1. Prologue (The Stage Of Paris Opera House, 1905) 2. Overture - Original London Cast 3. Think Of Me - Sarah Brightman, Steve Barton 4. Angel Of Music 5. Little Lotte.../ The Mirror... (Angel Music) 6. The Phantom Of The Opera 7. The Music Of The Night 8. I Remember.../Stranger Than You Dream It... 9. Magical Lasso... 10. Notes/Prima Donna 11. Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh 12. Why Have You Brought Me Here 13. All I Ask Of You 14. All I Ask Of You (Reprise)

What s left to be said about Andrew Lloyd Webber s adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera a decade after its premiere? That it s maddeningly ubiquitous? A stitch-up of various themes shoplifted from the Italian operatic repertoire? A critic-proof crowd pleaser that s probably being staged somewhere in the world as you read this? A mega-hit that will likely outlive Titanic in the pop-culture pantheon, Phantom has largely redefined--for better or worse--the manner in which modern musicals are conceived, staged and marketed. Its influence has reached far beyond the traditional confines of London and Broadway. A favourite example: an abridged version that was the centrepiece of Los Angeles longest running transvestite revue, replete with 14-inch chandeliers and a man-playing-a-woman-playing-a-man in the title role. --Jerry McCulley

#Superb! (2007-08-18) I own the film soundtrack and this original cast recording version. I ve seen the show 4 times now and this CD brings back the memories, the Overture does give you goose bumps and from this recording you get the flavour of the theatre experience. When sung well, as they are in this case, Music of the Night and All I Ask of You are very moving. Sarah Brightman is the star of the original show as her voice is truly moving. I ve always been skeptical about Michael Crawford, although his signing is excellent, I don t think brings the true gravitas of the char...

#Fabulous!!! (2007-07-12) I saw a recent production of the Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty s Theatre in London. . . . this album takes me right back. . . the overture gives me goosebumps!!! I would recomend this album to anyone who is a an of the Phantom of the Opera!!

#Phantom of the Opera review (2007-06-07) This album is an original cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber s musical production of the phantom of the opera based on the book by Gaston Leroux. It tells the story of a once great composer, who after an accident, was left with a deformed face. He wears a mask and hides in the depths of the Paris Opera House. He is known as the Phantom of the Opera as he scares the performers and demands wages and a seat at every performance. However the supposedly heartless Phantom falls in love with his pupil Christine Daaé. She begins ...

#My favourite CD of all time. (2007-04-13) This really is my favourite collection of songs of all time. Need I explain? The music speaks for itself. I grew up with the CD in the car as a baby, in the time of recorded tapes, and saw the production on my thirteenth birthday. I still listen to it now (although on CD!), and am planning a return to the theatre. Andrew Lloyd Webbers works are all fantastic, but in my opinion this one shows his true talent and merits. The complexity of the melodies, and various singers in every song amaze me every time I listen - in particular to Prima Don...

#ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! (2007-02-23) Cannot honestly say how much I LOVE the CD! Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman are perfect in the roles of Phantom and Christine, and make it so believable. I have been to see the stage show recently, and a few of the lyrics have been changed since (quite a lot in Think of Me and a few in Down Once More at the end)If you loved the show, the CD is a must!!

1. Overture / Prologue 2. Honey Honey 3. Money, Money, Money 4. Thank You For The Music 5. Mamma Mia - (Re recorded 2004) 6. Chiquitita 7. Dancin Queen - New Version 8. Lay All Your Love On Me 9. Super Trouper 10. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! 11. The Name Of The Game 12. Voulez-Vous 13. Entr Act 14. Under Attack 15. One Of Us 16. S.O.S. 17. Does Your Mother Know 18. Knowing Me, Knowing You 19. Our Last Summer 20. Slipping Through My Fingers 21. Winner Takes It All 22. Take A Chance On Me 23. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do 24. I Have A Dream 25. Mamma Mia 26. Dancing Queen 27. Waterloo (New 2004 recorded)

#mamma mia help !! (2008-08-08) never ever liked abba 30 years on i still can t stand them now this ******* film has regurgatated their dire music once again . . mamma mia!!!!! i would nt give it any star ratings but it was the only way to move on mamma mia!!!!

#Mamma Mia Rocks¬¬ (2007-03-06) I love this CD. I bought it after seeing the musical because I enjoyed the musical so much and wanted something from the show that I could play time and time again. This is amazing, just as amazing as the show. I can play it from start to finish without wanting to skip any of the tracks. The vocals/singers on this CD aren t as good as the singer who I saw but it is still a good CD to listen to especially if you have been to see the show and have enjoyed it. This will certainly be played time and time again because it is a great CD.

