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Listen to Samples

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Disc: 1
1. Merano - Murray Head, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
2. The Russian And Molokov/Where I Want To Be - Denis Quilley, Tommy K�rberg, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
3. Opening Ceremony - Bj�rn Skifs, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
4. Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquillity) - Elaine Paige, Tommy K�rberg, Denis Quilley, Bj�rn Skifs	Listen
5. The American And Florence/Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige, Murray Head	Listen
6. Chess - London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
7. Mountain Duet - Tommy K�rberg, Elaine Paige, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas
8. Florence Quits - Elaine Paige, Murray Head	Listen
9. Embassy Lament - Tommy K�rberg, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
10. Anthem - Tommy K�rberg	Listen
Disc: 2
1. Bangkok/One Night In Bangkok - Murray Head	Listen
2. Heaven Help My Heart - Elaine Paige, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
3. Argument - Elaine Paige, Tommy K�rberg	Listen
4. I Know Him So Well - Elaine Paige, Barbara Dickson	Listen
5. The Deal (No Deal) - Murray Head, Tommy K�rberg, Elaine Paige	Listen
6. Pity The Child - Murray Head	Listen
7. Endgame - Murray Head, Tommy K�rberg, Elaine Paige, Denis Quilley, Barbara Dickson, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen
8. Epilogue: You And I/The Story Of Chess - Elaine Paige, Tommy K�rberg, The Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Anders Eljas	Listen

Product Description

From the Artist
Just a quickie to thank all who have made kind Amazon comments about Chess (I have only just discovered them, having been told about them by my daughter). The music of Chess still sounds as wonderful today as it did when we recorded the original album in 1984 and I honestly believe B&B's work here stands comparison with any post-war musical. I will not comment on the words! We are all determined to produce a theatrical version of the show that matches up to the quality of the score before we shuffle off this mortal coil. To date productions have ranged from the reasonable to the dire. I am convinced that if we stick to the original structure, resisting the tempatation to "explain" everything by unnecessary dialogue, we can make a stage show work and put this marvellous score up there where it belongs. The Danish CD is a good one by the way (nothing to do with us). Tim Rice

Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

The musical about lost love and bitter rivalries, 7 Jan 2003

By	Bryan Anderson (Hertforshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

There have been many incarnations of CHESS but this is the original concept album written by Benny Andersson and Bj�rn Ulvaeus of ABBA with veteran Tim Rice. The score is an amazing amalgam of soaring classical orchestras, rock, pop and choral singing.

Benny and Bj�rn have always had an ear for the dramatic and with the added bonus of some very witty and sensitive lyrics by Tim Rice, this album is a true classic. The story is that of East versus West as Chess champions square up for the world championships, only for the American's lover to fall in love with the Russian opponent.

There are many fantastic moments on this CD - the bitter exhillarating climax ('You can slink back to your pawns and to your tarts!'), the comical merchandisers (Maybe it's a bit confusing for a game - but Rubiks Cubes were much the same), diplomats (No one's way of life is threatened by a flop - but we're gonna smash their bastard!) and civil servants ('He will not see you - with respect it buggers up his very taxing schedule') and the tender and heart-rending love songs.

'One Night In Bangkok' and 'I Know Him So Well' were both international smash hits but belie a very intelligent and thrilling musical. It is a true original classic.

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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

Wonderful music, undeservedly failed in the theatres, 2 Dec 2003

By	Jonathan Oakey (Brussels Belgium) - See all my reviews

The song "I Know Him So Well" was No. 1 for 4 weeks in the UK and prompted me to make my first ever musical purchase - Chess. In nearly 20 years I have never tired of it and am still moved when I listen to many of the songs. The emotional highlight for me is the song "Pity the Child", a heart-rending outpouring of raw emotion from the twisted American player (based on Bobby Fisscher) which ends with a superb guitar solo.
Reviews of the stage musical always seem to say something like "some good music, but deeply flawed", without explaining what the flaws were. I don't see it - I saw the show in London, loved it, and would love to see it again.
Anyway, whatever the merits or shortcomings of the show (sadly not available on DVD or Video), the music is exceptional. It is a mix of rock and orchestral music (contrast the two singles, "I Know Him So Well" and "One Night in Bangkok"); it has some beautiful duets (trios, quartets...) with lovely interleaved melodies and some very elegant and clever lyrics by Tim Rice.
If I could, I would give it a hundred stars. This is, I think, my favourite album bar none.

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