK,Blues-Rock,England,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

All Said & Done (Bonus Dvd)
Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Andrew LLoyd Webber - Gold Hits
  • The Gold By Andrew
  • The best of Webber
  • THE BEST OF LLOYD WEBBER MADE FOR THE AMERICAN AUDIENCES
  • Super good CD
 Gold: The Definitive Hits Collection
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Very Best Of Andrew Lloyd Webber: The Broadway Collection
  2. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection
  3. Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
  4. Greatest Songs from the Musicals
  5. Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber: Original Soundtracks

ASIN: B0000657XY
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

  1. Superstar - Murray Head w/ the Trinidad Singers (Jesus Christ Superstar)
  2. As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand (Sunset Boulevard)
  3. The Phantom Of The Opera - Sarah Brightman & Michael Crawford (The Phantom Of The Opera)
  4. You Must Love Me - Madonna (Evita)
  5. Any Dream Will Do-Donny Osmond (Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)
  6. Memory - Betty Buckley (Cats)
  7. Pie Jesus - Charlotte Church (Requiem)
  8. The Music Of The Night - Michael Crawford (The Phantom Of The Opera)
  9. I Don't Know How To Love Him - Yvonne Elliman (Jesus Christ Superstar)
  10. Don't Cry For Me Argentina -Patti Lupone (Evita)
  11. Love Changes Everything - Michael Ball (Aspects Of Love)
  12. All I Ask Of You - Sarah Brightman (The Phantom Of The Opera)
  13. The Perfect Year - Glenn Close & Alan Campbell (Sunset Boulevard)
  14. The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones & Sounds Of Blackness (Whistle Down The Wind)
  15. No Matter What - Boyzone (Whistle Down The Wind)
  16. Oh What A Circus - Mandy Patinkin (Evita)
  17. Whistle Down The Wind - Sarah Brightman (Whistle Down The Wind)
  18. Amigos Para Siempre (Friends For Life) - Sarah Brightman & Jose Carrerras (1992 Olympics Theme)

Amazon.com

The critical debate over Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical legacy will no doubt rage for decades. Is he the shrewd populist composer who almost single-handedly revived the moribund stage musical--or a crass, Barnum-esque showman (who almost single-handedly revived the moribund stage musical)? This 18-track anthology chronicles the high points of Sir Andrew's enduring songcraft and the irrefutable impact it's made across a remarkably disparate swath of tastes and genres, from Broadway to Top 40 radio and even the classical repertoire.

If some have accused Lloyd Webber's songs--like "The Music of the Night" (from Phantom of the Opera) and the title tune from Whistle Down the Wind, included here--of having all the melodic and lyrical sophistication of a children's lullaby, that's likely the very element that's made them so appealing to a mass audience. If nothing else, it's a compelling argument for that old notion about it being "the singer, not the song." Indeed, there are few contemporary composers whose music could entice divas from Streisand ("As If We'd Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Blvd.) to Madonna (Evita's "You Must Love Me") and Charlotte Church ("Pie Jesu" from Requiem) to cover it, let alone forge the very careers of artists like Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. And if there's any substance to that other criticism of Lloyd Webber lifting the melodic ideas of composers from Verdi to John Williams (we swear that's the theme to Jurassic Park bubbling up in Tom Jones's camped-up take on Whistle's "The Vaults of Heaven"), at least, like virtually every major composer, he's stolen--er, borrowed--from the best. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Andrew LLoyd Webber - Gold Hits.......2007-07-13

I sent this CD to my parents and they love it! It is nice to preview the songs on-line instead of with greasy headphones in a music store! The shipping is always speedy and makes sending gifts across the country so much easier.

5 out of 5 stars The Gold By Andrew.......2007-04-23

This cd is a must have for any Webber fan. It has many great songs from his most sucsessful musicals. But something I don't like about this cd is that some of the singer how sings some of the songs arn't the onse that sings the originals. Like "The Phantom Of The Opera" and "Love Changes Everything". Witch is so sad. Couse the original songs are so much better.
But besides that this cd is very good. With manye nice and difficult songs (I've sung some of the myself in siningclass).
So if you like Andrew's music this most sertanly is a most have.

4 out of 5 stars The best of Webber.......2005-09-12

Although I like Andrew Llloyd Webber and his music very much, this collection earns only 4 stars and it's not because of the quality of the music but the level of performers. If a best of collection is made it should contain the best version ever done and this time it's not true. I could write the same review for the European edition (labeled import here) because the blend of the two would be a perfect best of.

