LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING
THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER COLLECTION - VOLUME 2
( Polydor - 2005 )
My CD Review
- Probably on a Thursday - (Previously unreleased) This tune tends to be more like a catchy pop song than a theatre song.
- The Perfect Year - (Previously unreleased) A nice tune, but I could do without the cheesy sax in the middle section.
- Only You - Featuring Cliff Richard. A nice pop style tune.
- Love Changes Everything - (Previously unreleased) From the musical "Aspects of Love". There is also a version of this song on the album the Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection Volume 1, but the arrangement is a bit different. I'm not sure why it is listed as previously unreleased however.
- Seeing is Believing - (Previously unreleased) Featuring Michael Ball. This song features solid vocals from both performers.
- Think of Me - From the Lloyd Webber musical "The Phantom of the Opera", and featuring Steve Barton. Taken from the soundtrack of The Phantom of the Opera.
- Any Dream Will Do - A catchy pop tune, but no indication as to who sings the backing vocals. Recorded in 1992.
- I Don't Know How to Love Him - From the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". I personally don't think that Sarah's performance here is very convincing. Recorded in 1992.
- Too Much in Love to Care - (Previously unreleased) Featuring John Barrowman. I find this song quite mundane, and John Barrowman to be weak vocally.
- The Phantom of the Opera - From the musical "The Phantom of the Opera", and featuring Steve Harley. A convincing performance by both Sarah and Steve, and I think it is the same recording as the Phantom of the Opera video. Recorded in 1986.
- Make Up My Heart - (Previously unreleased) This is a nice tune.
- No Llores Por Mi Argentina (Don't Cry For Me Argentina) - From the musical "Evita", this song is sung in Spanish. The beautiful melody, with all its passion, is very well done by Sarah. I actually prefer it in Spanish as opposed to its English counterpart. Recorded in 1995, and previously released on the album Surrender.
- Everything's Alright - From the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar", with Gary Martin as Judas, and Bogdan Kominowski as Jesus, although the liner notes do not indicate this. A strong vocal performance from Sarah here, and a very passionate performance by all the characters. Recorded in 1992, and previously released on the album Surrender.
- Whistle Down the Wind - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Whistle Down the Wind". Recorded in 2002, and previously released on the album Encore.
Additional Comments
Volume two of this collection contains some material that can be found on other Sarah Brightman recordings, as well as some previously unreleased songs. What I find primarily lacking in this volume is that there is not much track information indicated, such as what musical the song is from or who does the backing vocals. It is also indicated that a number of the songs were from 2005, although that does not seem quite right to me. In conclusion I have to say that this album is quite uneventful, and a case of Polygram still trying to cash in on Sarah's popularity and success. Any fan of Sarah Brightman will want both of these recordings in their collection however.
THE ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER COLLECTION
( Polydor - 1997 )
My CD Review
- The Phantom of the Opera - From the musical "The Phantom of the Opera", with Michael Crawford, recorded in 1987. "Sing for me, my Angel of Music..." Lots of drive to this dramatic song, with Michael Crawford's voice being a good fit with Sarah's for this type of song. This is a tune whose music you will undoubtably recognize, and it's a great song!
- Unexpected Song - From the musical "Sunset Boulevard". The same recording as above on Surrender.
- Chanson D'enfance - From the musical "Aspects of Love". The same recording as above on Surrender.
- All I Ask of You - From the musical "The Phantom of the Opera", with Cliff Richard, recorded in 1986. This is a nice song, and Cliff Richard has a decent voice, but it pales alongside of Sarah's superb voice.
- Don't Cry For Me Argentina - From the musical "Evita", recorded in 1992. This is a gorgeous song! Sarah sings it with lots of passion! Given a choice the Spanish version on Surrender would be my preference though.
- Another Suitcase in Another Hall - From the musical "Evita", recorded in 1992. A nice pop-style tune very well done. There is no indication in the liner notes who performs the very gentle backing vocals.
- Love Changes Everything - From the musical "Aspects of Love", recorded in 1992. Again a pop-style tune, with plenty of drive.
- Amigos Para Siempre (Friends for Life) - Official theme song of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, with tenor Jose Carreras. The same recording as above on Surrender.
- Memory - From the musical "Cats", recorded in 1992. As noted above, I love this song. Sarah performs it really well here, but given the choice I much prefer the Italian version which has a more powerful vocal presence.
- Gus: The Theatre Cat - From the musical "Cats", with Sir John Gielgud. The same recording as above on Surrender.
- Anything But Lonely - From the musical "Aspects of Love", recorded in 1989. A very nice song. Sarah does not utilize her voice fully on this one, just a gentle pop-style vocal performance.
- Macavity: The Mystery Cat - From the musical "Cats". The same recording as above on Surrender.
- Tell Me On a Sunday - From the musical "Tell Me on a Sunday". The same recording as above on Surrender.
- Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - From the musical "The Phantom of the Opera". The same recording as above on Surrender.
- Pie Jesu - From the "Requiem", with boy soprano Paul Miles-Kingston and the Winchester Cathedral Choir. The same recording as above on Surrender.
- The Music of the Night - From the musical "The Phantom of the Opera". The same recording as above on Surrender.
Additional Comments
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a considerable number of great songs, and has a real talent for composing beautiful melodies and crafting lush orchestrations. And he has worked with some fine lyricists along the way.
Although I have never been a big fan of theatre music, I have always loved the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. And what more can you say about Sarah's phenomenal voice! She displays the power of her amazing voice on this recording, from a soft pop-like tender voice to a strong and passionate theatre voice. Blend that with these beautiful melodies, rich orchestrations, and tasteful lyrics and you have to just love most of these songs! And to me most of them hardly seem like theatre songs.
