[.ca] Phantom of the Paradise - Ost

so good it sticks!!!:
The first time I saw this movie was about 4 years ago, I fell in love. Its an amazing show and the music just makes its 300x better! I always catch myself wanting to listen to the soundtrack, or getting songs stuck in my head... I definately recomend this album to anyone!

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!

An unbelievable work of art!:
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.

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).

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