Various Artists - The Genius of Lionel Bart

This 3CD tribute to the British composer Lionel Bart features selections from his stage successes Oliver!, Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, pop hits by Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard, Anthony Newley, Tommy Steele, Adam Faith, Alma Cogan, rare demos from the musical Blitz! and rarities from his unproduced shows such as Gulliver's Travels, and Quasimodo.

Lionel Bart's first three stage musicals were smash hits in London's West End. Oliver! also triumphed on Broadway and the film won the Oscar for Best Picture. Bart also composed pop songs for stars such as Shirley Bassey, Anthony Newley, Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard. This 3 CD set includes an extensive booklet containing many previously unseen photographs and was produced with support from the Lionel Bart Foundation. It features songs performed by Bart himself, selections from his stage successes, his pop hits, unused material for the James Bond film Thunderball and rare demos from his unproduced shows (some performed by Justin Hayward) making it a treat for fans and an essential resource for music scholars, as many of the tracks here have never been commercially issued before.