Sunset Boulevard - The Musical

Andrew Lloyd Webber. Musical genius or talented has-been? 

How you feel about Lloyd Webber and his musicals probably depends on how long you’ve been a fan.

He came to my notice with Cats. I was lucky enough to have a music teacher who loved musicals and he managed to arrange school trips to London to see them. So, I got to see the original cat of Cats (and later Starlight Express).

Until this point my love of musicals principally came from my Mum’s collection of vinyl. The King and I, The Sound of Music, Camelot, Gigi, Carousel, Oklahoma, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Can-Can to name a few.

But Cats was something new. Something modern. Something a bit on the weird side. I loved it. It was from that moment that my obsession with musical theatre truly began.

So, I have a lot to thank Mr. Lloyd Webber for. As such, I’ve been a true and dedicated fan ever since. But, I am not blinkered.  I don’t automatically think everything he does is a masterpiece (as seems to be the way with some fans).

When ALW gets something right it is perfection: The Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Tell Me On a Sunday, Starlight Express. All have great stories and are brimming with memorable, well written, songs.

But, when he balls it up he really does so in style, in my opinion. Shows such as Aspects of Love, The Woman in White, Stephen Ward the Musical, Jeeves, The Beautiful Game. These shows have maybe one or two good songs, but they’re otherwise quite boring.

Then there are a few that sit somewhere in between: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, 

Love Never Dies, The Likes of Us, Whistle Down the Wind. These are the shows with more good than bad, but still don’t quite hit the mark.

So, I now come to the reason for this post: Sunset Boulevard – The Canadian Cast Recording.

The Canadian cast included Diahann Carroll (Dominique Devereaux in Dynasty) starring in the lead role of Norma Desmond.

I’ve always been a huge fan of the musical. Thinking that, in many ways, it’s one of Lloyd Webber’s best written shows. It probably helps that I absolutely LOVE the film with Gloria Swanson.

I bought the World Premiere Recording (aka The Original London Cast) with the indomitable Patti LuPone and thought it was one of the best things I’d ever heard. Patti LuPone’s portrayal of Norma proving to be the template for others to aspire to.

Then came Glenn Close in the Broadway Cast. A totally different interpretation (as I would expect from Ms. Close) but it took some getting used to. The rawness of the delivery, her way of almost speak-singing and the new arrangements on some of the songs meant that I didn’t instantly love the new version.

Then, a few years later, I heard the Canadian cast and just didn’t like it at all. However, it was THAT version which rapidly became more of a collector’s item. By the time I heard it again (with older and much more cultured ears!) I really enjoyed it – but it was a whopping £60 to buy the CD. So, since then it’s been languishing on my wishlist. Until now.

Thanks to the advent of digital music (when will stupid people realise that the convenience of digital doesn’t make up for the inferior quality!?!) CD prices have fallen! Great for someone like me who want a physical item – not a ethereal one.

So, it is with great pleasure I can say I managed to pick up this recording for the grand sum of £6.99! Yay!

It’s probably been 10 or so years since I last heard it; and it’s also been a while since I’ve listened to the other versions too; so coming to this recording with unbiased ears meant I was able to enjoy every note for what it is: brilliance.

Diahann Carroll’s Norma is a joy. Breathy, melodramatic (as she should be), emotional, damaged and full of passion. Her vocals are stunning (despite the fact the songs had to be lowered to fit her vocal range) and her performance comes across beautiful. Also, Rex Smith as Joe is brilliant. His rendition of Joe’s seminal song Sunset Boulevard possibly one of the best interpretations I’ve heard.

The orchestrations and arrangements are pretty much the same as the Broadway version (and subsequent UK versions). The ONLY negative is that this Canadian recording is more of a highlights rather than the full show. All the main songs are here, but the linking music/dialogue sequences are absent. It’s a shame; but not a deal breaker.

If you’re a fan of the show you could do a lot worse than tracking down this recording.

Below, I’ve linked to the 3 English speaking versions, but also to the Dutch and German recordings. Hope you find one you like!

My Independence Day....including Today's Stitchy Haul!

2 years ago today I stopped smoking. I'd been a smoker for 30 years and I still can't believe I stopped. But, I'm so glad I did!

Giving up smoking truly gained ME independence!

So, for my second anniversary my partner took me out for the day to celebrate.

Our first stop was a nearby town by the name of Bourne (in Lincolnshire) and our first stop was the craft shop: The Crafty Patch.

(Facebook page: The Crafty Patch)

This lovely little shop is a dying breed - the independently run business catering to craft lovers. She stocks a very good range of Cross Stitch Kits along with masses of other craft related stock - especially wool.