#What A Show! (2006-01-18) I saw Mamma Mia two summers ago, when I was around eighteen years old, while I was visiting my brother in Toronto Canada. We were actually meant to see another musical that was on at the time but it had actually stopped running the day we arrived! I was annoyed that the musical we were meant to see wasn',t on but my mother really wanted to see Mamma Mia so I decided to tag along anyway. It was truely a show to remember. . . I initially thought the musical was just a tribute to Mamma Mia but was so shocked to find how closely each song could actually be ...

#speechless (2005-03-03) As a female in my late teens, i cant ever say that i was a huge fan of Abba, but being a person thats willing to try anything once i decided to take a trip to Mamma Mia in the Point Depot in Dublin. I was truely speechless after walking out of the show. The very next day, the only agenda i had was to hit the record shops to purchase the soundtrack. It has been nearly a year and everytime it brings a smile to my face. A FANTASTIC album worth buying.

#Hear CD then Show OR See Show then CD. There s no difference (2005-01-08) This is a stunning show that makes you smile long after the event. This CD has the energy of the fantastic music and also leads you through an outline of the story. If you see the show you WILL buy the CD. I have to declare an interest at this point as I have now seen the show 6 times in London and twice in America. It is possible that I have lost my objectivity!!

1. At The End Of The Day 2. I Dreamed A Dream 3. Lovely Ladies 4. Who Am I 5. Come To Me 6. Confrontation 7. Castle On A Cloud 8. Master Of The House 9. Stars 10. Look Down 11. Little People 12. Red And Black 13. Do You Hear The People Sing 14. I Saw Him Once 15. In My Life 16. Heart Full Of Love 17. One Day More 18. On My Own 19. Attack 20. Little Fall Of Rain 21. Drink With Me To Days Gone By 22. Bring Him Home 23. Dog Eats Dog 24. Soliloquy 25. Empty Chairs At Empty Tables 26. Wedding Chorale 27. Beggars At The Feast 28. Finale

#Look Down! Look Down! And find your debit card! (2007-01-15) If you ve got to this page, then chances are you ve heard of Les Miserables and if you re a wise person indeed then you will have gone to see it in London or on Broadway. This CD is the original cast recording and has excellent vocal work from household names Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball and rather bizarrely Caroline Quentin of Men Behaving Badly fame. This CD however is no replacement for seeing the musical live - it misses out pieces of linking material. This means that if you are listening to this as a substitute for s...

#my review (2006-01-18) this play is the best play in the whole entire world. i love the songs. . the songs make the whole play soo much better. . i just loved the play. . i started crying

#Not miserable at all... (2005-12-21) In the 1980s, when I lived in London, I got early tickets to `Les Misérables , playing at the Barbican Theatre in London for its London premiere. I actually had ticket for midweek after the weekend opening--as anyone who has seen the production knows, it has a very complicated set structure with a barricade that folds up and down. As luck would have it (for me, in any case), this complicated apparatus had mechanical difficulties the first several nights, forcing them to keep the show closed until (drum-roll, please) the night I had tickets. Thus,...

#Timeless classic masterpiece (2005-09-26) This was the musical I enjoyed before I knew what musicals even were. I remember hearing on my own on TV one day and then waiting on my local library list to borrow the double LP. I listened to it until I knew all the words and it had to go back. Then my mum got the cassette of it and we would both sing it as we drove to work every morning. Now I m a mum myself, I enjoy playing the CD and singing along with my daughter. The melodies, the lyrics the sad and funny, it s the best musical in the world. I think it is the most played CD a...

#The Highlights are the Problem! (2004-12-21) I brought this CD about 6 months ago and I expected a whole score recording, except the CD is just a highlights album, and shows no sense of storyline what-so-ever. Any Les Mis fan may agree that the arrangement of this album doesn t do the show any justice. However the performances given are excellent. Colm Wilkinson is brilliant as Valjean and Michael Ball give the character of Marius a well needed kick. Overall this album is fantastic but then again it s not too bad either, I ve given it three stars only because I couldn t give 3 a...

1. Come One Come All 2. Let The World Turn 3. Jazz Time 4. China Doll 5. China Doll 6. Face I See 7. Time Was When 8. World Begins Today 9. Waiting 10. Day By Day 11. Intoxication 12. I Am Here 13. Take Good Care Of Yourself 14. Overture/Day By Day 15. Dream Shining Dreams 16. Take Good Care Of Yourself 17. I Hate The Very Thought Of Women 18. Letter 19. What s Left Of Love 20. Paris 21. Day By Day 22. How Did I Get To Where I Am 23. Day By Day 24. Come One Come All 25. Finale 26. Paris Est Libere

#Beautiful and Emotional (2008-09-09) I live in the U. S. , and have not been able to see the show, but I m a big Ruthie Henshall fan, so have read a lot about it and have heard clips of a few songs. The music is beautiful, and the songs are heart-wrenching. It s especially helpful to have the printed lyrics, to understand what s going on and the emotion behind it. I love it!

