London Production/Cast Recording 1981

1981 Cast Recording
Production	London Production
Language	English
Release Date	1 July 1981 (UK) July 1982 (US)
Label	Polydor Records (UK) Geffen Records (US)
Formats	LP, cassette, CD
Studio Recording	Yes

The cast recording of the original London cast was released in the UK in July 1981, and in the US in July 1982. Two versions were released: a two-disc "complete" edition, and a single-disc "highlights" edition. The recording was nominated for Best Cast Show Album at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, but did not win.

Elaine Paige's rendition of "Memory" from this recording was also released as a single, reaching #6 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1981.

Tracklist

Disc 1
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Overture"	2:28
2.	"Prologue: Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats" (performed by the original London cast)	5:39
3.	"The Naming of Cats" (performed by the original London cast)	2:19
4.	"The Invitation to the Jellicle Ball" (performed by Paul Nicholas)	2:13
5.	"The Old Gumbie Cat" (performed by Geraldine Gardner, Myra Sands, Susan Jane Tanner & Wayne Sleep)	5:16
6.	"The Rum Tum Tugger" (performed by Paul Nicholas)	3:05
7.	"Grizabella" (performed by Geraldine Gardner & Sharon Lee-Hill)	2:26
8.	"Bustopher Jones" (performed by Brian Blessed, Geraldine Gardner, Myra Sands & Susan Jane Tanner)	4:22
9.	"Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" (performed by Bonnie Langford & John Thornton)	3:50
10.	"Old Deuteronomy" (performed by Brian Blessed, Jeff Shankley, John Chester & Wayne Sleep)	4:52
11.	"The Jellicle Ball" (performed by the original London cast)	7:14
12.	"Grizabella, the Glamour Cat" (performed by Sharon Lee-Hill)	3:02
13.	"Memory" (performed by Elaine Paige)	1:23

Disc 2
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Moments of Happiness" (Brian Blessed & Sarah Brightman)	3:12
2.	"Gus: The Theatre Cat" (Stephen Tate & Susan Jane Tanner)	6:42
3.	"Growltiger's Last Stand" Including "The Ballad of Billy McCaw" (Jeff Shankley, Roland Alexander, Stephen Tate & Susan Jane Tanner)	9:40
4.	"Skimbleshanks" (performed by Bonnie Langford, David Baxter, Femi Taylor, Finola Hughes, John Chester, Kenn Wells, Sarah Brightman & Seeta Indrani)	4:45
5.	"Macavity" (performed by Geraldine Gardner & Sharon Lee-Hill)	6:57
6.	"Mr. Mistoffelees" (performed by Paul Nicholas)	3:37
7.	"Memory" (performed by Elaine Paige)	5:15
8.	"The Journey to the Heaviside Layer" (performed by the original London cast)	1:53
9.	"The Ad-Dressing of Cats" (performed by Brian Blessed)	5:19

Missing Songs

1. "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles"

Peak Chart Positions

• UK Albums Chart: #6
• US Billboard 200: #86
• Austria Top 40: #7
• New Zealand Music Chart: #21

Gallery

Back cover

Trivia

There are a few differences between this recording and what was actually performed in the original 1981 London production:

• The "Mr. Mistoffelees" track was reused from a 1980 recording by Paul Nicholas that had been released while the musical was still in development for promotional purposes.
• Instead of the Act 2 Reprise of "Memory" that was performed in the stage production, this recording uses the Single Version of "Memory". It thus has slightly altered lyrics and is sung as a solo by Elaine Paige without Sarah Brightman's soprano part.