The Likes of Us, the First Lloyd Webber-Rice Musical, Released on CD, March 28

A recording of The Likes of Us, the first musical collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, will be available on CD on March 28th.

Released by Decca Broadway, the musical--about 19th-century philanthropist Dr. Thomas Barnardo--will be preserved on a 2-disc CD.

The first joint effort between composer Lloyd Webberand lyricist Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat being the others), The Likes of Us features a book by Leslie Thomas. Thomas had been a client of Dr. Barnardo. The Likes of Us had been intended for a West End production but only made it into demo stages (in a tape released by Southern Music).

According to press notes, "Shocked by the appalling conditions surrounding the impoverished children of Victorian London, [Dr. Barnardo] decides to devote his life's works to helping them, which led to the foundation the famous children's homes that bear his name today."

The world premiere concert of The Likes of Us was performed on July 12th, 2005 as part of the Sydmonton Festival at The Mermaid Theatre-Puddle Dock, Upper Thames Street, Blackfriars. Stephen Frye, who narrated, will be heard on the cast recording (as will Rice). One new song--"This is My Time"--was added.

With other lyricists, Lloyd Webber has has written such shows as The Phantom of the Opera, Cats (no less a poet than T.S. Eliot was his collaborator there), Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, The Beautiful Game and most recently, the Broadway-bound The Woman in White. Without Lloyd Webber, Rice has worked on Chess, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida and others.

Track listings follow:

CD 1
Introduction
Overture
"Twice in Love Every Day"
"I'm a Very Busy Man"
"Love Is Here"
"Strange and Lovely Song"
"The Likes of Us"
"How Am I to Know"
"We'll Get Him"
"This Is My Time"
"Lion-Heart Land"
"We'll Get Him Reprise"
"Love Is Here"
"A Man On His Own"

CD2
Entr'acte
"You Can Never Make It Alone"
"Hold a March"
"Will This Last Forever? "
"You Won't Care About Him Anymore"
"Going, Going, Gone! "
"Man of the World"
"Have Another Cup of Tea"
"A Strange and Lovely Song" (Reprise
"The Likes of Us" (Reprise)