"A little golden clown"
Scott Robins | Missouri | 04/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There were giants in those days. Two of the tallest giants of musical theatre were Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. I first saw Anthony Newley on TV, when I was a child. It was love at first heart beat. He was a joy, and he was sad; he was an entertainer and a man of sorrow. He had this most extraordinary voice. Rich and deep and his whole being in it. Impossible to describe. These songs from "Willy Wonka" and his and Bricusse's last musical are a treasure trove. They are Newley at his finest.
"Pure Imagination" has never been lovelier. "Cheer Up, Charlie" breaks me in half. "I've Got a Golden Ticket" is a joy, here I go over the moon! And the songs "Little Golden Clown" and "Beautiful Land" (that one from "Roar of the Greasepaint..") just play over and again in my head. Stars and beautiful things and happy dreams. Delicious and delightful.
And to have the songs from the musical "It's A Sad Old Bad Old World" (the working title of the play at least)are heart's delight. We can make up our own plot from them. "It's A Musical World" just brightens the sky to blinding blue. "The Fool Who Dared to Dream" gives that forlorn and so very brave and hopeful hope. The final song, ending in the lyrics.."Daddy, can you bring me some--war" score a life. A mime, a jester, a man of the most marvelous physical interpretations, a star of movies and stage, a master singer/writer/composer. And it's here in these splendid works. An opening song, where a middle aged rock and roller still wants to write his songs for Sandy, fearing the world has passed him by. It has definitely not.
I saw Anthony Newley in "Stop the World..." at the Orpheum in Memphis. To be there, to see him in person, magic. In his white face, this Littlechap who loved too unwisely, who always hurt himself and blamed himself, but who always had a cheery note for all of us who bought his records, saw his films, danced in his music for all of our lives. A little golden clown with a sweet sly bold intense wry sometimes sardonic incredibly handsome face, and a laugh that could not make you help but feel happier. And a voice that got even better as he got older. Richer and purer toned.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Anthony Newley appearing at long last on CD. Watch out for the tear in his eye, for the way he spun himself into sugar and sometimes gall, the way he made himself a living breathing Everyman, for you will remember him forever. He is gone now, Mr. Anthony Newley, but for those of us lucky enough to have been his fans, he gave us a Once In a Lifetime that lasts forever. All of us fools who also fell in love too unwisely salute him.
Buy his work. Everlasting gobstoppers have never tasted so good."
BRILLIANT NEWLEY TOUR-DE-FORCE~BRAVO ANTHONY!!!
Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 12/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Falling in love with Anthony Newley was easy for any of us who were lucky enough to see this incredible legend live in concert as there was never another performer/SINGER/songwriter quite like him! Warm and wide open with alot of heart is his rich and powerful voice that caresses then soars to the sky with breathtaking power and stunning emotional depth plus nobody could write a song quite like Anthony Newley!!! Classics like the athems "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" and "Who Can I Turn To" were always showstoppers in concert and this collection is full of great songs and superb vocal performances that are equal to these masterworks. For some strange reason American Radio would not play Tony's incredible recordings and I found this to be amazing when these two wonderful albums were released as they represent Tony Newley at his absolute peak as a composer and certainally as the ultimate singer of his great songs! Starting with an exhuberent "The Candy Man" then onto a romantic "Pure Imagination", one can see that this is a peerless artist who is going to provide a satisfying musical journey of the highest level...this collection is full of variety and glorious vocals. "Pure Imagination" is played continuously at the spectacular water and light fountain display at "The Grove" which is an exquisite new state of the art shopping complex at the old Farmers Market location in Hollywood, California and this demonstrates the timeless appeal of Anthony Newley's music and this wonderous attraction is a must see for anyone visiting Los Angeles! "Little Golden Clown" is wildly rhymthic and feels like a ride in an amusement park that you don't want to end while "Pop Goes The Weasel" is a fascinating rhythm cooker that has incredible tempo changes that are complex and amazing with a loose and funky vocal. A magnificent vocal make "Cheer Up, Charlie" the ultimate listening experience for those who love a great voice that can soar to the skies yet go to the depths emotionally! "There's No Such Thing As Love" is a gorgeous bittersweet classic that deserves to be a standard such as "Who Can I Turn To?" and would have been in better musical times than the musically tired seventies! A whimsical "The Beautiful Land", "Best Of All Worlds" and "I've Got A Golden Ticket" are all feel good sing along songs that have timeless appeal and sound as fresh and inspired today as when they were recorded some thirty years ago. Ending the "Pure Imagination" set is a magnificent Newley performance from the motion picture "Scrooge" and "I'll Begin Again" is the ultimate riveting showstopper with Anthony Newley at the peak of his remarkable power!!! "Overchewer" is a stunning tour-de-force done with great humor and pathos about a singer who has been around awhile wanting to reach a new generation with his music and this stunner is so infectious that it gives the repeat mode a real workout as the totally unique lyrics and the incredible performance from Anthony Newley are incomparable! "The People Tree" is ear candy at it finest while the pensive title song "Ain't It Funny" is a bluesy riveting winner that should have been a big hit and brought Tony a whole new phase to his brilliant career that would have reached the baby-boomer generation and made him a sensation! A soulful "Me Without You" is another one that would have gone up the charts with any exposure at all...a wild ragtime "The Good Old Bad Old Days" is a great stunner that sounds classic and "It's A Musical World" is the definitive version of this wonderous song that is like that exhilarating ride in an amusement park that you don't want to end...Bravo Tony! Another "Fool" classic is "The Fool Who Dared To Dream" as Tony weaves his magical spell through this amazing athem that once again shows this magnificent singer at his absolute peak. "Easy for You, Captain Candy" is riveting and with a complex arrangement and a soulful vocal that is all over the map and engrossing. Turning away from love, "I Do Not Love You" is a dazzling tour-de-force that showed where Tony was at this point in his life in a brilliant way as does the riveting divorce athem "What Did You Do In The Great War, Daddy" which is another complex masterpiece in a collection that is full of them! Anthony Newley was at the peak of his maturity both vocally and emotionally making this one of the greatest collections ever for anyone who enjoys the Art Of Singing at its finest and remember that this master also wrote the songs!!! Bravo Anthony Newley and we miss you alot...don't miss this thrilling and satisfying collection!!!"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1