Blood Brothers - Original London Cast Recording

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 5050749232724 Label: Sanctuary Manufacturer: Sanctuary Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Sanctuary Release Date: 2008-02-26 Running Time: 43 Studio: Sanctuary
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Original is not always best Comment: Blood Brothers, the ledgendary musical by Willy Russell. This is the first CD from the show which features the original cast including Barbara Dickson. Since this version was released the show has evolved into something quite different. So if you are looking for something which resembles the show in its current state then this probably isnt the CD for you. However if you are a traditionalist then it may just well be. The other thing which lets this version down is the lack of any of the speech. The CD is literally just the singing where as later versions (Kiki Dee, Stephanie Lawrence and Petula Clark) all have some of the speaking parts which make them easier to follow. If you are looking for a good sampler of the show as it is today look for the Stephanie Lawrence version. Customer Rating: Summary: Barbara Dickson is outstanding Comment: Blood Brothers is quite possibly the most emotive production that musical theatre has to offer. Barbara Dickson's portrayal of an impoverished single mother is outstanding. This recording is more intimate than later versions and it is fantastic to hear a recording which was made before Blood Brothers' runaway box office success. Unfortunately, we do pay a price for this as there are a couple of sub-par performances: Mrs Lyons has some tuning issues in 'My Child' and Andrew Schofield's Narrator lacks a bit of power in 'The Devil's Got Your Number' (although his spoken dialogue is superbly cynical). The balance is also band heavy in 'It's Just a Game' drowning out the chorus. That said, this recording is more than adequate and the final track 'Tell Me It's Not True' is extremely moving. Customer Rating: Summary: Where is the rest of it?! Comment: I am a firm fan of Blood Brothers and was pleased to find this CD at my local music store. Barbara Dickson makes a fantastic Mrs Johnstone (despite frequently sounding as though she is singing with a Welsh accent). I find Andrew Schofield as the narrator a little bland, and not as haunting as other narrators I have heard (Keith Burns is my favourite narrator but unfortunately he is not on CD). George Costigan makes a good Mickey (not as good as Sean Jones who injects more youth into his performance) with a convincing rendition of Sunday Afternoon/My Friend, however I dislike Andrew C. Wadsworth as Eddie- his vocal range isn't suited to the part and 'Saying A Word' therefore isn't as powerful as it should be. Wendy Murray is a brilliant Mrs Lyons, and Alan Leith sings Miss Jones well. They say there's nothing like an original cast, and I partly agree. This is a good version of Blood Brothers, but (and there has to be a but) the fade on the end of Tell Me It's Not True ruins it, and to refer to the title of this review- where are half of the songs? Now, not having seen the original performed on stage I can't say what's been added in since, but I don't think it's been extended quite that much! The narrator has a much greater part, singing Shoes Upon The Table at least four or five times- and what happened to That Guy? I must say the '95 cast is much better as it includes all of the songs and narration- the show as it should be. Customer Rating: Summary: The 1983 recording remains the finest Comment: There have been several recordings of the Blood Brothers score over the years, however this original 1983 remains the finest. This is due entirely to Barbara Dickson's unique voice which gives her Mrs. Johnstone a haunting quality that certainly has not been matched in any other recording. The arrangements are less electric, and more folky than the current touring and West End versions but add to a growing sense of doom throughout the piece. Highlights would have to be "Easy Terms", "Light Romance" and of course a mother's lament for her dead sons, the unforgettable "Tell Me It's Not True". Having seen Barbara perform this role in the theatre, this CD captures a brilliant performance that won Miss Dickson a much deserved Olivier Award. Hear it and weep ! Customer Rating: Summary: What a CD!!! Comment: Well, what a CD! It really is just perfect - definately the best of all the "Blood Brother" recordings - and the cheapest! It's a few tracks less than other recordings, but this makes little difference. The orchestrations are a somehwhat 80's in their sound, but this just adds to the overall effect - it keeps the show real. A small, intimate, personal story about real people in a terrible situation, i found some of the other recordings to have become too "big" and "broadway sounding", but this, the original makes the show what it should be. All performances are top class - particuarly Barbara Dickson in the lead - you really feel the emotion in her voice, and how her final rendition of "Tell me its not true" could not reduce you to tears is beyond me! So overall a top quality buy!! More Reviews