Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'be

Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'be

(Bart) (RNBW001)

Original London Cast recording with Barbara Windsor, Yootha Joyce, Miriam Karlin, James Booth, Wallas Eaton, Toni Palmer, Edward Caddick. Recorded in performance. First time on CD. With bonus tracks sung by the composer Lionel Bart. Joan Littlewood’s ground-breaking production that transformed ex-con Frank Norman’s 48 page draft into a hit West End musical. Bart’s Cockney slang was a perfect fit for Norman’s colorful bunch of East End characters giving them exhuberant musical life.

“…tuneful, friendly, spirited and somewhat raucous…”
Steven Suskin, Playbill Online

“Cockney cutie Barbara Windsor steals the proceedings with the only pretty song, ‘Where Do Little Birds Go?’.”
Ken Mandelbaum, broadway.com

“… great melodies with such comedy and style…”
Nick Davies, Musical Stages

Tracks:
To hear a song sample, click on any song title below that is followed by

1. Overture/G’night Dearie – Barbara Windsor/Yootha Joyce/Toni Palmer/Tom Chatto/George Sewell
2. Fing’s Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be – Miriam Karlin/Glynn Edwards
3. Layin’ Abaht – Company
4. Where It’s Hot – Edward Caddick/Company
5. The Ceilin’s Coming Dahn – Paddy Joyce/Mirian Karlin
6. Contempery – Wallas Eaton/Company
7. Entre’acte – Band
8. Cochran Will Return – Glynn Edwards
9. Polka Dots – Wallas Eaton/Miriam Karlin
10. Meatface – Company
11. a) Where Do Little Birds Go? – Barbara Windsor
b) Big Time – Company
c) Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (Reprise) – Wallas Eaton/Yootha Joyce
12. Carve Up! – Company
13. Cop A Bit Of Pride – Tom Chatto
14. The Student Ponce – James Booth/Company
15. Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be (Finale) – Company

Bonus Tracks:
16. Contempery * – Lionel Bart
17. G’night Dearie * – Lionel Bart

* Orchestra conducted by Laurie Johnson
Director: Joan Littlewood
Musical Direction & Piano: Ronnie Franklin
CD reissue produced by Peter Pinne

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