Some examples: this version contains Memory sung by Betty Buckley while the Elaine Page version is light years better. Then it contains Patti Lupone's version of Don't Cry For Me Argentina. Even though Madonna wasn't the best Evita, she definitely sung Argentina in a way no-one could before or will ever. Whistle Down The Wind is represented with 3 songs - the place of the Tom Jones song is not here (the same could be said of Tina Arena's song o the European edition). Instead of the TJ song they could have included Take That Look Off Your Face by Marti Webb - one of the best songs by Webber. Pie Jesu from the Requiem is much better sung by Sarah Brightman. These are the faults.

What about the rest? Pure joy and material worth of 6 stars. Superstar, Phantom Of The Opera, Music Of The Night, I Don't Know How To Love Him, All I Ask Of You, No Matter What, Oh What A Circus - wonderful songs and wonderful performers. My all-time favorite from Webber will always be Music Of The Night and the version included here is the mesmerizing adaptation of Michael Crawford.

I don't advise anyone not to buy this album - it's good material, however it's far from being perfect.

4 out of 5 stars THE BEST OF LLOYD WEBBER MADE FOR THE AMERICAN AUDIENCES.......2005-01-31

There are numerous compilations out on the market full of Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. As most people know, Lloyd Webber is the most successful musical composer of all time and 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. This compilation captures some of the best songs he has ever written, he personally supervised it and it is the best thing to have if you can't afford his five-CD compilation called "Now and forever", which was selected and supervised by him as well. You should bear in mind, however, that there are two compilations called Gold out there: The one made for the European and the British market, and this one, made for the American buyers. Some of the songs on both of them are the same, the others are performed by different artists and some can be found only in one of the two. This one here was issued later and it is digitally remastered. Therefore you should check your favourites and buy accordingly, or, if you can, buy them both, since both of them contain interesting songs and performers.

So here are my thoughts about the tracks in this one:

1. "Superstar" and "I don't know how to love him" are both from the concept album of "Jesus Christ Superstar". They sound wonderful as ever, although the orchestrations may seem a bit dated by now.

2. "Sunset Boulevard" is marked here with two songs. Barbra Streisand's powerful voice shines all the way through in "As if we never said goodbye"; it's a shame she never played Norma Desmond on Broadway, since Patti LuPone wasn't allowed to take her Norma to New York, and Glenn Close butchered the role. Her limited vocal abilities were hardly suited for the material, as it is shown by the second Sunset song, "The perfect year", performed by Close and Alan Campbell. They both lack a decent singing voice, so this is the one song I skip regularly. The song itself sounds much better in its single version with pops orchestration, as can be heard on the European version of this compilation, where it is performed by Dina Carroll. This version here can hardly be considered a gold one.

3. "The Phantom of the Opera" is represented by three songs. Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman performance in the song of the same title is amazing. They were both born to play their roles in this show and their voices fit together perfectly. Sarah can hit the high notes in the end like no other Christine. Cliff Richard and Sarah sing the lovely ballad "All I ask of you" with passion, and Cliff has a wonderful warmth in his voice. Finally, Michael Crawford gives his unique and mesmerising interpretation in "The music of the night".

4. The 1996 movie version of "Evita" is Madonna's best role to date and it brought an Academy Award for Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who wrote "You must love me" especially for the big screen. This is another wonderful ballad with the haunting cello and piano solo. It just proves that Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice were the best collaborators. They really should do another musical together.

5. "The Joseph and his amazing Technicolor dreamcoat" was Webber's first musical and the signature song "Any dream will do" is performed here by Donny Osmond, who also appeared in the video version. I find his rendition even better than London's Jason Donovan, since Donny isn't strictly bound by the notes and so sings it more casually. A wonderful pop piece.

6."Memory" from "Cats" is probably the most famous of all Webber's songs, recorded by numerous artists. This version is sung by Betty Buckley, who was Broadway's Grizabella. Although Betty's performance can't be considered bad, I prefer Elaine Paige, who sung the song first, in the London production. Elaine has a note of sorrow in her at times husky voice, which I found very intriguing. Her performance can be considered definite, as heard on "Cats" DVD or in her latest two-disc compilation, "Centre stage: The very best of Elaine Paige", issued in May 2004. Still, those who prefer Ms. Buckley or who saw her on stage in this role won't be disappointed.

7. "Pie Jesu" is the best known song from Webber's "Requiem", written in 1985 to commemorate the death of his father. I'm not too keen on the version included here, performed by Charlotte Church, because her voice isn't as pretty as Sarah Brightman's on the original recording and the tempo is somewhat faster here.

8. "Don't cry for me Argentina" is among my all-time Lloyd Webber's favourites. I like all the ladies who performed "Evita" on the stage and on the screen (Julie Covington, Elaine Paige, Patti LuPone and Madonna), but on this disc is the version I am most satisfied with, since it is sung by Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone has a very powerful voice with an amazing range and she deserved her Tony Award for this role. She was able to sound both vulnerable and decisive while singing this, whereas the other leading ladies emphasized one or the other in their interpretation. Mandy Patinkin's "Oh what a circus" is not the best, the orchestration is a little bit weak and his voice sounds thin to me. David Essex on the London cast recording is more suitable.

