Pictured above: the British release (left) and the American release (right)

*CD*
1999, Medical Records, DOCTORCD1
1999, Oglio Records, OGL 89111-2

TRACK LISTING:
1. Incubus Of Love (6:50)
2. It's Up To You (4:11)
3. Ain't That To Die For (2:56)
4. Fixation (4:18)
5. The Dance Of Love (3:04)
6. One Hundred Dollars An Hour (4:01)
7. Rhythm Of The Heartbeat (4:04)
8. I've Been There Before (3:53)
9. Running With The Noisy Boys (3:28)
10. I Will Always Hold You In My Heart (3:20)
11. Angel In Me (5:19)

RUNNING TIME: 45:30

Produced by Pip Williams for Pachuco Management
(Original Backing Tracks 4, 6, 8, 9, 10 directed by Richard O'Brien and Hugh Burns)
Recorded and Mixed at Route One Studios, London, England
Engineer - Damien Korner, assisted by Eli Devonte and Euan Hill
Additional Recording and Mixes of "Incubus Of Love," "The Dance Of Love" and "Angel In Me" at Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire, England
Engineer - Pip Williams, assisted by Ewan Davies
Digital Editing - Bias Boshell
Mastered by Tony Bridge at Whitfield Street Mastering, London

All Music and Lyrics composed by Richard O'Brien
c. Medical Records 1999 p. Medical Records 1999
Published by Druidcrest Music

Design by Andy at GIGG American Release design by Lisa Sutton)
Photography by Shaun Webb (front cover), Outi (Black and White), Blanche-Adreinne Harper (Mephistopheles Smith) and Chatsworth Television

Special Thanks to
All our wonderful musicians, Damian, Eli, Sappho, Helen and all at Route One, Ewan, Steve, Andy, Louise, Munch and all at Chapel, Tonly, Graham Carpenter, Neil Warnock, Chris Malcolm, Jill Sinclair, Tonly Lewis, Andy Leighton and of course the lovely Nina

The Copyright in this sound recording is owned by Medical Records
For more info try www.interfishnet.co.uk

Released on 24 February 1999 in the UK and 7 September 1999 in the US, Richard O'Brien's first full-length studio album is a truly fabulous disc. The album had been a work-in-progress for almost two years. It had first been announced that the album would be a studio recording of the music from Richard's Mephistopheles Smith show, Disgracefully Yours, then later announced to be an original studio album titled Five Card Tarot, the final result is a magnificent work that gives fans yet another side of the multi-faceted Richard O'Brien.

The album contains music that was part of Disgracefully Yours ("Incubus Of Love," "It's Up To You," "Ain't That To Die For," "The Dance Of Love," "Rhythm Of The Heartbeat," "Angel In Me") as well as all-new O'Brien compositions.

This recording is nothing at all like Rocky Horror. Forget Riff-Raff, Cosmo McKinley, and that horny little devil Mephistopheles Smith. The O'Brien on this recording is a soft, dreamy, jazzy vocalist that can make you melt if you're into that sort of thing. Some fans may be a bit disappointed that this album isn't much in the rock-n-roll department, and I predict that many Rocky Horror fans are going to be a bit disappointed. I, on the other hand, have fallen in love with this aspect of O'Brien's genius. This album is difficult to put into one fixed category, since the music ranges from jazz to soft rock to country and lounge music. What can I say, I *LOVE* it. Yes, I may be a bit biased since I love Richard O'Brien, and I've been holding my breath for it's release ever since I first heard of it, but it's much better than I had ever hoped for.

The cover itself (which is the only disappointment) is a photo taken from the Official UK TRHS collection. (However, the American release on Oglio Records is a tad more appealing.) The CD booklet contains the lyrics, as well as some tasty pictures of the man himself. Richard plays acoustic guitar on a few tracks, and even sings the backing vocals on "Angel In Me." There's also some musical work and direction by Hugh Burns, who played guitar on the soundtrack of Shock Treatment.

Out of the six tracks on the album from Disgracefully Yours, "Incubus Of Love" and "Angel In Me" are the only tracks which really sound anything like they did when performed live. It's also nice hearing Richard singing "It's Up To You" and "The Dance Of Love," (songs which although were part of the show Disgracefully Yours, they were not sung by him.) I just wish that he would have included my favourite DY song, "Tulip Baker." But the album's highlight has to be "Angel In Me," a ballad which is probably one of the most beautiful songs O'Brien has ever written.

Richard's performance on this album is one-of-a-kind. His soft, sweet voice, beautiful melodies, and colourful lyrics make this album an instant classic.

Overall, this album is a MUST-have for all Richard fans and Rocky Horror audio collecting junkies. Just don't expect it to be "Riff-Raff Sings."

sanity for today gives Absolute O'Brien honourable mention for being the best Rocky Horror-related recording to come out in the past decade!

*****AVAILABILITY*****
This CD was released 14 February 1999 in the UK and 7 September 1999 in the US, which should make it easily obtainable for fans in both countries. For American fans, you can get the US release directly from the Oglio Records website. It's also available at CD Now. For the UK release, try Footlight Records. Memories Of The Past presently offers both releases. Fans in the UK can find it at Townsend Records. I have yet to see the CD in any stores here in the states, but most music retailers *can* special order it.

--Kev J.B.
1 March 1999, 4 October 1999

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