In the days when you could still walk into a CD store and brows the racks (remember those days - I think there’s only LA where you can still take your pick of stores), the Cast Recording section would usually feature a section at the end of Compilations. And, within that, usually a section dedicated to composer collections, overflowing with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers & Hart, and the usual, well respected Broadway and West End Composers. What you would only find a small selection to choose from would be collections of songs by perhaps one of the most important figures in 20th Century theatre composition, Stephen Sondheim.

I don’t know if that reflects his popularity amongst general theatre-goers or the fact that some of his music doesn’t work outside of the scores, but there never seemed to be a good selection of compilation albums featuring his work.

So it’s nice to see that Sony have redressed the balance slightly by including him in their ever-expanding ‘Essential’ series. Here you will find 30 of perhaps his most well known songs, in a 2 CD or digital download from Sony. Sondheim has been awarded eight Tonys, eight Grammys, an Oscar, a Pulitzer Prize, five Oliviers and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Essential Stephen Sondheim spans this iconic artist’s unparalleled career, from West Side Story (1957) through Passion (1994), and also includes important works from his forays into television and film.

This new 2-CD collection features performances by Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Ethel Merman, Jason Alexander, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch, Victor Garber, Barbara Cook, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, Dean Jones, Glynis Johns, Marni Nixon, Lee Remick, Jim Walton, Lonny Price, Peabo Bryson, Nancy Wilson and many more.

There is no denying that Sondheim is a genius, and unlike any other composer of his generation, and probably ever. This is a great selection of his songs from his early days as lyricist on West Side Story and Gypsy, through his long career as both lyricist and composer. You will find the comical ('You Gotta Get A Gimmick' and 'Comedy Tonight'), the clever ('A Little Priest' and 'A Weekend In The County') and the romantic ('Somewhere' and 'Not A Day Goes By'). Even the most part time of collector will probably already have most of these tracks (there’s no previously unreleased items here unfortunately) but it’s great to have them all in one release and is a very rewarding listen.

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Ian Gude