HALF A SIXPENCE – The Original Demo Recordings (Stage Door Records – STAGE 9052)
The latest release from Stage Door Records brings us a gem of a CD – demo recordings (and more) from David Heneker and Beverley Cross’ Half a Sixpence.
Many people, to this day, still believe that when they go and see a musical the finished product is actually how it started out – how wrong can they be?
A musical goes through many stages of metamorphosis until that butterfly emerges at the end and makes it to the finish line. That is why CDs like this one are fascinating to anyone with any love for musical theatre.
You get the chance to hear all those songs that were originally written for the show but were either cut prior to, during or after the rehearsal period and, thanks to Stage Door Records’ marvellous booklet notes, we also can find out why they were cut.
Everyone knows at least two songs from this musical: ‘Half a Sixpence’ itself and ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’, so when you look at the list of demo recordings and see that the latter is not included, you wonder why.
No need to, because it is explained that the song was only put in during the Wimbledon try-outs and therefore was never even thought about when the demo recordings were being made.
Tommy Steele features in the demos, of course, but it is lovely to hear Roy Sone sing some of the songs – he would eventually become Tommy Steele’s understudy on the production.
Also on the demos are Joanna Rigby, David Heneker and Beverley Cross themselves, along with the wonderful Rita Williams and her singers.
Williams is well known to many of us of a certain age. In days gone by, they used to release budget LPs of the latest cast recordings so everyone could afford to hear the shows and she was a true stalwart of those times.
Also included are tracks from the first EP of the show released on the Embassy record label featuring Paul Rich and Leoni Page – both of whom are excellent.
With the latest revival of this musical still fresh in people’s minds, this is a wonderful addition to Stage Door Records’ catalogue and hopefully a few more of these will surface over the coming years.
Anyone who reads my reviews will already know that I am a huge fan of this company and am always excited to see what they are going to be coming up with next.
The amount of effort and care that goes into producing these CDs is unbelievable and everyone who has any love at all for musicals should be supporting them and revelling in their extensive catalogue of treasures.
Nick Wakeham
Click HERE to buy Half a Sixpence – The Original Demo Recordings
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