Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Chess
Company: RCA Victor
Catalog: CPL2-5340
Year: 1984
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG+
Comments: double LP; original inner sleeves; original multi-page insert; gatefold sleeve; minor ring wear
Available: 1
Price: $20.00
We'll readily admit to owning this set for a decade before we actually got around to listening to it ... our decision to listen to it came about after we managed to get kicked off an ABBA internet fan site after a week's membership (different story).
Tim Rice came up with the "Chess" concept, wrote the original plotline and most of the lyrics, with Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus composing the 18 songs featured on the album. As a concept piece, the use of the US vs. USSR chess rivalry as a reflection for Rice's world view (and personal) concerns was actually kind of clever, though the overall result was hard to follow (they were apparently still working on the show's plotline when the LP was released). While the political and social commentary was a hit or miss affair, Rice's reflections on broken personal relationships (he was apparently going through a nasty divorce), were far stronger. Showcasing the talents of vocalists Barbara Dickson, Murray Head, Tommy Korberg, Elaine Paige, Denis Quilley and Bjorn Skifs, musically the set offered a weird mix of Broadway-styled showpieces and more pop oriented material. Since we're not big Broadway fans, over-the-top stuff such as "Merano", "The Russian and Molokov" and "Opening Ceremony" simply didn't do much for us. Elsewhere, baring more than a passing resemblance to ABBA's catalog, material such as "Where I Want To Be", "Nobody's Side" and "Heaven Help My Heart" (the latter sounding amazingly like an ABBA track), was quite catchy and radio friendly. Both "I Know Him So Well" and "One Night In Bangkok" became major hits (the latter is one of those isolated 80s' synth-propelled songs that doesn't totally suck).
"Chess" track listing:
1.) Merano (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
2.) The Russian and Molokov/Where I Want To Be (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
3.) Opening Ceremony (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
4.) Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility) (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
5.) The American and Florence/Nobody's Side (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
6.) Chess (instrumental) (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
7.) Mountain Duet (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
8.) Florence Quits (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
9.) Embassy Lament (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
10.) Anthem (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
11.) Bangkok/One Night In Bangkok (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
12.) Heaven Help My Heart (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
13.) Argument (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
14.) I Know Him So Well (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
15.) The Deal (No Deal) (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
16.) Pity the Child (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
17.) End Game (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -
18.) Epilogue: You and I/The Story of Chess (Benny Andersson - Tim Rice - Bjorn Ulvaeus) -