Shock Treatment: The Original Sound Track [Soundtrack]

Jessica Harper, Richard O'Brien, Cliff De Young, Barry Humphries | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000033A3
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,224 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Overture

2. Denton, U.S.A.

3. Bitchin' in the Kitchen

4. In My Own Way

5. Thank God I'm a Man

6. Farley's Song

7. Lullaby

8. Little Black Dress

9. Me of Me

10. Shock Treatment

11. Carte Blanche

12. Looking for Trade

13. Look What I Did to My Id

14. Breaking Out

15. Duel Duet

16. Anyhow, Anyhow

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available.
Genre: Soundtracks & Scores
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 3-MAY-1994

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Musically holds up much better than Rocky, September 15, 2004

By 

Michael Hightower (Front Royal, Va.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shock Treatment: The Original Sound Track (Audio CD)

Due to the sheer nature of -why- this album exists it will always be rated against the soundtrack to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. However, it is nearly impossible to separate Rocky the Score from Rocky the Phenomenon. If an attempt is made to independently view the scores to both, Shock Treatment comes ahead as the more fully realized and compelling work.

First off, this album has a number of real gems that transcend just the film. "Bitchin' In the Kitchen," for instance, comes across as an early-Tubes song, replete with the lost-in-suburbia feel of that band's first album. Backed up with a light and percolating arrangement, this song comes across as a creepy assessment of suburban life--perhaps the point of the film.

This is followed with the excellent "In My Own Way." Jessica Harper's voice is excellent on this track, the muted production maintaining the plastic-y feel of the movie to good effect.

One of the highlights of the album is "Farley's Song." Surprisingly powerful, Cliff de Young's vocals are both menacing and slick at the same time. The chorus uses what was happening in the punk movement at the same time as using slick production to subtly reveal the menace of powerful corporate types.

The other track of note is "Lullaby," a surprisingly sweet, yet still twisted tune. Personally, I play this song on the banjo all the time--it works great in that context. Basically, I love this song.

A few tracks don't quite work ("Me of Me", "Looking for Trade"), but some of the other songs are ebullient while still backed up with the seedy feel of the best on this album ("Little Black Dress", "Duel Duet").

So, this album deserves more attention than it has gotten--the songs are, for the most part, terrific. Additionally, they successfully did what a lot of artists at the time were trying to do (e.g., Steely Dan, Devo); Recontextualizing known music forms to illustrate a sinister world. Heck, if you like the way the song Blue Velvet was used in Lynch's film of the same name, you may love this soundtrack.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure, Hokey Fun, May 6, 2001

By 

John Adams "Farley Flavors" (Fort Lauderdale, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shock Treatment: The Original Sound Track (Audio CD)

Sure maybe it's not "Les Miserables," or even "The Music Man," for that matter. But nevertheless "Shock Treatment" Is one of the few musical gems that you either love or hate. This review is coming from someone who loves it. Upon my times performing "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at The Carefree Theater The stories that in which were told about "Shock Treatment" were almost legendary. How the fans either loved it or hated it. And isn't that the cryings of a true work of art when something isn't loved by everyone. Well "Shock Treatment" is a fine example of that.

Let's just get one thing straight. Shock treatment is the equal NOT the sequel. It's basically "The Continuing Adventures of Brad and Janet" The story is invariably over-the-top. The story of seduction, revenge, jealousy, and mental hygiene.When you look deep down there's alot to this story. with this CD Richard O'Brien's tunes in this musical are truly masterful cause he obviously made them deliberately hokey. Beginning with the silly wholesomeness of "Denton U.S.A.," the delightful bigotry of "Thank God I'm a Man," and even an interesting confrontation number which has both of Cliff DeYoung's characters facing off against each other in "Duel, Duet."

Basically if the people could look at "Shock Treatment" from a more artistic point of view, then they would be able to see the beauty of it that I myself see.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great 80's Music, March 13, 2001

By 

missmagenta (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shock Treatment: The Original Sound Track (Audio CD)

The first time I heard this album, I thought I would forever confine it to my "Never Listen To Again" pile, but after a few close listenings it really grew on me. Though not as raw as Rocky Horror, this album is definately worth listening to more than once. In my opinion, Jessica Harper gives Janet the ability to express herself through the music, something Susan Surandon couldn't quite do. Personally I prefer Barry Bostwick over Cliff DeYoung, but he was by no means a bad "second choice." There are several songs that stand out from both Rocky Horror and Shock Treatment put together. "Looking for Trade" sounds almost like a jazz/rock hybrid and with Harper's voice it succeeds superbly. "Bitchin' in the Kitchen" is a catchy twist on the typical break-up song. I love that this has an overture, which is something that Rocky Horror was missing. "Lullaby" sounds just like the title says it should. The mixture and contrast of the vocals and musical styles make it quite interesting to listen to. DeYoung's Broadway-style tenor is an enjoyable contrast to Harper's soulful alto. Richard O'Brien is great as usual, and Nell Campbell sounds like she always does. Patricia Quinn is essentially a vocal chameleon, which is shown by here singing on this album compared to the RHPS soundtrack and the RHS London Cast recording. Basically she sounds different on every single one. Overall, this album is catchy, fueled with 80's rock blended with just about every other genre you can think of. The singing is good, the music is good and it is not as disappointing as many claim it is. I gave it a high rating, but not the highest, only RHPS and RHS have gotten that so far.