9. "Aspects of love" boast here with its top song, "Love changes everything", performed wonderfully by Michael Ball. It was his #1 hit and is probably one of the most beautiful love anthems ever written.

10. Three songs come from "Whistle down the wind". The studio release of the same title is one of the reasons I bought this compilation, although I already have the European one. It is performed by Sarah Brightman with Lloyd Webber playing the piano and a symphonic orchestra who nicely takes the lead of the main melody. Sarah voice is angelic; she sings it like a little bird. Very charming. Boyzone's "No matter what" was a huge pop hit in the charts. Again, we have a song with the suitable orchestrations and vocals. And lastly, Tom Jones' deep voice in combination with the back vocals of "The Sounds of Blackness" gives a rocking rendition of the church hymn "The vaults of heaven". It can't be found on the European version and Tom's voice shows it hasn't aged. Way to go.

11. For the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Webber wrote, together with his long-time lyricist Don Black, this last song, "Amigos para siempre or Friends for life". It's a nice duet between Sarah Brightman and Jose Carreras, their voices sore when bound together. The melody itself is neat, especially when the orchestra takes the lead.

Besides the fact that some of the performers here were not the best for my taste, there is also the fact that some of Lloyd Webber's shows are omitted in this version, most notably, "Tell me on a Sunday". Also, unlike its European counterpart, this compilation isn't aligned chronologically, so we have 1970 Superstar being the first song, 1993 Sunset Blvd comes the second, followed by The Phantom from 1986 and so on. None the less, this CD is excellent as an introduction to Lloyd Webber's music and one can continue with his cast recordings from there. It's also very handy as a single disc compilation for the American fans.

5 out of 5 stars Super good CD.......2004-12-31

The songs on this CD are great. If you also play piano, the book of the same title goes perfectly with the CD. You can following along with the music and learn the songs on the piano.
When All Is Said and Done
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Add another enthusiastic YES vote
  • Excellent tracks and beautiful "Follow On" theme track.
  • The Modern Ancient Tradition
  • the young tradition
  • What a wonderful group...
 When All Is Said and Done
Danu
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. The Road Less Traveled
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ASIN: B0007LPJ8U
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

  1. The Highest Hill (reels)
  2. Follow On (song)
  3. The Peacock's Feather (hornpipe, reels)
  4. O Dheara, 'Sheanduine (song)
  5. Around the House (barndance, march, reel)
  6. Farewell, Angelina (song)
  7. The Coachman's Whip (reels)
  8. An Cailin Deas Cruite na mBo (song)
  9. Kilfenora (fling, jig)
  10. Only Nineteen Years Old (song)
  11. Gerry's Set (jigs, reel)
  12. Pots and Kettles O (air, jig)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Add another enthusiastic YES vote.......2007-05-19

The first chance I got after listening to this, I e-mailed friends in three countries about it and recommended they add it to their collections. I am sure they will all love it, though their backgrounds and areas of expertise range from musicology to Gaelic and Welsh language, Celtic folklore, archaeology, and Tex-Mex barbecue. I'll leave the finer details to the other reviewers who have put it so well, and note that the comment on the back of the CD excerpted from a review in the Washington Post that praised Danu's "virtuosity" is no exaggeration. Let me just say, Is toigh leam seo gu leoir. Tha mi gle\ toilichte leis, an fhirinn sin - mo\ran taing agus tapadh leibh, a Dhanu\!

5 out of 5 stars Excellent tracks and beautiful "Follow On" theme track........2006-11-20

If you are looking for the very best Danu has to offer, try the DVD "One Night Stand." It is probably one of the finest offerings in the genre of Irish traditional music currently available. It is a filmed performance in front of a very enthusiastic audience of friends and families.

If you become addicted to Danu, as I am, this is a worthy addition to a full collection. I consider them among the very top shelf of traditional Irish bands. If this is your genre of music, these are "must have" albums. The beautiful "Follow On" sounds like an American song, but is Paul Brady Irish tune with haunting lyrics. However, in track 6 they do their arrangement of Bob Dylan's classic "Farewell Angelina." Newest member Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh demonstrates her excellent vocal talents. My other favorite from this album is the first track "Highest Hill" - a rousing set of reels that are percussion driven with Donnchadh Gough on Irish drum (bodhran). You cannot miss the big guy during concerts or on the DVD, as he goes wild on extremely fast paced bodhran performances. Donnchadh returns to provide excellent (Ulienne) bagpipes for the classic "Coachman's Whip." Eamon Doorley is involved in several introductory lead ins to sets, and provides some of the very best Irish Bouzouki playing to be heard on CD. Osin McAuley on fiddle, Benny McCarty on button accordian, and Tom Doorley on flute are providing one, two and three instrument leads and counterpoint with Donal Clancy providing excellent chord and rhythm on guitar and base. As a group, they have started as a very young group in their first album and have now progressed to the point of being a tightly knit and coordinated musical sound.