Definitely worth a browse if you're in the neighbourhood.

Bourne itself is also a very nice market town, with some great shops and eateries.

Also, a good range of charity shops.

My logic told me that if there was a craft shop in the town then some of that craft would find it's way to the local charity shops.

I'm very glad to say I was correct.

Here's what I got today:

(No my cat - the lovely Isis - didn't come with the stash)

As you can see I got a lap stand/hoop. A miniature scroll frame for those pesky small projects. An artists canvas - to have a go at mounting a design. And last, but not least, a Thomas Kinkade cross stitch kit - which looks to be complete.

The entire stash cost only £8. Bargain!

After Bourne we headed over to one of our favourite places in the whole of the UK. Stamford. A couple of years ago Stamford was voted most desirable place to live in the UK! As a result property prices soared.

Still, one day we would love to live there - we may even be able to if our house sells soon!

So, we arrived, parked and strolled into town - making sure to cross the main river:

Once in the town we, once again, remembered why we wanted to live there.

The lovely sandstone buildings lining the streets:

We spent a good hour strolling around the shops. In and out of the various charity shops too (resulting a very healthy CD haul I have to admit!).

Before finally stopping at a lovely Italian restaurant for my anniversary lunch.

Pizza for Nigel and Mushroom Tagliatele for me. Yum!

Nigel couldn't resist the urge to scour the cake shop for something to have later.

 

While I waited nearby - clearly having had far too much cake over recent years!

Eventually, we strolled back to the car (stopping in more shops and an antique centre along the way). We paused for a while on the lovely bridge to take in our surroundings:

Re-visiting Stamford firmly established in our minds why we want to live there. In addition to it's beautiful architecture and surroundings it has a thriving community, vibrant town centre and a wonderful atmosphere. It also has a Morrisons (our favourite supermarket) and a Dominos Pizza (our favourite pizza!) what more could we want?

The property prices to drop just enough so we can afford to live there!

Eagle Song - Complete Symphonic Concept Cast Recording

Most people have never heard of Eagle Song - something I'm taking a step to rectifying with this review.

Writers Roger Butterley and Justin Murphy have created a beautiful tapestry of sound. Touching on pop, country, soul, gospel and a contemporary Broadway sound, this musical is outstanding.

It recalls elements of Les Miserables - especially in the scope of the production. Also of Civil War by Frank Wildhorn.

It is almost entirely sung and tells the evocotive story of two families torn apart by the American Civil War - kind of like North & South to music!!
Two friends end up on opposite sides of the American Civil War and this is their story. But, it's also the story of their friends and families back home. Also, of their fellow soldiers.

The scope of the show is massive with multiple characters and storylines - but it's never confusing. The cd comes with a full lyric booklet (or at least did when I bought it) and the sound is brilliant.
Both Roger Butterley and Justin Murphy sing on this cd; and it is easy to be impressed by these incredibly talented guys! Their writing skills easily match those of much more successful composers.

One of the things I love about this show is the sheer number of songs I can sing along with. The rousing chorus numbers as well as the many soaring power ballads. Listen out for Monique Midgette singing the part of Charlotte. Her beautiful rendition of Another's Arms is perfection.In addition, other songs to particularly note are Bonded By Blood, Angel, Cavalry Life, Pretty Little Things and Never Forget.

This musical encompasses everything that is wonderful about musical theatre!! Here's hoping it gets staged on day.

The CD is getting increasingly hard to find, so, if you're a musical fan I'd advise you to buy this before it costs the earth! Not so long ago it was over £100!

Mr. Mumbles by Barry Hutchison - Book Review

I chose the name of my blog deliberately because I have a very varied taste in everything I find interesting. Books are no exception.

I don't care if a book is aimed at children, young adults, women or martians, if I like the sound of it I'll give it a go.

Barry Hutchison's Invisible Fiends Book 1: Mr Mumbles, hit the market with very little fuss and rapidly entered the bargain bins - despite winning some prestigious awards. I kept seeing it in a local discount book store for £2.
As with most books it was the cover that attracted me (the adage Never judge a book by it's cover doesn't really apply in my case). But, I kept picking it up and putting it down again for some reason.

Eventually, I gave in - but only when it was reduced even further to 50p. At that price I'd have nothing to complain if it was the worst book ever written!

Of course, it wasn't the worst book ever written. It actually turned out to be one of the best children's books I'd read in a long time (maybe not up there with Charlotte's Web or The Chronicles of Narnia but still excellent).

