The tuneful 1963 musical comedy Half a Sixpence was an instant sensation in London’s West End, inspiring a subsequent Broadway production and big-screen adaptation. A musical version of H.G. Wells’ novel Kipps, Half a Sixpence featured music and lyrics by David Heneker and book by Beverley Cross. It opened with Tommy Steele as Arthur Kipps, successfully transforming the pop idol into a theatrical star. In recent years, the show enjoyed a hit revival in London starring Charlie Stemp (Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!). Back in 2017, Stage Door Records issued Heneker’s original demos…
Release Round-Up: Week of December 11
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Neil Young, After the Gold Rush: 50th Anniversary Edition (Reprise) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) The 50th Anniversary Edition of Neil Young’s classic album features new art based on Gary Burden’s original album cover design. The CD is out today while the vinyl edition will be released in March, 2021 and presented in a box set with the LP and a bonus 7″ single in a newly designed picture sleeve. This set includes two different versions of the After the Gold Rush outtake “Wonderin’.” …
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
Toasts of the Town: Stage Door Reissues, Expands David Heneker’s “Jorrocks” Musical on CD
Composer-lyricist David Heneker (1906-2001) remains best known today for his joyful score to the 1963 West End musical Half a Sixpence which transferred to Broadway in 1965, yielded a 1967 film version, and inspired a 2016 London revival. But Heneker wrote numerous other musicals with equally tuneful scores including Charlie Girl (1965), Phil the Fluter (1969), and Jorrocks (1966). Now, the latter is coming to CD from Stage Door Records with an expanded release of its 1966 London Studio Cast Recording. It wasn’t uncommon for musicals of the era to see multiple…
Release Round-Up: Week of November 10
Welcome to this week’s Release Round-Up! Elton John, Diamonds [Various Formats] (UMe) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 3CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada 1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Elton John looks back on his extraordinary career with a new retrospective collection, available in 1-CD, 2-CD, 3-CD, and 2-LP formats. Get all of the details right here! R.E.M., Automatic for the People: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition [Various Formats] (Craft Recordings) 2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. 3CD/1 Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K. LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon Canada / Amazon U.K….
Categories:
Formats:
Genres:
Short Takes, Broadway Edition: “Barnum,” “Half a Sixpence,” “Annie Get Your Gun”
A trio of upcoming releases will be sure to raise the pulse of theatre and cast recording fans out there! Harbinger Records and the Musical Theatre Project have continued their Songwriter Showcase Series with another entry dedicated to the late composer Cy Coleman. Barnum: Backer’s Audition finds Coleman and lyricist/librettist Michael Stewart presenting the score to their potential Broadway musical to an enthusiastic audience of potential investors in an Upper East Side apartment. With this release, you can be a fly on the wall for one of these exciting and rare presentations…
