ENCORE
( Polydor - 2002 )

My CD Review

1. Whistle Down the Wind - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Whistle Down the Wind". Previously unreleased, and taken from the "Surrender" album sessions, this song was first heard in a live performance on the Sarah Brightman in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall video/dvd. As was the case in the live performance, Andrew Lloyd Webber accompanies Sarah from the piano. This is a well-orchestrated song that has a gentle melody and beautiful lyrics, and it is given a strong vocal performance by Sarah.
2. Away From You - From the Richard Rodgers musical "Rex". Previously released on the album "The Songs That Got Away".   Read my review from that album
3. Guardami (With One Look, sung in Italian) - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Sunset Boulevard". Previously released on the album "Surrender".   Read my review from that album
4. Think of Me - From the Lloyd Webber musical "The Phantom of the Opera". Previously released on the album "The Phantom of the Opera" original cast recording, with Steve Barton providing the male voice in the song. Sarah is only in her mid-twenties on this recording, but she shows us what a powerful voice she possesses! As is the case with all the Phantom songs Sarah performs, she injects her usual passion and emotion into this song! The orchestration is also well done.
5. One More Walk Around the Garden - From the Burton Lane musical "Carmelina". Previously unreleased, and taken from the "The Songs That Got Away" album sessions. This is a beautiful song with a gorgeous melody, and Sarah provides gentle vocals throughout.
6. Surrender - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Sunset Boulevard". Previously released on the album "Surrender".   Read my review from that album
7. If I Ever Fall in Love Again - From the Peter Greenwell musical "Crooked Mile". Previously released on the album "The Songs That Got Away".   Read my review from that album
8. Half a Moment - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Jeeves". Previously released on the album "The Songs That Got Away".   Read my review from that album
9. Piano (Memory, sung in Italian) - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Cats". Previously released on the album "Surrender".   Read my review from that album
10. What More Do I Need - From the Stephen Sondheim musical "Saturday Night". Previously unreleased, and taken from the "The Songs That Got Away" album sessions. This is a fairly uneventful song that is not particularly suited for Sarah's great voice, and one that they could have let get away.
11. There is More to Love - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Aspects of Love". Previously released on the album "Surrender".   Read my review from that album
12. The Last Man in My Life - From the Lloyd Webber musical "Song and Dance". Previously released on the album "Surrender".   Read my review from that album
13. In the Mandarin's Orchid Garden - From the Gershwin musical "East is West". Previously unreleased, and taken from the "The Songs That Got Away" album sessions. A gentle melody, with a solid vocal performance from Sarah, but not a particularly eventful song.
14. Nothing Like You've Ever Known - From the Lloyd Webber musicals "Tell Me On a Sunday" and "Song and Dance". Previously released on the album "Surrender".   Read my review from that album
15. Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta - From the opera "La Rondine" by Puccini. Previously released on the album "The Songs That Got Away".   Read my review from that album

Additional Comments

Most of the songs on this CD are taken from the albums Surrender and The Songs That Got Away. There are four previously unreleased songs from the recording sessions of these two albums, and one song from the Phantom of the Opera original cast recording. If you don't have either of the first two above mentioned albums, then this is the one to buy if you are only going to buy one of them. There is not much extra added here from a great song standpoint, but if you're a true Sarah fan then you'll want it of course. As was the case with the album The Songs That Got Away, the Puccini aria Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta is easily the standout on this album, but Piano and Guardami are also outstanding songs!