5.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 17/04/2007

This classic show album was actually released before the musical was even produced, and it's a true testament to how the album can sometimes be better than the show itself. Full of great music and fabulous performances (featuring Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson), this great album from the creators of ABBA is sure to please.

1.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 24/08/2011

Have not received product. Was given delivery time frame of between August 6th and August 22nd after making purchase on July 20th and still haven't received product.

5.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 29/05/2011

After his collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber (Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita) ended, Tim Rice would make one more piece of musical theatre before going to work for Disney. A collaboration with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (both of Abba), Chess would go through a lot of changes over the years in its London and Broadway productions, and beyond. A definitive version will be forthcoming in Sweden in not too long a time, and will hopefully spawn more productions as it goes.
But, what's at hand doesn't even go into the saga of Chess. This is the original concept album, a double LP created to popularize the music. This had worked twice before with Rice and Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, and it worked again with Chess. The London production went well, the Broadway one (anecdotes place the blame on awful direction) not so well, but still had some degree of success. So what was it about the Chess concept album that worked?

The sound of the show, for one thing. Chess is a wonderfully pop musical, with a unique 1980s tone that sets it up as a cold war love story. That is not to say that it is weak--just that there are a lot of very cool elements of '80s pop (hence Abba). And it makes a middle-aged white guy rapping sound cool in "One Night in Bangkok," a dance hit particularly in the UK. Andersson and Ulvaeus prove that they have a very diverse range in the nicely through-composed score, setting up certain themes for the various situations that the characters find themselves in throughout the show. As is to be expected, guitars, bass, synths, and percussion make up the orchestra on the album, and complete the total-pop sound of the piece.

The lyrics help a lot. As a fan of Tim Rice, I must admit that he continued the top form he had in Evita here, creating lyrics with a rapier wit. The libretto here is very honest as well, creating a group of characters who seem genuinely real in their faults. It is a tale about politics of nations and affairs of the heart that uses chess as a centerpiece, and whether in fun bits like the entire opening ceremony or the serious argument between Florence and the Russian, Rice's lyrics are perfectly fitting. They are also well-tailored to the reuse of themes throughout, creating a nice consistency in the piece.

And the cast certainly didn't hurt. Even though he's played by a Swede trying to sing in English with a Russian accent, the Russian (Tommy Körberg--Jean Valjean in the Swedish Les Misérables) is performed marvellously, and does a great job with his show-stopper "Anthem." His character is convincingly split between a chess obsession and his personal life, and becomes quite compelling.

In true form, the Russian's foil is just as good. The American (Murray Head--Judas in the Jesus Christ Superstar concept album) is a rather creepy character, but Murray Head's distinctive voice gives a great edge to his performance, and he gets the coolest song in the show ("One Night in Bangkok") plus a great showstopper that almost makes him sympathetic ("Pity the Child"). His performance on this album is excellent, and it's a shame that playing the role on stage in London killed his voice as it did.

The female lead, Florence (Elaine Paige--original London Evita, Grizabella in the Cats video), is also incredible. She gets two great solos ("Nobody's Side" and "Heaven Help My Heart") as well as an incredibly witty song performed in contrast with the Russian's wife, Svetlana (Barbara Dickson), in "I Know Him So Well." However, I found one moment in the album to simply be a perfect bit of vocal acting--in "The Deal (No Deal)," Florence's lines "Are you sick? Are you mad? You still don't understand why I loathe you, why I left you?" are delivered in a way that...wow.

The rest of the performances are great, too. Björn Skifs gets to have fun in the role of the

5.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews. – Customer review on 14/05/2009

this is a marvellous album. lots of great songs and a rich sound that always amazes me..considering I grew up thinking 'One Night In Bankok 'was a pop song :) Dramatic and glorious..