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Chess

Chess

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Artists: Bjorn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice
Creators: Benny Andersson, Benny / Ulvaeus, Bjorn / Anderson, Stig Andersson, Anders Eljas, Bjoern Jason Lindh, Lasse Wellander, London Symphony Orchestra, Alan Byers, Barbara Dickson, Bjoern Skifs, Denis Quilley, Elaine Paige, Leslie Fyson, Murray Head, Tommy Koerberg, Vernon Midgley
Label: Decca Broadway
Category: Music

List Price: $35.98
Buy New: $32.49
You Save: $3.49 (10%)



New (34) Used (14) Collectible (2) from $15.10

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 94 reviews
Sales Rank: 8031

Format: Cast Recording
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5

MPN: 847445
UPC: 042284744522
EAN: 0042284744522
ASIN: B000002GLR

Release Date: July 23, 1996
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Tracks:

  Disc 1
  • Merano
  • Where I Want to Be
  • Opening Ceremony
  • Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)
  • Nobody's Side
  • Chess
  • Mountain Duet
  • Florence Quits
  • Embassy Lament
  • Anthem

  Disc 2
  • Bangkok
  • One Night In Bangkok
  • Heaven Help My Heart
  • Argument
  • I Know Him So Well
  • The Deal (No Deal)
  • Pity The Child
  • Endgame
  • Epilogue: You And I / The Story Of Chess

Similar Items:

  • Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
  • Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
  • Evita (1978 Original Broadway Cast)
  • Spring Awakening (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
  • Chess In Concert (1994 Swedish Concert Cast)

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons


Customer Reviews:   Read 89 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars THE BEST Muscial score ever written, hands down......   September 12, 2008
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I have been listening to this CD for over a decade and it is still relevant, still in my CD player at all times, and a muscial and score that will live on as my all-time favorite for decades to come.

I was blessed and fortunate to see Josh Groban, Raul Esparza and Adam Pascal perform in Chess for a one-night engagement for the Actor's Fund of America Concert in 2003 and I literally cried my eyes out the entire time! The audience loved the show and I can't imagine why they haven't tried to bring this back to Broadway in the years since, although perhaps there is some shell-shock from its original Broadway running which was less than mediocre. Hopefully they can get back to the original concept for this show, as evinced in this dual CD, a collector's must! I can't recommend it highly enough!



5 out of 5 stars Not a cheesy remake of Buena Sera, Mrs Campbell!   May 9, 2008
Bjorn and Benny's clever and eclectic collaboration with Tim Rice on this 1984 score resulted in one of the best records ever made of a musical. It doesn't work as well on stage, and many attempts have been made to fix the inherent flaws in the book but musically it remains a highly listenable recording. Highlights are the stirring "Anthem", the dramatic "Nobody's Side" and just about everything else.


5 out of 5 stars Too bad this is so overlooked   November 21, 2007
An unbelievably pretty score....Too bad it is often overlooked as a musical. The musical masters behind Abba composed this , and it is a success on many levels. Do what I did , burn this with selections from "The Original Broadway Cast Recording" and you will have the ultimate "Chess" recording.....Sure, some of the recordings and words will overlap, but you will have the best of both versions....CHECKMATE


5 out of 5 stars In love w/ the London version of Chess since 1985...   November 14, 2007
As a Musical Theatre Performance Major right out of high school in 1985, I immediately fell in love w/ this amazing musical. Having not had the honor of seeing it in London, I could only imagine the entire show in my head. The lyrics are amazing (Tim Rice!!), and the score is unbelievable (The B's in ABBA)combined w/ the performances- well, it's amazing and by far my favorite musical - and I've never seen it on stage!!! I completely wore out several cassettes (yes, tape cassettes for you youngsters) and even managed to wear out 2 CD versions. Given the chance, I could perform the entire show myself. I have to say that I was SOOOOO disappointed in the American version of the show. It was painful to compare it to the original cast. I try to keep an ear (and eye) open, hoping that someday someone will attempt a revival of the LONDON!!!! version on Broadway. Just can't say enough about this wonderful, amazing recording (make sure you DON'T get the Broadway cast recording - you just won't get how great it is! M. Humble-Nguyen Jacksonville, FL


5 out of 5 stars Thanks for the CD version   September 14, 2007
I bought the cassette tape years (and years)ago. I have just about worn it out. I always was afraid the tape would break and the score lost. I was happy to see the CD version. I purchased it without hesitation. Tim Rice has been a favorite ever since Jesus Christ Superstar. This is one of his top works since.

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