Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Overture (Act One)
2. Prologue: Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats (Act One)
3. The Naming Of Cats (Act One)
4. The Invitation To The Jellicle Ball (Act One)
5. The Old Gumbie Cat (Act One)
6. The Rum Tum Tugger (Act One)
7. Grizabella, The Glamour Cat (Act One)
8. Bustopher Jones (Act One)
9. Mungojerrie And The Rumpelteazer (Act One)
10. Old Deuteronomy (Act One)
11. The Jellicle Ball (Act One)
12. Grizabella, The Glamour Cat (Act One)
13. Memory (Act One)

Disc 2:

1. The Moments Of Happiness(Act Two)
2. Gus: The Theatre Cat (Act Two)
3. "Growltiger's Last Stand" including "The Ballad Of Billy McCaw" (Act
4. Skimbleshanks (Act Two)
5. Macavity (Act Two)
6. Mr. Mistoffelees (Act Two)
7. Memory (Act Two)
8. Journey To The Heaviside Layer (Act Two)
9. The Ad-dressing Of Cats (Act Two)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3030 in Music
• Released on: 2005-11-07
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Since its debut in 1981, London's and the world's longest-running musical still secures bums on seats in a dozen theatres worldwide. Uncountable recastings and re-orchestrations later, Lloyd Webber's adaption of T. S. Eliot's Old Possums Book of Cats strives to please the ears of ever new generations. This is the original cast recording, and it retains a freshness from the still recent opening, its novelty untarnished by decades of success. Also the abundance of "names"--both singers and musicians--makes this one of the high class musical recordings of all times. Elaine Paige rose to stardom as Grizabella with the hit "Memories"; at the time, though, bigger names were Wayne Sleep, Paul Nicholas and Brian Blessed. Sarah Brightman and Bonnie Langford are also on the cast list. Lloyd Webber himself plays keyboards and the impressive roster of session musicians includes Barbara Thompson and David Locke. Lloyd Webber, well versed in the practise of "auto-quotation", can always look back to this work for cat-chy material: the "Overture", "Old Gumbie Cat", "Rum Tum Tugger" and "Mr.Mistoffelees", the list of good tunes and themes goes on and on. This remains a fun listening experience, even for those few who still haven't caught the show. --Yngvil V.G.

Customer Reviews

Compelled to give this 5 stars
Not because it's the best album in the world (let alone the best show in the world) but because, arriving as it did in 1981 and being the daddy of all Cats recordings, this is the only version with a single shred of originality. Obvious perhaps, seeing as it came first, but it's actually quite unique.

This is why:

It's the only album with sufficiently powerful orchestrations - listen to the Overture or the Jellicle Ball to see what I mean. At the same time there is shade and subtlety not found on other recordings.

It's the only album to feature the original, full length versions of Bustopher Jones, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, Old Deuteronomy, The Ballad of Billy McCaw and - most significantly - Memory, which was subsequently torn to bits for Broadway and other productions (sadly even London).

It's the only version to pull together such a mass of new and established talent - Bonnie Langford, Sarah Brightman, Jeff Shankley, Brian Blessed, Paul Nicholas, Wayne Sleep, Elaine Page.

Finally, it's the only version of the show which has an individual, un-sausage-moulded sound, be it orchestrations, musicianship, production, or vocal interpretations. Almost all other albums which followed are identical to each other, but this one stands out. The possible exception is the Broadway cast album, in which Betty Buckley tears Memory to shreds. Dreadful perhaps, but at least it's memorable!

Cats is supposed to be, and be about, magic, and this album has it.

Longest Running Webber
Well I'm not Andrews biggest fan but let me tell you this show is one of the greatest ever. With T. S. Elliot's lyrics and music by Webber Cats is an outstanding show. Its fun and imaginative and if it isn't already in your CD collection then buy it today, you will not regret it. It will lift any mood and take you straight into the unknown world of cats with its enchanting music.

If only they would come out with the video version.
I love CATS. I love the musical, but like many people, I saw the video before buying the soundtrack, which I knew even at the time would let me down when hearing the original soundtrack. I was expecting the differences. But the difference was too much to be able to forgive to give this 5 stars. There was no 'Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles', one of my favourite songs, and 'Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer' was very different. The newer version they came up with was much better. The original Munkustrap did not act through his voice like Michael Gruber did. This soundtrack was slightly unsatisfying after watching the video. I only have myself to blame. The booklet was a bit of a disappointment, yes it has the lyrics but the presentation looks cheap and has no design whatsoever, it doesnt even tell you which character is singing which part, you are left to guess that much. 'The Rum Tum Tugger' has no John Partridge in it, but its nice and entertaining all the same (I like the meows at the beginning but they werent in the original). Elaine Paige is there singing the famous Memory with conviction, accompanied by Sarah Brightman who plays Jemima with the most beautiful voice (an up on this version). I had never heard of Growl tiger before and I can't say I really like it. I think that I must of seen it to appreciate it. Despite all its drawbacks, this soundtrack is 'CATS' and there is no denying that, which makes it great. I give it four stars, because although very different to the video version, it still has the beautiful music by Webber and wonderful and humourous lyrics based on T. S. Eliots text. Ive also given it four because I know that I am biased towards the video version. Maybe if I listened to the soundtrack first then watched the video, I would complain about the videos version! The London version in my opinion is better than the Broadway version, so get this one and enjoy!