Writers and set several precedents with this album. First, it is a pre-stage studio version, and it topped the US charts upon release. Second, it is the first show to successfully put rock music in a theatrical context ( is really a pop/show-music pastiche, not rock). Third, it is a "sung-through" musical without spoken dialog, technically an operetta. Fourth, though musicals had turned more serious at this point, writing a show about from the point of view of was about as daring as you could get. It succeeds in all ways. In addition to the title song (a #14 hit sung by ), it includes by . ~ William Ruhlmann