Half a Sixpence (1965 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Half a Sixpence (1965 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: Fine, but too short!
Hit: 4 Stars
"Half a Sixpence" would probably have had only mild success in New York, if even that, were it not for the choreography of Onna White. The show had been tepidly received in London, but when White took over for Broadway, it became a dazzling dance extravaganza.Sadly, though, this came at the expense of the score. Several excellent songs ("The Oak and the Ash", "I'm Not Talking to You", "I Only Want a Little House") were cut between London and Broadway to make room for additional dancing, and they're not heard on this album. As a result, the OBCR can come off as repetitious and dull.
It isn't, really, when taken as the sum of its parts. What's left of the score is often thrilling ("Money to Burn", "Flash! Bang! Wallop!") or lovely ("Long Ago", "I Know What I Am") -- but there isn't enough of it, and it's not as varied as it was in London. The dance music was left off the album (as was one song for the chorus), and it clocks in at about ten minutes shorter than most cast recordings of the period.
As the longer and more definitively cast London version is currently unavailable, though, fans of musical theatre should not hesitate to grab this album. David Heneker (who died several days ago, as I write this) was a great talent, and this preserves some of his best work.
Free Music Review: Wonderful Music
Hit: 4 Stars
The CD sound is really good, considering the age of the original recording. And the songs themselves are really good.Free Music Review: Familiar English story
Hit: 3 Stars
Half a Sixpence is a common British story of the poor boy who gets rich, who wishes he was poor again. This recording with Tommy Steele in the leading role is full of the kind of music that is part of a British musical. This reviewer saw the musical on Broadway with Tony Tanner in the leading role. As banal this story is and as familiar is the music these musicals produced, one can listen to them in the context of the current productions of the last few years. It is no wonder that one like this is brought out of print and the older musicals are being revived. These shows gave their audiences something to leave the theater with: songs to remember. "Half a Sixpence," If the Rain's Got to Fall" and "Long Ago" might seem schmaltzy to the discriminating listener of music, but the melodies make the toes tap. One can hum along. For the collecter like this reviewer, the reprint of "Half a Sixpence" is most welcome.
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