Claire Bloom Albums (7)
'Edward Lear's Nonsense Stories and Poems'
Release Date 1/1/1960
Tracks 5
Label Caedmon
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What The Critics Say
There are a half dozen entries total in this fine actress' series of recordings for the Caedmon label, and this is the one that really is over the top in terms of being a phenomenal performance of some truly classic material. Yes, there are other albums she has done of Beatrix Potter or the Brothers Grimm that will have more of a mass appeal amongst the set of shrunken heads known as children. That is not to say that children don't like Edward Lear, provided they are still introduced to him. He certainly can give MTV or Scream 3 a run for their money, especially when accompanied in a text with illustrations. Bloom takes on his works of nonsense, in which language is extrapolated every which way. The actress' diction has already satisfied the ranks of the top Shakespearean scholars, so she is able to take this project on like Charlie Parker doing a fast blues. The original release came with a deluxe enclosed portfolio that was all a teacher needed to make this part of a classroom experience. Lyrics to the poems are printed in extra large type for certain little elves to decipher. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
'Snow White & Other Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm'
Release Date 1/1/1959
Tracks 3
Label Caedmon
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What The Critics Say
Anyone who has seen Academy Award-winning actress Claire Bloom in one of her femme fatale or Ice Queen roles can certainly see the ease with which she could portray an evil queen in Snow White, or any other action-packed fairy tale for that matter. Not quite so obvious might be her ability to personify such diverse characters as the comical dwarfs and the too-good-to-be-true Snow White. Such is the nature of her talents as a storyteller, however, that this series of recordings for Caedmon almost never fails to impress. The ongoing battle between good and evil that drives just about every fairy tale even takes on something of a reassuring nature when she is the narrator, so parents shouldn't worry about this record keeping a toddler up at night. The extended nature of the Snow White tale means this volume, one of two featuring the Brothers Grimm tales as retold by Amabel Williams-Ellis, features a few less total selections. The other two stories on the record are from the lesser-known stories of the Brothers Grimm, and children will enjoy discovering them. Fairy tale pals who like animal stories will particularly like the amusing "Hare and the Hedgehog." Bloom's diction is impeccable, and, as a result, the stories come with a certified stamp of Britishness. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
'Hansel & Gretel and Other Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm'
Release Date 1/1/1959
Tracks 4
Label Caedmon
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What The Critics Say
With the kind of high-quality dramatic roles this actress used to play, one might think material such as Hansel and Gretel might be beneath her dignity. Not so, and this is what makes her series of recordings for Caedmon so worthwhile. The classic by the Brothers Grimm has everything a good Shakespeare play does in terms of characters, although not as many. There are, however, two sets of bad guys for her to sink her teeth into, the witch even nastier than the nasty parents. The appeal of her voice is just as suited for putting across the plight of the extremely sympathetic children. This skill as storytelling and characterization continues through the other three selections, including two not-as-well-known tales, Mrs. Owl and Shiver and Shake. Most parents know the delight of stepping outside the best-known Grimms' fairy tales and finding imaginative and amusingly silly tales such as these. Listeners who hate fairy tales and have no children to blast them at might enjoy studying this record just to check out Claire Bloom's diction. The versions of the stories are from the adaptations by British author Amabel Williams-Ellis. There are two volumes of Grimms tales in this series, each a delight. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
'Dick Whittington and His Cat and Other English Folk Tales'
Release Date 1/1/1959
Tracks 4
Label Caedmon
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Some children like to sit and listen to storytelling on records, some don't. The ones who do will take special delight in the work of actress Claire Bloom for the Caedmon label. Among the volumes available in this series is this collection of English fairy tales, headlined by the esteemed Dick Whittington and his famous feline friend. Bloom's voice is purely and simply British. Her enunciation and phrasing fits the texts perfectly, everything being done with a touch of mock seriousness that both adults and children should find appealing. There are stories in this selection such as Tom Tit Tot or Tattercoats that have become somewhat obscure over the years, and there is no better way to rediscover them than to have Claire Bloom read them to you. The versions here are from the adaptations by James Reeves. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
'Childe Rowland and Other British Fairy Tales'
Release Date 1/1/1959
Tracks 5
Label Caedmon
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Tired of the same old three little pigs? Fed up with spinning dwarves or whatever the usual once upon a time has consisted of? Children's writer Amabel Williams-Ellis' memorable retellings of a variety of traditional British stories was a project perfectly suited to British actress Claire Bloom, who can set the stage for any of the settings simply by saying the word "the." This superb recording features the exciting story of the Black Bull of Norroway, as well as the spooky-to-the-max Tamlane. The actress and author also collaborated on recordings of the Brothers Grimm, but parents interested in broadening the fairy tale horizons might want to keep a look out for this. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Having Claire Bloom read anything out loud is something along the order of a glimpse of paradise. Since children would be much pickier, it is a good thing she is reading the wonderful works of Beatrix Potter on this album, one of several she made for this fine spoken arts label. This is actually a presentation of five of Potter's tales, ranging between seven and nearly ten minutes in length. The adult who takes the time to comb used-record piles in order to find this item might wind up being much appreciated by their children. Otherwise, the tykes would have no alternative to Meryl Streep, who recorded much of this material decades later. The latter actress might be known for her authentic accents, but it is doubtful she could sound as properly British as Claire Bloom, a fine actress who had a very successful career. Her fans can enjoy the contrast the Caedmon series presents, particularly here as the Potter narratives are a far cry from of the darker roles she played. Her voice is full of wonderful shades, constantly suggesting the depth of emotion these simple and lovable tales are so full of. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