I would give this album a wholehearted approval, typical of my other Danu reviews but for the exception of the barndance (Around the House) that sounds like American Country and Western Swing at the start, not my taste in music. I would rate this album at four and a half if that were an option.

However, the rest of the tracks are excellent Danu performances, not to be missed by traditional Celtic music fans. Be sure to visit the Danu website for more information on new CDs and concert schedules.

5 out of 5 stars The Modern Ancient Tradition.......2006-06-09

There is a rising tide in Irish traditional music. Acts like Lunasa and Deanta are moving away from the simple, repetetive, high-pitched tunes of the traditional ceilidh and making music that draws upon influences of various pop forms to create a listenable, accessible hybrid with a broad and diverse audience. And one of the leading proponents of this hybrid form on this, their sixth album, is the young band from County Waterford, Danu.

Danu's underlying sound is driven not by fiddle and pipes but by guitar and bodhran. This gives the sound a lower-pitched harmonic that suggests Bleeker Street folk music. Lead vocalist Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh complements this sound well with an alto vocal timbre that is almost more reminiscent of American country-and-western than more conventional Irish music. Muireann sings five songs, three in English and two in Irish, and there is a pleasing resonance as her voice bounces off the instruments to create a sound that is unmistakably that of only one band.

Though Danu isn't just another fiddle-and-pipes band, they are firmly rooted in the Gaelic tradition. The instrumentals on this album are mostly traditional jigs, hornpipes, reels, and other dance-related sounds. And though one of the songs they sing is a Bob Dylan protest number (and a nicely integrated and unforced arrangement, too), the other four songs are old beaters given new life by the band's distinctive sound.

None of the tracks on this disc feels frivolous, or like it was hung on as filler. None of the arrangements are overstuffed, despite the healthy number of musicians playing. All the players are willing to immerse themselves in the greater whole of the band, letting their instruments contribute without having to make a star turn. And the sound is distinctive and proprietary to this band; it's hard to imagine anyone else sounding like this.

This is a good album for fans ot Danu, for fans of Irish folk music, and a good introduction to the form for anyone who wants to learn more about the Celtic tradition. It bears up to repeated listening, and there are tracks for all moods. Few albums merit the kind of unmitigated praise of a discerning critic, but this is definitely one that deserves more and better superlatives. For fans of good, innovative, melodic music, this CD is a must.

4 out of 5 stars the young tradition.......2005-08-20

Danu carries on the Irish tradition in high fashion, all of the musicians young but already more than casually rooted in the various styles of Celtic folk music. Guitarist Donal Clancy, the son of Liam, a towering presence in the Irish revival as both solo artist and Clancy Brother (not to mention a crucial influence on the young Bob Dylan), comes from a particularly prominent musical heritage, but the other band members all have their own impressive resumes. The music, bright, skillfully executed, and entirely acoustic, underscores the young generation of Celtic artists' turn away from the synthesized approach that, not all that long ago, drove lots of Irish recordings into the New Age bins. Happily, Danu will have none of that.

Dylan's "Farewell, Angelina," which manages to sound at once wildly surreal and deeply traditional (just like, come to think of it, many authentic folk songs), is an inspired cover among the CD's five vocal outings. Many years ago I heard the ballad called here "Only Nineteen Years Old" as "A Very Unfortunate Man," one of those shaggy-dog songs akin to "Four Nights Drunk," exploring the comic possibilities of marital treachery. Paul Brady's "Follow on" is an elegantly romantic vision of life, love, and landscape, sung with admirable nuance by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.

One hopes Danu is a band merely in its infancy, with more and even finer to come as it grows and matures. Meantime, we have this excellent CD in which to revel.

5 out of 5 stars What a wonderful group..........2005-08-19

We had the great privilege to see Danu live at the Saint Paul Irish Fair (MN). Absolutely wonderful music....and they're likable, witty and just plain nice on top of everything. The only niggle I have is that I missed the uillean pipes...not a one to be seen or heard at the whole fair (unless I missed something). I had hoped Danu would have the piper and the guy who sings "Fair & Tender Ladies" (my favorite that Danu did-or maybe favorite song period-it's off of "Think Before You Think")but it was not to be. We bought this CD and had them autograph it...give it a try...it's got some beautiful songs (Follow On) and some rolicking trad music as well.
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: 4 out of 5 stars
  • 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
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003D18
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

