Customer Reviews

The Songs that Got Away

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I didn't really know what to title this review. The music is so different from what we're used to hearing from Sarah. The cd was created when Sarah and Andrew Lloyd Webber were together. "The songs that got away" is a collection of forgotten tunes of yesteryear, brilliantly written and perfect for Sarah's voice.

You'll only hear one operatic song. This song is "Chi il sogno di doretta". The opera quality in Brightman's voice is not very rich. Yet, this cd is beautiful in many ways.

The breakdown of the CD? Well, personally, track 1 "Meadowlark" has to be the best. As for the rest, the songs are either folk or broadway. This cd has a lot, variety-wise, recommending it to listeners with a "serious" ear.

Upon purchasing "The songs...", I already had the U.S. version of "Eden". My expectations were not met. I admit there was some disappointment. That's only because my ear for Sarah was much more operatic. Over time, the songs grew on me. I would have rated the cd 5 stars, but there are a couple of tunes I'm still not used to.

The material on "The songs..." is worth giving attention to. Some songs will take time to grow on you, like many artists' material does. Don't take my word for it. Buy this cd for the selection of material.

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Before experimental albums like Dive and Fly, as well as the ones where her classically-trained voice enchanted millions, Sarah Brightman did a collection of musical and theatrical songs originally released in 1989, but reissued when she made it big with Time To Say Goodbye. Her vocal style leans towards the theatrical Broadway side, but more mellowed. But on songs like the strings-laden mid-tempo "Meadowlark" from Stephen Schwartz's The Baker's Wife, the way she would later do splendidly interpret Lloyd Webber's songs is in the making. Here are other highlights, including those that were reissued on Sarah's Encore album (2002).

Stephen Sondheim's "I Remember" is a sad ballad told from the POV of a window mannequin remembering the sights it has experienced throughout the seasons, but the memories are now hazy and at the end, it sings, "At times I think/I would gladly die/for a day of sky."

Some songs like "Lud's Wedding" from Bernstein's failed bicentennial musical, only seem to work due to Sarah's voice. Ditto for the simple "Three-Cornered Tune." Consisting of three verses, each repeated twice. However, Irving Berlin's "Mr. Monotony", a tune understandably cut from Easter Parade, is not a particularly inspiring song.

Marvin Hamlisch's "Dreamers" is one of my favourites here, as I have affinity to it, and I'm sure Sarah is one at heart as well. "Only dreamers have wings with which to fly far away", as in their own fantasies, but unfortunately, "sometimes dreamers are forced to leave their dreams far away", i.e. the harshness of reality. However, it paints them in a positive light and states that everyone needs to have some sort of dream "to take time to find treasures and mountains we can climb."

"Silent Heart" really showcases Sarah's voices, on how some things the heart is best left silent, as in things that really thrill it. "If I Ever Fall In Love Again" is taken from The Crooked Mile and is a nice love song Sarah really wraps herself in.

"Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta" from Puccini's La Rondine is a great showcase of the operatic voice that would come into full bloom on Time To Say Goodbye. This song would be reissued on Encore.

"Away From You" by Richard Rodgers, and taken from a musical biog of Henry VIII (!!!). "The clocks are frozen and time's a traveler who's lost his way" is one of the sentiments Sarah conveys effectively. Also reissued on Encore.

"If love were all, I should be lonely" sings Sarah from Noel Coward's Bittersweet, "If Love Were All" was the one song that stood out for me when I first heard this CD. The ability of a talent to amuse is seen as a solid standing for mental security. A definite standout here.

From Lloyd Webber's Jeeves, the lush strings of "Half A Moment" features the vocal stylings familiar enough to those who have Sarah's Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection. It focuses on how important the capture of a moment to bright up a future rainy day is. Also reissued on Encore.

Initially, I dismissed this as the songs that should've stayed away. Although they lack the magical punch of Time To Say Goodbye or La Luna, it's still a worthwhile collection, because Sarah's clear birdlike theatrical/musicals voice makes it all worthwhile.

For those of you used to Sarah's voice from her albums "Eden" and "Time to Say Goodbye", you're in for quite a shock. This album is 10 years old and Sarah's voice is very young here, similar to when she was in "The Phantom of the Opera". This CD is a collection of songs that "Got away" from musical theater for some reason or another. Some of the songs are truly enchanting, like "Meadowlark", "I Remember", and "Silent Heart". For others, it's easy to see how they got away. Not worth the $ I paid for it some 5 years ago, but now that it's been released domestically with a reasonable price, it's worth a shot.

