| Essential Musicals | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Elaine Paige |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | 2006 |
| Genre: | Musical theatre |
| Label: | W14 Universal Music TV |
| Producer: | Mike Moran |
| Prev Title: | Centre Stage: The Very Best Of Elaine Paige |
| Prev Year: | 2004 |
| Next Title: | Songbook |
| Next Year: | 2007 |
Essential Musicals is an album by Elaine Paige, released in 2006. The album was produced by Mike Moran, vocals were recorded at Air-Edel Studios in London, and the orchestra backing recorded at The Hungarian State Radio Studios, Budapest. The album peaked at #46 in the UK Albums Chart.[1]
It features tracks from musicals chosen from top shows as voted in a poll by Paige's BBC Radio 2 show Elaine Paige on Sunday.
The recording is notable for the inclusion of "You Must Love Me" and "Someone Else's Story". "You Must Love Me" was a song added to the score of Evita for the 1996 movie, performed by the character of Eva whom Paige had portrayed in the original stage production in 1978. "Someone Else's Story" was a song added to the original Broadway score of Chess for the character of Svetlana. The song proved to be a popular addition and has been included in all subsequent productions and recordings since Broadway.
There was a personal connection to Paige for many of the tracks: she appeared as an urchin in the film version of Oliver!, from which "Where is Love?" is taken; she played Sandy Dumbrowski in Grease in London prior to this song being added to the score of the show; she cites West Side Story, where "Something's Coming" features, as being influential in sparking her interest in musical theatre; she appeared in the original London production of Hair from which "Aquarius" is taken; and "Surrender" is one of Norma Desmond's songs in Sunset Boulevard. Paige had previously released recordings of all Norma's other solo songs, having played the role in London between 1994 and 1996 and then on Broadway from 1996 to 1997.
The album was produced by Mike Moran who had previously produced two of her other studio albums: The Queen Album (1988) and Piaf (1994).
Chris Egan, who conducted the orchestra for tracks on the album, was Paige's musical director for a number of years and later co-produced Elaine Paige Live, the live recording of her 2009 concert tour.