Customer Reviews

The Rocky Horror Show

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Far superior to the film's slicked up orchestrations of the music, the Roxy version is true to the original stage version's vision. It was done on the cheap, but with a stupendous cast of phenomenal singers.

If you were weaned on the film, you may hate this version until you listen to it a couple of times. After that, you'll never want to hear the film version again.

If you want a CD with lots of rock n roll and tremendous belting, then THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: ROXY CAST is just the thing you need. Beginning with the high energy "Science Fiction/Double Feature" sung by actress Jamie Donnelly (who we all know as Jan in the movie "Grease".) She has turned the infamous slow song from the movie into a rock and roll belt and growl fest. She is awesome! B. Miller and Abigale Haness play the all American couple Brad and Janet with great energy. "Dammit Janet" has turned into an up beat belt song. Now, enter Tim Curry as the ever lovable Frank-N-Furter and tears up "Sweet Transvestite" with his sultry, growling belts. This song is Tim Curry at his absolute best!! Next is the "Time Warp" which gives Bruce Scott (Riff) a chance to show off his tremendous vocal abilities with his "Jesus Christ Superstar" falsetto notes, which are simply amazing. And of course Jamie has turned Magenta's "it's so dreamy.." sequence into a sexy belting surprize. A real treat is Meatloaf as Eddie and Doctor Scott, so he definately belts his way through "..Saturday Night" and through "Eddie's Teddy" which the keys have been raised to show off Meatloaf's vocal ability. (Listen for Jaime Donnely belting "Hot Patootie" at the last few bars of the "..Saturday Night". Wowww!!!) And the most impressive song of the CD is Abigale Haness' rendition of "Toucha Touch Me." The keys have been raised so it is definately higher, and she brings a new meaning to the word belting. (It's a shame she hasn't done anything else..?..) Other cast menbers include Boni Eaton (Colombia), and Kim Milford (Rocky) who are equally talented. One of my favorite songs, and is not in the movie version is "Once in A While" which is sung by Brad. It's in this version and is a nice 50's doo-wop belt song. I can't say enough about this CD, it is a must buy. So what are you waiting for? Buy it, I promise you won't regret it if you appreciate diva belters!!

The Rocky Horror Show - not The Rocky Horror Picture Show (that's a film, folks, not a live musical)- is the best recording of this whacky and fun musical. It doesn't have the same cast as the film (though Tim Curry and Meatloaf are in it). So what makes it better? I'll tell you.

Rocky Horror is a visceral experience. Even though the film was widely panned by the press and the public upon its release, it was a much slicker version of the stage musical. Songs were rewritten. Dialogue was gussied up. Costumes were more professional. Sets were much more detailed and static. The experience of the live show was necessarily changed - no usherette - just lips.

The film stands on its own as a hugely wonderful experience. However, it is a different experience than the musical. But that could be said of every one of the live versions when compared to the film. So let's not use the film as a comparison...

The Roxy Cast of RHS is just awesome. It's a little honky tonky in the music provided. Janet is more raspy and less delicate than most other versions of her. Tim Curry has never sounded better. Meatloaf plays both Dr. Scott and Eddie (which is typically the case in the live show). Kim Milford as Rocky gives us a more truly 1970's version of what a hunk was - and he sings exceedingly well (he was the lead singer for the Jeff Beck group for quite a while). Then there's the really emotional numbers like "Once in a While" and "Superstars". Those two will rip your guts out with the sheer emotion. In fact, that's probably what sets this version apart from all others. So many people know RHS for what it became, but when this cast took it up, it was brand new to the U.S. and you had some really awesome stage actors adding real emotional input to the roles, music included.

Get this soundtrack -because it is THE defnitive recording of the show! You'll love it.

After hearing numerous cast recordings of "The Rocky Horror Show" (even the 1976 Mexican rip-off of this album), I have decided that this cast is my all time favorite. Nearly everyone in this cast is very strong. Abigale Haness is probably my favorite Janet vocally. She puts so much power into her singing that she even puts some of the guys to shame. Her rendition of "Touch Me" is by far the most convincing I have heard, she really sounds like she wants to be "dirty" and sounds like she's having so much fun. This album is definately Tim Curry at his best. His growling baritone against the striking brass during "Sweet Transvestite" is just an absolute pleasure (pardon the double entendre) to listen to. He shows that he isn't afraid to belt out a song and makes the RHPS soundrack sound like he's whispering. Meat Loaf may have not been the first person to play Eddie, but he certainly defined the role. His work as Dr. Scott on this album is also exceptional. During his rendition of "Eddie's Teddy" he shows off a voice that is clear and strong, rather than his usual belting. As Riff-Raff, Bruce Scott is awesome, showing off a multiple octave range that fits in very well with the rest of the cast. Just listen to his "and the void would be calling..." line during "Time Warp" and you'll know what I mean. Jamie Donnelly plays Magenta and the Usherette in a way that almost reminds me of Pat Quinn on the London RHS album in that they both sound very childlike, but Jamie Donnelly succeeds at this far better because her voice is naturally childlike. Kim Milford (RIP) instills Rocky with attitude that is so often left out, this is in addition to his superb belting. There is only one down side to this album and that would have to be Brad, B. Miller. Throughout the album he sounds thoroughly bored with his part. His voice is obviously well-trained, but he seems a little scared to use it. At the end of his verse in "Rose Tint My World" he adds more power and emotion, but this is too little, too late. The arrangements on some of the songs sound a little dated, but these same arrangements are a very refreshing alternative to the more commercial sounding RHPS soundtrack. This is how RH was meant to be, a rock musical, and this album is almost pure rock.

