Half a Sixpence (1965 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Expressly created for Brit pop star Tommy Steele and based on H.G. Wells's novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, Half a Sixpence is pure English corn syrup, circa 1965. Steele plays Arthur Kipps, an orphan who climbs the social ladder before losing it all and realizing that you just can't buy happiness (the stuff musical theater is made of, to be sure). David Heneker (who had also worked on Irma La Douce and Charlie Girl) wrote both music and lyrics, but what really sold the show (and it did well indeed) was Steele's outsize presence. Indeed, he appeared in every song except for the overture and a solo by Polly James. Half a Sixpence gained its footnote in Broadway history by being the last West End show to transfer successfully to New York before the late-'70s and early-'80s Lloyd Webber musicals. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Half a Sixpence (1965 Original Broadway Cast), Music, David Heneker, John Taylor, Tommy Steele, Polly James, Cast Recordings, Original Cast Recordings, Pop, Show Tunes, Showtunes / B'way

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Music

Tommy Steele's One Broadway Musical And It's Swell

Fine, but too short!

A highly underrated musical

Two Other Wishes

Half a Sixpence (1965 Original Broadway Cast)
David Heneker , John Taylor , Tommy Steele , and Polly James
Manufacturer: RCA Victor Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Introduction
Overture - Orchestra
All In The Cause Of Economy
Half A Sixpence
Money To Burn - Original Broadway Cast
A Proper Gentleman
She's Too Far Above Me
If The Rain's Got To Fall
Long Ago
Flash, Bang, Wallop!
I Know What I Am - Polly James
The Party's On The House
Finale - Original Broadway Cast

Amazon.com

Expressly created for Brit pop star Tommy Steele and based on H.G. Wells's novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, Half a Sixpence is pure English corn syrup, circa 1965. Steele plays Arthur Kipps, an orphan who climbs the social ladder before losing it all and realizing that you just can't buy happiness (the stuff musical theater is made of, to be sure). David Heneker (who had also worked on Irma La Douce and Charlie Girl) wrote both music and lyrics, but what really sold the show (and it did well indeed) was Steele's outsize presence. Indeed, he appeared in every song except for the overture and a solo by Polly James. Half a Sixpence gained its footnote in Broadway history by being the last West End show to transfer successfully to New York before the late-'70s and early-'80s Lloyd Webber musicals. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Music.......2007-02-03

The CD sound is really good, considering the age of the original recording. And the songs themselves are really good.

Tommy Steele's One Broadway Musical And It's Swell.......2004-12-11

Nearly 40 years ago, Tommy Steele opened on Broadway in HALF A SIXPENCE, with the flash-bang-wallop that Hugh Jackman brought to THE BOY FROM OZ in 2003. SIXPENCE came near the end of a Broadway season (1964-65) that began with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. At Tony Awards time, FIDDLER deservedly got everything. However, HALF A SIXPENCE remains a joyous gem. Sadly much of the dance music was not recorded, not to mention Steele's teaching the audience to sing the title song, that was a nightly part of his Broadway curtain call. That said, SIXPENCE on CD is delightful as ever. Find a 21st century Tommy Steele (acts, sings, dances, plays the banjo) and it could be very successfully revived. By the way, the London cast recording of HALF A SIXPENCE and the soundtrack from the SIXPENCE movie are vastly inferior to the Broadway cast album.

Fine, but too short!.......2001-02-05

"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.

A highly underrated musical.......2000-08-14

I saw this show three times on Broadway because it was so entertaning. Because this show was associated with its star, Tommy Steele, it has rarely been revived. But its score holds up well, and every song is a delight. If The Rain's Got to Fall, Long Ago, and the title tune are my favorites. It's a shame the original score was shortened for Broadway, and that the CD can't show you the fabulous Onna White dances, but this CD release is a treasure. Maybe it will encourage someone to remaster the original London cast recording. And also inspire some regional theaters to stage it again. For those who like the score, check out Peg, also by Heneker.

Two Other Wishes.......2000-08-14

I would love to have the motion picture movie soundtrack - HALF A SIXPENCE - avaiable on CD. The recording (which was available on LP) has fantastic richly recorded Stereo sound, with wonderful film orchestrations by Irwin Kostal (of the SOUND OF MUSIC) As a musical fan of this show I hope that this motion picture soundtrack gets a CD release. My second wish is the hope that the movie would get another chance on home video this time in a WIDESCREEN MODE, and with stereo sound. This is after all a song and DANCE show that needs a full screen to allow the viewer the finest viewing experience.

