1967 London Studio Cast - Half A Sixpence

STAGE DOOR

£14.38

Cat. no: STAGE9088
Format: CD
Barcode: 5055122190882
Release Date: 29 Oct 2021
Genre: Soundtrack

Continuing Stage Door’s series of London Studio Cast Album reissues from the SAGA Records back catalogue is the ‘Half a Sixpence’ 1967 London Studio Cast Recording.

‘Half A Sixpence’ is rightly considered one of the most iconic and enduring British musicals of the 20th Century. David Heneker’s musical adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel ‘Kipps’ introduced the musical theatre standards ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’, ‘If the Rain’s Got to Fall’ plus the show’s title song.

Released to coincide with the musical’s 1967 film adaptation, the SAGA Records ‘Half a Sixpence’ cast album is led by Colin Farrell as Arthur Kipps. Farrell played Buggins in the show’s Original London Cast and on this recording gives a shining and charismatic performance as Kipps. The role of Ann is sung superbly by West End veteran Angela Richards while ‘Doctor Who’ mainstay Michael Wisher plays Chitterlow.

The recording features expert musical direction by Ray Cook conducting the Westminster Sinfonia and Theatre Chorus. The SAGA Records ‘Half a Sixpence’ album has the distinction of including numbers from the Original London, Broadway and Film versions of David Heneker’s score. Highlights include ‘The Party’s on the House’, ‘I Don’t Believe a Word of it’, ‘This is My World’ and of course the showstopper ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’.

Digitally remastered from the original studio master tapes, the ‘Half a Sixpence’ London Studio Cast Recording now makes its debut on CD and is licensed from the SAGA tape collection at the British Library. The CD issue is complemented with an in depth sleeve note by theatre director and David Heneker archivist Stewart Nicholls. The release is a limited edition of 500 units only.

Tracks: All in the Cause of Economy / Half a Sixpence / I Don’t Believe a Word of it / She’s Too Far Above Me / If the Rain’s Got to Fall / Mrs. Botting’s Boating Regatta Cup Racing Song (The Race is On) / The One That Ran Away / Long Ago / Flash, Bang, Wallop! / I Know What I am / The Party’s on the House / This is My World / Half a Sixpence (Reprise)

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