The Likes of US [CAST RECORDING]

Andrew Lloyd Webber (Composer), Tim Rice (Composer), Simon Lee (Conductor), The Likes of Us Orchestra (Orchestra), Adam Brazier (Performer), Alex Bird (Performer), Andrew Spillett (Performer), E.J. Boyle (Performer), Ella May Stainer (Performer), Hannah Waddingham (Performer), Ian Sharp (Performer), Isabel Worewright (Performer), Jennie Dale (Performer), Jimmy Johnston (Performer), Joe Cooper (Performer), Lucy Delaiche (Performer), Michael Simkins (Performer), Nancy Sullivan (Performer), Nathan Sykes (Performer), Nick Searle (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Adam Brazier, Alex Bird, Andrew Spillett, E.J. Boyle, Ella May Stainer, et al.
• Orchestra: The Likes of Us Orchestra
• Conductor: Simon Lee
• Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice
• Audio CD (March 28, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: Decca Broadway
• ASIN: B000BSM27K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,912 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Introduction

2. Overture

3. Twice in Love Every Day

4. I'm a Very Busy Man

5. Love is Here

6. Strange and Lovely Song

7. The Likes of Us

8. How Am I to Know

9. We'll Get Him

10. This is My Time

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Entr'acte

2. You Can Never Make it Alone

3. Hold A March

4. Will This Last Forever

5. You Won't Care About Him anymore

6. Going Going Gone

7. Man of the World

8. Have another Cup of Tea

9. A Strange and Lovely Song reprise

10. The Likes of Us reprise

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

At the beginning of this two-disc CD, recorded live at England's Sydmonton Festival, the Narrator (a droll Stephen Fry) welcomes the audience "to the 40th-anniversary performance and yet world premiere" of The Likes of Us. The show was the first collaboration between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, back in 1966, but it was never produced, and the duo went on to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Interestingly, The Likes of Us displays embryonic elements of both aspects of Webber's work: the early pop- and rock- tinged offerings ("You Can Never Make It Alone") and the latter neoclassical strains ("How Am I to Know," which can easily be imagined as a Phantom-type aria) with little hints of operetta ("Strange and Lovely Song"). Based on the story of the Victorian philanthropist, Dr. Thomas Barnardo, the show also incorporates a children's chorus, making it all sound at times--quite often, really—-like a slightly haphazard version of Oliver. It's a fascinating piece of juvenilia, but as such is of interest mostly to Webberheads. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description

2005 Digitally Remastered (At Abbey Road Studios) of the Original London Cast of the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical. Includes Full Libretto and Deluxe Packaging.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER + TIM RICE = A DELIGHTFUL MUSICAL, November 26, 2005

By	Marijan Bosnar "(the historian)" (Croatia) - See all my reviews

The story of "The likes of us", the first ever musical made by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is indeed an old one, dating 40 years in the past. Before the two met, ALW was starting his history studies at Oxford and Rice was a law student. Then in 1965 the two of them made acquaintance and, realizing their potential, began working on a musical called "The likes of us", set in the Victorian London and concerning the life and exploits of one dr. Thomas Barnardo (1845-1905), a British physician and philanthropist who founded many homes for destitute and homeless children of London's East End. Although the musical numbers were completed and a book written, the show never reached the stage. Until, now that is, when in July this year "The Likes of us" had its first and so far only staging at ALW's annual Sydmonton Festival. That live performance was recorded and is now released as this double CD edition.

Due to the fact that the book was never finished and eventually got lost, Tim Rice wrote a new one for this performance. The structure of the show captured on these CDs is rather unique, since the musical numbers are tied together with the brief narrations between them instead of the conventional dialogue. This narration is delivered by the character of The Narrator, played here with enormous gusto and humour, by Stephen Fry, one of the most respected British comedians today. His witty remarks are one of the great assets of this recording.

The score, although written 40 years ago, is pure gold. The melodies, freshly orchestrated, grab you from the very beginning in the best ALW fashion. This is not the classy rock or pop sound of their later joint shows `Superstar' and `Evita', nor the operatic crescendos of `The Phantom', but rather the beautifully arranged pieces of music similar in style to the ones in the musical theatre of that time. The orchestrations are done very well, and the part where the orchestra takes a solo melody within a song helps us to capture the loveliness of the score. The numbers itself comprise of the solo numbers and ensemble ones, mixed with dancing. Only two of the tunes did ALW use in his future work: a bits of `The likes of us' was used in `Variations' and `Love is here' later become `Travel hopefully' in `By Jeeves'.

