Rocky Horror Picture Show: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
To me, the first time I ever saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show was life changing, everything about the film from start to finish left me awestruck. The acting, the music, the choreography – all of it was just something that was out of this world for me. Out of every movie I’ve ever seen, I’d have to say that Rocky Horror Picture Show is up there in the films that I have probably watched more than a dozen times. Now, back in August, we lost the legendary Tim Curry – who starred as Frank N’ Furter in the film. He is also one of the many actors from the film that also had musical careers beyond the film.
The soundtrack opens with the beautiful, “Science Fiction, Double Feature” which is performed by the wonderfully talented Richard O’Brien, who is also responsible for creating Rocky Horror. He does do a wonderful job in the film as well. We follow that song with the ever-so-catchy, “Dammit Janet” – which features Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon on vocals, accompanied by Richard, Patricia Quinn and Little Nell on backing vocals. One of the songs in this film that for me, features one of the most beautiful vocal numbers is, “Over at the Frankenstein Place” which is another duet with Barry and Susan, but there is a verse in the song that is performed by Richard O’Brien, who absolutely delivers some of the most enchanting vocals I have ever heard in a musical. We continue through, with what is probably the most known song from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is “The Time Warp” – ‘it’s just a jump to the left, and step to the right! With your hands on your hips, you bring knees in tight – it’s the pelvic thrust and it really drives you insane!’ – which is performed by Richard, Patricia, Little Nell, Charles Gray (yes, Ernst Stavro Blofeld from James Bond) and all those wonderful actors that portrayed the ‘Transylvanians’. It’s catchy, and if you’ve seen the movie, you know the dance moves. Fantastic. We are then introduced to Tim Curry’s Frank N’ Furter (he’s a hot dog) with “Sweet Transvestite” – if you’ve seen it, you know it is one of the greatest entrances in cinematic history, if you haven’t you’re missing out. Tim delivers his usual powerhouse vocals and gives one hell of a performance. Now, if we were watching the film, the next song would be “Sword of Damocles” – which is performed by Trevor White, but lip-synced by Peter Hinwood in the film. It’s a personal favorite of mine, and I am disappointed it always gets left out on the soundtracks. We follow it up with Tim performing the song “I Can Make You a Man” – which of all the songs on the soundtrack, it’s not one of my favorite tracks, for me it’s not as exciting as the other songs, but Tim still does a wonderful performance. Then we get Meat Loaf, who does make a rather quick appearance in the film with the song “Hot Patootie” and he delivers it in typical Meat Loaf fashion, he’s a raw ball of energy that exudes sex appeal – only for his character to be killed by Tim Curry. The song is another one of my personal favorites, that does still end up in my heavy rotation on Spotify from time to time. The A-Side closes out with “I Can Make You a Man (Reprise)” – sung by Tim once more, and much like the first appearance, still not one of my favorites.
B-Side! The B-Side opens with Susan Sarandon (accompanied by Patricia Quinn and Little Nell on backing vocals for some parts of the song) singing “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” – which is basically about her sexual encounter with Rocky (Peter Hinwood) – it’s another catchy song, not one of my favorites, but there is nothing wrong with Sexy Susan Sarandon. We continue with the song “Eddie” ‘a rather tender subject, another slice?‘ – sung by Jonathan Adams, it’s got a very catchy chorus, the whole cast essentially joins in on backing vocals (except Meat Loaf, because at this point he is his name) – following this musical number we go into the pinnacle of cinema for Rocky Horror Picture Show, with the Floor Show – which opens with “Rose Tint My World” (Rose Tits My World – if you know what I mean) – and it’s essentially a stage show, sung by Barry, Susan, Little Nell and Trevor White (Peter Hinwood lip-syncing) each of the four actors has a verse, they are then followed by Jonathan Adams delivering operatic vocals – which is very impressive before we go back to Tim Curry singing the beautiful, “Don’t Dream It (Be It)” – and it’s just a very great and inspiring song. The musical number picks up with “Wild and Untamed Thing” which Tim is then joined by the original four from the Floor Show number on backing vocals before he is interrupted by Richard O’Brien with one of the greatest lyrics ever written, ‘Frank N’ Furter, it’s all over. Your mission is a failure, your lifestyle is too extreme. I’m you’re new commander, you now are my prisoner. We return to Transylvania, prepare the transit beam!’ – before we go back into Tim singing another beautiful musical number, “I’m Going Home” which is another song that hits my Spotify heavy rotation quite frequently as well. We wind down with the song “Super Heroes” performed by Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon, if you have the US version of the movie, this musical number is omitted, but if you have the UK version it is included. It’s not one of my favorites on the album. We close out with a more dialed back reprise of “Science Fiction, Double Feature” performed by Richard O’Brien, and it’s essentially keeps to the same style as the first song, but now focused more on the events of the film.
Catalog Number:
ODE-00001-1
Credits:
Acoustic & Electric Guitar – Count Ian Blair
Bass Guitar – David Wintour
Saxophone – Phil Kenzie
Keyboards – Rabbit & Richard Hartley
Recorded at Olympic Studios, London
Remixed by Keith Grant & Phil Chapman
Sleeve Designed by John Pasche & Gull Graphics
Producer, Musical Direction & Arrangements – Richard Hartley
Original Musical Play, Music & Lyrics – Richard O’Brien
Vocals – Tim Curry, Richard O’Brien, Patricia Quinn, Little Nell, Meat Loaf, Barry Bostwick, Susan Sarandon, Trevor White, Jonathan Adams & Charles Gray
Released:
1975 (Original) | 1989 (Reissue)
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