Starlight Express fans rejoice, as a brand new recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s critically acclaimed musical, featuring the cast of the new London production, will be released this November!
Recorded at Air Edel Studios in London, and produced by Lloyd Webber, along with Matthew Brind and Andrei Basirov, the soundtrack (which is available to pre-order here) will feature all of the songs audiences have come to know and love since the show launched back in 1984, as well as the brand new track ‘Hydrogen’.
Speaking of the new compilation, Andrew Lloyd Webber said in a press release: “Starlight Express’ return to London has been an absolute joy for me. I knew immediately that we needed a cast album to capture this brilliant show. I am particularly pleased that ‘Hydrogen’ is one of our first singles – this a totally new track, written for this production as we reimagined the story of Starlight Express for the zeitgeist of 2024.”
Jaydon Vijn, who plays new character Hydra added: “I feel very lucky to have originated the role of Hydra. It’s such an exciting part to play and getting to help create the character alongside the incredible creative team has been an absolute joy. It’s been unreal to see the audience’s reaction to Hydra. Playing a new character with a new song in such an iconic show is cool enough but having the audience respond so well just makes it even better. Recording the new ‘Hydrogen’ track was a lot of fun, it’s been such an exciting process and getting the opportunity to work so closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber has been an absolute dream. I hope you all enjoy it! You’re never getting the song out of your head now!”
Watch the official lyric video for ‘Hydrogen’ below:
STARLIGHT EXPRESS TRACK-LIST:
SIDE A
- Overture / Entry of Trains
- Rolling Stock
- Crazy
- I Am Me
- Whistle At Me
- Hydrogen
- AC/DC
- Pumping Iron
SIDE B
- Make Up My Heart
- Starlight Express
- U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D
- The Race
- I Am The Starlight
- One Rock ‘N’ Roll Too Many
- I Do
- Light at the End of the Tunnel
Starlight Express is a rock musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It first premiered in 1984 in London’s West End and became known for its unique concept and visual spectacle. The story is about a child’s toy train set that comes to life, with the characters being anthropomorphized trains who race to determine which one is the fastest.
One of the musical’s most iconic features is that the cast performs on roller skates, representing the trains moving on tracks. This high-energy performance, combined with Webber’s eclectic score, which blends rock, pop, and ballads, has given Starlight Express a lasting legacy as one of the more innovative stage shows in musical theater history.
Despite mixed initial reviews, it became a long-running success in both the West End and around the world. The musical also underwent several revisions throughout its run to update the story and music.
The shows latest incarnation opened at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in June 2024.