Andrew Lloyd Webber Songbook, The - London Philharmonic Orchestra & Singers

Advantages: It's got the original; it's a bit of group history
Disadvantages: Whose biggest hits?

...The opening song "Bittersweet Symphony" from the album "Urban Hymns" by The Verve was one of the most haunting sounds of 1997. It dominated the charts and airwaves that year and has continued to be used as background music in television programmes and advertisements, including those for Nike and Vauxhall. It is one of those tunes that you will surely have heard even if you cannot place its origin. The song became a bittersweet experience for its author Richard Ashcroft. The refrain he used was taken from, at that time, a little known arrangement of a Rolling Stones song (NOT the original) which had appeared on an album long since deleted from the catalogue. When it was first released in June 1966, "The Songbook" was the fourth in a series of albums recorded by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. It was subtitled "Instrumental versions... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some no. 1 Hits
Disadvantages: You have to be a fan to appreciate

...I found this one on the shelf at Woolworths along with all the other stuff that goes for £5 when shops decide to have a clearance. I actually bought it out of interest to hear what was so bad on it that it was only worth £5 pound. Fortunately I was pleasantly suprised. Gold has a good collection of hits from his shows. The best ones were "Memory" from Cats and "Another Suitcase Another Hall" from Evita and Don't Cry for me Argentina. But there is a good sprinkling of other musicals including The Phantom of the Opera , Superstar, Whistle Down the Wind. All together there are a good twenty songs in the collection and pleanty of variety. The Cover title is Andrew Lloyd Webber Gold The definitive Hits Collection. There is an extremely explanitive cover insert and introuduction which introduces the album as a collection of all 20 of his... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Interesting, beautifull, well written
Disadvantages: Bad choice of soloists

...The Requiem, written shotly after his fathers death, is the only piece in this genre that Andrew Lloyd Webber has written. It is a relatively short piece, only 45 minutes long (NOT as the CD discription says, 1h 45min!!), written for chamber orchestra, organ, SATB choir and tenor, soprano and treble soloists. It uses the well known texts of the Requiem mass. I find the music beautifull in a haunting way. The music os mainly classical, but bears a modern touch, which is refreshing. The music is reasonably easy to sing for a choral singer, which makes it an attractive piece for choirs. This recording uses a boy choir and the soloist Placido Domingo (tenor), Sarah Brightman (soprano) and Paul Miles-Kingston. To me, the soloist are the weakest part of the recording. Placido Domingos voice is to heavy to manage the fast Hosanna, Sara... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful