THE VERY BEST OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: THE BROADWAY COLLECTION (by Various Artists)

SUMMARY:                               RUNNING TIME: 70:00 Min.

Released in 1996, by Decca Broadway Records, this compilation album consists of eighteen tracks from nine Lloyd Webber productions.  More importantly, the tracks are provided by their most popular performers.  The tracks are:

                                                                            Running Time:

1. “Jesus Christ Superstar” (title song)                             4:16

Performer: Murray Head

2. “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” (Jesus Christ Superstar) 3:33

Performer: Yvonne Elliman

3. “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” (Evita)                           5:53

Performer: Sarah Brightman

4. “High Flying, Adored” (Evita)                                       3:46

Performers: Evita’s Original Broadway Cast

5.. “Memory” (Cats)                                                          3:37

Performer: Betty Buckley

6. “Mr. Mistoffelees” (Cats)                                                4:06

Performers: Cats’ Original Broadway Cast

7. Lloyd Webber’s Requiem: Pie Jesu                                  3:56

Performers: Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston

8. “Love Changes Everything” (Aspects of Love)                     3:29

Performer: Michael Ball

9. “The Phantom of the Opera” (title song)                           4:18

Performers: Sarah Brightman & Michael Crawford

10. “The Music of the Night” (The Phantom of the Opera)       5:16

Performer: Michael Crawford

11. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (The Phantom of the Opera)   3:06

Performer: Sarah Brightman

12.  “Any Dream Will Do” (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)  2:39

Performer: Michael Damian

13.  “Close Every Door” (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)  3:48

Performer: Donny Osmond

14.  “With One Look” (Sunset Boulevard)                           3:14

Performer: Glenn Close

15.  “Sunset Boulevard” (title song)                                    3:06

Performer: Alan Campbell

16.  “As If We Never Said Goodbye” (Sunset Boulevard)         4:15

Performer: Barbra Streisand

17.  “By Jeeves” (title song)                                                3:20

Performers: By Jeeves’ Original London Cast

18. “Gus: The Theatre Cat” (Cats)                                      5:10

Performers: Sarah Brightman & Sir John Gielgud

REVIEW:

Superb!  As a glorified sampler of Lloyd Webber’s best productions, one receives a classy musical treat meant for both long-time fans and casual listeners.  It’s accurate that some of these tracks may come off as overdone puff, in terms of outstaying their welcome.  Still, given the diversity of tracks and a satisfying running time, consumers absolutely get their money’s worth. 

Note: Curiously, in Track 2, one might detect a source of inspiration for The Lion King’s “Circle of Life” melody; just listen  and decide for yourself.  Composer Tim Rice wrote the lyrics for both songs.

PACKAGING:

With top-flight production values, Della Broadway Records provides all the pertinent track information.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   9 Stars