West End star Elaine Page: My six best albums
ELAINE PAIGE, 67, performed in West End musicals Evita, Cats, Chess and Anything Goes. Her hits include Memory and the duet with Barbara Dickson, I Know Him So Well.
ELAINE PAIGE, 67, performed in West End musicals Evita, Cats, Chess and Anything Goes
ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACK: West Side Story (Hallmark)
A wonderful love story and a brilliant score. At school I hung out with older prefects because they loved music and had their own room. They brought in this album then I saw the film. That’s when I first thought how much fun it would be to sing and dance for a living.
KEANE: Hopes And Fears (Island)
I was introduced to this when I was making an album in New York with Phil Ramone. I was away from my boyfriend and I played this all the time to remind me of him. Somewhere Only We Know and Everybody’s Changing are top tracks.
HARRY CONNICK JR: That Would Be Me (Sony)
I’ve been a fan since hearing his arrangement of There’s No Business Like Show Business. This is his latest and I’m hooked already. I love his musicianship and I’ve seen him live where he’s relaxed and funny.
ELLA FITZGERALD: Ella At Juan-Les-Pins (Universal)
I was brought up on Ella and I’ve kept some of my mother’s vinyl records. She always appeared to be at ease and I found her improvisation amazing. She inspired me to have a go at jazzier songs. I’ve sung Blue Skies in concerts as a tribute to my mum and dad.
JIMMY WEBB: Ten Easy Pieces (EMI)
By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Wichita Lineman and Galveston were part of my youth and I love the track If These Walls Could Speak on this. He tells stories like a poet. I recorded MacArthur Park when I first got a recording contract.
STING: Nothing Like The Sun (Polydor)
I’ve adored Sting since The Police days. I love his turn of phrase, odd time signatures and the rhythms in his orchestrations. When I heard Englishman In New York I thought, “If I ever get to sing in America, I’m going to sing that.” And a couple of years ago, I did.
She has written the foreword to Musicals: The Definitive Illustrated Story (DK, £25) which is out now.