If you want a CD with lots of rock n roll and tremendous belting, then THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: ROXY CAST is just the thing you need. Beginning with the high energy "Science Fiction/Double Feature" sung by actress Jamie Donnelly (who we all know as Jan in the movie "Grease".) She has turned the infamous slow song from the movie into a rock and roll belt and growl fest. She is awesome! B. Miller and Abigale Haness play the all American couple Brad and Janet with great energy. "Dammit Janet" has turned into an up beat belt song. Now, enter Tim Curry as the ever lovable Frank-N-Furter and tears up "Sweet Transvestite" with his sultry, growling belts. This song is Tim Curry at his absolute best! Next is the "Time Warp" which gives Bruce Scott (Riff) a chance to show off his tremendous vocal abilities with his "Jesus Christ Superstar" falsetto notes, which are simply amazing. And of course Jamie has turned Magenta's "it's so dreamy.." sequence into a sexy belting surprize. A real treat is Meatloaf as Eddie and Doctor Scott, so he definately belts his way through "..Saturday Night" and through "Eddie's Teddy" which the keys have been raised to show off Meatloaf's vocal ability. (Listen for Jaime Donnely belting "Hot Patootie" at the last few bars of the "..Saturday Night". Wowww! ) And the most impressive song of the CD is Abigale Haness' rendition of "Toucha Touch Me." The keys have been raised so it is definately higher, and she brings a new meaning to the word belting. (It's a shame she hasn't done anything else..?..) Other cast menbers include Boni Eaton (Colombia), and Kim Milford (Rocky) who are equally talented. One of my favorite songs, and is not in the movie version is "Once in A While" which is sung by Brad. It's in this version and is a nice 50's doo-wop belt song. I can't say enough about this CD, it is a must buy. So what are you waiting for? Buy it, I promise you won't regret it if you appreciate diva belters!

Having been exposed to the original Roxy cast version at about 12 by my mom (who actually saw the play 8 times at the Roxy. . . amazing) I have been a RH ran for virtually all my life. Hands down this version is the best musically. I'm reading some of the other reviews that slam this version as being less musical and poorly arranged. R U F'N CRZEE????? The Roxy v. has WAAAY more musicality from guitars to piano and horns, not to mention having all of the original script actually sung. . . and not spoken. The vocal lines are so much more dynamic and lyrically sung than the movie. For the recrord. . I LOVE THE MOVIE ! !! I went for years to the Tiffani in Hollywood on Saturday nights and saw the midnight showing. Those of you in LA know what I'm talking about. SOOOO COOOOOOLLLL SO I'm not here to bash just to illuminate a diff point of view to some of the other reveiews. Listen to them all and decide for yourself. For me. . .this one is just a step to the left ! !

The Roxy Cast Album of Rocky Horror is great listen. You get the feel of the mythical version of the show and performances are great. The songs have somewhat different sounds than on the movie's soundtrack. They are looser and less produced due to the fact that they are based on their stage versions which are usual sparser. Tim Curry sounds fresh and vibrant as Frank N Furter and Meatloaf has a powerful voice in the dual role of Eddie and Dr. Scott. Jamie Donnely (Jan from the movie Grease) is bouncy and upbeat as Magenta and Abigale Haness is powerful as Janet Weiss. If you want to hear how the show sounded in it's early stages, this is a great document and Rocky Horror fans will not be disappointed.

Hard to believe the change from original London cast to original Roxy cast. The music is so much better and most of the cast can actually sing! Standouts include Hot Patootie and Eddie's Teddy.

With all due respect to several reviewers who have either applauded or decried that this set re-scores, re-interprets, or transposes various parts of the score beloved from the film, the movie came LAST, guys. Rocky had great success as a stage play well before it was put before the cameras. I do love the film, and a film interpretation offers much that cannot be done onstage - but the vice versa is also true, and in terms of Rocky Horror - well - I saw the show during its brief run in New York with basically the Roxy cast heard here (though Richard O'Brian did Riff Raff in NYC, not Bruce Scott), and as much as I like the movie, it does not begin to compare with the fun of this show caught live onstage. The film soundtrack seems slick and tame by comparison, while this gives us an out-and-out, grandly belted, rocked and roared interpretation that really does a good job of capturing some of that stage excitement. The concept here is a rock music extravaganza, where the film is more subtle, and though the are of course miked, the performers are singing in stage, not smaller film terms, terms to great effect (Scotts balls-to-the-wall rock n' roll Riff Raff works beautifully in this framework, even if one does miss O'Brian's zaniness). If you only have one recording of the musical, this is the one to have. You neededn't feel disloyal to the film - jut get the movie on DVD, and this one on CD, and you are in business!!

This is "The Rocky Horror Show" from its 1974 Los Angeles production starring Tim Curry. Staged at a Los Angeles night club, the Roxy, this version of the show was a huge hit and was supposed to promote the upcoming film. The recording (by Mamas & Papas producer Lou Adler) is a bit too glossy for some tastes, and some of the Californians brought in to replace the original cast don't seem quite at home in this oh-so-British venue. But on the whole, this record is still glamorously sleazy. Tim Curry's belted renditions of "Sweet Transvestite" and "Charles Atlas Song" equal or surpass the film versions, and Meat Loaf is on hand to play not only rocker Eddie but his stuffy uncle, Dr. Scott. This album has the distinction of being the most complete edition of the score, lacking only the "Science Fiction" reprise which is reprinted in the liner notes anyway. The interior photo montage is also quite a treat.