  1. The Phantom Of The Opera
  2. The Music Of The Night
  3. Think Of Me
  4. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
  5. All I Ask Of You
  6. Angel Of Music
  7. As If We Never Said Goodbye
  8. The Greatest Star of All
  9. With One Look
  10. Memory
  11. I Don't Know How To Love Him
  12. Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
  13. King Herod's Song
  14. Don't Cry For Me, Argentina
  15. Starlight Express
  16. Any Dream Will Do

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars 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.
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Now & Forever
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 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
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005R5UJ
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

  1. Oh What A Circus - David Essex
  2. Memory - Betty Buckley
  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 Carreras
  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 - Madonna
  12. The Heart Is Slow To Learn - Kiri Te Kanawa
  13. A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste - The Metal Philharmonic Orchestra
  14. Whistle Down The Wind - Tina Arena
  15. No Matter What - Boyzone
  16. The Vaults Of Heaven - Tom Jones
  17. Try Not To Be Afraid - Boy George
  18. Pie Jesu - Charlotte Church

Tracks:

  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 Radio Luxembourg Commercial) - Joseph Consortium/Pete Murray
  6. Try It And See - Rita Pavone
  7. Come Back Richard Your Country Needs You - Time 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 Band
  12. The Ballad Of Robert And Peter - Tim Rice
  13. Christmas Dream - Maynard Williams
  14. It's Only Your Lover Returning/All Through My Crazy And Wild 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 Roja Rockers
  18. Pollicle Dogs And Jellicle Cats - Andrew Lloyd Webber
  19. Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer (Live At The 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. 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:

3 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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!
Evening Prayer
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • a voice teacher and early music fan
  • Excellent.
  • Phil Meets Chanticleer
 Evening Prayer
Henry Purcell , Skip Sempe , Francoise Johannel , Chanticleer , and Olivier Fortin
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Purcell, HenryPurcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000AOVT3
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

  1. Rejoice In The Lord Alway
  2. Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences
  3. I Was Glad
  4. O Lord, Rebuke Me Not
  5. Praise The Lord, O My Soul, And All That Is Within Me
  6. Now That The Sun Hath Veiled His Light
  7. Hear My Prayer, O Lord
  8. My Heart Is Inditing

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-12-01

"Henry Purcell looked like a Florentine prince, was hail-fellow-well-met in taven and taproom, wrote for the Church and also the stage and salon, was in fact, a most likeable young man as well as a great Master of Musick". Thus saith the historians, to which I heartily agree. For anyone to compose all the music that he did in a life-span of only 36 years is astounding to say the least! Except for his appointment as organist at the Chapel Royal and other churches, his compositions are the chief events of his life. His skill in counterpoint,his unique expressive voice and unparallelled gift for English text-setting appear in happy combination in his church music, and what better group to sing it, than Chanticleer!!!Chanticleer's male sopranos help create a timbre whose intensity and clarity make a fascinating alternative to the classic English cathedral sound with which this music is normally associated, thereby bringing to the forefront the more universal qualities of Purcell's art.
All of the selections on this disc are much recorded and quite famlliar to the early music 'crowd'. "Rejoice in the Lord alway" and "I was glad' were 2 anthems written for the coronation of James II.
A very notable selection is 'Now that the sun has veiled his light' best known as "An Evening Hymn". This is not strictly speaking a church piece, but rather a sacred song for solo voice intended for domestic use; very popular with countertenors.
The selection "O Lord, rebuke me not" is sung on this disc by 2 sopranists ( the term usually used for male sopranos). and it is hauntingly lovely.
Purcell's final anthem (not included in this collection) entitled 'Thou knowst Lord, the Secrets of our Hearts' was written for the funeral of Queen Mary in 1694;six months later it again drew tears when it was sung for the composer's buriel in Westminster Abbey.
Chanticleer is perfection; the individual voices are top quality displaying clear diction, sonorous tone quality and as a group, the perfect blend.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent........2005-10-09

OK, I'm confused. Was that supposed to be a review? Phil Spector?!?

Anyway, on to something that makes sense. This is a wonderfully made recording that illustrates Purcell's unique and striking personality. Excellent performance of the standard you expect from Chanticleer. Two tracks are a cappella and ravishing, particularly "Hear My Prayer", a piece of music so daring, soaring, and ahead of its time that it can only be described as a singular work of art. The instrumental compliment on the rest of the disc is not only very prudent and well performed, but is also balanced to perfection with the voices in a way very rarely heard on CD. A must for any Baroque choral lover.

