Original Sin is a concept album performed by Pandora's Box and produced by Jim Steinman. It was released on November 6, 1989.[5] 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 have been 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 No. 43 in Sweden.[6]
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.[7] Elements include leather, snakes, tombstones and cockrings with shrunken heads, and the video features singer Elaine 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'.[8] When Steinman's manager saw it, he responded 'It's a porno movie!'[7] 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.[8]
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. As the prison is signposted as "Pandora's House Of Detention", matching the phrasing in the song "City Night" from Jim Steinman's Neverland / Bat 2100, we can assume this video was intended to depict something within Steinman's "Obsidian" mythos (the 40+ year project which culminated with Bat Out of Hell: The Musical). The only member of Pandora's Box to appear in the video is Ellen Foley (and only as part of the dance ensemble) - although vocals for this song were performed by Holly Sherwood.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jim Steinman, except where otherwise noted
Steinman regularly reworked previous material for a newer project, and much of Original Sin was 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 was expected to appear on The Dream Engine's debut album[11]
The first version of this song ever released was in Japanese, by Megumi Shiina [ja] under the name 悲しみは続かない ("Kanashimi wa tsuzukanai") in 1986, and used as opening theme for 1986-1987 Japanese drama このこ誰の子? (Kono ko dare no ko?) [ja]. Meat Loaf on Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell. Also performed in early Manchester previews of Bat Out of Hell: The Musical and included in the Official Cast Recording.
6
Requiem Metal
Re-used as backing track for "Wasted Youth" on Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell
7
I've Been Dreaming up a Storm Lately
An earlier version of this piece featured in Steinman's 1969 musical The Dream Engine. Re-used in an early draft of Dance of the Vampires, and in Bat Out Of Hell: The Musical.
The first incarnation of this melody was heard as the introduction to "Hymn to Fire" within Jim Steinman's play The Dream Engine in 1969. Re-used in Dance of the Vampires
10
The Want Ad
Featured in Jim Steinman's musicals The Dream Engine (1969) and Neverland (1977)
11
My Little Red Book
This is a cover version: written by Burt Bacharach; the arrangement closely follows the cover by Love on their first album.
12
It Just Won't Quit
Meat Loaf on Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell. Featured in Bat Out of Hell: The Musical in the initial Manchester and London runs, and included in the Original Cast Recording.
13
Pray Lewd
Covered at some Dream Engine/Over the Top concerts
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