#See the show first (2008-08-20) You have to see this show to fully appreciate the score on this CD. Because Boubil and Schonberg have written this with Michel Legrand, memories of Legrand s wonderful music and LES MIS come immeadiately to mind. Unfortunately the CD needs repeated playings until you begin to enjoy the music. For quick joy the ballad Dreams,shining dreams and Time was when are excellant and there is some dialogue and evocative sound between tracks giving the French resistance in Paris feel that helps in understanding the piece. Ruthie Henshall is wonderful but I d...

#Great recording (2008-08-01) This CD has something very special for a soundtrack. It completely recreates the sound and atmosphere of the live show bringing back many fond memories. The songs are extremely well sung by a superb cast and wilst some say the music is not particularly memorable I completely disagree. I play Time Was When everytime I m on my laptop and the rest of the score is passionate, subtle and moving. A must see musical and a must have album!

#marguerite the musical (2008-07-14) Saw this show july 2008. A really moving performance from both Ruthie Henshall(magnificent) and Julian Ovenden. The music is heavenly from start to finish and it is definitely a must see again tear jerker. Wonderful.

#Superb music from a superb show (2008-07-01) I saw this show in June 2008 and it was excellent. Both Ruthie Henshall s and Julien Ovenden s voices stand out and there are several songs which get under your skin and you find yourself playing them over and over in your head without even realising it. However, I have to say the music itself largely does not stand out. The show was more like a play with music, rather than a musical, and to fully appreciate the music, it helps to have the imagery and stage atmosphere in your mind. In summary, if you ve not seen the show live on st...

1. Narration - Andrew Schofield 2. Marilyn Monroe - Barbara Dickson 3. My Child - Barbara Dickson, Wendy Murray 4. The Devil s Got Your Number - Andrew Schofield 5. Easy Terms - Barbara Dickson 6. Just A Game - The Company 7. Sunday Afternoon/ Mr Friend - George Costigan, Andrew C. Wadsworth 8. Bright New Day - Barbara Dickson 9. Marilyn Monroe (2) - Barbara Dickson 10. One Summer Narration - Andrew Schofield 11. Saying A Word - Andrew C. Wadsworth 12. Miss Jones (Sign Of The Times) - Alan Leith, The Company 13. Prison Song - Barbara Dickson 14. Light Romance - Barbara Dickson 15. There s A Madman - Andrew Schofield 16. Tell Me It s Not True - Barbara Dickson, The Company

#Original is not always best (2008-01-19) Blood Brothers, the ledgendary musical by Willy Russell. This is the first CD from the show which features the original cast including Barbara Dickson. Since this version was released the show has evolved into something quite different. So if you are looking for something which resembles the show in its current state then this probably isnt the CD for you. However if you are a traditionalist then it may just well be. The other thing which lets this version down is the lack of any of the speech. The CD is literally just the singing where...

#Barbara Dickson is outstanding (2003-02-01) Blood Brothers is quite possibly the most emotive production that musical theatre has to offer. Barbara Dickson s portrayal of an impoverished single mother is outstanding. This recording is more intimate than later versions and it is fantastic to hear a recording which was made before Blood Brothers runaway box office success. Unfortunately, we do pay a price for this as there are a couple of sub-par performances: Mrs Lyons has some tuning issues in My Child and Andrew Schofield s Narrator lacks a bit of power in The Devil s Got Your...

#Where is the rest of it?! (2003-01-26) I am a firm fan of Blood Brothers and was pleased to find this CD at my local music store. Barbara Dickson makes a fantastic Mrs Johnstone (despite frequently sounding as though she is singing with a Welsh accent). I find Andrew Schofield as the narrator a little bland, and not as haunting as other narrators I have heard (Keith Burns is my favourite narrator but unfortunately he is not on CD). George Costigan makes a good Mickey (not as good as Sean Jones who injects more youth into his performance) with a convincing rendition of Sunday Afterno...

#The 1983 recording remains the finest (2001-11-10) There have been several recordings of the Blood Brothers score over the years, however this original 1983 remains the finest. This is due entirely to Barbara Dickson s unique voice which gives her Mrs. Johnstone a haunting quality that certainly has not been matched in any other recording. The arrangements are less electric, and more folky than the current touring and West End versions but add to a growing sense of doom throughout the piece. Highlights would have to be ",Easy Terms",, ",Light Romance", and of...

#What a CD!!! (2001-07-29) Well, what a CD! It really is just perfect - definately the best of all the ",Blood Brother", recordings - and the cheapest! It s a few tracks less than other recordings, but this makes little difference. The orchestrations are a somehwhat 80 s in their sound, but this just adds to the overall effect - it keeps the show real. A small, intimate, personal story about real people in a terrible situation, i found some of the other recordings to have become too ",big", and ",broadway sounding",, but this, the original makes the show what i...