NOW That's What I Call Musicals (2014)

This new version of Now That's What I Call Musicals comes just two years after the original release. I wish that the Now team would stop releasing upgraded versions of existing spin-offs but when there's a willing audience.... Anyway this product should be judged on its own merits. It's very well sequenced with a great selection of old and new tunes. Idina Menzel gets a triple play while other favourites include Meryl Streep's Winner Takes It All and that hoary old chestnut from Oliver! - Consider Yourself. Elsewhere there's a number of songs that appeared on the previous edition as a different version (I Dreamed A Dream, You'll Never Walk Alone, Don't Cry For Me Argentina, Tomorrow).Gripe - I wish they'd include something from Hair.So what are the differences between the 2012 and 2014 editions?FEATURES ON BOTH 2012 AND 2014 EDITIONS (27 TRACKS)Queen - We Will Rock YouRighteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (Ghost)Connie Fisher - All That Jazz (Chicago)John Travolta and Olivia Newton John - The Grease Megamix (Grease)Cast Recording - I'm A Believer (Shrek)Jamie Shaw - A Whole New World (Aladdin)Idina Menzel - Defying Gravity (Wicked)Alfie Boe and Kerry Ellis - Come What May (Moulin Rouge)Original Soundtrack - Consider Yourself (Oliver!)Jason Donovan and Hank Marvin - Dreamboats and PetticoatsIrene Cara - FameJulie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Mary Poppins)Troy and Gabriella / Original Soundtrack - Breaking Free (High School Musical)Kimberly Walsh - Another Suitcase In Another Hall (Evita)Michael Crawford - The Music Of The Night (The Phantom Of The Opera)Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well (Chess)Danielle Hope - Over The Rainbow (The Wizard Of Oz)Alfie Boe - Bring Him Home (Les Miserables)Elaine Paige - Memory (Cats)Frankie Vialli and The Four Seasons - December 1963 (Oh What A Night) (Jersey Boys)Gene Kelly - Singin' In The RainMichael Ball - Love Changes Everything (Aspects Of Love)Yvonne Ellman - I Don't Know How To Love Him (Jesus Christ Superstar)Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton - All I Ask Of You (The Phantom Of The Opera)All Angels - Send In The Clowns (A Little Night Music)Original Soundtrack - Maria (West Side Story)Gertrude Lawrence - Getting To Know You (The King And I)FEATURES ON NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSICALS 2014 EDITION ONLY (12 TRACKS)Idina Menzel - Let It Go (Frozen)Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream (Les Miserables)Meryl Streep - The Winner Takes It All (Mamma Mia)The Commitments - Mustang Sally (The Commitments)Idina Menzel - Tomorrow (Annie)Marti Webb - Take That Look Off Your Face (Tell Me On A Sunday)Elaine Paige - Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Evita)Jason Donovan - Any Dream Will Do (Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)Original Cast - When I Grow Up (Mathilda)The Original Stage Cast - Whistle Down The WindGerry and The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel)Original Cast - Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Starlight Express)FEATURES ON NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSICALS 2012 EDITION ONLY (13 TRACKS)Original Soundtrack - Dancing Queen (Mamma Mia)Cast Recording - Time Warp (The Rocky Horror Picture Show)Cast Recording - Circle Of Life (The Lion King)Cast Recording - Electricity (Billy Elliot)Original Soundtrack - You Can't Stop The Beat (Hairspray)Original Soundtrack - Tomorrow (Annie)Barbara Hendricks and James Vincent Pickens - Summertime (Porgy And Bess)Elena Roger - Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Evita)Alfie Boe - Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific)Patti Lupone - As If We Never Said Goodbye (Sunset Boulevard)Alfred Drake - OklahomaLesley Garrett - You'll Never Walk Alone (Carousel)Michael Ball - I Dreamed A Dream (Les Miserables)

The 'Now' series remains one of if not the most successful and ongoing deliverers of the music from both 'Today'and indeed yesteryear.As another reviewer pointed out there are indeed many numbers that do appear on the 2012 'Now' release, though notall the vocalists are the same on both, however, if like myself you did not invest in the earlier version this is a reallygreat 2-CD collection of memorable numbers.This 2-CD Compilation delivers many of the most memorable numbers from both stage and screen though notnecessarily the versions of the songs that have entered the U.K charts when first released, one or two examplesinclude 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' the original chart sound was sung by 'Julie Covington' back in 1976, thoughobviously 'Elaine Paige' who's version is on-board did play the stage-role and obviously is a great vocal talent, alsothe song 'Send in The Clowns' (a personal favourite of mine) from 'A Little Night Musical' was a U.K Chart successfor 'Judy Collins' back in 1975.The album is packed with many beautiful songs from ever popular stage shows such as 'Phantom of The Opera'..'Evita' and 'Cats' and movie classics such as 'The King ad I' 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Ghost'Many 'Stage Shows' have of course been taken to the silver screen, the same of course can be said in reverse, greatmovie musicals have become equally popular 'Stage Shows'This collection presents great memories from both - i will highlight a selection from both of the CD's to give a flavourof what can be found on-board - disc one ........'Idina Menzel' --'Let it Go' from the ever popular 'Frozen'......'TheRighteous Brothers' --'Unchained Melody' from 'Ghost'......'Connie Fisher feat Helen Blackman and Siobhan Dillon'--'All That Jazz' from 'Chicago'......'Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons' --'December 1963 (Oh What a Night) from 'TheJersey Boys'......'Martin Horsey , Keith Hampshire and his Orchestra' --'Consider Yourself' from 'Oliver'......and......'Troy and Gabriella' --'Breaking Free' from 'High School Musical' ........just some of the memorable tracks from stageand screen that can be found among disc one's play list........on disc two......'Michael Crawford' --'The Music of the Night'from 'Phantom of the Opera'......'Elaine Paige' --'Memory' from 'Cats' (was a big chart-hit here in the U.K for 'Elaine')....'Jason Donovan' --'Any Dream will Do' from 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'......'Gene Kelly and the PeteMoore Orchestra' --'Singing in The Rain' from the musical of the same name......and......'Gertrude Lawrence' --'GettingTo Know You' from 'The King and I'............again just some of the many memories that can be found among the gems onboard the second disc........i have quite simply highlighted a few of the many superb numbers from each of the two discson this very collectable 'Now' presentation....worth checking out if you love the music from the many musicals featured.The 'Now' music series, for me, gives us the opportunity to have many favourites from in this case 'Musicals' captured onjust two discs.......

Good album

bought for wife for Xmas. Didn't realize it auto rips so listened to the tracks in secret. As a bird , the wife will love this. As a gym going testosterone fueled man I found it camper than a row of tents. Nothing wrong with releasing your inner graham norton once in a while but this is something else. In summary , if you like breasts avoid. ( it got 4 Stars because the tunes are good and I am comfortable with my sexuality)

If you are into musicals it is definitely the CD for you. The amount of songs from all the popular musicals is fantastic and even has some some that feature in musicals sang by their original singers, for example Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke - Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Be careful however that the songs you like and would want to listen to are sang by the people you expect. Lea Solanga for example doesn't have any songs on the album yet I thought would possibly sing one or two just looking at the song list. But excellent for any musical lover!!

Loved it

There's lots of variety here and the songs are performed by well known artists. You could say there's something for everyone. There are a number of my personal favourites included for instance I particularly wanted the Susan Boyle version of 'I dreamed a dream', a show stopper when she performed on a TV talent show. Another particularly charming song is 'I don't know how to love him' from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. From the serious to the flippant there's a wide scope here.