... DISC DATA Half a Sixpence--Original Cast (That's Entertainment TER 1041) One of a batch of Decca originals rereleased by That's Entertainment, this is not only a reminder of the 1963 musical which was the best show Tommy Steele has ever starred in, but the first appearance on disc of the then very young Marti Webb, charmingly playing the role of Kipps' sweetheart. The strength of H.G. ...

... The Cradle Will Rock The Acting Company (That's Entertainment TER 1105) The cast album of the legendary musical which came from New York to the Old Vic last summer. It was watched and listened to with respect, but few of us thought we were in the presence of a neglected masterpiece and this album proves we were right. It is in fact a historical curiosity, first staged nearly 50 years ago ...

... Billie Holiday at Monterey/1958 (Black-Hawk BKH 50701) A particularly poignant album, in that it was recorded at the first Monterey Jazz Festival only a few months before Billie Holiday died. Although the sound quality is not of the highest --and Good Morning Heartache is all but rendered inaudible because of the sound of a plane loadine at the adjacent airport it is not all that bad, and ...

... DISCDISCDISCDISCDISC FOR students of the musical there is no doubt that the most interesting releases of the summer months has been the four-volume Music from the New York Stage 1890-1920. As each volume consists of fourCDs playing for well over four hours, it can be imagined that it is something of an endurance test, particularly as Volume 1 (Pearl GEMM CDS 9050-2), which takes us up only ...

... DISC DATA The Big Band Sound of Ted Heath (Intenound ISST 131) Note the title, for this is not a compilation of past tracks by the Heath band but the sound of the present outfit, directed by trombonist Don Lusher. But a remarkably high proportion of this band were with Heath over the years -- Kenny Baker, Ronnie Hughes, Duncan Campbell, the entire trombone section, Roy Willox, I ommy ...

... Otello COVENT GARDEN THE PASSIONS and tensions of Verdi's Otello came over powerfully in another revival at Covent Garden, conducted here for the first time by Carlos Kleiber. He gave the performance an authoritative vibrancy and sweep, producing wonderful richness of orchestral sound, from tender to tremendous, and driving the tragedy forward with throbbing inevitability. Strong casting ...

... James is all Miked up There is not much guaranteed for Blackpool next summer, but Tower boss Mark Osborne has been quick in inviting back the Mike James Sound and Singers for a second successive season.. James lives in Stockport but was originally from Stalybridge, Cheshire, where his musical career began with him playing the piano in a trio. His first professional engagement above the ...

... The Ruth Allen Songbook Aster Records AST 1112 Now here is something unusual, a collection of songs by a mature and stylish British singer/song writer which are an of recent origin but sound as though they could have been written n the forties and fifties and sung by Sinatra and his contemporaries. They are all classy items with literate lyrics, a verse, release and chorus, beautifully sung ...

... Sixties chart-topper walks back It is pretty alarming to discover that I have been an admirer of Helen Shapiro for nearly 40 years - it must be even more alarming for her. But there is no doubt that even when she was Walking Back to Happiness she had a great voice and style. Most of Simply Shapiro (Katalyst KAT 003) was recorded only last January but both these assets are in full working order ...

... A body with soul Peter Hepple on the singing talent of Josephine Baker At the Movies Robert Farnon and his Orchestra (Horatio Nelson SIV 1111) Now 71, Robert Farnon is still the greatest arranger of light music on this side of the Atlantic, as many an American star will testify, and this album, featuring an orchestra containing Britain's leading session musicians, illustrates the range of his ...

... Copious variety produces that old radio feeling NOSTALGIA Hall Variety (Lismor LCOM 5249) is a reissue of a compilation originally issued in 1983 by the now defunct Oriole label in aid of the Variety Club of Great Britain. Devised and produced by George Elrick and Morris Levy, with musical links by Gordon Franks, it is more like a radio programme, as cheerful Elrick introduces snatch es of ...

... Unai thought it was fascinating music COMPILED BY PETER HEPPLE Akemodoro Unai introduces us to the fascinating music of Okinawa, a Pacific Island which throughout the century has been under both Japanese and American influences. This is not folk music as such, but is utterly distinctive, the artists here being the four-strong female vocal group Nenes, who have visited this country more than ...