Blood Brothers - 1995 London Cast Recording

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	moving
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

First performed in 1981 by the Merseyside Young People's Theatre Company, Blood Brothers tells the story of Michael Johnson and Edward Lyons. Mrs Johnson is a single mother, struggling to find work and feed her children. When she discovers she is carrying twins, she doesn't know how she can afford them. Mrs Lyons can't have children and offers to take one of the twins and raise him as her own. The two make a pact on the Bible.

At the age of seven, Mickey and Eddie first meet each other and decide to be Blood Brothers. The story follows their lives as they grow up, Eddie going to university and receiving all the benefits of being middle class, Mickey on the dole and desperate for money.

Although the heart of the musical is entertaining, it also carries a deeper message, about the problems of the class barrier. These two are freqently referred to as 'like each other as two new pins' to show that the success of Eddie's live is nothing to do with his abilities. It was simply the fact that he was brought up in a wealthy family.

The songs are varied, with some humorous such as Kids' Game and Bright New Day. There are some which are moving and sad, such as My Child and I'm Not Saying a Word. And there are some that are full of excitement and capture the dangerous nature of the secret the two mothers are keeping: The Robbery and Madman.

As a story, it is brilliant. There are moments of humour all the way through, as well as the excitement and suspense. I know I wasn't the only one in the audience in tears at the end of the show.

There are some themes and refrains that occur frequently in the musical, allowing the songs to be linked together into a cohesive whole. Marilyn Monroe is mentioned frequently, and the line 'the devil's got your number' shows that the danger of discovery is never far away.

~ CD Tracks ~

1. Overture
2. Marilyn Monroe
3. My Child
4. Easy Terms
5. Shoes Upon the Table
6. July 18th
7. Kids' Game
8. Gypsies in the Wood
9. Long Sunday Afternoon/ My Friend
10. Bright New Day
11. Entr'acte/Marilyn Monroe 2
12. Secrets
13. That Guy
14. Summer Sequence
15. I'm Not Saying a Word
16. One Day in October
17. Take a Letter Miss Jones
18. The Robbery
19. Marilyn Monroe 3
20. Light Romance/ Madman
21. The Council Chamber
22. Tell Me it's not True

I'm not sure if its just a fault on the CD I have, or if they're all like this, but though 16 and 17 are labelled as two tracks on the CD case, they are actually on the same track.

~ The Cast ~

Mrs Johnson - Stephanie Lawrence
Mickey - Paul Crosby
Eddie - Mark Hutchinson
Narrator - Warwick Evans
Mrs Lyons - Joanna Munro
Mr Lyons - David Hitchen
Sammy - Joe Young
Linda - Jacinta Whyte

All the singing is stupendous. The acting in the show was also brilliant, but this doesn't come across in the CD of the songs. The whole show was expertly produced by Jon Miller.

If you haven't seen the show, I'd recommend seeing it before buying this CD. Though the songs themselves are excellent, if you want the story its best to see it acting out by a good company. The CD can't capture the magic of seeing it performed live, but I think that's true of any show.