PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE
with PAUL WILLIAMS
(Film Soundtrack)
FILM DIRECTOR: BRIAN DE PALMA
1974
Latest update 16th February 2008
2008 CD RELEASE
See more images from the 2008 CD release here
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Read all about Paul's appearance
here
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OTHER PHANTOM NEWS
- Phantom of the Paradise, is now being considered for a stage show in Vegas!!
- Paul receives award for his contribution to Phantom of the Paradise. See here for more details
- "Phantom Of The Paradise" now available on DVD here, video here and album here
- A LOOK BACK AT "Phantom Of The Paradise" BY SHIVER MAGAZINE added here
THE year 2000 WAS THE 25th Anniversary of the film "Phantom Of The Paradise" in which Paul starred and wrote the soundtrack. Still a favourite amongst movie goers it is the one topic for which I get the most questions/emails. Click on the headings below to find out all you need to know about "Phantom Of The Paradise"
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Sleeve Notes From "Phantom Of The Paradise"
An Invitation...
How exciting these satanic '70's. This magical time when reality and fantasy are so cleverly disguised by the madia masters. Full color shoot outs nightly on all channels. In the movies. In the news. Fact or Fiction? Check your local TV listings if you're left confused.Here at The Paradise we offer you a special blend of fantasy and fact. Atrocity and art. Music and murder twice nightly. And is the horror you witness mere theatrics, or is it real? The only way to be sure...is to participate.
At The Paradise our performers are contracted to entertain you at any cost! And entertain you they will.
Trust me...
SWAN
What's It All About? - My Review Of The "Phantom Of The Paradise" Album
When you click on a song title below you will be taken to the lyrics for that song. For those of you who have your Java enabled you can see the lyrics in the form of a Java 'PopUp' box. Click on where it says 'here' after the song title.
Whilst the theme of the film 'Phantom Of The Paradise' is one which is well tested (selling your soul to the devil in exchange for something that you always wanted), each Paul Williams song on the soundtrack cleverly uses different styles of music to paint different images music industry.
It starts with a rock song
'Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye' ('PopUp Lyrics' here), a song full of satirical comment on the rock industry. It's about a rock singer who sacrifices his life in order to sell his records to raise money for a life saving operation for his sister. (Oh such devotion!!) After introducing our hero (Bill Finley) with the ballad 'Faust' ('PopUp Lyrics' here), which introduces the main theme of the film, we rock again with 'Upholstery' ('PopUp Lyrics' here) ('Phil Spector' meets 'Meat Loaf') about our worship of inanimate objects as status symbols.Our heroine (Jessica Harper) then takes the scene with a ballad ('Special For Me - Phoenix Audition Song') ('PopUp Lyrics' here) about the dangers of working yourself into the ground to fulfil a dream. After 'baddie' Swan (played by Paul Williams himself) reflects on the battle between good and evil ('Phantom's Theme - Beauty and the Beast' ('PopUp Lyrics' here)) which takes place within all of us, we then rock again ('Somebody Super Like You - Beef Construction Song') ('PopUp Lyrics' here) as we go in search of the perfect hero, with a "Hollywood smile and a perfect profile", to help make our life a 'ball'.
Then the devil takes the scene ('Life At Last' ('PopUp Lyrics' here)) constantly craving to be fed and satisfied by it's makers (us). Our heroine then returns ('Old Souls' ('PopUp Lyrics' here)) with a beautiful ballad, presenting the case for love as the answer to all our fears. After returning back with a repeat of the theme of the film ('Faust' ('PopUp Lyrics' here)), but this time with 'Swan' reflecting on the striving for perfection at any cost, the piece ends with a 'knees-up', ('The Hell Of It' ('PopUp Lyrics' here)) a homage to the results of living a life full of evil.
Let that be a lesson to you.
Throughout Paul Williams skilfully uses the music to augment the visual images. It is a great reflection on the talents and versatility's of the man who in latter years would turn his talents to music for such dark rock films as 'Bugsy Malone' and 'The Muppet Movie'!!
The 'Lost' Tracks From "Phantom Of The Paradise".
John Lee Sanders (who worked with Paul Williams for five years in the late 80's and early 90's) wrote to me on the 28th August 1998 about his experiences of working with Paul. In his reflections he said:
"I love 'Old Souls' from "Phantom of the Paradise". Paul rewrote the score to that show, when Brian DePalma told him he wanted to put it on Broadway. We went into the studio and cut about 12 new songs, and did a few of them live, but somehow the show was shelved and never done."
Read more of Johns article here.Paul Plays Piano In "Phantom Of The Paradise"
On 5th October 1998 I got the following snippet of information from Paul:
"One bit of information you may find interesting. The last long music cue that leads up to the wedding/shooting was the one cue I played on. That's my little piano solo when Phoenix bends over Winslows body at the end. It's my debut and my swan song as a musician. I never played on anything again. Not with guys like Kenny Ascher and Craig Doerge around."
When I asked Paul if I could use this information on this Web page he said:
As Swan would say.... `Perfect!'
Where To Get The Sheet Music For
"Phantom Of The Paradise"
North America
d/b/a Almo Music
Corp./Irving Music, Inc.
a Universal Music Group Company
Synchronization Department
2440 Sepulveda Blvd. #119
Los Angeles, CA 90064-1217
Ph: 1-310-235-4800
Fax: 1-310-235-4801
United Kingdom
Rondor UK
Rondor House
10A Parsons Green,
London SW6 4TW
England
Tel: 0207 731 4161
France
Rondor France
Saint Jacques
75005
PARIS
France
Tel: 33 1 44 41 91 91
Track Listing For This Paul Williams Album
- What's It All About? - My Review Of The "Phantom Of The Paradise" Album
- Sleeve Notes From "Phantom Of The Paradise"
- Interview (Dated 1975) with Brian DePalma, The Director of "Phantom Of The Paradise"
- The 'Lost' Tracks From "Phantom Of The Paradise"
- Paul Plays Piano In "Phantom Of The Paradise"
- Where To Get The Sheet Music For "Phantom Of The Paradise"
- See Pictures Of Paul Williams As Swan In The "Swan Picture Gallery"
- List Of Other Web Pages About 'Phantom Of The
Paradise'
Hear some rather fun (and rather short) extracts from Where To Buy This Paul Williams Album
Where To Buy Phantom Of The Paradise on video Where To Buy Phantom Of The Paradise on DVD
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