1960 Original Cast Recording
I recently went up to my grandparents cottage, and they gave me an old record containing the original soundtrack to the Oliver! preformed at the New Theatre in London in the year 1960.
 |
First off- it was a real treat to listen to! The whole cast sounded as if they were praticly popping out of their costumes in laughing good fun, you could just picture them swagger. Some of the songs had slight variations on the words compared to more recent productions, and the movie musical, since they were older, I guesse the 'originals'- the one example I've copied out for you is Be Back Soon, which is below the picture there; the lyrics to the newer version is put below the appropriate line in red. Its unfortuanate that I didn't get to see Martin Horsey actually on stage- but I'm told that he played the Artful with terrific glee, and he certainly has a lovely voice. I thought he was very similar to Davey Jones in style- I'm not going to say loopy, because I thought it was great! But very differen't from Jack Wild- for instance, both Horsey and Jones replied 'what, fisticuffs?' as if they were startled and sad that it would have to come to that, where Jack Wild was just plain indignant. Anyways, I like disecting things, I can't help it! *grin* What I really wanted to note was that in this version, Ron Moody played Fagin also! He sounded alot younger, naturaly, because this was before the movie, but there was no mistaking his voice, and it was neat to see how his two performances of Fagin was different, how it had evolved. I think also that it was interesting to see how the character had to be portrayed differently on stage then in a movie- obviously, you can do alot more small, detail things in a movie, where on stage you just try to convey a feeling of the character, and hope that it pans out. Ahh, it was a very interesting experiance- and now I have this lovely old record that keeps skipping on me, confound it!! |
(Fagin)You can go but be back soon, you can go but while you're working
This place I'm pacing round, until you're home, safe and sound
Fare thee well but be back soon, who can tell where dangers lurking?
Do not forget this tune, be back soon!
(boys)How could we forget, how could we let our dear old Fagin worry?
We love him so, we'll come back home in oh such a great big hurry!
(Dodger)Its him that pays the piper-
(boys)Its us that plays the tune!
So long fare thee well, pip pip cheerio, we'll be back soon!
(Fagin)You can go but be back soon, you can go but bring back plenty
Of pocket hankercheives, and you should be clever theives
Of wallets full of cash, don't want to see any trash
Whip em quick and be back soon, theres a sixpence here for twenty
Whip em quick and be back soon, only thick ones now, none empty!
Ain't that a lovely tune? Be back soon!
(Dodger)Our pockets'll hold a watch of gold that chimes apon the hour!
(boy)A wallet fat! (Dodger) An old mans hat!
(boy) The (something begins with c?) from the tower!
(boys)We know the nosey runners, (Dodger)But they don't know this tune!
We know the nosey p'licemen
(boys)So long fare thee well, pip pip cheerio, we'll be back soon!
(Fagin)Cheerio but be back soon, I dunno somehow I miss ya
I love ya thats why I, so cheerio, not goodbye!
Don't be gone long be back soon, gimme one long last look bless ya
Remember our old tune, be back soon!
(boys)We must dissapear, we'll be back here today perhaps tommorow
We'll miss you too, its sad but true that parting is such sweet sorrow
And when we're in the distance, you'll hear this whispered tune!
So long fare thee well, pip pip cheerio, we'll be back soon!
Very shortly, as in the next few days, there will be several wav files here from the record.
back