The story is simple. Kyle is a young boy who starts hearing strange noises. Then he gets attacked. The strange thing is, he's attacked by a grotesquely deformed version of his childhood imaginary friend, Mr. Mumbles.
But, no one else can see his attacker, so it he real?
It's this question that is at the heart of this book - and indeed the entire series.
Kyle's journey, his childhood abandonment issues, his loving relationships with his mother and friends are what gives this book it's heart.
But, what makes this book outstanding - in my humble opinion - is the fact that it's as scary as hell!
For a book aimed solely at children Hutchison doesn't pull many punches. He goes for the jugular on many scenes and as a result makes for a much richer reading experience.
His 'world' is meticulously created and his imagination knows no bounds. The creation of the Darkest Corners - a place where imaginary friends go when they're forgotten - is simply genius.

I read the book in 2 days and promptly bought the next one (yes it had been that long since the first book was released).
Book 2: Raggy Maggie
Book 3: The Crowmaster
Book 4: Doc Mortis
Book 5: The Beast
Book 6: The Darkest Corners

Each book is as good as the others. Each is a cracking read: fast paced, fascinating, scary and inventive. I read each one on the day of purchase.

Easily one of the best children's series ever written, in my opinion, and one that deserves to be as popular as Harry Potter. Also, it would make a great series of films!

No WIP Update Today....Just Old Stuff and More Bargains!

This lovely lady is Rose of Sharon and she's from the Mirabilia range of cross stitch charts. Mirabilia are highly detailed charts that usually depict figures in stunning clothing. Very detailed, very subtle shading and a joy to stitch.

As you can see I framed this on in a fire guard. We managed to pick this one up at a Car Boot Sale for £5! It's a great way to frame something - especially if you're running out of wall space.

Yesterday I didn't manage to get very much stitching done. It happens sometimes. I hate it when it does as I just feel my day hasn't been productive if I haven't stitched!

So, that's why today's post is for me to show some of my previous projects. Also, check the bottom of this post for some great Amazon.co.uk Cross Stitch Bargains.

Next up: Gettysburg

The moment I saw this design I knew I had to stitch it. I find American style designs very appealing and I loved the detail and shading in this one. Also, rarely for cross stitch, it's quite a masculine picture.

My only complaint was the quality of the blue threads (all of them) was terrible. They snapped and frayed really easily.

The next design is another Mirabilia design:

This is Mermaid of the Pearls and, as you can hopefully see, there is a lot of beadwork on this gorgeous design. All along her body and wings, through her hair and covering the surf she's holding. There's also a lovely heart-shaped button in her hand. One of my favourite designs.

Now, for something a little less complicated:

Simply titled Baseball, I saw this kit in a bargain bin sale at a local sewing shop and knew I had to have it. I love baseball anyway (along with Tennis it's the only sport I really like), but it also fits in with my love of American themed designs.

This was also one of the first times I kept note of my progress. This took me 16 days to stitch. Then we found this amazing frame in a local store for just £4.99.

Ok, that's it for my old projects for today. I'll post some more pictures in the future.

But now, here's some more Amazon Bargains:

Hope you find something you like! HAPPY STITCHING!

