Take Flight (2007 London Cast Recording) [Cast Recording]

Original London Cast Recording | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 8, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: P.S. Classics
• ASIN: B000XUOLLQ
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #202,967 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Take Flight

2. Equilibrium

3. Sky!

4. Like You, Say

5. Throw It to the Wind

6. Solo/Sorry, Mr. Lindbergh

7. Lady in That Aeroplane

8. Lady Lindy

9. What Are We Doing Here?

10. Earthbound

11. Before the Dawn

12. Back of the Line

13. Before the Dawn (reprise)

14. The Funniest Thing

15. (The Farther You Go) Around the World/Papua

16. The Prize/The Landing

17. Finale

Editorial Reviews

TAKE FLIGHT, the new musical by award-winning songwriting duo Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire (Starting Here, Starting Now and Closer Than Ever) and librettist John Weidman (Pacific Overtures, Assassins), soared in its 2007 world premiere at London?s Menier Chocolate Factory. Now it receives a first-class introduction to the world at large in this stunning new recording. TAKE FLIGHT weaves fact and fiction to tell the funny, moving and inspirational stories of the pioneers of aviation: the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. But this complex musical is not simply a history of flying; it also illuminates relationships, the cost of fame, and the human need to take risks. In TAKE FLIGHT, all-too-human aviators dare to dream the universal dream of soaring above it all. Listeners will, too, in this lush and melodic original cast recording.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Well Done, January 18, 2008

By 

E. C Goodstein (Northern CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Take Flight (2007 London Cast Recording) (Audio CD)

To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd like this show. Odd subject matter-- but I had some faith in the creators; Maltby & Shire for the great revue, "Closer than Ever" and Weidman for his work with Sondheim on 'historical' subject matter. And at least on disc I think it's largely successful. Flight takes on many aspects of the word. The subject and the characters reveal aspects that matter to the writers. So 'Take Flight' isn't strictly historically correct or strictly a narrative chronicle. The lyrics and lush orchestrations work well, and concentrating on the the 4 characters of the Wright Brs., Lindberg and Amelia Earhart (& 'minor' character of Amelia's husband George Putnam) makes sense. The darker aspects of the characters are only really hinted at (at least on disc): The Wrights' almost total lack of technical/aerodynamic expertise, Lindberg's aloofness (snobbism/shyness perhaps-- though he later was impressed with Hitler for example), & Earhart's own mysterious ambivalence about fame. Still though the themes and wonder of chance come across. Nice mix of kinds of music from almost contemporary classical to B'way pizzazz to fulsome melodic duets and ensembles. Everyone sings very well for the roles. Some may find it top heavy with 'historical' baggage; but especially I think if you like Sondheim's 'Pacific Overtures' or 'Assassins,' or Maltby/Shire as songwriters, you'll probably want to check out this album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very worthwhile, September 2, 2008

By 

Damien Slattery (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Take Flight (2007 London Cast Recording) (Audio CD)

Actually enjoyable, the previous reviewers had some valid points about this, it does sound a second cousin of "Assassins", and at times Malby's words land with a thud..really over-declamatory lyrics..Too often the characters sing exactly what they feel, with no room then for any subtext (unlike Sondheim..)
The music has the construction of a film score - motifs, and does have plenty of soaring moments..appropriate to the stratospheric content. They manage to express the joy and exhilaration of flight, the majesty of earth meeting sky, and infinite horizons. I was reminded of Jerry Goldsmith's gorgeous flight-music for the movie -The Blue Max, not in tone but mood. And there is a lovely tint of Americana in the songs.
Considering the levels the musical has sunk to lately, Mamma Mia, Hairspray et al.. this is superior stuff.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice addition to the Maltby & Shire Songbook..., February 4, 2008

By 

Coco Pazzo (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Take Flight (2007 London Cast Recording) (Audio CD)

Maltby and Shire were wise to pick John Weidman as the bookwriter for this musical about the early days of aviation. While not reaching the heights of Sondheim (and Weidman's) Assassins, this is a very nice and varied score dealing with a historical subject. While none of the British actors/singers stand out on this recording, all do a fine job.