Randy Newman's Faust is a 1993 musical based the work on the classic story of Faust. Newman borrowed elements from the version by Goethe, as well as Milton's Paradise Lost, but updated the story to the modern day and infused it with humorous cynicism. In this retelling, God and the Devil fight for the soul of Henry Faust, a student at the University of Notre Dame.
Vocal duties are co handled by James Taylor, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and Don Henley. Available on vinyl for the first time!
- 180 gram audiophile vinyl
- Available on vinyl for the first time!
Review:
Since Randy Newman has always borrowed from Hollywood and Broadway
musicals in his songwriting, it's not surprising that he wrote his own
full-blown musical with Randy Newman's Faust. Adapting Goethe's classic
morality play for the '90s, Newman has his God and Devil vying for the soul of a
Harvard college student. However, neither wins because they can't keep abreast
of modern times – the Devil tempts the student with a recording contract, but
the student wants his own video game company since that's where the money is.
On paper, the reworking of the story is fairly intriguing, but the actual
execution is heavily flawed. Newman's humor is forced and not all that funny,
while his eye for detail isn't as sharp as it is on his classic albums;
furthermore, he sacrifices strong melodies for the lyrics. The bombastic
production – featuring large orchestras and choirs as well as guest artists
James Taylor (God), Don Henley (Student), Elton John, Bonnie Raitt, and Linda
Ronstadt – emphasizes the lack of subtlety in the lyrics and the lack of
compelling melodies, making Randy Newman's Faust no more than a noble
failure.
All Music Guide – Stephen Thomas Erlewine