2 out of 5 stars Phil Meets Chanticleer.......2003-12-30

Phil Spector meets Chanticleer. Why in the world would a group so musically gifted as Chanticleer not let the words and music speak for themselves? I am sure many who are unfamiliar with Tudor and similar music from the C of E will think this is terrific. For them, listen to the pure simplicity of Men & Boys from St. Pauls, Kings College, etc.
20 Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A good shot at a 'Best Of' Album.
 20 Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber

Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00027JZ8E
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

  1. Phantom of the Opera: Phantom of the Opera
  2. Phantom of the Opera: Music of the Night
  3. Phantom of the Opera: Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
  4. Phantom of the Opera: All I Ask of You
  5. Jesus Christ Superstar: Everything's Alright
  6. Jesus Christ Superstar: John 19: 41 [Instrumental]
  7. Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don't Know How to Love Him
  8. Jesus Christ Superstar: The Last Supper
  9. Evita: Another Suitcase in Another Hall
  10. Evita: Buenos Aires
  11. Evita: High Flying Adored
  12. Evita: Don't Cry for Me Argentina
  13. Cats: Memory
  14. Cats: Magical Mr. Mistofelles
  15. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Pharoah's Story
  16. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do
  17. Sunset Boulevard: Too Much in Love to Care
  18. Sunset Boulevard: As If We Never Said Goodbye
  19. Song and Dance: Take That Look Off Your Face
  20. Song and Dance: Tell Me on a Sunday

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A good shot at a 'Best Of' Album........2006-01-16

I was pleasently surprised at this CD. The singers were all pretty good, and the music was great. My only complaint is with the 'Phantom of the Opera' tracks. "Christine" does fine on the title song and 'All I Ask of You', but on 'Wishing Your Were Somehow Here Again', she falls a little short of a good preformance.

The thing that impresses me the most on this CD are the 'Jesus Christ Superstar' tracks. They all sounded superb, and I prefer them to my original broadway cast soundtrack.

I was dissappointed that they only chose two songs from 'Cats', one of Lloyd Webber's crowning acheivements as a composer. THe show was remarkably successful and is the second longest running show in Broadway history, only topped by 'Phantom'. Also, I felt the songs they chose were a bit...odd. 'Memory', of course, is a given. But why throw 'Mister Mistoffelees' into the mix? Why not the Prolouge,'Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats'?

All in all, I was very impressed with this CD. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, and I recommend it for any fan of Lloyd Webber's music.
Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Beecham's noisy Messiah
  • The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!
  • Comfort Ye!
  • Familiarity hasn't bred much affection
  • Thanks to Jon!
 Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham
George Frideric Handel , Sir Thomas Beecham , Jennifer Vyvyan , Monica Sinclair , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Jon Vickers , and Giorgio Tozzi
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Handel - Messiah / Harper, Watts, Wakefield, Shirley-Quirk, LSO, C. Davis
  2. Handel: Messiah
  3. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx
  4. Messiah (Complete)
  5. Handel - Joshua / Kirkby, Bowman, Oliver, Ainsley, George, The King's Consort

ASIN: B000003FB8
Release Date: 1992-07-14

Tracks:

  1. Messiah: Overture - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  2. Messiah: Recit: Comfort Ye, My People (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  3. Messiah: Air: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  4. Messiah: Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord - John McCarthy
  5. Messiah: Recit: Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  6. Messiah: Air: But Who May Abide (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  7. Messiah: Chorus: And He Shall Purify - John McCarthy
  8. Messiah: Recit: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
  9. Messiah: Air & Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings (Contralto) - John McCarthy
  10. Messiah: Recit: For, Behold, Darkness Shall Cover (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  11. Messiah: Air: The People That Walked In Darkness (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  12. Messiah: Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born - John McCarthy
  13. Messiah: Pastoral Symphony - Royal Philharmonic Chorus
  14. Messiah: Recit: There Were Shepherds Abiding (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
  15. Messiah: Recit: And The Angel Said Unto Them (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
  16. Messiah: Recit: And Suddenly There Was (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
  17. Messiah: Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest - John McCarthy
  18. Messiah: Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
  19. Messiah: Recit: Then Shall The Eyes (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
  20. Messiah: Air: He Shall Feed His Flock; Come Unto Him (Contralto & Soprano) - Monica Sinclair
  21. Messiah: Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy - John McCarthy

Tracks:

  1. Messiah: Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God - John McCarthy
  2. Messiah: Air: He Was Despised (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
  3. Messiah: Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs - John McCarthy
  4. Messiah: Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed - John McCarthy
  5. Messiah: Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray - John McCarthy
  6. Messiah: Recit: All They That See Him (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  7. Messiah: Chorus: He Trusted In God - John McCarthy
  8. Messiah: Recit: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  9. Messiah: Air: Behold, And See If There Be (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  10. Messiah: Recit: He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  11. Messiah: Air: But Thou Didst Not Leave (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  12. Messiah: Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads - John McCarthy
  13. Messiah: Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
  14. Messiah: Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands - John McCarthy
  15. Messiah: Air: Why Do The Nations So Furious Rage (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  16. Messiah: Chorus: Lets Us Break Their Bonds Asunder - John McCarthy
  17. Messiah: Recit: He That Dwelleth In Heaven (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  18. Messiah: Air: Thou Shalt Break Them (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  19. Messiah: Chorus: Hallelujah! - John McCarthy
  20. Messiah: Part III - Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
  21. Messiah: Chorus: Since By Man Came Death - John McCarthy
  22. Messiah: Recit: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  23. Messiah: Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  24. Messiah: Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - John McCarthy

