THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW:
The Christopher/Emery Company (1993)

*CD*
1993, Tring/Griffin Music, GRF231
1993, Music Mirror/Selected Sound Carrier AG, 1002.2064-2

CAST:
Dr. Frank N. Furter: Tony Walden
Riff-Raff: Cliff Lord
Brad Majors/Rocky Horror: Jake Fernandez
Janet Weiss: Vikki Molton
Eddie: Mike Lord
The Narrator/Dr. Scott: Lee Lombardo
Magenta: Chris Salmon
Columbia: Debbie Williams

RECORDED BY THE HIT THE PAVEMENT HOUSE BAND

RUNNING TIME: 44:06

The Christopher/Emery Company recording of TRHS is *not* an actual cast recording, it is instead considered a "studio cast" recording. What makes a "studio cast" recording different is that the performers are not an actual ensemble that performed TRHS, but instead a group of vocalists who recorded the songs, and that's it. This album became the first of what seems like a never-ending flood of "studio cast" recordings (such as Music And Songs From TRHS and the Toronto Musical Revue recordings). These studio cast recordings seem to be very cheaply put together and produced, and totally lacking in originality. (Most of these albums just do *bad* imitations of TRHPS soundtrack.) This is probably why most of them are priced so cheaply. It seems to me that since the performers on these studio recordings lack the experience of getting on a stage and actually performing the show in front of an audience, it SERIOUSLY prevents them from pulling off good, believable, enjoyable performances on the albums. This is the case with The Christopher/Emery Company recording.

First of all, after listening to this album for a few moments, it's quite obvious that this album is trying to dupe the TRHPS soundtrack. The whole album is totally unoriginal, and it should just be called: "The Christopher/Emery Company Tries To Sing The Original Soundtrack Album To TRHPS." The album's musical contents are entirely identical to TRHPS Original Soundtrack, which means that the album is missing the same songs, and the arrangements try real hard to replicate the original.

Although the performers sound like they're having fun, the album just is not entertaining. But I guess with a retail price of around $6.99 you shouldn't expect a whole lot.

This recording, sadly, really has no high points of merit, but 'The Time Warp,' 'Eddie's Teddy,' and 'I'm Going Home' are especially bad.

I'll even go so far as to question whether this recording is even legitimate. I wonder how these people got the permission/rights to release this recording.

ONE INTERESTING NOTE: Around 1994, a fellow RH fan went to Switzerland, and found this CD in a shop, so she bought it for me knowing that I'll collect ANY RH CD. Well, the CD itself is a strange item. The cover features a picture of the infamous "throne scene" during 'Sweet Transvestite' in TRHPS, and the title just says "ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW"......it leads you to believe that it's the movie soundtrack. Well, Richard O'Brien's name is spelled wrong on both the CD and the liner notes (?!?!?!) and the song listing lists wrong titles of some of the songs ('Rose In My World'), and 'Eddie's Teddy' is listed as being on the CD *twice*. When I got this CD, I was very anxious to rush home and listen to it, since it really doesn't specify what it is. I cannot tell you how disappointed I was when I discovered it was The Christopher/Emery Company.

Overall, I would only recommend this copycat recording to the die-hard RH audio junkies who just have to have everything; otherwise, stick to the movie soundtrack and the REAL cast albums.

MISSING TRACKS: 'The Sword Of Damocles,' 'Once In A While,' and 'Planet Schmanet, Janet'

*****AVAILABILITY*****
I don't think this CD is in print anymore; when it first came out, it was available everywhere, now no one seems to carry it. Footlight Records lists is in their mail-order catalog, but (of course) I cannot guarantee availability.

---kevin j.b.
14 April 1997

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