Music from the Motion Picture—Phantom of the Opera Restless Records, 1989
Twenty tracks of music from the motion picture starring Robert Englund. The music itself is superb and the main title theme is especially haunting. Cassette tape, CD, 36 minutes.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 1.5
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 1.5
TOTAL: 7
Phantom of the Opera DRG, 1999.
The soundtrack for Argento’s film is beautiful, a shame considering how terrible the film is. Not really astounding, but nice enough for a casual listen.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 1
Musical performance: 1.5
Overall experience: 1.5
TOTAL: 6
Dario Argento: Opera Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2001. This 14 track CD comes as part of the limited edition DVD version of Dario Argento’s Opera. The music was composed by Claudio Simonetti, and features everything from heavy metal to tender orchestral pieces. CD, 46 minutes.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 1.5
Musical performance: 1.5
Overall experience: 1.0
TOTAL: 6
Phantom of the Opera The Sound Track Factory, 2002.
This soundtrack comes from the Phantom of the Opera movie starring Claude Rains as the Phantom. The musical tracks themselves are beautiful, the full range of the singers being better appreciated when the eyes and ears are not competing. There are also bits of the soundtrack left in the music, so Rains’ fans will get to hear his voice. CD, 57 minutes.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 8
Phantom of the Opera Private Stock Records Ltd, 1978. Walter Murphy’s tale of a suave and rhythmic Phantom that rules the dance floor is not to be missed. Classical pieces by Beethoven and Bach are fused with disco and some calypso rhythms to make a truly American and funky recoding. Gene Pistilli in the role of the Phantom is excellent, and Renee Geyer shines as Christine. 8-track, 41 minutes.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 8
Le Fantome de L’Opera Erato, 1982. Marcel Landowski brings absolute listening magic to his ballet. Although the story has shifted to one about dance, the main theme remains unchanged. The LP includes a brief description of each scene, leaving the listener to pine for the actual show. This album is a must and well worth importing. 1 LP, 54 min.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 8
The Phantom of the Opera Facet, 1987. This recording of the 1943 radio broadcast is a radio dramatization of the then-popular movie starring Claude Rains. Rains does not appear in this version, but Basil Rathbone serves as a delightfully menacing Phantom. Eddy and Foster reprise their screen roles, and several of the more popular musical numbers are included. CD, 53 minutes.
Sound quality: 1.8
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 7.8
Phantom BMG Music, 1993.
The American musical written by Maury Yeston, the original cast recording features Richard White as the Phantom. This is an overall sense of sweetness and the Phantom himself is highly accessible. The duet between Christine and the Phantom, You are Music, is touching, conveying the feelings of the singers more with tone and inflection that straightforward lyrics. CD, 57 minutes.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 1.5
Overall experience: 1.5
TOTAL: 7
Phantom Phantasy Naxos, 1995.
Demetrios Pappas delivers one of the smoothest interpretations of Webber’s Phantom of the Opera that you will ever find. His playing is inspired, and the album is full of energy. Songs include Phantom Phantasy, Music of the Night, Chandeliers and Roses, and The Phantom of the Opera. A must have for serious POTO or jazz fans. CD, 50 minutes.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 8
Christmas Center Stage: The San Francisco Cast of The Phantom of the Opera Cabana Boy Records, 1997. Christmas albums seem to be made by everyone today, so it should not surprise Phantom fans to see this one. Franc D’Ambrosio is featured on several tracks of the album’s fifteen, including Merry Christmas Darling and Panis Angelicus. This album is a wonderful chance for those who missed his role as the Phantom to hear him perform.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 8
Webber ‘The Mail on Sunday’ enhanced CD Subscribers to the newspaper got this exclusive enhanced CD that contains over 20 minutes of film footage. Video tracks play on your computer and are: movie trailer, making of, set design, and costumes. On the music tracks, Butler and Rossum cover the title song while Paul Nicholas covers Music of the Night.
Sound quality: 2
Total playing time: 2
Musical performance: 2
Overall experience: 2
TOTAL: 8
Phantasia EMI Classics, 2005. This is one of those rather somber and odd CDs that makes one wonder. With a slower tempo and blended musical/movie setup the music can be both beautiful and stodgy. The riffs of classical works barely made over are evident in both sets and the CD breaks no new ground despite being lauded a separate entity unto itself. Not bad, but far below the level of both the performers (Webber, Chang) and the arranger.
Sound quality: 1.5
Total playing time: 1.0
Musical performance: 1.0
Overall experience: 1.0
TOTAL: 4.5
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