Search - Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley, James Brown :: Scrooge: The Musical (1992 Birmingham Cast)

NOT the Movie Soundtrack -- But better than nothing...

Mahlers2nd | 12/10/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"NOT the Movie Soundtrack, December 10, 2009



If you love the movie -- and judging by the 450+ five-star reviews for the CD, many many people do, you will be very disappointed in this soundtrack which is for the screenplay.



While many of the songs are in the original movie with Albert Finney -- the sound just isn't the same. It just doesn't leave you with the warm "fuzzy" feeling that you get from the original soundtrack. There are additional songs but they don't add to the listening experience and you just sort of feel let down.



I don't know why they refuse to come out with a CD version of the movie soundtrack. However, if you can get your hands on a Vinyl copy -- grab it and rip it to CD -- about 20 copies so you are never without the music again.



If you really really have to have the Scrooge Musical fix and can't watch the DVD, then this will do in a pinch. However, you will not be as satisfied as being able to listen to the real thing.



[NCJAR]"

Overall, not a bad buy....

Mishee | USA | 01/04/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD originally because my 7 yo son was cast in a local production. I figured it would help him learn the words. For that reason, the CD did its job. It's turned out to be one of his favorite Christmas CDs.

I must admit that the Albert Finney version of Scrooge has always been my favorite, even as a child. I had to listen to it a few times to digest it. Eventually it grew on me. First off, Track 1, A Christmas Carol only played for about 1 minute and then would go to track two. That was a disappointment because as someone else said, the first song is wonderful. I liked all the songs and the added one, Good Times, that the Cratchit family sings.

What surprised me was the quality of some of the voices. Some of the ensemble actually go flat (off key)in a few of the songs, especially in the Entr'acte (I Like Life Reprise), Bob Cratchit in Good Times, and some Cratchit Family members when they all sing with Tiny Tim in The Beautiful Morning.

Anthony Newly does a great job on some of the songs where there's talking and singing like in I Hate Christmas and It's Not My Fault. I find I don't like when he sings the higher or sustained notes in some songs such as I'll Begin Again or A Better Life. I feel he uses too much vibrato at the end, instead of having a full and solid voice.

Overall, I would recommend this to others.

"