Customer Reviews

Greatest Songs

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Normally, I LOVE Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. I've bought many CD's featuring his work, so when I saw this collection at the music store, I was pretty excited "A DOUBLE CD??? For 20 bucks? Oh yeah!" I thought it would good esp. when I saw it said "stars of the london stage." So imagine my reaction when I put it into my CD player once I got home and starting listening to it...the performers on this CD SLAUGHTER many of Webbers greatest songs. The musicians were fine, its the SINGERS that ruin it. For example "Think of Me" sung by Lesley Garrett doesn't even SOUND like the song! The end where she goes up the scale is suppossed to be POWERFUL, and OPERATIC, NOT lazily swooning!
Have these performers ever actually PERFORMED this music? I am aghast that I wasted 20 dollars on this CD...and KICKING myself for it too.

This is a double disc 1995 recording of all of Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatest songs. Stars of the London stage perform the hits.

1) SUPERSTAR is sung pretty strong by Christopher Howard but his voice is a little wabbly for the strong role of Judas. 2)I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM is performed by Original London Cast Member Sharon Campbell and is considered the "authoritative version" I prefer Yvonne Elliman's performance. 3)EVERYTHING ALRIGHT is okay but when Christopher Howard belts "feet and HAAANDS!" it's pretty amazing. 4)CLOSE EVERY DOOR has Andrew Wadsworth, who's too old to sing the role of young Joseph. 6)ANOTHER SUITCASE has another older person, Sharon Campbell, singing the role of a teenager. Although it may be pretty it doesn't work for me. (I know I'm picky!) 7)OH WHAT A CIRCUS is a disappointment because it isnt the whole song! It stops before "Sing You Fools!..." 9)TELL ME ON A SUNDAY is musically boring 11)UNEXPECTED SONG has DIVA Meredith Braun of London's "Sunset Boulevard" fame as Betty (Available on CD. She can also be heard in what I think is the DEFINITIVE version of "On My Own" on the Les Miserables Manchester Highlights CD, available on AMAZON.COM) She performs sweetly, it's not belt like Bernadette Peters or the Kim Criswell Version but it's enduring. 12)MACAVITY has a sexy Michelle Hooper and an "Ertha Kittish" Deborah Steel who both actually played the character roles of Demeter and Bombalerina in London. 13) MEMORY is sort of a disappointment. Lesley Garett is a DIVA but Memory is not an operatic song. It's a BELT song.

CD II is MUCH BETTER and worth the price alone

1-6) Lesley Garett shines as Christine in the Phantom songs. Meredith Braun is sweet as Meg, and Dave Willets isn't half bad as Phantom. 7) SEEING IS BEIELVING is nicely sung but Meredith Braun, even though she is a DIVA, is too young to sing the role of Rose, so they changed the part when she sings "he is young, very young but appealing!" so it would make sense.

Now we're in the Sunset Boulevard section which I think is pretty fierce! 9) SUNSET BOULEVARD sung by Gerald Casey is pretty gutsy.

ENTER MARY CAREWE. I DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS BUT SHE'S SO DIVA. 11) WITH ONE LOOK sung by Mary Carewe is amazing. Mary is the ONLY woman to take the higher notes at the end of the song besides the first Norma Desmond, DIVA Patti LuPone. All other woman who play it take the note down. My only concern is that I think she's to young to sing Norma but Damn does she BELT it! And sings it better than most of the famous Divas I've heard. 12) TOO MUCH IN LOVE.. is pretty terrific. Actually I prefer Anita Louise Combe's rendition over Meredith Braun's and Judy Kuhn's. (Anita can be heard playing Betty on the Canadian Cast of Sunset Boulevard with Rex Smith, the definitive Joe. She can also be heard sing What Kind of Fool on the Saturday Night Fever, London Cast CD. She's fierce and she BELTS.)

The Last and final song of the CD set. MISS DIVA MARY CAREWE 13) NEVER SAID GOODBYE is Belted! She belts the last "Never said goodBYEEEEEEE! We taught the world new ways to DREAAMMMM!" Only Barbara Streisand sings the song like that and Mary stole from her, but it's diva. Also it's in the Original key which I don't think all the other actresses sing.

Well now, I've thoroughly gone through most of the songs. It's a great CD to listen to because it does have ALL the hits but if your looking for stellar perfomances, save CD II, you might be disappointed. But I would say for you to buy it to hear the Sunset Boulevard section. Hope this review helped!

Basically two disks for the same price as a lot of the other one disk Andrew Lloyd Webber collections. Contains a nice selection of songs from the expected shows (Jesus Christ Superstar to Evita to Cats to Phantom to Sunset Blvd). A good value for somebody who would like two hours of great songs. My only complaint - I wish there were more songs from "Cats".