Bjorn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice - Chess

Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons Amazon.com

Not a cheesy remake of Buena Sera, Mrs Campbell!

Bjorn and Benny's clever and eclectic collaboration with Tim Rice on this 1984 score resulted in one of the best records ever made of a musical. It doesn't work as well on stage, and many attempts have been made to fix the inherent flaws in the book but musically it remains a highly listenable recording. Highlights are the stirring "Anthem", the dramatic "Nobody's Side" and just about everything else. May 9, 2008

Too bad this is so overlooked

An unbelievably pretty score....Too bad it is often overlooked as a musical. The musical masters behind Abba composed this , and it is a success on many levels. Do what I did , burn this with selections from "The Original Broadway Cast Recording" and you will have the ultimate "Chess" recording.....Sure, some of the recordings and words will overlap, but you will have the best of both versions....CHECKMATE November 21, 2007

In love w/ the London version of Chess since 1985...

As a Musical Theatre Performance Major right out of high school in 1985, I immediately fell in love w/ this amazing musical. Having not had the honor of seeing it in London, I could only imagine the entire show in my head. The lyrics are amazing (Tim Rice!!), and the score is unbelievable (The B's in ABBA)combined w/ the performances- well, it's amazing and by far my favorite musical - and I've never seen it on stage!!! I completely wore out several cassettes (yes, tape cassettes for you youngsters) and even managed to wear out 2 CD versions. Given the chance, I could perform the entire show myself. I have to say that I was SOOOOO disappointed in the American version of the show. It was painful to compare it to the original cast. I try to keep an ear (and eye) open, hoping that someday someone will attempt a revival of the LONDON!!!! version on Broadway. Just can't say enough about this wonderful, amazing recording (make sure you DON'T get the Broadway cast recording - you just won't get how great it is! M. Humble-Nguyen Jacksonville, FL November 14, 2007

Thanks for the CD version

I bought the cassette tape years (and years)ago. I have just about worn it out. I always was afraid the tape would break and the score lost. I was happy to see the CD version. I purchased it without hesitation. Tim Rice has been a favorite ever since Jesus Christ Superstar. This is one of his top works since. September 14, 2007

Thoroughly Enjoyable -- and not just to Chess Fans

"Chess" is the story of a world championship match between the challanger, a crude American genius, who acts alone and fights with everyone sooner or later, and the champion, a Soviet "party man" who secretly desires to flee to the west. The similarities to Fischer-Spassky are, of course, deliberate; but "Chess" does not bore the audience by making the Fischer-figure a hero and the "commies" villans. It concentrates, instead, on the behind-the-scenes human relations of the principal actors, and the follies of the hanger-ons.

The first include the mutual suspicion between the champions and his party-appointed second ("Go get me a chess-playing second--if you want to win!") and the rocky relationship between the challenger and his girlfriend ("you'll be lost without me to abuse like you're used to", she tells him when she finally leaves). The second includes the cynicism and greed of match organizers and merchendizers ("we are here to sell you chess" / "all major credit cards taken of course") or the silly attempts of the arbiter to use his moment in the sun to puff himself up ("from square one I'll be watching all 64").

By doing excellent research about how high-level chess (and chess history in general) is (and was) like, instead of taking the "Fisher good genius, commies bad" easy way out, Benny and Bjorn (of "Abba" fame) created a musical whose intelligent, witty lyrics and music appeal to both the general public and to experts on chess. The lyrics deal with the human side of chess, not with chess moves; readily enjoyed and understood by those who know no chess at all, they nevertheless manage to include numerous "inside jokes" that refer to historical (or political) chess events.

For example, "The Story of Chess" gives those ignorant of the subject an overview of chess' history that is--surprisingly--quite accurate, being based on Murray's justly famous "History of Chess". You can both learn about chess history and enjoy the song. To those who *do* know chess history and literature, however, the song's dramatic declaration the historical outline presented "the most accurate" is a double joke: about itself, since in the generally accurate historical outline, there is one deliberately absurd claim made as "history" (those who know Murray would recognize it instantly--can you?); and about the common brand of sloppy chess historians, who often repeat fables as facts while praising themselves for their accuracy.

One does not have to know chess at all to enjoy this musical a lot; but the more one knows about chess (and chess history), the more thorough one's enjoyment will be.

Highly recommended. August 11, 2007

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