Tracks:

  1. Messiah: Recit: Unto Which Of The Angels (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
  2. Messiah: Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him - John McCarthy
  3. Messiah: Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
  4. Messiah: Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word - John McCarthy
  5. Messiah: Recit: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
  6. Messiah: Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? (Contralto & Tenor) - Monica Sinclair
  7. Messiah: Chorus: But Thanks Be To God - John McCarthy
  8. Messiah: Air: If God Be For Us (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan

Amazon.com essential recording

Sir Thomas Beecham's Messiah has become notorious among baroque purists (like this writer) for embodying the worst excesses of pre-1960 Handel performance: ponderous tempos, stentorian opera singers, huge lumbering choruses and orchestras, crashing cymbals, clanging triangles.... Well, we'll need a new straw man: this performance is WONDERFUL. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi negotiate Handel's writing surprisingly well; Jennifer Vyvyan takes to it naturally. The chorus and orchestra (yes, including trombones, tuba, triangle, and cymbals) may obscure the part-writing, but they fill the music with power, grandeur, and faith. If Mozart could re-orchestrate Messiah, why not Beecham? This may not be Handel's Messiah as such, it may even be a period piece itself--but it's magnificent. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Beecham's noisy Messiah.......2006-12-23

Here's the famous Messiah from Thomas Beecham and forces that uses crashing cymbals, enhanced timpani and brass to make it sound like a collusion between classical forces, a rock band and Canadian Brass. Listen to second CD excerpt from "Hallelujah!" for the opening cymbal crash to get an idea of what's going on.

This performance has been debated for 40 years as to whether it is musically adept, musically correct, an exemplar of the English choral tradition, or just a big old batch of fun at Handel's expense. I first owned this during a time when I also owned a recording Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music" featuring 40 woodwinds. The two made roughly an equal amount of noise.

There isn't much question this performance is completely out of step with the way Handel is performed in most venues today. Check out the wonderful Jon Vickers' highly operatic opening aria, "Comfort ye", then compare that to any leaned-out period group you've heard. You'll get another idea of the dimension of Beecham's project.

While not on the agenda of the Flat Earth Society, the only real interest in a performance like this -- especially having to endure it on three CDs when just about everyone else puts it on two -- is nostalgia or history, whichever happens to be the case for you.

My personal favorite version is in the 4-CD box of "Messiah" and "Israel In Egypt" where Andrew Parrott leads his Taverner Choir & Players and some of the best early music singers including Emma Kirkby, Emily van Evera, Margaret Cable, David Thomas, and Joseph Cornwall. HIs Messiah isn't perfect -- it uses a countertenor for a bass in one aria -- but it is more moderate than most PPP recordings and has a wonderful romantic edge to most of the score. It comes with a top notch recording of "Israel in Egypt" and still costs less than the Beehcham.

5 out of 5 stars The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!.......2006-12-16

We live in an era when purity of intent and respect for composers' works is at an all time high. Not only are we blessed with superb 'authentic' performances on period instruments and with small choruses and countertenors and state of the art bel canto singers for Handel's evergreen "Messiah", there are many superlative recordings that are as polished as any one work on current recordings. Supposedly we are hearing Messiah the way Handel envisioned it. Perhaps so, but who is to say that had Handel the resources available today he wouldn't have jumped for joy at the drama of the old British Choral Societies version that Sir Thomas Beecham conducts on this anything but dusty recording from many years ago. The 'Old School' had its good points.

Beecham goes all out with an orchestration, while attributed to Sir Eugene Goosens is also probably some of Beecham's own inimitable tinkering, that adds instruments not only in numbers but also in color and depth of sound. Winds double strings, percussion includes the full battery instead of just tympani, the big cello and viola sound stand equally with the big violin sound, etc. The chorus is huge, and while this allows the big dramatic moments to be intense, the fine diction Beecham demanded remains solidly intact.

The soloists are in an operatic class of their own. Jennifer Vyvyan and Monica Sinclair were major singers when this recording was made and their singing is big and well ornamented. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi bring Verdi into the room and he is a welcome visitor to Beecham's vision of this work.

