Customer Reviews

Variations

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Better known for his Musical Theatre on London's West End, Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote this music, based on the Paganini A Minor Caprice, for his accomplished cellist brother Julian. Many composers have previously chosen the same solo violin work as the starting point for music in a wide variety of styles.

Julian Lloyd Webber is joined here by a group of rock musicians who perform the fifteen short pieces that make up Andrew Lloyd Webber's variations. The resultant pieces vary widely in tempo and feel and the style ranges from Jazz-Rock to Ghamber Music.

When this first appeared on vinyl, a copy soon made it's way into just about every hi-fi dealer in the UK. There were two reasons for this, first of all, it appeals to a wide range of people and secondly, on vinyl at least, it has the property of making almost any record playing equipment sound at its best.

It's good to listen to and I think that it is worth its place on my shelf for sure but it's not great music. The whole album hangs together well enough but it seems to lack any real excitement or emotion. I think that Sky and Nigel Kennedy do this sort of thing better.

Music like this can only ever be written once. You can not improve albums like this. The music is simply outstanding. To write music of this quality takes amazing talent. One of the best Andrew Lloyd Webber albums, if not the best.

Purist classical types will hate this album, as will hard-rockers, but those who love both classical motifs and the energy of rock-'n-roll will find this blend exhilarating and exciting! The BEST blend of both I've ever heard.

When I first saw my teenaged longhaired heavy metal cousin pull an Andrew Lloyd Webber LP out from between W.A.S.P. and White Snake I raised my brow. "Dude, you gotta hear this," said he and then put it on...I loved it! The level of musicianship is top notch. Gary Moore (guitar) is on fire. The arrangements are interesting, boast a wide array of styles and feature Webber's nephew(?) on cello. This diversity in both styles and instrumentation gives the album a high educational value for those who have little exposure to anything other than pop music. Plus its just plain old enjoyable. Some of the styles may be a bit dated (disco) but are played so well that it still works. A few problems with the Amazon info: Phil Collins does not play drums Jon Hiseman does and quite well I might add. Plus they are charging an "import" price, but I just saw this at a major retail outlet for much less. Oh, really makes me wonder...

Don't expect the usual Andrew Lloyd Webber show music from this set.
The band was Colosseum II, augmented by Rod Argent, Barbara Thompson and Julian Lloyd Webber. There is a fiery intensity to the playing and a playful sense of humor as well.
All fans of Gary Moore's guitar antics will not be disappointed with what they hear. Indeed, the entire ensemble shines on this most atypical project. Think of it as prog with a smile.
This cd needs to be back in print, at a reasonable price.

I saw a documentary about the making of the album, aired before its release, and that prompted me to look for it. It was touted as a great work of art, and I tended to agree. I only bought the tape, but it turned out to be one of my favourite albums. It still is. I believe it may be ALW's first production, and I feel it his best.

I had never heard classical music, having no interest whatsoever, though I do have broad tastes in music. It was confined to pop and rock at the time however :) This album was the fusion of both genres in a wonderful way. Certainly gave the incentive to consider other classical works.

I especially enjoyed hearing the cello, a remarkable instrument. And it is played in such a lively vibrant way. The variations on the classical theme cover a number of different musical styles around at the time, and the effect is mood changing. It goes from relaxing to exciting, and back. So I guess its like a ride. I didn't expect it to be so good, and I believe its appeal is almost as enduring as classical is, especially if you still enjoy 70s contemporary styles.

The only drawback I feel is that it should have gone on for longer, but that was the album limits of the time, and it would have required greater diversity of material also.