Phantom Of The Paradise: Original Soundtrack Recording [Soundtrack, Import]

Paul Williams | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 16, 1993)
• Original Release Date: October 31, 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack, Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B0000072VT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #85 in Music > Imports > Soundtracks

Track Listings

1. Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye

2. Faust

3. Upholstery

4. Special to Me (Phoenix Audition Song)

5. Phantom's Theme - Paul Williams

6. Somebody Super Like You (Beef Construction Song)

7. Life at Last

8. Old Souls

9. Faust - Paul Williams

10. Hell of It - Paul Williams

Editorial Reviews

A&M's original 1974 soundtrack. Contains 10 tracks,'Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye', 'Faust' and 'The Hell Of It'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PAUL WILLIAMS UNLEASHED!!!, June 21, 2004

By 

K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phantom Of The Paradise: Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)

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!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unbelievable work of art!, April 22, 2004

By 

L. Brown "labronner" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phantom Of The Paradise: Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)

I saw this movie many times on cable when I was 11 years old. I was totally mesmerized by this film. This was back in the "early" days of cable when they would show only 5 movies a month over and over again. When the month was over, that's the last time I saw the movie or heard the music. Now, after 30 years, I still find myself singing/humming some of this music. It just dawned on me 3 weeks ago that I might be able to buy the CD, though, I really felt it would be like looking for a "needle" in a haystack. I was thrilled when I found it on AMAZON for a very affordable price. Naturally, I ordered it right away. Well, it arrived on yesterday and the music was just as I remembered it, I even knew all the words! Wow, it's just like I saw the movie yesterday. Of course, I've grown "emotionally" a lot in 30 years. My love for music only intensifies every day. I own probably close to 1000 CD's. With all this added knowledge of music, I can really recognize how "Phantom of the Paradise" was truly a musical work of art......now one of my "best" CD's. Thank God for the internet so all these music obessions can be fulfilled.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An darkly satirical look at the music industry., September 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Phantom Of The Paradise: Original Soundtrack Recording (Audio CD)

Whilst the theme of the film 'Phantom Of The Paradise' is one which is well tested (selling your soul to the devil in exchange for something that you always wanted), each Paul Williams song on the soundtrack cleverly uses different styles of music to say something different about the music industry. It starts with a rock song 'Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye', a song full of satirical comment on the rock industry. It's about a rock singer who sacrifices his life in order to sell his records to raise money for a life saving operation for his sister. (Oh such devotion!!) After introducing our hero (Bill Finley) with the ballad 'Faust', which introduces the main theme of the film, we rock again with 'Upholstery' (reminiscent of the late 'Phil Spector' sound) about our worship of inanimate objects as status symbols. Our heroine (Jessica Harper) then takes the scene with a ballad ('Special For Me - Phoenix Audition Song) about the dangers of working yourself into the ground to fulfil a dream. After 'baddie' Swan (played by Paul Williams himself) reflects on the battle between good and evil ('Phantom's Theme - Beauty and the Beast') which takes place within all of us, we then rock again ('Somebody Super Like You - Beef Construction Song') as we go in search of the perfect hero, with a "Hollywood smile and a perfect profile", to help make our life a 'ball'. Then the devil takes the scene ('Life At Last') constantly craving to be fed and satisfied by it's makers (us). Our heroine then returns ('Old Souls') with a beautiful ballad, presenting the case for love as the answer to all our fears. After returning with back a repeat of the theme of the film ('Faust'), but this time with 'Swan' reflecting on the striving for perfection at any cost, the piece ends with a 'knees-up', ('The Hell Of It') a homage to the results of living a life full of evil. Let that be a lesson to you. Throughout Paul Williams skilfully uses the music to augment the visual images. It is a great reflection on the talents and versatility's of the man who in latter years would turn his talents to music for such dark rock films as 'Bugsy Malone' and 'The Muppet Movie'. If you want to find out more about this great man look up the 'Paul Williams Music And Acting Page' which is a member of the 'Amazon.com Associates Program'.