Lion King - Deluxe 20th Anniversary Expanded Soundtrack

20th Anniversary Expanded Edition   The first release in Disney's new line of Deluxe CDs, entitled The Legacy Collection.   In my opinion The Lion King is the perfect choice for this Deluxe treatment. One of the things I've always loved about Disney soundtracks is that they cover my two favourite styles: Score and Musical. But, the original Lion King soundtrack was missing so much of Hans Zimmer's beautiful score it was insulting. Watching the film you hear all that beautiful African themed music and it makes the spirit soar. It captures the heart and takes the story of Simba to new heights. In short the score is the soul of The Lion King.   So, for that score to be so poorly represented on the first release of the soundtrack was a big disappointment. This was rectified slightly with the release of the brilliant Rhythm of the Pridelands which brought the incredible Lebo M to centre stage. Finally, when combined, much of the music from The Lion King was represented. Most, but not all - still missing was much of Zimmer's score.   While I don't think this release has given us a complete score, it's gone a long way to bridging the gap. Here we have three times as much score. Plus original Demo versions of the score. Plus two bonus songs - one of which never made it into any version of the film. This is the version of The Lion King film soundtrack I always wanted to hear.   It's also nicely presented in a hardback book style case, with full lyrics, some notes about the making of the film and some original concept art work.   Finally, the listening experience is as close to watching the film as you can get. The mood is there. The atmosphere is present. Now, you can follow the story through the music as each cue has been placed on the discs in order they appear in the film.   If you only ever buy one Disney soundtrack, surely it has to be this one? Utter brilliance from beginning to end.    TRACKLIST: Disc 1: 1. Circle of Life / Nants' Ingonyama (Song) 2. Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play with Your Food (Score)  3. We Are All Connected (Score) 4. Hyenas in the Pride Land (Score) 5. I Just Can't Wait to Be King (Song) 6. Elephant Graveyard (Score) 7. I Was Just Trying to Be Brave (Score) 8. Be Prepared (Song) 9. Simba, It's To Die For (Score) 10. Stampede (Score) 11. Mufasa Dies (Score) 12. If You Ever Come Back We'll Kill You (Score) 13. Bowling For Buzzards (Score) 14. Hakuna Matata (Song) 15. We Gotta Bone to Pick With You (Score) 16. Kings of the Past (Score) 17. Nala, Is it Really You? (Score) 18. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Song) 19. Remember Who You Are (Score) 20. This is My Home (Score) 21. The Rightful King (Score)   Disc 2: 1. The Morning Report (Song) 2. Warthog Rhapsody (Song) 3. We Are All Connected (Score Demo) 4. I Was Just Trying to Be Brave (Score Demo 5. Stampede (Score Demo 6. Mufasa Dies (Score Demo) 7. This is My Home (Score Demo) 8. The Rightful King (Score Demo) 9. Circle of Life (Performed by Elton John) 10. I Just Can't Wait to Be King (Performed by Elton John) 11. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (End Title) (Performed by Elton John)  

My Favourite Vampire Books

VAMPIRES

(Image courtesy of the ever-amazing Heidi Made This whose cards I have reviewed on another page)

I knew that I would eventually get around to putting something on my blog and I guess it comes as no surprise that I've decided to start with vampires.

Why? Because they're just so popular at the moment.

Thankfully, I'm old, so I've been reading vampires loooong before Twilight or The Vampire Diaries (not that there is anything wrong with those!)

So, all I'm going to give you here is a list of some of my favourites. In the future, I will review books I read (if I can ever stop cross stitching enough to pick up a book for more than 10 minutes a day!).

1. Stephen King: 'Salem's Lot

For me, this is the quintessential vampire story. Incredible characterisation and plotting and just about one of the scariest vampires (Barlow) out there. Also, the two TV adaptations were also excellent.

 

2. Anne Rice: Interview with the Vampire

One of the all time best vampire collections is from Anne Rice, her Vampire Chronicles series is a must-read for any lover of vampire fiction. Her characters are well rounded, flawed and utterly compelling. I've linked to a book containing the first three books in the series: Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and The Queen of the Damned. While later books are brilliant, it's these first three that really set the bar. Brilliant.

Also, she's in October 2014, Anne Rice is releasing Prince Lestat her first book in the series for 15 years!

3. Stephenie Meyer: The Twilight Saga

What can I possibly say that hasn't already been said about the Twilight phenomena? Just this: read before you judge. Too often people are quick to criticise the success of others, or those who try to do something different.

I personally loved these books. I thought Ms. Meyer did a brilliant job of giving a totally new and unique perspective on an ages-old creature.

Bravo!

4. Charlaine Harris: The Sookie Stackhouse Series

Filmed as True Blood on HBO, most people who love the genre probably already know about the books. But, for anyone who doesn't you need to know this: True Blood they ain't! Less violent, less sex, less swearing but brilliant. After all, the books spawned the series! Sookie is a brilliant character and her adventures just go from strength to strength.

Sadly, Charlaine Harris has finished the series with Dead Ever After (see link above).

5. Kelley Armstrong: Women of the Otherworld Series

Another amazing series. Women of the Otherworld is quite different because Kelley Armstrong doesn't always stay with the same characters for each book. She has Vampires, but her principals are Werewolves and Witches. Still, excellent vampires appear so well worth a read. A bit of a cheat including this one, but I really love her work! 6. Laurell K. Hamilton: The Anita Blake Series  
Laurell K. Hamilton's brilliant Anita Blake books have been criticised for turning into soft porn and for going on waaaaay too long (up to book 23). Personally, I've loved all of them. Yes, the earlier books are stronger on plot - they all have a strong mystery element. But, even the later - more character driven - books have a lot to offer; especially if you like the character of Anita. I've linked to the first book in the series. THE END ....sort of.... There are loads more Vampire books I could list. I even own a lot more; but I just wanted to give a taster (ha ha!) for my first book entry. I read a lot of different genres: thriller, young adult, horror, comedy, fantasy, adventure, and my mood changes from book to book. I promise that my next entry will be a review of a specific book!