I bought this cd because of curiosity after listening to Eden it is one of her best cds i like Meadowlark,Mr.Monotony,and Dreamers!

This is one of my favorite albums by Sarah. She surprised me with her ability to go from light opera to jazz. Here we don't find the over-produced albums such as Harem, just a superbly trained voice. No little girl breathy tunes here, just solid performances. This is the Sarah Brightman that I like to remember and enjoy. If you see this album and you're a Sarah Brightman fan, pick it up and treasure it. I'd like to see her do more of thisgenre, where she showcases her voice. Who ever thinks that Sarah has a small voice will be convinced otherwise by this album.

I have had this CD since its original (imported) release in 1989. It is a perl of great price, and a rare one. Just as this is a collection of little-known gems from somewhat-forgettable musicals, this is a little-known gem in a vast wasteland of forgettable CDs and popular music. Definately one of the most used resources in my house due to its delightful arrangements and Brightman's enchanting and addicting voice. Yes, she was much younger when she recorded these, and her voice was not as rich and bold as it is today, but she is clearly talented and endearing while performing The Songs that Got Away.

This is my favourite among the albums that Sarah has released before 1997. I can highly recommend it. It's incredible beautiful.

The album THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY is from 1989, when Sarah and Andrew Lloyd Webber were married. Andrew is producer and it was his idea to record the songs. The beautiful songs are from musicals.

MEADOWLARK a beautiful song about a bird and a blind girl, who get her sight.
I AM GOING TO LIKE IT HERE+AWAY FROM YOU by Richard Rodgers. Sarah sings the songs so beautiful. Sarah has sang Richard Rodgers songs before in CAROUSEL from 1987.

I REMEMBER, a very beautiful song. Here you can hear how much Sarah's voice has improved - if you listen to songs on albums recorded after 1996, Timeless, Eden, La Luna and Classics.

MR. MONOTONY by Irving Berlin. Sarah is so talented - her voice is so warm and bright - no matter what style she sings: opera, musical or pop. Here she sings jazz/swing - and her voice is amazing.

DREAMERS, SILENT HEART, WHAT MAKES ME LOVING HIM?, wonderful.
LUD'S WEDDING by Bernstein.
THREE-CORNERED TUNE, here Sarah sings three-part with herself.
IF I EVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN, has the sound like an Andrew Lloyd Webber-tune.
CHI IL BEL SOGNO DI DORETTA by Puccini.
IF LOVES WERE ALL, maybe the best song on this album?
HALF A MOMENT by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Excellent album.

AWAY FROM YOU (SARAH), there is no music, there is no sunlight, the world is grey.

SARAH there is NO ONE LIKE YOU (TIMELESS).

The major draw of this album is the diverse and interesting selection of music, from flop or forgotten Broadway and London musicals. I only know Brightman from Phantom of the Opera and her operatic duets, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear how nicely she can handle standard Broadway fare. She navigates between her head voice and chest voice pretty well. Highlights: If I Ever Fall In Love Again, Half A Moment

(PS - This CD was previously available only as an import and cost twice as much, so I was quite happy to find it released domestically.)

This CD contains fourteen songs that were cut from musicals. The final song, Half A Moment was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and I have never seen it before, but on this CD. At the time of this CD Sarah had a fantastic vocal teacher, and her style shows it. This CD is as close to the voice of Christine as I have heard her since the original sound track of Phantom of the Opera. She and A.L. Webber did this CD together, one of the last things they did together before their divorce. It's a great addition to any Broadway collection.

Since I bought this album, I wondered if it could outrival "Time To Say Goodbye" ("Timeless," whatever) as Sarah's best. Best songs on the album: "Meadowlark," "I Remember," "If I Ever Fall In Love Again," and "Away From You." Worst songs on here: "Three-Cornered Tune," "Lud's Wedding," Irving Berlin's "Mr. Monotony," and Puccini's "Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta" (an unnecessary inclusion, if you ask me). My recommendation: buy "Timeless," "Time To Say Goodbye" (same as "Timeless" but with the title track as the first song), "Eden," "Surrender," or "The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection" instead.