Track Listing

1. Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye - Archie Hahn, Juicy Fruits
2. Faust - Bill Finley
3. Upholstery - Beach Bums, Jeffrey Comanor
4. Special to Me (Phoenix Audition Song) - Jessica Harper
5. Phantom's Theme - Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, Paul Williams
6. Somebody Super Like You (Beef Construction Song) - Harold Oblong, The Undead
7. Life at Last - Ray Kennedy
8. Old Souls - Jessica Harper
9. Faust - Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, Paul Williams
10. Hell of It - Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams, Paul Williams

Product Details

• Released on: 2001-12-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack

Album Description
Japanese exclusive 24 bit remastered reissue of soundtrack to 1974 Brian De Palma film that mixed horror film theatrics with rock opera bombast & went on to become a popular midnight movie. Packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details
Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Customer Reviews

A classic of its kind
I've never heard anything else by Paul Williams but this soundtrack to the cult movie stands on its own as a remarkable testament to love gone awry. It follows the story of a man willing to sell his soul for one more chance, a tale of beauty and the beast and Faust and the devil, brilliantly scored and cheesily acted. All the music and lyrics were penned by Williams. My favorite line is the chorus from "The Hell Of It": Good for nothing / Bad in bed / Nobody likes you / You're better off dead / Goodbye Goodbye. Nice and depressingly loving. It also deals with the idea of stolen music (Celine Dion).

To anyone who likes this
I agree with all the 5-star reviews. This is not actually a review and they might not let me post it. But for anyone who likes this music/movie, many of the cast and musical acts from this film will be reuniting in about a month (late April 06)for a one-off show.

I do not work for the people putting it on. I have no connection with them, and I didn't go to the first Phantompalooza. Do a search for that word and see what I mean.

PAUL WILLIAMS UNLEASHED!!!
Man, it seems like yesterday when Phantom of the Paradise was in the theaters (which was the mid 70s, which makes me mid-aged), and I, who thought my musical tastes were too cool, resisted the catchy, edgy, and campy tunes penned by Paul Williams. Yes, the Paul Williams who I thought was square and passe, who I associated with scribbling lyrics covered by The Carpenters, the same Paul Williams I saw on episodes of "The Odd Couple" and "The Muppet Show."

Irresistible, though. This soundtrack and its movie was my wake up call that Paul Williams is just plain cool. No way around it. I heard his previously silly lyrics about "chasing rainbows" and "white lace" and... to think he can shift from easy listening to songs a bit edgy for the mid 70s put him forever on my "Hip List."

In the vein of Hair and Rocky Horror, this soundtrack has melodic and offbeat storytelling from beginning to end, from 50s style rock (Good Eddie Goodbye) to acoustic numbers (both versions of "Faust") to sinister neo-rock that was way ahead of its time (Somebody Super Like You/Life At Last). Like Rocky Horror, this soundtrack is not merely good camp, it is an amazing display of great music.

To say the lyrics wildly contrast tunes like "We've Only Just Begun" is an understatement: "Never knew his father/Mother didn't bother/ to catch his last name/fast as he came" and "All my tears are lost/and I can't sleep/and sleep alone would ease my mind/all my tears have dried/ and I can't weep." The samplings don't do justice without the music, but trust me on this one!

"Phantom of the Paradise" is definitely on the cult-classic list, but I hate to see the music fade into forgotten cult-classic history. An array of Rocky Horror soundtracks have stood the test of time, which is our treat. The Phantom's soundtrack, along with the flick, are not nearly as prominent, which is many music lovers' loss. Go out of your way to pick up this CD, it's a classic!