Aspects of Love w/ Michael Ball - Lyric

I tweeted Michael Ball, Aspects of Love London and ALW the other day asking about a new recording, no response yet.  Maybe some other fans can start bugging them too and ask on twitter/facebook

I'd be very surprised if there was a cast recording for this. I don't think it's a popular enough show to merit another recording, and this production hasn't really set the box office alight.

Even with Michael Ball involved, it wouldn't offer his fans anything better than what's already on the 1989 one. And based solely on that clip above from West End Live, you're going to get a significantly inferior Alex on a new version.

He’s just dreadful. Poor Laura P P.

He sounds good to me. Sings and acts it like a young American abroad discovering things. Arguably, when Michael Ball played it that lion's roar of a voice was too knowing/self-aware, though equally it could be said he was singing the inner passion that Alex's speaking voice wouldn't have. They're different takes, and both seem valid to me.

Surely cast albums are relatively cheap nowadays? They've clear professionally recorded several songs. Look at the Think of Me performance for the closing of Broadway's Phantom; within 24 hours the decision was made to release it on streaming platforms and 24 hours after that, it was released - despite it not being the original plan.

I saw this last week. I'd not seen it before, which may or may not have been a good thing. Can't say I fell in love with it, but I thought the performances were all very good, yes, even JB. I loved the orchestra and most of the music. I actually think they should have kept the original young ages, as it would have had a larger impact, particularly in today's climate. However, I wouldn't rush to see it again. As far as I'm concerned, it's ticked a box and that's all.

omgthiswassobadijustcant

get people's desperation that they're willing to settle for a highlights. But Aspects as a through-composed piece, they really have to do the full score. There's so much beauty, exquisite beauty in those motifs

Sadly I think chances of a cast recording of this are zero - probably less than zero!

The UK has a pretty terrible record with cast recordings generally, revivals even more so and ALW revivals even more than that. Compared to Broadway where SO much more gets recorded including flop shows and small off Broadway shows. There's not much I find better on Broadway than West End but this is one area I really do.

Really the only ALW revivals that have been recorded are shows that he's never previously had full control over putting on record, so ones that came out before the Polydor/Really Useful records era. Palladium Joseph (original one), Lyceum JCS and Elena Roger Evita (in fact amazingly that also got a Broadway recording though the London one wasn't complete).

Cats and Sunset Boulevard had USA cast recordings in addition but they are the only two. Since then nothing has had a new English language recording other than one offs (films, DVDs, Phantom 25th concert).

I find it such a shame. Not just ALW though, in general we are hopeless at getting recordings out. Or often we announce them and nothing happens (From Here To Eternity, Bonnie and Clyde....)

Also for non RUG produced shows, it seems almost impossible for them to get the rights to make a CD. Starlight Bochum has been trying to record the 30th version for 5 years and RUG keep stalling on giving them permission.

Cam Mac is the one person who does do a good job recording his revivals with Miss Saigon, Oliver, Mary Poppins all being recorded again. And he does record his news shows like Half a Sixpence. ALW - not so keen.
Dunno if
- there simply isn't demand to make it work
- it's too complicated with royalties to cast, band, creative team.

I'm always defending MT being a business that has to be profitable to exist - though that's an acceptance rather than a I don't wish it wasn't different. Cast recordings are the one thing I wish they'd put posterity over profit though as I think it's so important to have these things preserved.

The 5 year Starlight tour was so different to the closing London version I wish they'd recorded it. Cats Palladium and Broadway, JCS OAT, Woman in White Charing X, the Whistle tours with the new songs, new Palladium Joseph etc etc.... all went non-recorded. (The fans, such as we were, were desperate for a Bad Cinderella CD with the new songs and arrangements..... that was never gonna happen). So yeah, sadly, this ain't happening.

My consolation re Aspects is that I don't think the current arrangements are better than the original, in fact whilst still lush, they are a little bit worse IMHO.

Do agree with Chernjam above though, if you were to do a CD should be the whole thing. It's a body of music, hard to carve into a highlights CD. And I would love for one day for a new Aspects recording to materialise.

Very happy to eat my words when Baz announces the CD today lol.

Finally saw the musical on Wednesday evening. Also finally ticked off the Lyric Theatre off my theatres to visit list.

Matt Lucas was in as well with presumably family.

One of the projects stopped working half way through the first act so half the projected images would flicker incessantly. 

As the musical came to that abrupt, awkward ending I thought to myself this should be called 'Karma is a b**** the musical'. Once their bohemian lifestyles were established it was easier to digest their behaviours (though I choked a few times during the gun scene and the times Alex and Jenny were alone) but otherwise I felt indifference to them. Which created some lulls in proceedings, especially once Michael Ball, whose charm you can always rely on, dies off.

So another theatre I've visited and another musical I've seen and have no need to see again.

Good production values and performances otherwise

3 stars