For this listener, who prefers the 'correct, authentic' performance, this recording and others even older that celebrate the BIG Messiah are a delight. And that just proves that performance standards, no matter the interpretation of the conductor, are paramount: Beecham gives a solid, convincing interpretation to the operatic Messiah. It is lush, and huge, and absolutely wonderful to hear again! Grady Harp, December 06

5 out of 5 stars Comfort Ye!.......2006-10-30

If your not familiar with "Messiah" don't let the reviews scare you - this is certainly a great choice for your first or only recording. There is a lot of feeling in the playing and singing, and i feel it is quite respectful not only of the composer, but the subject matter. It includes a booklet with all the lyrics, and an essay by Beecham himself about the piece. It is a complete recording, with a "bonus cd" of extra verses not usually performed (as explained in the essay). The audio quality is great for the time it was recorded. Its much more worthy to be listened to and contemplated than to be put on as backround music at Christmastime. The price is certainly reasonable in light of the quality of the performance.

3 out of 5 stars Familiarity hasn't bred much affection.......2005-11-02

I first became acquainted with this recording at the tender age of 12 when I received the original Soria edition as a Christmas gift. I remember being intensely disappointed at what seemed to me then as more circus than music. Time has mellowed that negative reaction and gives a more balanced assessment of Beecham's achievement - I bought the CD reissue after all. It still doesn't inspire much affection in yours truly although I can appreciate the soloists' contributions, particularly Tozzi. The lamented Vyvyan was in better voice with Boult. Here she has a rapid vibrato and a curious way of articulating the high notes. The orchestrations seem to maintain more of the clarity of the writing by concentrating on the bass and the top without clogging up the middle voices in the manner of the Victorians. There are three pieces where it just doesn't work at all to these ears: the brassy "All we like sheep," "Hallelujah" (which summons visions of Fucik's 'Entry of the Gladiators' every time I hear it), and the disintegration of the obbligato trumpet into flute noodlings in "The trumpet shall sound," in a lightweight performance that is at odds with the grandeur of the text. I'll also admit that the splashy brilliance of "For unto us a Child is born" and the surging drama of "Surely, He hath borne our griefs" are very satisfying.

In the forty some recordings I own (and the many performances I've attended) there's no best and no definitive. This is one I respect but don't care to hear very often.

3 out of 5 stars Thanks to Jon!.......2005-03-08

This recording is worth having first of all beacause of the credible singing of Jon Vickers! Yes, he really sings on the words. The "Comfort Ye" and "Every valley..." have a knew dimension after Jons reading of the score. Of course I know that in tradition we want a very much more lyrical voice to this masterpiece. But he's not alone here, and now we are already into the problem; the choir! It's just terrible, yes terrible!
I'm just ending up with "Thanks to Jon!"




Sacred Music Complete
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • great, great!!!
  • ALL THE MUSIC YOU EVER NEED!!
 Sacred Music Complete
Purcell , King , and Kings Consort
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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  1. The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs of Henry Purcell / King's Consort
  2. Complete Secular Songs (3cd)

ASIN: B00006RHQJ
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great, great!!!.......2006-12-05

This is the way ,I think, Purcell should sound. No pomp and surcomstance but only great music.

5 out of 5 stars ALL THE MUSIC YOU EVER NEED!!.......2003-05-23

This boxed set is by far one of the best purchases I have ever made. As a Purcell freak, this hits every button I have. The cast of characters include the inequitable Robert King, New College Choir, Bowman, and a host of other venerable persons. Likewise the attention to period performance of these works makes it an essential addition to the library of any serious anglophile/Musicologist etc. Now if only the Britten Realizations of all Purcell's songs could be recorded alongside the originals! You will Love this set!
All Said and Done
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		All Said and Done
    Blodwyn Pig
    Manufacturer: Recall Records UK
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    BritainBritain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music
    Blues RockBlues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music
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    4. Lies
    5. Ahead Rings Out

    ASIN: B0009NR8CG
    Release Date: 2005-08-02

    Tracks:

    1. My Sunday Feeling
    2. It's Breaking Me Up
    3. Serenade to a Cuckoo
    4. Move on Alone
    5. Cat's Squirrel
    6. Someday the Sun Won't Shine for You
    7. Song for Jeffrey
    8. They Call It Stormy Monday
    9. Trouble in Mind
    10. Dharma for One
    11. Beggars Farm
    12. Rock Me Baby

    Tracks:

    1. Road Roller
    2. How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times & Live?
    3. You Got It Wrong
    4. Dead Man's Hill
    5. I Wonder Who
    6. Lies
    7. All Said and Done
    8. Dear Jill
    9. Do Re Mi
    10. Blue Caf
    11. Drifiting Blues
    12. Drive Me
    13. Let Me Love You Baby
    14. Victim
    15. So Much Trouble
    16. See My Way

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    1. Interview with Mick Abrahams [DVD]
    Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

      Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
      ProductGroup: Music
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      ASIN: B00062FLI8
      Release Date: 2004-11-30

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