"Unusual Way" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Unusual Way (A Musical Theatre Album)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

What happens when a Broadway soprano builds a compact, living room–to–orchestra tour through the canon — then names it after one of Maury Yeston’s most intimate ballads? You get Unusual Way, a 2010 solo album from Glory Crampton that reads like a postcard set from roles she’s played and composers who shaped her career.

Crampton steers a 15-cut program with the London National Symphony Orchestra, recorded at Abbey Road. The title track (from Yeston’s Nine) anchors a sequence that sweeps from Golden Age lyricism to modern mega-musical sheen. Arrangements sit close to legit theatre practice — winds and strings forward, rhythm section discreet — but the delivery stays conversational, as if you’ve caught a post-show encore with a full pit.

Genre phases & meanings: classic Broadway romance — vow and memory; late-20th-century balladry — arena-scale feeling shrunk to chamber detail; character songs — interior monologue sharpened to a point. The album’s arc: curtain-up optimism, backstage doubt, then a dusk-lit declaration — unusual, and personal.

How It Was Made

The project was conceived as Crampton’s debut solo set, produced and released by JAY Records and recorded with the (London) National Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. The program mixes signature songs she’s carried onstage with a handful of new-to-her choices, and features duets with Björn Olsson, Lauren Kennedy, and James Rainbird. The album reached digital platforms in August 2010 before a wider physical rollout later that year.

Tracks & Scenes

“Unusual Way” (from Nine — Maury Yeston)

Where it sits on the album:

A centerpiece ballad and namesake — intimate strings, voice forward. Crampton phrases it like a private confession that grew into a promise.

Why it matters:

The album’s thesis: vulnerability as strength. Also a nod to Yeston’s 1982 score, where Claudia’s aria slips from friendship into love.

“All I Ask of You” (from The Phantom of the Opera — Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Hart/Richard Stilgoe)

Where it sits on the album:

An early-program duet with a lyrical string cushion and harp accents; the orchestral writing recreates a West End pit sound without the scenery.

Why it matters:

Frames Crampton’s legit soprano against a classic Lloyd Webber melody — warmth, blend, and unforced glow.

“I Don’t Remember You” (from The Happy Time — Kander & Ebb)

Where it sits on the album:

A quieter mid-album confessional with reed solos and brushed percussion — a letter never sent.

Why it matters:

Kander & Ebb’s rueful craft gives Crampton space for text-first storytelling.

“Half a Moment” (from Jeeves — Andrew Lloyd Webber/Alan Ayckbourn)

Where it sits on the album:

A gentle waltz-tempo duet, strings circling like memory.

Why it matters:

A deep-catalog Lloyd Webber tune; the cut broadens the album beyond perennial hits.

“A Grand Night for Singing” (from State Fair — Rodgers & Hammerstein)

Where it sits on the album:

Opens the program with fresh-air buoyancy — woodwinds sparkle, tempo has spring.

Why it matters:

Signals the set’s classic Broadway backbone and the orchestra’s plush, pit-to-studio sound.

Additional spotlights

Duets with Lauren Kennedy and James Rainbird add color; the National Symphony’s Abbey Road capture gives ballads headroom and detail, letting rubato and text breathe.

Notes & Trivia

• The title song’s lineage runs back to Shelly Burch in the original 1982 Broadway cast of Nine — a ballad now recorded by everyone from Linda Eder to Nicole Kidman (in the 2009 film).
• This was positioned as Crampton’s first solo album after years of cast recordings and concert discs.
• The set was released digitally first, then expanded to physical CD distribution a few months later.
• JAY Records packaged the album with artist-forward notes, including a dedication to Crampton’s great-grandfather, composer A. Baldwin Sloane.

Reception & Quotes

The record landed warmly with theatre outlets and fans of legit soprano repertoire — praised for polished orchestration and an easy, narrative delivery.

“Crampton’s debut album… covers classic Broadway and contemporary material with lush orchestral support.” Playbill

“Now available for purchase… previously distributed digitally via iTunes.” TheaterMania

Availability: Streaming on major platforms; physical CD via JAY/retail partners.

Interesting Facts

• Abbey Road sessions: The orchestral takes preserve hall air — close mics plus room bloom.
• Composer thread: Program quietly maps Crampton’s stage résumé — from R&H to Kander & Ebb to Yeston.
• Duet fabric: Multiple partners keep the set from becoming a single-color ballad reel.
• Title as lens: Naming the album after Yeston’s song cues listeners to expect intimacy over bombast.
• Catalog life: Continued digital availability has made the album a gateway for listeners exploring the originals.

Technical Info

• Title: Unusual Way (Glory Crampton)
• Year: 2010
• Type: Musical theatre vocal album
• Artist: Glory Crampton (soprano)
• Orchestra: (London) National Symphony Orchestra
• Label: JAY Records (digitally Aug 10, 2010; wider physical distribution late 2010)
• Recording: Abbey Road Studios, London
• Guests: Björn Olsson; Lauren Kennedy; James Rainbird (duets)
• Selected notable selections: “Unusual Way” (Nine); “All I Ask of You” (Phantom); “I Don’t Remember You” (The Happy Time); “Half a Moment” (Jeeves); “A Grand Night for Singing” (State Fair).
• Availability: Apple Music/Spotify; retail CD via JAY and partners.

Questions & Answers

Why is the album called Unusual Way?

It’s named for the Maury Yeston ballad from Nine, which serves as the album’s emotional centerpiece.

Is this a cast recording?

No — it’s a solo studio album of theatre selections with orchestra, not a recording of a single musical.

Who plays on the record?

The (London) National Symphony Orchestra, tracked at Abbey Road, with guest duet partners on select cuts.

When did it come out?

Digital release in August 2010, followed by broader physical availability later that year.

What’s special about the title song?

“Unusual Way” debuted in 1982’s Nine; its intimate lyric and soaring line make it a touchstone for legit sopranos.

Key Contributors

Sources: JAY Records album page; Apple Music listing; Spotify listing; TheaterMania news; Playbill news; Presto Music listing; Amazon retail page; SecondHandSongs (song origin).

November, 19th 2025