Camelot - 1982 London Cast

Advantages: great voices can imagine being there
Disadvantages: some songs are cut short

...This is my second fave musical. The story is so gripping full of tradgedy, romance and a bit of humor. The opening to the show is always my favourite part along with kims nightmare. On the cd the track 'Kims Nightmare' is not in full it starts from half way through and is cut short at the end also which is a little but dissapointing. The way that the sound of the helicopter starts everything off at the begining of the cd the way it does in show is great. Starting off quite then gradually getting louder sounds awsome surround sound. It makes me feel like I'm there. The voices of the cast are powerful and portrays alot of what the character is feeling at that given time which made it easier for me to imagine it when I listened to it. The voice of Lea Salonga is so beautiful. It's soft and innocent with a bit of power when needed for her... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, Robert Goulet, Alan Jay Lerner's lyrics, Frederick Loewe's music-most of it.
Disadvantages: Some shopworn, predictable tunes and weak orchestrations.

...(Arthur's mentor and teacher) away from his lair. I still fail to see why many have found this tune to be an odd man out amid the rest of the tracks. It evokes a faraway land with its hypnotic harp, and properly enhances the scene as seen in my mind. The cast. It's the rare and happy convergence of momentous talent that makes this version of 'Camelot' great musical theatre. As King Arthur, Richard Burton is in very fine form. His sonorous Shakespearean speaking voice translates well to singing, with an occasional Henry Higgins-like speech-song. I have only the songs here by which to judge his performance, but I'll wager that his Arthur was kingly ('Camelot') yet kind ('How to Handle a Woman') and human ('I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight.') His obvious virility notwithstanding, Mr Burton can bring one to the brink of tears... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The first half
Disadvantages: Most of the second half

...that they went to a lot of trouble for nothing, seeing as most of the second half of the record could easily have been released as b-sides. Speaking of B-sides, the band's cover of Armagideon Time, a B-Side to the album's title track, is actually much better than most of the songs on the record. The same goes for the single only release Bankrobber. London Calling was essentially the Clash abandoning punk, and transforming into a plain old rock act, this is something that they wouldn't even properly accomplish until 1982's Combat Rock. It was also really the beginning of the end for the band. Road manager Johnny Green departed after this album, it was the first where Mick started to produce, something that led to the big fall out that destroyed the band. Much is made of Producer Guy Steven's work on the album, but if you read up... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful