Oliver!: The 1994 London Palladium Cast Recording [Cast Recording] [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Trust the musical theater to make life as an orphan sound, well, almost fun. After opening on the West End in 1960, Lionel Bart's Oliver! successfully transferred to Broadway, prefacing the British invasion of the 1970s and 1980s. Sam Mendes, who also directed acclaimed London productions of Company and Cabaret (the latter one moving on to Broadway) was at the helm for this version and certainly got things moving at a clip--especially since Lionel Bart wrote some new music and lyrics and the score was snappily rearranged. Jonathan Pryce is a suitably larger-than-life Fagin, and Sally Dexter shines as Nancy--her confrontation with Fagin and Miles Anderson's Bill Sikes in a new reprise of "It's a Fine Life" is pricelessly nasty. Going for maximum oomph and minimum sappiness, this swell recording may make even Oliver! haters reconsider. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Oliver!: The 1994 London Palladium Cast Recording, Music, Lionel Bart, Cast Recordings, Classical, Original Cast Recordings, Showtunes / B'way

Average customer rating:

Why didn't I buy this CD years ago?

Oliver the Great!!!

Truer to the original than any other recording.

Brilliant!

Quintessential Oliver! Soundtrack

Oliver!: The 1994 London Palladium Cast Recording
Lionel Bart
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002SLN
Release Date: 1995-04-04

Tracks:

Prologue
Food, Glorious Food
Oliver!
Widow Corney's Parlour
I Shall Scream!
Boy For Sale
That's Your Funeral
Where Is Love?
Oliver's Escape
Consider Yourself
You've Got To Pick-A-Pocket Or Two
Rum Tum Tum
It's A Fine Life
I'd Do Anything
Be Back Soon
The Robbery
Oom-Pah-Pah
My Name!
As Long As He Needs Me
Where Is Love (Reprise)
Who Will Buy?
It's A Fine Life (Reprise)
Reviewing The Situation
Oliver! (Reprise)
As Long As He Needs Me (Reprise)
London Bridge
Reviewing The Situation (Reprise)

Amazon.com

Trust the musical theater to make life as an orphan sound, well, almost fun. After opening on the West End in 1960, Lionel Bart's Oliver! successfully transferred to Broadway, prefacing the British invasion of the 1970s and 1980s. Sam Mendes, who also directed acclaimed London productions of Company and Cabaret (the latter one moving on to Broadway) was at the helm for this version and certainly got things moving at a clip--especially since Lionel Bart wrote some new music and lyrics and the score was snappily rearranged. Jonathan Pryce is a suitably larger-than-life Fagin, and Sally Dexter shines as Nancy--her confrontation with Fagin and Miles Anderson's Bill Sikes in a new reprise of "It's a Fine Life" is pricelessly nasty. Going for maximum oomph and minimum sappiness, this swell recording may make even Oliver! haters reconsider. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Why didn't I buy this CD years ago?.......2007-07-14

I heard some tracks that my friend Adam (Dodger) played for me this morning. I can't believe I haven't bought a copy before now and gutted I never saw him in the show! I was definately impressed with what I heard and very proud to know you Adam!!! :-)

Oliver the Great!!!.......2007-01-25

I recently took my three oldest grandchildren to see the show "Oliver". Usually, when I take them to a show, I buy the CD from the soundtrack so I can familiarize them with the music. The show we went to was a revival with a semi-professional cast with no CD available. I went onto Amazon to find one to purchase. After listening to samplings that were available through Amazon I decided on the 1994 revival in London's Palladium. It is wonderful!!! ...except that my grandchildren are driving me crazy everytime they come. They each have their favorite songs from the show and they play them over and over again! I love having the ability of listening to different CD's.

Thanks Amazon!!

Truer to the original than any other recording........2006-12-26

I was thrilled to hear this recording of "Oliver!" Finally, someone has seen fit to play the show as darkly and textured as Dickens' novel on which the musical is based. The arrangements are ominous, from the thunder and music-box echoes of the short overture to the sparse open version of Sikes' "My Name". This is a hard-edged "Oliver!". The performances are exceptionally good. It's wonderful to hear boys in the lead roles of Oliver and Dodger who can actually sing. Jonathan Pryce's Fagin, while maybe a little too avuncular, has a mix of charm and desperation that makes the character both complex and appealing. While Sally Dexter sounds a bit old for Nancy (in the novel, she's 18), her performance has a raw edge that makes it believable. In the up-tempo numbers, she's playful, raspy and belting. But there is great versatility in her vocal performance, as one can hear in the conflicted yearning of "As Long As He Needs Me". The others in the cast fare just as well, creating clear, colorful characterizations through their performances. This recording paints a landscape that has the complexity of Dickens' "Oliver Twist", at turns humorous and threatening. If you're after the happy "Oliver" of the film version, with Fagin and Dodger skipping off into the sunset, this is not for you. But if you want to enjoy the full scope of the musical, I highly recommend this recording.

Brilliant!.......2006-12-26

After reading the book, I was delighted to see the movie. I loved the Fagin and some of the others, but I wanted to get a stage recording and I was very careful when selecting.

I LOVE Jonathan Pryce as Fagin. He is PERFECT. I heard him on "Hey! Mr. Producer" and I knew he'd be perfect. He has that delightfully creepy, sneaky sound, but he can still sing, unlike some Fagins I've heard.

Adam Searles was one of my favorite Gavroches in Les Miserables and I could tell he'd be a magnificent Dodger. He's perfect! He's got a great voice and he can act SO well. He just...he's the best I've heard and I think I even like him better than the movie Dodger.

I've heard some Nancys who have the character down, but they can't sing very well. I also heard an American Nancy who REALLY overdid the cockney accent and it ruined the whole thing. She sounded mentally retarded. This Nancy can act and her voice is beautiful.

Also, if you're going to buy, make sure you get a London cast because without accents, it's just not Dickens. :P

Quintessential Oliver! Soundtrack .......2006-05-31

If you are seeking a copy of the Oliver! Soundtrack, this is the one you want to go for. The 1994 London Palladium production took the original 1960 production and gave it a energetic and colorful makeover, from the ambitious, impressive sets and costumes to the vastly expanded and skillfully re-orchestrated score, complete with a few alterations by original composer Lionel Bart himself before his death in 1999. It has been described as a "Les Mizzed" version of Oliver!, one that takes a classic standard musical that has been performed in every school gymnasium and community playhouse, and gives it a fresh update that excels professionally in all areas. The performances are among the best out of all the various cast recordings, and combined with the dynamic and rich new orchestrations, it makes the album the best choice for anyone either getting involved in their own production, or simply any fan of classic musicals.

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