Average customer rating:

It's not stereo
classic arrangements by the classic gentlemen ~ Percy Faith

Lil Abner/Broadway Bouquet

Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2003-09-16

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Album Description

The jaunty Gene DePaul score for the musical play "Lil' Abner" based on the comic strip by Al Capp is heard instrumentally - and it's quite a show! "Broadway Bouquet" from 1965 is an important part of the famed Faith "string" album series - perhaps the pinnacle of his rich string sound that spanned gorgeous melodies and counterlines across sections of the large orchestra. (Bill Halvorsen)

Album Description

Pianist Percy Faith, a pioneer of the Easy Listening genre, had a successful and lengthy career as the in-house conductor and arranger for Columbia Records. Faith was renowned for his musical interpretations of Broadway and motion picture music. These two reissues from Collectables on 1 CD were originally released in 1965. 24 tracks. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

It's not stereo.......2005-01-10

I bought this solely for "Once Upon a Time", and was dismayed that the CD is mono, not stereo. The quality of the recordings leaves much to be desired, as many of them lack the pristine quality I'm used to on a CD.

classic arrangements by the classic gentlemen ~ Percy Faith.......2004-02-16

Two albums from the Columbia Records people blending different decades "Li'l Abner" (originally released CL 955 in 1956) and "Broadway Bouquet" (originally released LS 9156 in 1965), sharing the unmistakable style of the "Percy Faith Touch" ~ you know in an instant you're in for the best of the best ~ Duke Ellington was so taken with Faith's arrangements, that he would give anything to be able to arrange in that fashion.

Let's begin with "IT'S A TYPICAL DAY" along with "LOVE IN A HOME", both from "Li'l Abner", wonderful opening counterparts and the stirring arrangements by Maestro Percy Faith ~ "JUBILATON T. CORNPONE", uplifting cue that will keep bouncing in your head for hours, maybe even days ~ "IF I HAD MY DRUTHERS", one of the forgettable tunes from the show ~ "NAMELY YOU", has to be the best and favorite song of the Johnny Mercer and Gene De Paul score ~ by the way, these two composers penned the lively screen musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", both scores were sure winners from two talented songwriters, Percy Faith steps up to the podium and takes it to another level.

Now with "Broadway Bouquet", we have perfection within the realm of lush arranging, so flawless "HELLO, DOLLY!" (Jerry Herman), "ONCE UPON A TIME" (Adams/Strouse), "SOMEWHERE" (Sondheim/Bernstein), "SUNRISE, SUNSET/FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" (Harnick/Bock) (one of my all-time favorites, can't get enough of this score), "WHO CAN I TURN TO (WHEN NOBODY NEEDS ME)" (Bricusse/Newley), "A QUIET THING" (Ebb/Kander), "MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY" (Comden/Green/Styne), "WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I?" (Bricusse/Newley) (two of the best songwriters in the business), "LONG AGO" (David Heneker), "THE SWEETEST SOUNDS" (Richard Rodgers) (his credit of compositions goes through the ceiling, will never be another like 'em), "AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME" (Lionel Bart) (a wonderful classic that is still popular by today's standards), "THEME FROM "GOLDEN BOY" (Adams Strouse) (another team of composers that have made an impact on the Broadway scene) ~ an example of the "Percy Faith Touch", so effortless, you feel like you're floating on a cloud ~ falls into Percy's many albums of fabulous string arrangements, they grabbed the attention of the listener and wouldn't let go. Can't think of any other arranger/composer who left such a great legacy as this man!

Highly recommend to ALL fans of Percy Faith ~ thanks to Collectables for releasing this collection from the vaults of Columbia Records ~ so listeners sit back, relax and enjoy a small part of Maestro Percy Faith's fabulous career!

Total Time: 70:49 on 24 Tracks ~ Collectables 7564 ~ (9/16/2003)

Half a Sixpence[Original Cast Recording][IMPORT]
Average customer rating:
Half a Sixpence[Original Cast Recording][IMPORT]

Manufacturer: Deram/Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007TG2UQ