There are some musical cast recordings that  I only like after watching a stage performance of the musical. Whistle Down The Wind and Starlight Express were two such musicals and more recently, Saturday Night Fever was added to this list. Disco music didn't really appeal to me but after watching the musical, I found the music from this cast recording infectious and really enjoyable. If you didn't like the soundtrack from the movie version and the falsettos used by the Bee Gees in their songs, do not worry because this cast recording sounds very different.

For the stage musical version, the song list has been beefed up with several other Bee Gees songs. Recognizable disco numbers  like the upbeat "Staying Alive", "Jive Talkin'", "Boogie Shoes", "You Should Be Dancing" and "Disco Inferno" remain from the movie soundtrack, except they are now sung by the cast rather than being played as a background song like in the movie. "How Deep Is Your Love", originally sung by the Bee Gees in the movie soundtrack, has now been musically rearranged as a love duet between the two principal leads. Strangely, although I think I remember hearing "More Than A Woman" when I watched the musical on stage, this song is omitted from the cast recording. New Bee Gees songs for the musical include Immortality (which Celine Dion covered in her album "Let's Talk About Love"), "First & Last / Tragedy" and "What Kind Of Fool". Simon Greiff's "First & Last / Tragedy" is a very touching number as he sings about his confusion after impregnating his girlfriend. This subplot doesn't really work in the stage production, but such concerns do not matter so much for a cast recording.

It is the main female performers that really stand out on this cast recording. Tara Wilkinson succeeds in conveying both determination and heartache in her song "If I Can't Have You" where she vows that she would not dance with anyone else but Tony Manero (Adam Garcia). Anita Louise Combe's beautiful voice soars along with her emotions in her excellent "What Kind Of Fool".

Adam Garcia gets his name on the cover of the cast recording and he does not disappoint as he leads the company in "You Should Be Dancing", "Night Fever" and "Staying Alive" or in his solo song "Immortality". I personally would have preferred a stronger voice for the role of Tony Manero but Garcia's voice probably suits the title character better.

The biggest disappointment of the cast recording would have to be its length. There are only twelve tracks on this cast recording. The Original German Cast Recording (Saturday Night Fever (Das Musical)) was released in 2002 with 14 tracks and it is sung in English. However,  this CD is not as widely available as the Original London Cast Recording.

The 1998 Original London Cast Recording of Saturday Night Fever is a good cast recording to listen to. Unfortunately, it's running time seems rather brief compared to most other single disc cast recordings. I would only recommend it for individuals who have caught the musical on stage and who love the music. For others who just want to sample the music, it may not be worth it to buy this cast recording.

Reviewed on 1 July 2004

Track Listings

1. Staying Alive
2. Boogie Shoes
3. If I Can't Have You
4. It's My Neighbourhood
5. Night Fever 
6. What Kind Of Fool
7. Jive Talkin'
8. First & Last / Tragedy
9. Immortality
10. You Should Be Dancing
11. How Deep Is Your Love
12. Disco Inferno

(Libretto with lyrics and pictures is included)