How did the producers handle the problem of three Billys and two Michaels when recording the soundtrack? Did they have just one sing? Or alternate songs? I'm planning on getting the CD soon and am just curious...

I believe they just waited a while to record it, and had to use the only one whose voice hadn't changed at that point. Don't know who, specifically, though. Check out my new vlogging project where a friend and I get into in depth discussions of musicals! http://www.youtube.com/users/ThisIsntaDreamVlog and be a fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Isnt-a-Dream-A-Joyous-Journey-of-Musical-Mayhem/126555799068?ref=nf

Liam Mower is on the recording. I guess he was the best singer out of the three. George Macguire is doing Angry Dance and I believe that James is doing the finale. I am not sure about Michael though. Listen to samples on Amazon. Upcoming schedule:,Next to Normal (9/27))

Brad Kavanagh is Michael.

This doesn't really necessarily relate to which Billy is on the CD, but why did they release two different versions of the CD? http://www.amazon.com/Billy-Elliot-Steve-Pearce/dp/B000CS45RE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1248503780&sr=8-2 There are two different covers to the CD. I personally favor the one where the title logo is on the left side of the CD case. And what's with the two release dates? Does anyone know where I can find this CD in the Indianapolis area with the words 'BILLY ELLIOT' on the left side? Any answers to the questions above will be much appreciated!

Sorry for the double post.

Cast Recording Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

They're both the Original London Cast. They're just packaged differently (like what they did for Mary Poppins, if my memory serves me correctly.) for US and UK release. ETA: I just remembered that they did indeed release two different versions. One version was a two-disc recording that featured Elton John singing few songs on the second track (and IMHO, not a necessity to have). Another version only featured the actual show, and is a one-disc recording. I'm not sure what exactly is on stock currently, but that cover art on Amazon definitely is for Broadway with the silhouette of buildings on the title. All three original London Billys got the chance in the recording studio. But in the end, they just picked Liam Mower. (And yes, it is George Maguire on the "Angry Dance" track.) It has been the case where all three Billys were indeed getting a lot of attention from the press, but Liam Mower seemed to be the "favorite" among many, and his departure of the show was widely publicized. "Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

I suppose that Liam's departure was more widely publicised for a number of reasons: firstly, he was the only one of the three Billies who won the Olivier still to be performing at the time; secondly, he was the last of the original three Billys to depart, so his leaving was arguably more of an event. (Although James Gaddas said that on Leon Cooke's last night, that he was the last of the original Billys - sort of true, if you count the fact that he trained alongside the original stars). Like others have posted, Liam was the only one of the original boys with an unbroken voice at the time the cast recording was made, so that's why he was chosen. I often thought that a better 2CD set would have been for the bonus CD to have included James Lomas and Ashley Lloyd and George Maguire and Ryan Longbottom singing Expressing Yourself and James and George doing their versions of Electricity. Both James and George are reported as having been given a CD with them playing Billy.

I am really glad to hear that James and George were given the chance to record in the studio, and that both have CD's with their performances featured. I hope this is true. It would be such a shame to have put all that hard work into the show and miss out totally on the CD. I'm not sure I agree with the decision to use only Liam. Aesthetically I can understand it. I really like the idea of a double disk, with the other Billys and Michaels getting their chance to record. Sad that producers don't think along those lines. This is what I was hoping for on any potential OBC recording, which evidently will not happen. Such a shame for all concerned.

Does anyone happen to know where I can find the CD with the silhouette of the buildings on the title in the Indianapolis area? So the release with the silhouette of the buildings on the title is in the U.S. stores such as Borders and B&N?

Is there any difference between the two releases?

There's no difference except for the cover art. I actually did buy it a second time just because I liked the Broadway artwork a lot better. Work that silver magic!

Where can I buy the cast album with the Broadway artwork for a decent price? Which one does the Imperial sell?

I got mine from Amazon. Obviously, the Imperial sells the one with the Broadway artwork, but I'm sure it's more expensive. Work that silver magic!

I also am noticing two different release dates, January 10, 2006 and February 7, 2006. When did they start releasing the CD with the Broadway artwork?

Wow. The CD with the Broadway artwork wasn't released until late 2008. Work that silver magic!

What? Why'd you say wow? Don't mean to ask a lot of questions but am curious. Can't help it that I have a lot of questions about the CD.