- Audio CD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Cast Recording, Soundtrack
- Label: Escape Records
- ASIN: B002PHXA44
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 56,209 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
From the writer and composer of 'Escape' and 'A Million Grains of Sand'. Bluebird takes place in and around East London and the battlefields of Europe, during the turbulent years of the Second World War. It charts the story of ordinary people, living in extraordinary times.
The cast Includes:
Ramin Karimloo (Phantom of The Opera, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables & Love Never Dies)
Sarah Lark (BBC's I'd Do Anything, Oliver, Witches of Eastwick, Mamma Mia)
Stephen Weller (Martin Guerre, The Producers, Les Miserables)
Abi Finley (BBC's How Do Solve A Problem like Maria, Fame, Blondel)
Gareth Chart (Mamma Mia, Gone With The Wind)
Robert Archibald(Ragtime, Grease, Batboy)
Gemma Sutton (Imagine This, Gone With The Wind)
Jeff Nicholson (Les Miserables)
Greg Bradley (Oliver, Lord of The Rings, Mamma Mia)
Kit Orton (Martin Guerre, Dracula, Spend, Spend, Spend)
A NEW EPIC 24 TRACK MUSICAL ALBUM WITH 12 PAGE BOOKLET
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Got this CD from Dress Circle in London and listened to it the same day. And I am glad I did as it is wicked. Ramin Karimloo is amazing as the American guy, his voice is powerful and sends shivers down your back. The girl from the BBC TV show (Sarah Lark) is also pretty amazing. I would recomend this album as it's a really good musical and has some excellent music. I have several favourite tracks, but all of Ramins and 'Good Night Dear Soldiers' stand out for me. But the last part of the album is really awesome. Get a copy now. Does anyone know if this will/has been on stage?
Mol.
Mol.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Wonderful songs beautifully sung.
Its so refreshing to hear songs on one CD that tell a story so poigntly
Its so refreshing to hear songs on one CD that tell a story so poigntly
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
There is no denying that Gareth Peter Dicks has something special. Not only has he written music, lyric and book for this show, but also managed to get it developed (via tryout "workshop" productions) into a fully orchestrated concept album featuring a host of well known theatrical names.
Concept albums have always been acknowledged as the finest way to get a work in progress heard, and the excellent cast features particularly strong leads including Ramin Karimloo, Sarah Lark, Stephen Weller and Abi Finley, and outstanding backup performers.
With the knowledge that simplicity is often the best course in musical theatre, Dicks has wisely built a book focussing on two families experiences both home and on the battlefield of World War Two. Without intricate sub-plots, he is able to explore far more naturally the effect of such devastating world events on the lives of each individual character.
Here the show is certainly at its most effective. A soldier's letter home is incredibly moving; chilling and beautiful. Indeed, whenever characters interact via letter or in conversation ("The Hospital / Pete's First Letter," for example) there is no mistaking the composer's talent for musicalising relationships. A "Final Battle" with the spirit echoing through the orchestration and leading into "Goodnight Dear Soldiers" - perfectly performed by Abi Finley - serves absolutely perfectly the production's dramatic climax.
If there are faults in the piece, they are mainly in the lyric. The rhyming dictionary is thumbed for, "when I'm gloomy, you see through me," while several other moments depart from otherwise sound characterisation in favour of banal "we live a loving life as our fathers did" expressions of thought and feeling. The odd modern phrase, "did they really have a clue" creeps in too, along with a Sergeant spouting possibly un-40s like popular psychology to inspire his men. All may be the types of line West End reviewers pick on with glee, but luckily these would vanish in the transition from concept to full production.
The other loss, possibly a result of simplifying the work to fit into 80 minutes of disc space, is the wonderful "Spitfires." A lovely blend of voices with music perfectly evoking the period look set to drive the evening as narrative links. Sadly, they vanish by track 4... any chance of a return, please? Speaking of vanishing, or rather appearing without trace, we find out at the end that husband Pete called his wife Roberta "Bobbie" in their closest moments together. Had we found that out earlier, the impact throughout the show, and notably in the final number would have been even greater.
