Music by David Heneker and Monty Norman Lyrics by Julian More, David Heneker, and Monty Norman On April 23, 1958, Expresso Bongo burst on the London theatre scene. A satire of the music industry, the show starred Paul Scofield, James Kenney, Millicent Martin, Meier Tzelniker, Hy Hazell, and Elizabeth Ashley. The musical had a book by Wolf Mankowitz (A Kid for Two Farthings, The Day the Earth Caught Fire, Casino Royale) and Julian More (Irma la Douce), music by David Heneker (Half a Sixpence) and Monty Norman (the “James Bond Theme”), and lyrics by Julian More, David Heneker, and Monty Norman. The pop singer in the show was loosely based on Tommy Steele. It was a moderate hit but enough of one for director Val Guest to turn it into a film the following year, starring Laurence Harvey and pop singer Cliff Richard.

Divorced from its time and place, the score is really delightful, filled with snappy tunes, clever lyrics, and satirical over-the-top pop ballads of the era. After the show’s run, it kind of just disappeared off the face of the earth, with only its cast album and film version keeping its memory alive.

The original cast album of Expresso Bongo was released in mono only by Nixa Records. That was reissued in the United States many years later with an especially bad LP and then CD transfer. For this new release, James Nelson has done a major remastering, bringing the original brashness and luster back to what was an excellent recording. We’re also happy to include the Cliff Richard film songs, along with cover versions of two other songs from the show as bonus tracks. -KRITZERLAND RECORDS

1 Orchestra - Overture 2:14
2 James Kenney - Don't You Sell Me Down the River 1:53
3 James Kenney - Expresso Party 2:24
4 Meier Tzelniker - Nausea 2:48
5 Millicent Martin - Spoil the Child 2:07
6 Millicent Martin - Seriously 3:32
7 Paul Scofield - I Never Had It So Good 3:21
8 Chorus - There's Nothing Wrong With the British Youth Today 1:19
9 James Kenney - The Shrine on the Second Floor 2:48
10 Hy Hazell, Elizabeth Ashley, Susan Hampshire, Paul Scofield, Rosaline Haddon & Charles Gray - He's Got Something for the Public 2:32
11 Millicent Martin - I Am 3:30
12 Meier Tzelniker, Hy Hazell & Paul Scofield - Nothing Is for Nothing 3:56
13 Hy Hazell & Elizabeth Ashley - We Bought It 2:38
14 Hy Hazell - Time 3:11
15 Paul Scofield - The Gravy Train 3:23
16 Millicent Martin, James Kenney, Hy Hazell, Paul Scofield and Company - Finale 3:18
17 Cliff Richard and The Shadows - Love 2:24
18 Cliff Richard and The Shadows - A Voice in the Wilderness 2:11
19 Cliff Richard and The Shadows - The Shrine on the Second Floor 2:29
20 Cliff Richard and The Shadows - Bongo's Blues 1:49

Cover Versions
21 Stephen Hill Singers / The Tony Hatch Orchestra - He's Got Something for the Public 2:54
22 Millicent Martin / Tony Osborne Orchestra - Seriously 2:49
Total length: 59:30