This gothic rock epic was the brainchild of Jim Steinman, the writer/producer behind Meat Loaf and the 1980s resurgence of Bonnie Tyler. This time, Steinman ups the musical ante by utilizing a quartet of powerful female vocalists (including former Meat Loaf backup singer Ellen Foley). Fittingly, Original Sin bears all the hallmarks of the Jim Steinman style: epic-length songs, over-the-top and romance-obsessed lyrics, and plenty of rock & roll bombast. A great example of this approach is the opening track, "Original Sin"; this moody rumination on romantic obsession starts as a piano ballad but soon transforms into a rock song and continues to build until it becomes a rock-operatic aria. Another highlight in the same vein is "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," a tormented ballad about romantic loss and regret built on a spooky yet heart-wrenching piano melody. The latter song is also notable because it would later become a massive hit when covered by Celine Dion. Other songs explore a danceable style enhanced by electronic touches: the most notable example is a cover of the Doors' "Twentieth Century Fox," which tarts up this classic with several layers of synthesizer effects, a Jimi Hendrix sample, and musical quotes from "In the Midnight Hour" and "Light My Fire." These songs are vividly brought to life by the album's four vocalists, who lend gospel-fueled firepower to the uptempo songs and a surprising emotional vulnerability to the quieter ballads. The resulting album is an odd but fascinating combination of dark humor, heartfelt emotion, and ornate instrumentation. It is not for all tastes, but is well-crafted throughout and will appeal to anyone who enjoyed Jim Steinman's hits with Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler. ~ Donald A. Guarisco, All Music Guide
Matthew Boomer La Monica (Assistant Engineer), Larry Alexander (Engineer), Brenda King (Vocals (Background)), Todd Rundgren (Arranger), Tawatha Agee (Vocals (Background)), Ray Palmer (Photography), Darryl Tookes (Vocals (Background)), Greg Calbi (Mastering), Elaine Caswell (Vocals), Gina Taylor (Vocals), Roy Bittan (Piano), Jeff Bova (Programming), Laura Theodore (Vocals), Ellen Foley (Vocals), Larry Alexander (Producer), Jim Steinman (Producer), Vanessa Thomas (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Bova (Keyboards), Todd Rundgren (Vocals (Background)), Larry Alexander (Mixing), Don Ketteler (Coordination), Holly Sherwood (Vocals), Ed Sirrs (Photography), Roy Bittan (Producer), Curtis King (Vocals (Background)), Steve Buslowe (Bass), Audrey Bernstein (Artwork), Eric Troyer (Arranger), Jim Steinman (Keyboards), Jeff Bova (Synthesizer), Rory Dodd (Vocals (Background)), Eric Troyer (Vocals (Background)), Eddie Martinez (Guitar)
Original Sin is a concept album performed by Pandora's Box and produced by Jim Steinman. Steinman wrote the majority of this album, although there are a couple of cover versions. It was the group's only album, and was a commercial flop.
Although the album was not a commercial success (except in South Africa), many of the songs have gone platinum with other artists. Steinman is said to be very proud of the songs on this album, even though Original Sin sold very poorly in comparison with his highest selling albums and songs. The album charted at #43 in Sweden.[1]
Steinman regularly reworks previous material for a newer project, and much of Original Sin has been recycled, as listed in the table below. Some demo versions of tracks recorded by others are listed. Some tracks were intended to be released on The Dream Engine's debut album.
A demo of "Safe Sex" performed by Canadian vocalist Karine Hannah has been leaked onto the internet from the period when she was working with Steinman on an ill-fated album; it is expected to appear on The Dream Engine's debut album[2]
Rory Dodd mostly contributed background vocals and his voice was barely distinguishable in the songs, unlike that of Fire Inc, where he is definitely more audible in the background. Todd Rundgren also helped out with the background vocals this time. Another Bat out of Hell veteran who contributed with her voice was Ellen Foley.
Music videos were produced for the songs "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" and "Good Girls Go to Heaven."
Ken Russell directed the video for "It's All Coming Back to Me Now". It was filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. Steinman wrote the script, based on Russell's segment in the compilation opera movie Aria.[3] Elements include leather, snakes, tombstones and cockrings with shrunken heads, and the video featured Caswell as a girl near death—from a motorcycle crash—being ministered to by paramedics, fantasising and being 'sexually aroused by a large python and writhing on a bed that lit up in time with the music, while surrounded by a group of bemused, semi-naked dancers'.[4] When Steinman's manager saw it, he responded 'It's a porno movie!'[3] The two day shoot ran over schedule and budget, costing £35,000 an hour. Russell and Steinman even designed a sequence where a motorcyclist would cycle up the steps of a local church-tower, jump out of the turrets at the top, and then explode; alas, the wardens of the church refused permission.[4]
The video for "Good Girls Go to Heaven", directed by Brian Grant, was set in a prison. It shows the arrival of a new inmate called Jenny (the name featured in the first chorus) and her induction. As the song begins, the other inmates dance around her.
New York Philharmonic (conducted by Steven Margoshes) — Orchestra on "The Opening of the Box"
2006 Special Edition re-issue
In the slipstream of the release of Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose, Virgin / EMI released a two disc special edition. The first disc contains the remastered original album, while the second disc is a DVD, containing the two promo videos, and some additional promotional footage.
DVD track listing
"Jim Steinman Opens Pandora's Box" - 18:18
"Prologue (A Teenager In Love)" (video) - 0:58
"It's All Coming Back To Me Now" (video) - 6:38
"Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere)" (video) - 6:12
DVD credits
Produced and Directed by Mark Wightwick, Executive Producer: Sue Winter
Directed by Ken Russell, produced by Vasconcellos
Directed by Ken Russell, produced by Vasconcellos
Directed by Brian Grant, produced by Jonathan Cooke
