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Rhino has just announced a new vinyl version of the soundtrack to the film Evita, starring Madonna, to celebrate the project’s 30th anniversary.  The new 3-LP edition will mark the album’s first appearance on the format.  A new 2-CD edition is also being released.  Both are slated to hit store shelves on November 13.

Evita, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, is actually celebrating a pair of anniversaries this year.  The original concept album, chronicling the life of controversial Argentinian first lady Eva Perón, debuted on November 12, 1976 with Julie Covington portraying Eva.  It hit No. 4 on the U.K. Albums Chart and the single “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” topped the UK Singles Chart.  The album was turned into a stage musical, directed by Harold Prince with Elaine Paige playing Eva, which opened on June 21, 1978 at the Prince Edward Theatre in London.  This staging won two Olivier Awards for Best New Musical and Best Performance in a Musical for Paige.  It ran until 1986.  The show premiered in New York at the Broadway Theatre on September 25, 1979 with Patti LuPone now in the lead role.  It did very well at the Tonys, winning Best Lighting, Best Direction (Prince), Best Book (Rice), Best Score (Lloyd Webber and Rice), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Mandy Patinkin as Che), Best Actress (LuPone), and Best Musical.  This production ran until 1983.  The musical has been revived numerous times over the years, most recently on the West End in 2025 with Rachel Zegler playing Eva (she also won an Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical).  This production, with Zegler, is scheduled to hit Broadway in February 2027 at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Interest in a film version of Evita appeared even before the first West End production hit the stage.  But it would be a tumultuous journey to the big screen for the property, going through several studios and directors before finally coming together in the mid-1990s.  Ironically, the person who would ultimately write and direct the film adaptation was Alan Parker, among the first to express interest in the move rights in the 1970s.  Numerous actresses over the years had been considered and auditioned.  Madonna had lobbied for the role and was set to star in a version set up at Disney in 1990.  However, the production costs rose too high and Disney cancelled the project.  When everything was finally set with Andrew G. Vagna’s Cinergi Pictures, Dirty Hands, and Disney’s Hollywood Pictures as the production companies, Madonna reportedly sent Parker a letter along with a copy of “Take A Bow” music video.  She won the part and took vocal lessons to tackle the score.  Antonio Banderas was cast as Che and Jonathan Pryce portrayed Juan Perón.  The film was shot in several locations, including in Argentina where it was met by protests from people worried about how the movie would portray Eva.

Evita premiered on December 14, 1996 in LA and on Christmas Day everywhere else.  It would gross $141 million dollars at the box office, garnering mixed reviews but with praise overall for Madonna and the cinematography.  The move won the Best Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes and Madonna won Best Actress – Musical or Comedy at the same ceremony.

The music and songs for the movie were recorded before production began at CTS Studios in London in October, 1995.  The soundtrack album was released on October 28, 1996 in the United Kingdom and on November 12 in the United States.  The release encompassed two versions: a 2-CD complete version and a 1-CD highlights edition.  The album proved to be a success, selling over seven million copies worldwide.  It topped the charts in Britain and went to No. 2 in the States.  Madonna’s version of the anthemic “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” was the biggest commercial single from the album, going 5x Platinum and hitting No. 8 (U.S.) and No. 3 (U.K.).  A dance version topped Billboard’s U.S. Dance Club and Dance Singles chart.  The single “Another Suitcase in Another Hall” climbed to the Top 10 on the U.K. Singles Chart.  “You Must Love Me” was the first single released from the album.  It was newly written for the movie by Lloyd Webber and Rice.  It also hit the top 10 in the U.K. and the Top 20 in the U.S., winning Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards.

Rhino’s new 3-LP edition comes on translucent red vinyl, housed in a trifold jacket with a 20-page, 11” X 11” booklet featuring stills from the film.  A limited “Gold Nugget” vinyl edition is available exclusively at Madonna’s and Rhino’s websites.  In addition, a 2-CD softpak edition will also be available which includes a 20-page booklet with stills from the film.  Rhino has also released a new 3-track single of “You Must Love Me” to digital platforms.  It includes the single version of the song together with an orchestral medley of “You Must Love Me” and “I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You”.  These two are new to digital.  The third song is “Rainbow High,” which has been available digitally.  Unfortunately, the opportunity for a deluxe multi-CD edition, which could have added the many single and dance remixes from the score, has been missed at this time.  There’s no word on remastering for these editions yet.

If you would like to order these new releases, due on November 13, we’ve got the pre-order links and full tracklistings below.  (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

Various Artists, Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Soundtrack 3-LP Edition (Originally released on Warner Bros. Records 9 46346-2, 1996 – reissued Warner/Rhino, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

LP 1

Side 1

1. A Cinema In Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952
2. Requiem For Evita
3. Oh What A Circus
4. On This Night Of A Thousand Stars
5. Eva And Magaldi / Eva Beware Of The City
6. Buenos Aires

Side 2

1. Another Suitcase In Another Hall
2. Goodnight And Thank You
3. The Lady’s Got Potential
4. Charity Concert / The Art Of The Possible

LP 2

Side 1

1. I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You
2. Hello And Goodbye
3. Peron’s Latest Flame
4. A New Argentina

Side 2

1. On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada (Pt. 1)
2. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
3. On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada (Pt. 2)
4. High Flying, Adored
5. Rainbow High
6. Rainbow Tour

LP 3

Side 1

1. The Actress Hasn’t Learned The Lines (You’d Like To Hear)
2. And The Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)
3. Partido Feminista
4. She Is A Diamond
5. Santa Evita

Side 2

1. Waltz For Eva And Che
2. Your Little Body’s Slowly Breaking Down
3. You Must Love Me
4. Eva’s Final Broadcast
5. Latin Chant
6. Lament

Various Artists, Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Soundtrack 2-CD 30th Anniversary Edition (Originally released on Warner Bros. Records 9 46346-2, 1996 – reissued Warner/Rhino, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1

1. A Cinema In Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952
2. Requiem For Evita
3. Oh What A Circus
4. On This Night Of A Thousand Stars
5. Eva And Magaldi / Eva Beware Of The City
6. Buenos Aires
7. Another Suitcase In Another Hall
8. Goodnight And Thank You
9. The Lady’s Got Potential
10. Charity Concert / The Art Of The Possible
11. I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You
12. Hello And Goodbye
13. Peron’s Latest Flame
14. A New Argentina

CD 2

1. On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada (Pt. 1)
2. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
3. On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada (Pt. 2)
4. High Flying, Adored
5. Rainbow High
6. Rainbow Tour
7. The Actress Hasn’t Learned The Lines (You’d Like To Hear)
8. And The Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)
9. Partido Feminista
10. She Is A Diamond
11. Santa Evita
12. Waltz For Eva And Che
13. Your Little Body’s Slowly Breaking Down
14. You Must Love Me
15. Eva’s Final Broadcast
16. Latin Chant
17. Lament