The cover of the original London cast album of Whistle Down the Wind bears the names of its composer and lyricist in equal-size type above the title: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman. This marks the first time since Lloyd Webber's partnership with Tim Rice dissolved that a lyricist has been given equal billing on a musical with one of his scores, and perhaps not coincidentally, it's his best score in a long time. Steinman, most widely known for his writing and production work with Meat Loaf, puts his stamp on this music, not only in the forceful, rhythmic lyrics, but seemingly, on the music as well. It's easy, listening to such songs as "Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts," "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste," and "Off Ramp Exit to Paradise," to imagine Meat Loaf or another big-voiced Steinman client singing them. In part, this is because Whistle Down the Wind is Lloyd Webber's most rock-oriented score since Jesus Christ Superstar. Based on a novel about a group of children in Lancashire who come to believe that an escaped convict hiding in their barn is Jesus Christ, Whistle Down the Wind is essentially a character study with a spiritual tone. ~ William Ruhlmann