Of course, one has to make reference to Tim Rice's lyrics. Even though ALW used many good lyricists throughout his career, an undisputed fact remains Tim Rice was the best of the lot. He has a special gift of playing with words, finding perfect synonyms to express a certain action. Also, he is especially noted for his humorous cynicism, which is also evident here. One of the funniest numbers in this piece, called `Going, going, gone', features Tim Rice as an auctioneer handling an auction. This was the first song ever written by ALW and Rice and it is very nice to hear Sir Tim singing this entertaining piece in which his craftsmanship with words is obvious in full extent. The show does not lack humour, as a number called `A lion-hearted land', taking place at the cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street clearly demonstrates as well.

The cast performing this work is equally good. Some of them we've encountered before, like Hannah Waddingham, who plays here a prostitute called Rose, and can also be heard on the original cast recording of ALW's musical `The beautiful game'. The role of Dr. Bernardo is played in a pleasing tenor voice by Adam Brazier, who currently stars as Walter Hartright in the just opened Broadway production of ALW's newest musical `The woman in white'. The other roles, such as Barnardo's helper Syrie, are also well cast.

The CD comes in a nice package, together with a booklet and a libretto. The booklet contains the informative notes written by ALW, Tim Rice and Stephen Fry. The sound quality is excellent.

Conclusively, "The likes of us', besides being a really good musical, is also a reminder of just how great collaborators ALW and Tim Rice are. The musical itself be it in its present form or with a little bit of reworking, has all the qualities needed for a successful stage run. In the booklet, Tim Rice mentions the pleasure he and Sir Andrew had in working together again. We can only hope this reunion will be enough for them to take a next daring step: that is, their collaboration on an entirely new musical project. In the meantime, the musical theatre buffs will have to enjoy this little gem that Lloyd Webber and Rice duo finally decided to bestow upon the musical devotees.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely promising!, December 1, 2005

By	Dvarg (Drammen Norway) - See all my reviews

The Likes Of Us is not a great musical. It's narration is awkward, forced and dramaturgically immature. Too many musical numbers are gives to umimportant characters, and the plot too often strays away from anything interresting. The characterisations are weird and underdevelopped.

When that is said, The Likes Of Us contains some of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's most tuneful, witty and touching songs. Taken for what it is, a musical experiment by two very young song writers, The Likes Of Us is very promising and absolutely fascinating.

The witty narration added to this performance (unfortunately not separately tracked) clearly points out the show's weaknesses. Which helps the audience appreciate what truly is good by this show. I would without hesitation recommend anyone to buy this recording rather than anything ALW wrote after Song And Dance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prototype Andrew Lloyd Webber, August 30, 2006

By	Paul A. Gerard (Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber were once so young that nobody would take them seriously enough to stage their early work.

Undaunted, they cobbled together a first effort, and when nobody was interested quickly pressed on with something completely different. The result - like so many musicals and operas that didn't quite make it - was partially lost - in particular the original "book". All that is left were the songs.

So this is a concert version, with connecting comment from a narrator, rather than either a record of a "real" (staged) performance, or a conventional "original cast recording" with the songs extracted from their context.

It has to be said, even by someone who on the whole admires ALW, that this is well short of being a forgotten "Evita". None the less - we have to be grateful that the songs have at last been recorded. I agree with another reviewer's opinion of the "staying power" of the commentary - which sounds as if it has been more or less ad-libbed and does not improve with repeated hearings - it is indeed a shame it is not on separate tracks so it can be "programmed out".

But yes, if you take your musicals seriously you will obviously want this one for your collection. I doubt if it will ever be on anyone's list as their favourite Andrew Lloyd Webber, but who can tell?

One exercise that will be found amusing by people who know Webber's work is tracing bits of music he later re-cycled in other works. The composer commented on looking at the score again after so many years that he had always felt that he had re-used so much that this alone would have precluded a production - and was surprised to find so little he was aware of reusing.