BARBARA DICKSON: THE COMPLETE THEATRE RECORDINGS Out Today

In 1974, folk singer Barbara Dickson's life and career were transformed when she was offered the leading role of 'The Singer' in Willy Russell's award-winning Beatles' musical, 'John Paul George Ringo... & Bert'. Opening in Liverpool the show broke box office records and transferred to London's West End where it ran for a year, earning Barbara glowing reviews and setting her on the road to fame as a recording artist.

When Willy Russell, fresh from his success with 'Shirley Valentine', was looking for a singer who could act for his new musical 'Blood Brothers' in 1982, he turned to Barbara. Never having previously acted before, Barbara had to be persuaded to accept the role but it turned out to be a pivotal moment in her career. The critics raved about her performance as Mrs. Johnstone, the downtrodden Liverpool housewife forced to give away one of her new-born twins, and the role went on to win her the Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical. 'Blood Brothers' went on to become one of the the most successful British musicals of all-time and, as the original Mrs. Johnstone, Barbara's was the performance that each successive actress who took the role was measured against.

Turning down the offer of other work which she felt was not up to the standard of 'Blood Brothers', it was to be some years before Barbara was tempted back to the stage. In 1997 she collaborated with the director of 'Blood Brothers,' Chris Bond, to create a one woman show for the theatre, 'The 7 Ages of Woman'. Described as "A Journey from the Cradle to the Grave" from a female perspective the show toured the UK to rave reviews. Liverpool's Daily Post was typical of many: "By the final curtain there were people on their feet, cheers and whistles and thunderous applause. It was a triumphant evening".

In 1999, Barbara was tempted back to the stage to play 60's pools winner Viv Nicholson in the Steve Brown and Justin Greene musical "Spend Spend Spend". "It is the most glorious new musical I can recall... Barbara Dickson is magnificent," wrote the Financial Times, echoing the sentiments of many. The show was to earn her both the 2000 Olivier Award and the Variety Club Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Now, for the first time ever, all of Barbara's major theatre recordings are released together in a special limited edition CD set.

'Barbara Dickson - More Brecht than Broadway: The Complete Theatre Recordings, 1974 - 2000" features the original cast recordings of all four of the above productions ('John Paul George Ringo... & Bert' appearing on CD for the first time ever), beautifully presented in a large format box set with a lavish booklet containing photos and excerpts from the shows' original theatre programmes. Featuring a special introduction by Barbara, each CD also contains extensive liner notes on all four productions.

'Barbara Dickson - More Brecht than Broadway' is strictly limited to just 1000 individually numbered copies, the first 500 signed by Barbara. It is sure to become a real collector's item, both for fans of Musical Theatre as well as followers of Barbara's long and successful career as one of the UK's best-loved female vocalists.

Available today 4th December, 2015. Click here to order!

JOHN, PAUL, RINGO & BERT

TRACK LISTING:

01. I Should Have Known Better (Barbara Dickson)

02. You Mother Should Know (Barbara Dickson)

03. Ooee Boppa (Tiny Tina & The Titular 3)

04. With A Little Help From My Friends (Barbara Dickson)

05. Penny Lane (Barbara Dickson)

06. In The Bleak Midwinter (Barbara Dickson)

07. Here Comes The Sun (Barbara Dickson)

08. Long And Winding Road (Barbara Dickson)

09. Clap And Cheer (The Cast)

10. Help (Barbara Dickson)

11. Lucy In The Sky (Barbara Dickson)

12. You Never Give Me Your Money/Carry That Weight (Barbara Dickson)

13. We Can Work It Out (Barbara Dickson)

14. I Will Be Your Love (Leroy Lover (Bert)

15. A Day In The Life (Barbara Dickson)

BLOOD BROTHERS - ORIGINAL LONDON CAST RECORDING

TRACK LISTING:

01. Narration

02. Marilyn Monroe

03. My Child

04. The Devil's Got Your Number

05. Easy Terms

06. Just A Game

07. Sunday Afternoon/My Friend

08. Bright New Day

09. Marilyn Monroe (2)

10. One Summer Narration

11. Saying A Word

12. Miss Jones (Sign Of The Times)

13. Prison Song

14. Light Romance

15. There's A Madman

16. Tell Me It's Not True

SPEND SPEND SPEND

TRACK LISTING:

01. Salon Mystique

02. I'll Take Care of Thee

03. Upstairs In My Room

04. Sexual Happening

05. Special Day

06. The Boy Next Door

07. Scars Of Love

08. John Collier

09. The Win

10. Two Rooms

11. Spend Spend Spend

12. Miners' Arms

13. Garforth

14. Drinking In America

15. Canary

16. Who's Gonna Love Me?

17. Suits/Pieces Of Me

18. A Brand New Husband

19. Spent

20. Canary (Reprise)

21. Finale

THE 7 AGES OF WOMAN

TRACK LISTING:

01. In My Life

02. Song Of Bernadette

03. Teenage Medley

04. She's Leaving Home

05. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

06. It's Money That I Love

07. I Will Wait For You

08. Picking Up After You

09. Behind The Wall

10. Natural Woman

11. Same Girl

12. Fine Flowers In The Valley

13. September Song

14. When I'm 64

15. MacCrimmon's Lament

16. Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End

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