For UK-based fans of Musical Theatre, the BBC’s “Elaine Paige on Sunday” (of course, also available on streaming anytime) is a joy. It’s filled with the best-known songs from hit shows, less celebrated tracks from those shows, songs from shows that have not yet reached the West End, songs that reached it but sank without trace and will not be revived, and songs from shows that may be revived one day.
As a celebrated interpreter of Stephen Sondheim, Paige knows a bit about lost shows that get revived into huge hits. As an originator of key roles in musicals such as Cats and Evita, she knows what a hit show looks and feels like. And, like everyone who has worked in the theatre for nearly 60 years, she has participated in shows which died quickly, for whatever reason, but which may have contained great material.
These days her reputation could still fill theatres and concert halls, but she feels that her 78-year-old voice could not physically fill them and do justice to the work–and for her, the work is the Primary driver. However, she can still do cabaret work, and she is operating in that territory with her new album, Miscellaneous Paige. The selections have a theme of time passing, which may be a focus for someone at Paige’s time of life.
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Paul Weller is a great songwriter. When you are a songwriter, the writing royalties can be the most lucrative part of the business, so when a talented and successful songwriter such as Weller voluntarily gives up that opportunity for royalties, you know that he really loves the songs.
