1. Merano	Disc 2
2. The Russian & Molokov/Where I Want To Be	1. One Night In Bangkok
3. Opening Ceremony/The Arbiter's Song	2. Heaven Help My Heart
4. Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility)	3. Argument
5. The American And Florence/Nobody's Side	4. I Know Him So Well
6. Chess (Instrumental)	5. The Deal
7. Mountain/Terrace Duet	6. Pity The Child
8. Florence Quits	7. Endgame
9. Embassy Lament   10. Anthem	8. Epilogue: You And I / The  Story Of Chess

Chess photos and links

For more information on this show, please see http://www.chessthemusical.com .

    Can you imagine the disco-pop pioneers that were ABBA writing a musical, a show complete with grand classical pieces and 1980's hard rock, all rolled into one effective work? Somehow they did it. I barely remembered hearing 'One Night In Bangkok' on the radio in the mid eighties, but it indeed did well on the U.S. charts in 1985.

  Chess begins in Merano, Italy, where we are graced with a lovely chorus of townspeople singing a grand classical piece that turns into a peppy pop tune with Murray singing his at his grittiest. The entire show phases in and out of genres in this manner, and once you get used to the flow I think you'll grow to love it.

   Compared with his turn as Judas, Murray is more mature, acts in a greater variety of situations, and is more controlled. Still, he's just as capable of making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up - especially in the end of Pity The Child. Even if you don't embrace the odd mix of pop and classical, you can't deny that Murray's angst in 'Pity' is utterly convincing. He makes you feel he is angry, he is in pain...

  Although I am clearly Murray-biased, also of note on this disc (aside from the wonderful Elaine Paige) is Tommy Korberg. Tommy plays The Russian, perfectly showcasing his amazing and powerful voice. He doesn't just ease into a song - he dives in head-first. Twenty years later, he is still in the role in the current Chess production running in Sweden.

Chess The Musical, Tommy Korberg, Elaine Paige, Tim Rice, ABBA, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson