Paul Potts – One Chance – Sony
Winner of the first series of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, Paul Potts’s path to stardom was assured, as was this album’s race to the No 1 spot on the charts. One listen to the opening track, ‘Nessun Dorma’ will convice the listener that the golden tonsils translate well in recording. As a single, this aria sold over two million copies in Britain alone. Most of the songs (10 tracks in all) are sung in Italian, giving it a very romantic tone. Potts does a fantastic version of ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ (Sarah Brightman’s signature tune) but it’s the goose-bump-inducing aria ‘Por Ti Sere’ (You Raise Me Up), complete with a full orchestra, soaring vocals and bag-pipes, that makes this purchase well worth a dent on your credit card. You won’t be disappointed you did!
Marcia Hines – Life – Liberation Music
Marcia’s last album was Discotheque and a celebration of that 70s/80s sound. Her latest offering, the recently released Life, takes another direction, but is nevertheless a cause for celebration. It’s an album about the heroism of everyday life, and with such numbers as ‘Everybody Hurts’; ‘Imagine’ and the classic Beatles track, ‘She’s Leaving Home’, the heart-felt process Marcia used to select these wonderful, timeless songs becomes crystal clear by the end of the album. Every lyric line is phrased beautifully. Her unique voice has some heavy vibrato and still holds the solid power for which she is well-known. Friends who attended the Lionel Ritchie concert last month said she ripped through an amazing live set and practically stole the show. Great packaging with interesting footnotes, this album, like her live performance, is pure gold.
Various – Hairspray, the Muscial – Decca
Marc Shaiman’s music is wonderful and as up-tempo as this homage to 1960s culture would suggest. The soundtrack to the best movie musical adaptation of last year has a riotous time with some of the campiest lyric lines ever put to vinyl. One listen to ‘I Can Hear The Bells’ or ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ and you’ll know what I mean. It’s a pity that the industry had to cancel the Golden Globe awards as it would be sensational to see a rendition of either of these two numbers as a live opening to the show. Nikki Blonsky is perfect in the role Tracy Turnblad, as is Zac Efron as Link. This CD is a perfect pick-me-up after a hard day at the office, not to mention it’s a classic to have on the turntable while you’re ironing in the nude… Everything has a swinging time!
Andre Rieu – In Wonderland – Universal
Judging by the near empty rack of dvd’s and CD’s at a visit to JB’s last week, it would appear that Dutch violin maestro Andre Rieu is incredibly popular. I stood there lurking to see who would be buying this stuff! I have never known a musical artist more prolific in the recording of his material; every time I blink there seems to be another Andre Rieu disc on offer. Maybe they’re meshing the cryogenically-frozen bodies of Johann Strauss and Walt Disney in some sick experiment! Because that’s what his music sounds like. In true showmanship style this lad has bastardized seemingly every classical piece and heaped a mound of schlock for good measure. The opening track even has Dutch clog-dancing in it. This album is beyond gay and never made it to Kansas… my advice, next time you’re at Climaxx, slip the DJ a ‘Mickey Finn’ put this on his turntable, then watch the happy punters really blow their minds. It’s Euro Disney on acid!
