GREASE Original Soundtrack 1978 2-LP Set RSO RS-2-4002 1st Richmond Press EX/VG+

$

25

Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture is the original motion picture soundtrack for the 1978 film Grease. It was released by RSO Records on April 14, 1978 – two months ahead of the film’s release. It has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, also ranking amongst the biggest selling soundtrack albums of all time. The song "You're the One That I Want" was a U.S. and UK No. 1 for stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The album also featured songs by rock and roll revival group Sha Na Na as well as the hit song "Grease", a tune written by Barry Gibb (of the Bee Gees) and sung by Frankie Valli (of The Four Seasons) that was an additional U.S. No. 1. The song “Hopelessly Devoted to You”, performed by Newton-John, was nominated for an Academy Award and was the third U.S. No. 1 from the album.

The cover gives credit to, and prominently features, the two stars of the film—John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John—although they only appear on seven of the 24 tracks. Sha Na Na performed many of the 1950s numbers in the film, the recordings of which also appear on the soundtrack. Stockard Channing sings lead on two of the tracks (her only significant contribution to recorded popular music to date). The title track is featured twice on the soundtrack and performed by Frankie Valli, who had no other connection with the film. The entirety of the score written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey for the Broadway musical was included on the soundtrack and/or in the film, with the exception of two songs. Some songs were given to different characters in the film compared to the Broadway show. For instance, Kenickie's "Greased Lightnin'" was given to Danny (Travolta). Rizzo's (Stockard Channing’s) number "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" was only kept in the film at Channing's fervent insistence, as she felt the song (and the storyline behind it) was necessary to prevent Rizzo from becoming a one-dimensional caricature.

In their review, Billboard stated that "RSO follows its record-breaking Saturday Night Fever soundtrack with another apparent smash film track.” Cashbox noted that "the former Broadway hit sounds like a winner on vinyl, too.” Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic retrospectively said that "the sleek pop production the movie's soundtrack boasts and the cast's enthusiastic performances go a long way in making this Grease the definitive Grease." The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 21st Annual Grammy Awards.

THIS COPY is a 1st Richmond pressing from 1978 on RSO Records (see Notes, below).

The vinyl looks great on all four sides and per a test listen, sound as good. The vinyl is in Excellent [EX] condition.

The original gatefold cover has only a couple of wrinkles in the upper right corner (when viewed from the front) that appear to have been caused by that corner hitting something in the past. Overall, however, the cover remains sturdy and shiny. The cover is in Very Good Plus [VG+] or better condition.

The original inner sleeves - both identical - feature on both sides what look like pages in a school 30ring binder showing the song information on one side and the movie & album credits on the reverse. Both inner sleeves have survived with no splits or other flaws. The inner sleeves are both in Excellent [EX] condition.

Notes

PRC in runouts denotes a PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN pressing.

Recorded at: Filmways/Wally Heider Recording Studios, United Western Studios and Hollywood Sound Recorders, Hollywood.
All songs except "Grease" mixed and re-mixed at Filmways/Wally Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood.
"Grease" mixed at Criteria Studios, Miami.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Other (Int. #): 2658 125

Other (Ind. Int. # Record 1): 2479 210

Other (Ind. Int. # Record 2): 2479 211

Other (On spine, between cat# and title): 1298

Matrix / Runout (Label Side A): RS-2-4002-A

Matrix / Runout (Label Side B): RS-2-4002-B

Matrix / Runout (Label Side C): RS-2-4002-C

Matrix / Runout (Label Side D): RS-2-4002-D

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A): RS2-4002-AS PRC R1-1-11111

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B): RS-4002-BS PRC-R2-11-11

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side C): RS-2-4002-CS PRC-R1-1-111

Matrix / Runout (Runout Side D): RS-2-4002-DS PRC-R4-1-111

ENJOY!