Stage Door Records to Release SWAN ESTHER 1983 Cast Recording, 5/26

Stage Door Records are pleased to announce the Original Concept Album of Nick Munns and J. Edward Oliver's 1983 musical 'Swan Esther' will be released on CD May 26th, 2014.

'Swan Esther' is a musical retelling of the biblical story of Esther, the Jewish queen of the Persian King Ahaseuerus. The musical was the brainchild of legendary theatre producer David Land in a bid to replicate the earlier success he had achieved with 'Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat'. Featuring an upbeat and memorable score by Nick Munns and J. Edward Oliver, the musical was first recorded as a concept album in February 1983 featuring Stephanie Lawrence as Esther, Denis Quilley as Haman and Clive Carter as the minstrel Mordecai. 'Swan Esther' opened for a limited run at London's Young Vic Theatre in December 1983 starring Amanda Redman in the title role.

After undergoing many revisions, the show embarked on a successful UK tour in 1985 produced by Bill Kenwright. Now titled 'Swan Esther And The King', the new production starred Jackie Marks, Chris Corcoran and Warwick Evans and featured additional songs composed with Shirlie Roden and John Miller.

'Swan Esther' now debuts on CD featuring the complete 1983 concept album (digitally remastered from the original master tapes) coupled with studio rehearsal demos of the additional songs composed for the touring production 'Swan Esther And The King'. As a special bonus, the album concludes with an unreleased recording by Stephanie Lawrence from the unproduced 1992 musical adaptation of 'How Green Was My Valley'.

TRACKS
01. INTRODUCTION AND BOW DOWN - The Choir Of The King's House School
Richmond, Stephen Hill
02. A FAR OUTPOST OF PERSIA - Clive Carter
03. THE QUEEN'S PARTY - Clive Carter, The Swan Esther Singers
04. THE EMPEROR'S WRATH - Clive Carter, Stephen Hill
05. HAMAN'S ADVICE - Denis Quilley, Stephen Hill
06. A BRIGHT IDEA - Clive Carter, Stephen Hill, Denis Quilley
07. I'VE NEGLECTED TO MENTION - Clive Carter, Stephanie Lawrence
08. WE ALL NEED - The Swan Esther Singers, The Choir Of The King's
House School Richmond
09. MY LOVE IS LIKE A DREAM - Stephanie Lawrence
10. BOW DOWN (LET'S MEET THE QUEEN) - Denis Quilley, The Choir Of The
King's House School Richmond
11. A STRANGE GIRL - Stephen Hill
12. KILL THE KING! - The Choir Of The King's House School Richmond,
Clive Carter
13. THE EMPEROR'S MEMOIRS - Stephen Hill, Stephanie Lawrence
14. TREASON - Stephen Hill
15. I AM GREAT! - Denis Quilley, Clive Carter
16. I DON'T TRUST HAMAN - Denis Quilley, Stephanie Lawrence, Clive
Carter
17. NOTHING TO LOSE - The Square Pegs, The Swan Esther Singers
18. ESTHER - Stephen Hill, Stephanie Lawrence
19. EVIL HAMAN - The Square Pegs, The Choir Of The King's House School
Richmond, Denis Quilley
20. THE KING CAN'T SLEEP - The Square Pegs, Stephen Hill
21. FINALE (HAMAN'S THE ONE / AHASUERUS REPENTS / ESTHER AND MORDECAI
/ SWAN ESTHER) - Full Company

SWAN ESTHER AND THE KING - STUDIO REHEARSAL DEMOS
22. MEN ARE PIGS - Shirlie Roden, Debi Doss, Jackie Marks
23. TAKE AWAY MY CROWN - Shirlie Roden, Richard Barnes
24. ONE LOVE - Jackie Marks
25. COUNTRY GIRL - Jackie Marks
26. GOLDEN STATE - Company
27. PERSIA IS STABLE - Jackie Marks, Richard Barnes
28. WHICH WAY SHALL I TURN? - Jackie Marks
29. THE GENERATION GAME - Company
30. ONE LOVE (REPRISE) - Shirlie Roden, Richard Barnes

BONUS TRACK
31. HERE STANDS A MAN - Stephanie Lawrence (from 'How Green Was My
Valley')