Track Listing

1. Home Again
2. Into the Fire
3. They Seek Him Here
4. Scarlet Pimpernel
5. When I Look at You
6. Marguerite Prelude
7. Marguerite
8. Madame Guillotine
9. Riddle
10. Now When the Rain Falls
11. Scarlet Interlude
12. Creation of Man
13. Storybook
14. You Are My Home
15. I'll Forget You
16. Our Separate Ways
17. There Never Was a Time
18. Pimpernel Fanfare

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37952 in Music
• Released on: 1999-12-17
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

From Amazon.com
Somewhat infamous for appearing on Broadway in numerous revisions without ever really clicking, Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton's Scarlet Pimpernel is represented in its earliest form in this 1991 concept album. The story, borrowed from the classic Baroness Orczy novel, follows Sir Percy Blakeney, an Englishman who uses his foppish image as a cover for his undercover adventures rescuing people from the guillotine during the French Revolution. He must, however, be careful around his new wife, the French actress Marguerite, whom he doesn't entirely trust. This is the first of three recordings of this score, and it's the most uneven, using its "concept album" status as an opportunity to rather awkwardly mix a variety of styles, from harpsichord-driven "period" pieces to power-pop ballads to a flamenco (?) number. Even with that caveat, it might be the most enjoyable of the three simply because of the presence of pop diva Linda Eder. Wildhorn's wife was along for the many stages of Jekyll & Hyde but sang Pimpernel only on this recording, and her tracks can stand alone as a pretty satisfying pop album: "Home Again," "When I Look at You," "Now When the Rain Falls," "I'll Forget You," "You Are My Home" (with Peabo Bryson), "The Riddle" and "Our Separate Ways" (both with Dave Clemmons), and "There Never Was a Time" (with Chuck Wagner). In addition, listening to Eder wrap her golden vocal cords around that favorite tune of cabaret singers, "Storybook," may itself be worth the price of the CD. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Undiscovered Treasure!!!!
I recently purchased a Christine Andreas title "Love is Good" and found myself drawn to the song "Storybook." I have had no exposure to the production "The Scarlet Pimpernel" where the song originated. This concept album is a pleasant surprise. Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton, the production's composer and lyricist spin this story into a treasury of wonderful songs. The performers are first rate and add to the strength of this entry. Most notable would be Linda Eder. All one has to do is play "Storybook" and her haunting vocals take the listener to the heart of "Pimpernel's" Mauguerite. Do not let the harsh comparisons of Eder's voice to that of other vocal divas stop you from buying this or any of Eder's material. She is a powerful vocalist in her own right and lacks the "nasal" grating of some Streisand and Dion recordings that make some listeners reach for the next selection button. Streisand's and Dion's awful, screamfest ballad "Tell Him" penned by Linda Thompson, Walter Afanasieff and David Foster is proof of this. Linda Eder, Chuck Wagner, Peabo Bryson and Dave Clemmons deliver a recording you'll listen to over and over again. Enjoy!

Good, but not as wonderful as the Broadway Cast!
This CD is good and it's a nice preview for the actual show. This is only the CONCEPT ALBUM NOT THE ORIGINAL B'WAY CAST! The B'way cast has Terrance Mann (original Beast out of Beauty & the Beast-B'way musical), Christine Andreas, and Douglas Sills as Percy. I love the music on this CD, BUT the vocalists (Linda Eder, etc.) are not near the caliber of the B'way cast. Linda Eder's rendition of "When I Look at You" doesn't have the emotional range of Christine Andreas' version on stage. Linda Eder may have the vocal power to top the high notes, but volume doesn't always equal emotion. Also, while "Marguerite" is a seductive tune, it doesn't leave me weak in the knees like Terrance Mann singing "Where's the Girl?" on the true B'way recording. When Mann sings this song in his deep baritone - it is truly arousing. Also, with the B'way recording, I really got the idea that Chauvelin DID love Margeurite - an idea that seems to be missing here. And, Douglas Sills is the best Percy I've seen or heard ever! He made me laugh, cry, yearn, and can sing like a dream! Unlike the Concept Album's Percy, Doug Sills really expresses his emotions through his voice. His reprise of "When I Look at You" makes me cry no matter how many times I've heard it. In "Prayer" you can tell how he loves Marguerite although he thinks she betrayed him, and how loving her so much is hurting him. You hear the mental conflict of "I love her, but I can't trust her, what do I do?" in Sills' performance. One last general note, the Concept Album's orchestrations/supporting cast sound weak & thin when compared to the B'way recording.

Never heard such an amazing record
The first song I heard from this album by accident was, Home again. It gave me a flash, and this was the reason, why I wanted to find out more about the story and the record.

"I'll forget you" is another very good song! But in my opinion the Encore-version creates a different, not to say better, atmosphere, because Marguerite is more conscious about her situation, and although Linda Eder has a WONDERFUL voice, I think, the other version is more authentic, cause Linda's voice is too strong for this kind of song.

Another point of view is the role of Marguerite itself, Linda doesn't represent the typical French woman. So I'm of the opinion, that on the Concept Album there is no sign of acting, but just interpreting songs (which isn't necessarily bad!)
In some other parts I'd say Linda on of the best singers anyway, because SHE knows how to work with her voice. But here it is simply a way of presenting a new work by Frank Wildhorn. So the value of acting is not that important.

Frank Wildhorn is a great composer, and I'm often surprised in which ways he gives one songs two "styles". One significant example is "Only love" which is NOT on this record, but still a part of this musical (Whoever is interested in a version sung by Linda Eder just look at her albums)
Or another good example is "I'll forget you" as mentioned above. On the one hand there is the song that tells a story, and tries to create a certain mood (Encore-version) and on the other hand, we have a wonderful ballad (concept).
I'm not sure, whether there can be distinguished between a first place song or a second rate one... you have to decide which style you prefer.
But I think all versions of Scarlet Pimpernel are a MUST for every Pimp-fan.

One thing I really pity is, that they cut out "Marguerite"... or "Our separate ways" (the latter one has some Spanish style- nice to listen to!!!)

But the most important aspect of the Concept version is that everything sounds full. The choir and the orchestra sound bigger (and in my opinion better) than on the other versions, which makes this record more special.

The last thing I can tell you is to do your thing and buy this record ;)