This recording shows much potential, with the writer having the firmest possible grip on the relationships which are the production's greatest strength. With a director's work on the rougher edges of the lyric, this recording confirms that the whole is a piece worth progressing; and is an early work-in-progress disc that musical theatre fans would wish to have in their collection.
Concept albums have always been acknowledged as the finest way to get a work in progress heard, and the excellent cast features particularly strong leads including Ramin Karimloo, Sarah Lark, Stephen Weller and Abi Finley, and outstanding backup performers.
With the knowledge that simplicity is often the best course in musical theatre, Dicks has wisely built a book focussing on two families experiences both home and on the battlefield of World War Two. Without intricate sub-plots, he is able to explore far more naturally the effect of such devastating world events on the lives of each individual character.
Here the show is certainly at its most effective. A soldier's letter home is incredibly moving; chilling and beautiful. Indeed, whenever characters interact via letter or in conversation ("The Hospital / Pete's First Letter," for example) there is no mistaking the composer's talent for musicalising relationships. A "Final Battle" with the spirit echoing through the orchestration and leading into "Goodnight Dear Soldiers" - perfectly performed by Abi Finley - serves absolutely perfectly the production's dramatic climax.
If there are faults in the piece, they are mainly in the lyric. The rhyming dictionary is thumbed for, "when I'm gloomy, you see through me," while several other moments depart from otherwise sound characterisation in favour of banal "we live a loving life as our fathers did" expressions of thought and feeling. The odd modern phrase, "did they really have a clue" creeps in too, along with a Sergeant spouting possibly un-40s like popular psychology to inspire his men. All may be the types of line West End reviewers pick on with glee, but luckily these would vanish in the transition from concept to full production.
The other loss, possibly a result of simplifying the work to fit into 80 minutes of disc space, is the wonderful "Spitfires." A lovely blend of voices with music perfectly evoking the period look set to drive the evening as narrative links. Sadly, they vanish by track 4... any chance of a return, please? Speaking of vanishing, or rather appearing without trace, we find out at the end that husband Pete called his wife Roberta "Bobbie" in their closest moments together. Had we found that out earlier, the impact throughout the show, and notably in the final number would have been even greater.
This recording shows much potential, with the writer having the firmest possible grip on the relationships which are the production's greatest strength. With a director's work on the rougher edges of the lyric, this recording confirms that the whole is a piece worth progressing; and is an early work-in-progress disc that musical theatre fans would wish to have in their collection.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Touching musical, fantastic voices!
A different musical. Not what we are used to. Shows the cruelty of war and the fates of people involved. Very touching. Read more
Published 5 months ago by JadeFlower
A moving experience
Beautifully conceived and beautifully executed. This is a real treat - buy it, you won't be disappointed. Read more
Published 6 months ago by RuthieF
Magnificent
What can I say? I was just blown away by the style and content of the songs. I was first informed about this album by following various people and friend recommendations, and now I... Read more
Published 6 months ago by EnjolrasAmy
Can't get enough!
I bought this cd 4 weeks ago and I can not get enough of it;-) A lot of beautiful songs especially the ones with Ramin Karimloo. Brilliant story and brilliant actors/voices. Read more
Published 20 months ago by silent_crow
Bluebird a new WW2 Musical - Staring Ramin Karimloo & Sarah Lark
BLUEBIRD
A NEW WW2 MUSICAL (24 Track album with 12 page colour booklet)
Ramin Karimloo, Sarah Lark, Abi Finley & Stephen Weller
Bluebird takes place in... Read more
A NEW WW2 MUSICAL (24 Track album with 12 page colour booklet)
Ramin Karimloo, Sarah Lark, Abi Finley & Stephen Weller
Bluebird takes place in... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2010 by Gareth Peter
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