CD SALAD DAYS - Original London Cast 1954

(Sandy Wilson) Eleanor Drew, John Warner, James Cairncross, Michael Meacham - plus 11 Bonustracks. Named after a Shakespeare quote, Salad Days is, on the face of it, a piece of fluff but its simplicity hides an extremely well formed musical show with infectious songs that are easy to sing. It was written by Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds in 1954 originally as a light summer production to run for a three week season at Bristol’s Theatre Royal. The show proved to be such a crowd pleaser that in no time it had transferred to London’s Vaudeville Theatre where it ran for 2283 performances.

The show is built around the tale of a magic piano, one that can make people dance. Timothy and Jane, the young lovers, have just left university and are having to find their way in the world when a tramp offers them £7 a week to look after Minnie, his piano. The piano is lost and Timothy and Jane end up on a flying saucer searching for the piano, which is found in time for the tramp to reclaim it.

Salad Days has never really disappeared, having being revived regularly - four of which had London showings. It’s place in musical history is assured, not only because of its long run, but the fact that this was the first show seen by the young Cameron MacKintosh and which sparked off his lifelong interest in the form. For bonus tracks we have included material from The Duenna, another Julian Slade show, and his own recording of a medley from Salad Days. The 16 page CD booklet contains production shots and photos of some cast members.

Salad Days (Original London Cast)

1. The Things That Are Done By A Don - The Company
2. We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back - John Warner and Eleanor Drew
3. Find Yourself Something To Do - The Company
4. I Sit In The Sun - Eleanor Drew
5. Oh, Look At Me - John Warner and Eleanor Drew
6. Hush-Hush - James Cairncross
7. Oh, Look At Me (Reprise) / Of Breath - The Company
8. Cleopatra - James Cairncross
9. It’s Easy To Sing - John Warner, Eleanor Drew and Michael Meacham
10. We’re Looking For A Piano - The Company
11. The Time Of My Life - Eleanor Drew
12. The Saucer Song - James Cairncross, John Warner and Eleanor Drew
13. Reprise: We Said We Wouldn’t Look Back - John Warner and Eleanor Drew
It’s Easy To Sing; I Sit In The Sun; We’re Looking For A Piano; The Time Of My Life; Oh, Look At Me - The Company

Bonus Tracks

14. Medley from “Salad Days” 1 - Julian Slade (at the piano)
15. Medley from “Salad Days” 2 - Julian Slade (at the piano)
16. Vocal Gems from “Salad Days” 1 - Patricia Clark & Charles Granville
17. Vocal Gems from “Salad Days” 2 - Patricia Clark & Charles Granville
18. Fandango - The Musicians
19. He Vowed He Came To Save Me - Jane Wenham and Eleanor Drew
20. Tho’ Cause For Suspicion Appears - John Neville
21. I Loved Him For Himself Alone - Eleanor Drew
22. Never May’st Thou Happy Be - Jane Wenham, James Cairncross, Harry Dawson
23. Let’s Take A Stroll Through London - Eleanor Drew, James Cairncross, John Neville and Harry Dawson
24. We Smile - Eleanor Drew and Julian Slade